About Us

Our Mission

The mission of the Wilmington Neighborhood Conservancy Land Bank (WNCLB) is to return vacant, dilapidated, abandoned, and delinquent properties back to productive use, while strengthening and revitalizing our neighborhoods and inspiring economic development.

Our Values

We act in ways that:

  • Are purposeful, transparent, and for the public good
  • Are both economically efficient and sustainable
  • Are reflective of the goals and objectives of the City’s comprehensive development plan
  • Strengthen our neighborhoods
  • Improve the coordination of our resources
  • Increase efficiency and collaboration within and between governments, community organizations, and the private sector

Meet The Team

Director of Operations

Raymond S. Saccomandi
Contract Manager

Natalie A. DiCostanza

Director of Operations

Raymond S. Saccomandi

In 2018, Ray brought over 25 years of professional experience to the Wilmington Conservatory Land Bank. His broad background includes workers compensation, claims management, property preservation and management, experience in home initiative purchases, renovating and selling homes in LMI (low/ moderate income) neighborhoods, and was the National Construction Manager for the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) to create pathways for home ownership. These skills have made Ray a great fit as the Director of Operations. With his leadership, we are aggressively embarking on a plan that includes strategic property acquisition, select demolition and the repackaging and disposition of properties for site specific and larger scale redevelopment opportunities. Mr. Saccomandi’s role in this organization includes oversight of daily operations including accounting, budgeting and financial analysis; property acquisition, demolition and disposition; grant administration, vendor and contract management. Under Raymond’s leadership the WCLB is stronger than ever!

Contract Manager

Natalie A. DiCostanza

Natalie A. DiCostanza is our enthusiastic Contract Manager. Natalie brings over 12 years of nonprofit sector experience including strategic planning, auditing, key funder relationship management, grant writing and research, board development, business writing, process improvement, and budget management, to form aggressive goals. Natalie is helping to transform the WCLB into a thriving nonprofit organization!

Board of Directors

  • Richard J. Gessner, Chairman, Designee of State of Delaware Speaker of the House
  • Susan Frank, Finance Chair, CRA Member, Executive Vice President, Cinnaire
  • Kevin Smith, WNCLB Technical Board Chairman, President, Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County
  • Ernest “Trippi” Congo, President of Wilmington City Council
  • Tom Ogden, Office of the Mayor, Designee of Jeff Flynn, Director of Economic Development, City of Wilmington
  • Maria Cabrera, Chair, Community Development and Planning Committee, City of Wilmington City Council
  • Vandell Hampton, Jr., OffiPublic Member, President and CEO, True Access Capital
  • Timothy Lucas, Acting Director of the Department of Planning and Development, City of Wilmington
  • Dr. Raheemah Jabbar-Bey, Designee of Delaware State Senate President Pro Tempore
  • Hal Schneikert, Wilmington Neighborhood Planning Council
  • Robert Weir, Director, Department of Real Estate & Housing, City of Wilmington
  • Chris Johnson, City of Wilmington Council Member
  • Cassandra T. Marshall, Public Member, Program Development/Capture Executive, Patrior Contracting
  • Ray Fitzgerald, Public Member, Executive Director, Wilmington Housing Authority

Our History

In 2016, the Wilmington Neighborhood Conservancy Land Bank (WNCLB) was created by state legislation and the City of Wilmington to return vacant, dilapidated, abandoned, and delinquent properties back to productive use. Delaware’s first land bank, WNCLB works with the City of Wilmington, nonprofits, for-profits and community members to remove blight and foster neighborhood revitalization.

WNCLB receives our properties from several sources: The City of Wilmington, tax sales, and donations. The properties are held for redevelopment either individually or packaged and held for larger projects. Additionally, WNCLB will acquire strategic properties and transfer to local nonprofits to support their revitalization objectives. With just 9 units sold in WNCLB’s first year of full operation in 2018, WNCLB in 2020, has sold 55 properties for affordable homeownership opportunities and side yards for adjacent homeowners. Since 2018, WNCLB has repurposed 128 properties.

Company Documents

Annual Reports

Financials

    Board of Directors Meeting Minutes

    Policies & Procedures

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