Protecting Lucasville: Our Homes, Our Heritage, Our Voice

For nearly 200 years, Lucasville has been more than just a place on the map. It is a historic African Nova Scotian community, founded in 1827, built through resilience, land ownership, and cultural strength passed down through generations. Our roads, homes, and forests carry deep meaning — and they deserve to be protected with care and intention.

Today, Lucasville is at a turning point.

A developer has submitted a proposal to increase a planned apartment development at 505 Lucasville Road from 64 to 118 units. This project sits directly in the center of our community and would dramatically alter the pace, character, and future of life here. We have been working for over two years to stop this development. It's time for the community to stand up against those only looking to profit.

Why This Matters

This proposed building is not just about housing. It's about the direction Lucasville is being pushed without proper consultation or consent. While development can be part of a healthy, growing community, it must reflect the values, history, and vision of the people who live here.

Currently, this is one of three large-scale projects either approved or proposed for Lucasville:

• Country Meadows at Lucasville and Hammonds Plains Road: 329 units

• 505 Lucasville Road: from 64 units, now proposing 118

• Webber Lake Road: 92 units

Each of these developments was approved under a zoning loophole for seniors housing. However, once built, they are not required to house seniors at all. These are not affordable or community-driven housing solutions. They are investor-driven projects that increase density without community planning, input, or benefit.

A Threat to More Than Just Traffic

Much of the discussion has focused on traffic, and rightly so. Adding hundreds of units to a small two-lane road with no sidewalks and limited transit is a major concern. But this development brings more than traffic.

It brings:

• Loss of peace and privacy for nearby homes

• Disruption to greenspace and wildlife corridors

• Pressure on emergency response, school capacity, and public services

• Risk of environmental contamination (505 Lucasville Road was previously used as a dump site, with runoff already reported by nearby residents)

• And most importantly, the erosion of our community identity

  
  

Lucasville is not just a location. It is a living example of African Nova Scotian heritage, and development decisions must respect that. We are a designated African Nova Scotian settlement, and Halifax Regional Council has committed to aligning planning decisions with the African Nova Scotian Community Action Plan (ANSCAP). Allowing this development to move forward now, before that alignment is complete, violates the spirit of that commitment.

What Makes This Development Especially Concerning

While most of Waterstone is zoned R-6 (which prohibits apartments), Lucasville Road and Kingswood North and the surrounding land, including 505 Lucasville Road, is zoned MU-1, which allows for mixed-use developments, which could include apartment buildings if we don't work to change the by-laws.

If this 118-unit project is approved, it will set a precedent that makes it easier for future developers to argue for more large-scale buildings throughout Lucasville and beyond. This is not just an issue for those living directly on Lucasville Road. It affects Timber Trails, Kingswood North, Waterstone, and other nearby communities within the Lucasviile boundaries.

What We’re Doing About It

We believe this is our moment to speak up and take a stand. We’re organizing an Emergency Community Meeting to come together, share information, and take action.

Emergency Community Meeting

Thursday, July 17, 6:30 PM

Wallace Lucas Community Centre

At the meeting, we’ll be:

• Sharing details about the 505 Lucasville proposal and how it was obtained

• Gathering feedback from the community

• Asking residents to sign our petition

• Speaking about strategies to pressure HRM and prevent large scale development in our community

• Discussing long-term strategies to protect our land and future

  
  

How You Can Help

1. Attend the Emergency Meeting

2. Sign the petition at change.org/Lucasville

3. Visit lucasville.org for updates and resources

4. Share this information with your neighbors and online community groups

5. Contact the HRM planner overseeing the project:

Jess Harper

Principal Planner, Rural Policy & Applications

Phone: 902-478-6875E

mail: jessica.harper@halifax.ca

When you contact the planner, please be kind. Speak from the heart. If you grew up here, live here now, or plan to return, your story matters.

Our Message is Simple

Lucasville is not against thoughtful growth.We are against unchecked development that does not reflect our values, our voices, or our vision.We are not just protecting land. We are protecting a legacy.

Let’s come together and make it clear: Lucasville deserves a say. Lucasville deserves respect.

We hope to see you at the meeting.