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Plainview, Minnesota: Affordable Housing Stability Amidst Demographic Shifts
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Plainview, Minnesota, maintains a modest Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) funded affordable housing inventory. The city has 44 total units in LIHTC-funded projects, with 42 designated as low-income units. Based on the 2022 population of 3,566 and using the national average household size, the estimated housing inventory for Plainview is approximately 1,366 units. The LIHTC-funded affordable housing comprises about 3.2% of the estimated housing units in the city.
Plainview has two LIHTC-funded projects: Plainview Apts and Harvest Ridge Townhomes. Plainview Apts was completed in 1989, while Harvest Ridge Townhomes was completed in 2006. This indicates that affordable housing has been present in the city for over three decades.
The most recent affordable housing development occurred in the 2000s with the completion of Harvest Ridge Townhomes. This project added 20 units to the city's affordable housing inventory, including 14 two-bedroom units and 6 three-bedroom units. The earlier project, Plainview Apts, contributed 24 units, but specific bedroom information is not available for this development.
Plainview's population has remained relatively stable over the past decade, with a slight decrease from 3,587 in 2010 to 3,566 in 2022. During this period, the median income has shown a significant increase, rising from $51,277 in 2013 to $66,917 in 2022. This upward trend in median income may suggest a reduced need for additional affordable housing in recent years.
The racial composition of Plainview has remained predominantly white, with a slight decrease from 96% in 2013 to 90% in 2022. There has been a small increase in Hispanic population, rising from 3% in 2013 to 7% in 2022. The city has also seen a slight increase in diversity, with small percentages of Native American residents and those of two or more races appearing in recent years.
Plainview's LIHTC-funded affordable housing inventory consists of two projects totaling 44 units, with 42 designated as low-income units. These projects, completed in 1989 and 2006, represent about 3.2% of the estimated housing inventory. This percentage is below the target for a well-balanced city; however, other affordable housing programs may contribute to the overall inventory.
The city has experienced stable population growth, increasing median income, and slight changes in racial diversity over the past decade. These demographic trends, particularly the rising median income, may have influenced the lack of new LIHTC projects in recent years. A comprehensive assessment of affordable housing needs would require consideration of additional factors and potential contributions from other housing programs.
