Council approves funeral home expansion at the cost of housing units

The proposal to expand the Henry Walser Funeral Home located on Frederick Street was approved by Kitchener city council Monday night. 

The expansion will include the addition of a crematorium and the extension of the building's parking lot, but will include the demolition of two nearby housing units.

The units located at 40 and 44 Becker Street are owned by Henry Walser, the same owner of the funeral home.

Now that the expansion has been approved, tenants of the two buildings will have to relocate elsewhere. 

Walser delegated to council at Monday night's meeting saying housing alternatives have been presented to existing tenants.

“In the last month three units have become available, two at 127 Ann Street which are one-bedroom units and one at 48 Becker which is a two-bedroom unit. I've given each of the tenants applications for those units, I've told them they will not be advertised pubicly until after April 1st, I've had no response.” 

Walser added, the current rent for tenants at 40 and 44 Becker Street is already about $400 lower than what they'd pay elsewhere. 

He said if those tenants choose to move to the units at 48 Becker and 127 Ann, their rent will increase due to the rise in interest rates and refurbishing costs. 

Walser said he has offered each tenant $5,500 for relocation costs. 
 
Monday night's meeting also heard from delegates against the expansion, with one arguing the removal of these units is in stark contrast to the current need for affordable housing in the region. 

“This isn't fundamental to the aesthetic of his building, this is tearing down existing low-income housing in a time of COVID when we simply don't have enough low-income housing.”

Other delegates focused on the housing and environmental concerns of having a crematorium operating in the middle of a residential area. 

“The logic of putting a crematorium and incinerating human bodies in the middle of a residential area and the housing [removal] that is going to be for parking and cars which will only be used on a part-time basis goes against everything the city says it believes in. Including in its housing-for-all strategy.” 

Walser said he has asked social services organization Community Justice Initiatives to help meditate the conversation between himself and tenants, which he said as of Monday has yet to occur.