People in Hammonds Plains were not welcoming of new development because of how it was being planned in their community without their input.
Curtis Whiley, founder and CEO of the Hammonds Plains Community Land Trust, told Nova Scotia Today with Dan Ahlstrand, that members of the community were looking for a way to combat the issue of “unchecked” development. This is where the idea of a “land trust” was formed, which brought people together to use policy to have a say over what can be built.
The historically Black community has faced racism and adversity for more than a century since refugees settled there after the War of 1812. Because of that, the community has worked to take back control of the land and how the area is built up to ensure equality.
“We definitely want our community to grow but there was all kinds of unintended consequences that the community was facing,” he said.