About Us

Wilmington Neighborhood Conservancy Land Bank (WNCLB) was launched to reclaim the promise in Wilmington’s most challenged places. As a community-rooted 501(c)(3), we tackle tax-delinquent, vacant, and blighted properties, removing tangled liens and complexities so that neighborhoods can move forward.

We see Wilmington’s neighborhoods not as liabilities, but as opportunity zones—for affordable homes, thriving small businesses, community gardens, and clean green spaces. Every parcel we care for carries potential.

Our Team

Bud Freel, President

Ray Saccomandi, Director of Operations

Becky Vogel, Director of Finance & Grants

David Reynolds, Administrative Assistant 

 

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

Our Board of Directors

  • Richard J. Gessner, Chairman, Designee of State of Delaware Speaker of the House
  • Hal Schneikert, Vice-president Wilmington Neighborhood Planning Council
  • Susan Frank, Treasurer and Finance Chair, CRA Member, Executive Vice President, Cinnaire
  • Kevin Smith, WNCLB Secretary and Technical Board Chairman, President, Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County
  • Dr. Raheemah Jabbar-Bey, Designee of Delaware State Senate President Pro Tempore
  • Vandell Hampton, Jr., Public Member, President and CEO, True Access Capital
  • Cassandra T. Marshall, Public Member, Program Development/Capture Executive, Patrior Contracting
  • Ray Fitzgerald, Public Member, Executive Director, Wilmington Housing Authority
  • Sean Park, Director of Economic Development, City of Wilmington
  • Elliot Larkin, Director of the Department of Land Use and Planning, City of Wilmington
  • Robert Weir, Director, Department of Real Estate & Housing, City of Wilmington
  • Ernest “Trippi” Congo, President of Wilmington City Council
  • Maria Cabrera, Chair, Community Development and Planning Committee, City of Wilmington City Council
  • Michelle Harlee, Chair, Finance and Economic Development Committee, City of Wilmington Council
  • David Ross, Public Member, Executive Director Education First Golf

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