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Historic Midtown's LIHTC Housing: A Decade of Development in Wichita's Diverse Neighborhood
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Historic Midtown in Wichita, Kansas, contains a substantial Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing inventory. The neighborhood has 137 total units in LIHTC-funded projects, with 130 designated as low-income units. These units represent approximately 3.1% of the estimated 4,451 housing units in the neighborhood.
The LIHTC program has made a significant investment in Historic Midtown, with project tax credits totaling $2,762,189. This equates to an average federal funding of $20,162 per unit in LIHTC-funded projects. Affordable housing development in the area occurred consistently from 2002 to 2011, with the first LIHTC project, Inter-Faith Villa Courts I, completed in 2002, and the most recent projects, 10th St Apts and Market Street Lofts, finished in 2011.
The 2000s were a particularly active period for affordable housing construction in Historic Midtown. Notable projects from this era include Old English Court Apts (2006), Mullen Court (2008), and Madison Avenue Apts (2009). The LIHTC-funded housing stock in the neighborhood is diverse, comprising 8 efficiencies, 51 one-bedroom units, 9 two-bedroom units, and 28 three-bedroom units, accommodating various household sizes and needs.
Historic Midtown has experienced demographic shifts over the past decade. The population has remained relatively stable, increasing slightly from 10,777 in 2014 to 11,618 in 2022. Median income has shown an overall upward trend, rising from $28,593 in 2014 to $36,892 in 2022, indicating improving economic conditions for residents.
Racial demographics in the neighborhood have also evolved. The Hispanic population has remained the largest group, fluctuating between 36% and 45% over the past decade. The white population has experienced a slight decrease from 44% in 2014 to 41% in 2022, while the Black population has increased from 10% to 13% during the same period. The Asian population has remained stable at around 1-2%.
These demographic changes, particularly the rise in median income and the stable population, may have influenced the absence of new LIHTC projects in the neighborhood since 2011. However, it is important to note that other affordable housing programs may be addressing the community's needs beyond the LIHTC-funded projects.
Historic Midtown in Wichita demonstrates a commitment to affordable housing through its LIHTC-funded projects. With 137 total units, of which 130 are low-income, these developments represent a small but significant portion of the neighborhood's housing stock. The area experienced consistent affordable housing development from 2002 to 2011, with the 2000s being particularly active. While demographic shifts, including rising median income and a stable population, may have influenced the recent pause in LIHTC development, the existing projects continue to provide valuable affordable housing options for the community's diverse residents.
