Through partnership and placemaking, WNCLB is actively turning vacancy into opportunity:
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Hundreds of parcels revitalized
We manage over 240 properties—many acquired from the city or through donations—and stabilize them until a mission-aligned reuse is ready to begin. -
Building local capacity
Our team includes eight full-time Wilmington residents focused on maintenance, outreach, and property coordination. This provides local employment while ensuring projects reflect neighborhood experience and needs. -
Catalyzing development
Completed transactions prioritize rehab and new construction led by local nonprofits or small developers. In practice, this lifts property values, discourages speculative ownership, and ensures redevelopment benefits existing communities instead of displacing them. -
Public trust & community feedback
Feedback loops—like info sessions and plan reviews—ensure accountability. One resident noted: “The Land Bank has been a tremendous partner in helping to revitalize Wilmington’s neighborhoods…”
Our Community Impact
Blighted properties have been sold and repurposed
rehabs sold for affordable homeownership
rehabs sold for affordable rental
nonprofit joint affordable housing projects
neglected lots sold to adjacent neighbors as a side yard
unsafe structures demolished improving neighborhood safety
urban gardens
blighted properties donated
%
minority buyers
%
minority contractors
%
buyers from city of Wilmington
Building Valuable PARTNERSHIPS
Delaware Center for Horticulture and The Nature Conservancy
In 2017, WNCLB partnered with the Delaware Center for Horticulture and The Nature Conservancy to develop and promote the Clean and Green Program utilizing WNCLB vacant lots. Successfully greened lots reduce crime and improve the overall public health of its residents. In April 2018, WNCLB received a $50,000 State of Delaware Neighborhood Building Block grant to fund our greening objectives. To-date, the team has 6 Clean and Green lots with an additional 10 parcels scheduled for Spring 2021.
Advancing City Policies and Revitalization Strategies
In 2017, WNCLB’s Technical and Advisory Committee was established meeting monthly to exchange ideas, advance policies, coordinate projects and collectively work towards a common goal: Bringing the City of Wilmington’s deteriorating communities back to life. Today, we have over 20 members from local nonprofits, public administration, community members and private investors committed to the transformation of the City’s neighborhoods.
Ninth Street Revitalization Project
Funded in conjunction with JPMorgan Chase and the Delaware State Housing Authority, the 9th Street Revitalization project combines acquisition and construction subsidy for 6 rehabilitated units on the 800 block of W 9th Street, in the City of Wilmington’s Trinity Vicinity neighborhood. In conjunction with the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, (NCRC) creating 6 rehabilitated units, and Interfaith Community Housing, building 3 newly constructed homes, this coalition will bring a total of 9 new equitable homeownership opportunities transforming the entire 800 block of W 9th Street.
Working Together To Create Stronger Neighborhoods
WNCLB acquires, removes and holds strategic properties for our partners to fulfill their revitalization objectives. Some of our contributions include:
- Meet weekly with the City of Wilmington Real Estate and Housing Department to collectively formulate strategic acquisitions/demolitions for large scale redevelopment projects. In 2020, City of Wilmington transferred 76 properties to WNCLB and refined the Sheriff Sale process to directly assign City units to WNCLB.
- Provided $70,000 in funding for acquisition and demolition on the 700 block of Douglas Street to support Cornerstone West CDC Lifelines III Project supporting youth transitioning from foster care.
- Joined together with the City of Wilmington, Cinnaire, and Delaware Valley Development Corporation to target the revitalization of the West Side Community developing a strategic plan to effectively deploy Delaware State Housing Authority’s Strong Neighborhood Funds.
- Supporting the Wilmington Alliance Art-O-Mat project by transferring 503 7th Street.
Additional partnerships include: Cinnaire, Jump Start Program, Habitat for Humanity, NCALL, Woodlawn Trustees, NACA, and for-profit entities to meet the objectives of the City of Wilmington’s comprehensive plan.
Community Engagement
Work and continue to engage community members to donate their homes to the Land Bank releasing them from criminal court for licenses and inspection violations and tax debt.
WNCLB and the Central Baptist Church CDC
WNCLB and the Central Baptist Church CDC joined forces to create a workforce development program to employ the local residents of the East Side community responsible for WNCLB property maintenance. WNCLB funds 8 full-time City residents and the maintenance program which oversees 260 properties including the City and Habitat for Humanity parcels.
DNREC Grants
Initiated and received $1,500,000 in Delaware Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) grants to fund the remediation of environmental contaminants on 22 City of Wilmington lots.
Affordable Quality Rental Policy
With the increasing demand for quality affordable rentals during the economic hardships brought on by the pandemic, WNCLB developed and launched an affordable rental policy based on HUD Fair Market Rental RATES with quality construction standards.
Removing Unsafe Structures
We hate to tear down our City’s structures. Especially when we know they were once a historically valued building or home. Unfortunately, demolitions are sometimes needed for the safety of our neighborhood. Homes that have been vacant and neglected for over 20 years can harbor criminal activity and pose a significant risk to adjacent homes and community members as well as decrease nearby property values. Today, in our City the average cost of demolishing one unit is about $55,000. With this high cost paired with the City’s significant need, funding is essential to secure the safety of Wilmington’s neighborhoods.
