Council OKs plan for Walser funeral home that saves one home from demolition

A revised proposal that saves one of three homes set to be demolished for an expansion of the Henry Walser Funeral Home in Kitchener was approved by council Monday night.

The original plan to expand the Frederick Street funeral home and construct a crematorium would have demolished three homes owned by Walser on nearby Becker Street for additional parking.

Tenants in those homes — who have been paying affordable rents since Walser bought them in 2017 — would be evicted.

The proposal sparked opposition from community members and several deferrals at committee and council meetings as staff and the applicant looked at various options.

“There are real, lived impacts when you remove housing, especially units that are pinned at an affordable rate. It’s traumatic,” said Kitchener resident Beisan Zubi, who told council of her experience being renovicted from a property in Waterloo.

The plan approved Monday spares one of the three homes, at 48 Becker St.; tenants at 40 and 44 Becker St. will still be forced out once the expansion proceeds.

Several other alternatives — ranging from adding a second storey to the existing funeral home to using a portion of Becker Street or nearby property owned by the Ministry of Transportation for parking — were explored in recent weeks but were ruled out.

“It’s unfortunate in these times that people are going to have to be relocated,” Walser said. But he said he wants to expand to serve a growing, and aging, population.

Walser said he offered available units in properties he owns on Ann and Becker streets to affected tenants, albeit likely at market rent as he plans to refurbish the units; he said one tenant wasn’t interested; two others haven’t responded.

He said he also didn’t receive a response to an offer of $5,500 to each tenant for relocation costs.

Walser said he’s hoping to work with Community Justice Initiatives to help mediate communication with his tenants.

Council’s vote wasn’t unanimous — some councillors said they couldn’t support the displacement of vulnerable residents in the midst of a housing crisis, while others noted growing demand for the service that Walser’s business provides to the community.

“I hope to encourage … businesses to avoid the opportunities of financial gain by buying up private, affordable housing units,” said Coun. Aislinn Clancy. “I will not support this proposal because it will have a negative impact on low-income families.”

Added Coun. Jason Deneault: “We have to stop displacing people. … Where are these people going to go? I think as a council and as a community, we have to be better.”

Others sympathized with affected tenants, but said the proposal’s merits from a planning perspective are sound.

“This is a heart/head decision, definitely,” said Coun. Scott Davey, who represents the ward where the funeral home is located. “This is not some conglomerate coming in, this is a family-run business.”

Davey said if the application was turned down, the city would likely lose if Walser appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal and could also lose any gains made in recent weeks, like the removal of one of the homes from the proposal.

“There’s no question this is a difficult and a complex issue, at a time when we know there are housing challenges in the community,” said Mayor Berry Vrbanovic.

“We want to see small business thrive in the community,” he said. “This is a small business that’s meeting a growing need.”

It’s unfortunate in these times that people are going to have to be relocated.

HENRY WALSER FUNERAL DIRECTOR