On December 17, the City of Kitchener closed the purchase of 91 Moore Ave., a former Catholic school board site located directly adjacent to Kitchener's Mount Hope Cemetery.
In the short term, the land will not be altered. The land includes a building with a single tenant, Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region. The City will honour the lease agreement with the tenant and preserve the building.
Longer term, the land and building will be used primarily for cemetery and niche purposes with some limited community space.
"The City welcomes the prospect of expanding Mount Hope Cemetery. More land at our oldest and most centrally-located cemetery means it is easier for families to travel to by transit to pay their respects. Opportunities are rare to acquire land in an urban established area with strong links to transit. This purchase will help expand our end of life services and make space available in a growing, intensifying area of our city," said Trisha Bradshaw, Manager of Cemeteries at the City of Kitchener.
"The City issues approximately 1,100 burial permits each year. With a growing trend toward cremation at the end of life, the City continually evaluates how best to provide cemetery services that meet the needs of our community. Developing facilities to accommodate cremated remains and provide space for families to visit final resting places is a key part of offering a sustainable, long term approach to after life care by the municipality," said Trisha Bradshaw.
