Diamond State's Current Projects

Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP)

Diamond State CLT is a partner with Kent, New Castle, and Sussex Counties, as well as the Cities of Dover and Wilmington in the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, part of the Housing & Economic Recovery Act of 2008 passed by Congress and signed into law last summer. Delaware was awared $19.6 million in NSP funding through the Department of Housing & Urban Development in 2009. In January 2010, HUD announced that Delaware will be receiving an additional $10 million through NSP2.

The program is focused primarily on buying and rehabbing vacant, foreclosed homes in areas of the state hardest hit by the foreclosure crisis. Renovated homes will be sold or rented to households at 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and below. Twenty-five percent of the funding will serve households at 50% AMI and below.

Diamond State, as a partner with the five jurisdictions noted above, is recruiting and training buyers for some of the homes under NSP. Diamond State homes are priced significantly under market value and affordable to households at 80% AMI and below. To see if your family qualifies see -- see County by County Income Limit Chart. Diamond State homebuyers own their home and Diamond State owns the land parcel. Each Diamond State homeowner has a 99-year ground lease for exclusive use of the land for a nominal monthly fee.

These community land trust homes are available in 2010 - 2012. CLT homes, through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program are all over the state. Specific home addresses, descriptions and pricing information are posted on our Homes for Sale page.

If you think you may be interested in this unique homeownership program - please contact us at info@diamondstateclt.org. We can help get you started in the home-buying process. Now is the time to start.

New Horizons Community

A unique new rural neighborhood of 50 single-family homes clustered along curved roadways in Sussex County developed by the Diamond State Community Land Trust. Partners include New Horizons Cooperative, Engineering Consultants International, Delaware Housing Coalition, NCALL Research & Loan Fund, Atlantic Resource Management, University of Delaware Agricultural Extension Service, Fannie Mae Rural Initiatives, and others.

Cluster Design. Provides a number of advantages including more efficient land use, preservation of wooded and open space, and lower infrastructure costs. Over half the land will remain in trees and open space.

Environmentally Friendly. In addition to the cluster design, the entire community will be surrounded by tree buffer. A generous area set aside for a community garden and potential community-based agricultural enterprise is also a foundational part of this community plan.

Community Facilities. Will include children’s play yards, all purpose courts, outdoor cooking area, and a community building for gatherings, meetings of the homeowners association, and other activities. Walking paths to adjacent state park will be provided.

Homes. One and two-story models - various styles, 3 & 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, ranging in size from 1,350 to 1,900 S.F. Water permeable driveways and sidewalks will reduce water runoff. Energy efficiency and renewable energy are key elements to making these homes truly affordable.  Homes will be Energy Star efficient. Photovoltaic (PV) and geothermal renewable energy options are being explored.

Affordability. Our goal is to serve working families at 80% Area Median Income (AMI) and below. Some homes will be affordable to households below 50% AMI. For-sale prices will range from approximately $115,000 to $150,000.

New and Rehabilitated Homes for Sale

Thoroughly renovated and new homes in Dover and Wilmington are underway. Diamond State has development partnerships with several groups including the Carper/City of Dover Homeownership Initiative, Interfaith Community Housing of Delaware, Habitat for Humanity New Castle County, Cornerstone West, ARC of Delaware, River's Edge Association and Edgemoor Revitalization Cooperative. See Homes for Sales page.

Before and after photos of a rehabilitated home.

Village at Colony South

In partnership with Interfaith Community Housing of Delaware and the Delaware State Housing Authority, we will be developing a new construction, 36 unit single-family project in Milford. Twenty-three of the homes will be CLT units for owner-occupants at 70% AMI and below. This $10 million dollar project is in predevelopment now. We anticipate homes for sale in 2011-13.