OKC MAPS PROJECTS – 25 YEARS
Household Size . The average household size for occupied housing units in the study area is relatively small compared to broader regions (see Figure 17). Nearly every tract in the study area has fewer than 2.50 persons per household which trails the county (2.55), state (2.58), metropolitan area (2.61), and nation (2.63). Eight of the 14 tracts in the study area have fewer than 2 persons per household on average. The average size is mostly a reflection of small households with few children living in rental properties. Ten of the 13 tracts with a household size reported for rental properties have fewer than 2 residents per household. This falls far below the countywide average of 2.46 persons per household for rentals. For owner-occupied housing, the largest average size is found in the north in tract 1017 (Heritage Hills, 2.90) and in the south in tracts 1025 (St. Anthony Hospital, 3.25) and 1030 (south OU Health Center, 2.73). The largest overall household size (3.37) is found in tract 1040 south of I-40, which reflects both an above-average household size for owner-occupied properties (2.92) and extremely high household size (4.67) for rental properties. The large household size in tract 1040 is consistent with the high share of residents under the age of 18 residing in the tract. Changing Ownership Status . The downtown housing market is primarily rental and is becoming increasingly so (see Figure 18). Almost 60% of the housing units in the study area are renter-occupied in 2017 versus only 51% in 1990. Less than one-fourth (23%) are owner-occupied, with 18% of units vacant. Most of the vacant properties would be classified as rentals if occupied. The share of owner-occupied properties has remained relatively flat at about 23-24% of units since 2000. The share gained by rentals over time is traced to a reduction in vacancy rates which are down more than 10 percentage points since 1990. The elevated vacancy rate in 1990 underscores the urgency in addressing conditions in the downtown area through the initial MAPS projects. Vacancies as a share of total units trended down sharply between 1990 and 2000 but remained approximately 18-19% of total units between 2000 and 2017. Vacancy rates also dropped from 2010 to 2017 despite significant new owner- and renter-occupied units entering the market. Much of the remaining vacancy rate is believed attributable to property which will be redeveloped or replaced in the coming years. Figure 18. Housing Characteristics of Downtown Study Area Census Tracts
Owner Occupied
Renter Occupied Vacant
Owner Occupied
Renter Occupied Vacant
Year Total 1990 4,730 2000 4,458 2010 4,653 2017 5,212
Total
969
2,428 2,543 2,575 3,074
1,333 100.0% 843 100.0% 966 100.0% 931 100.0%
20.5% 24.0% 23.9% 23.2%
51.3% 57.0% 55.3% 59.0%
28.2% 18.9% 20.8% 17.9%
1,072 1,112 1,207
Source: U.S. Census Bureau Notes: Estimates for 1990 and 2000 are from the Decennial Census. Estimates for 2010 and 2017 are from the American Community Survey (five-year estimates).
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