Counting past 30 years of experience in various aspects of real estate development, Alicea Santella brings a unique combination of talent and expertise ideally suited to guide CRA’s clients to maximum profitability and brand-building success. Along with the team at CRA she is involved in sourcing both locations and development opportunities in the Hudson Valley and Westchester County in New York as well as Fairfield County in Connecticut.
Prior to joining CRA, Alicea was affiliated with two of the most successful development organizations operating in the northeast. She was involved in sourcing development opportunities for retail shopping center development as well as targeted development for such retailers as Home Depot, Lowes, Walgreens, Target, Stop & Shop and others.
Alicea also has an extensive background in high-density residential land development, working all project phases, including design, entitlements procurement and construction. As a founding partner in Delphi Land Company she delivered hundreds of condominiums in multiple projects. As Delphi Land Company grew, Alicea opened, staffed and managed all aspects of their Elmsford office. Delphi eventually branched out into the retail sector and is known today as DLC Management Corp, a nationwide retail shopping center owner and developer.
For more than 20 years, Alicea worked on behalf of many major retailers, including Darden Restaurants, Walmart, Chase Bank, Walgreen’s and many others. She assisted in the development of market penetration plans, site selection, site analysis, lease and contract negotiations, due diligence and permitting. In addition, She worked with most of the major property owners in her territories to identify potential retail tenants for their holdings.
Prior to embarking on a real estate career, Alicea earned a Master’s Degree and RN designation, subsequently serving in various management capacities, including Director of Nursing or Head Nurse at several renowned New York institutions such as The Albert Einstein Medical Center and Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.
Alicea Santella is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and attends various regional conferences each year within her extended market. She currently resides in New Fairfield, Connecticut with her son Gregory.