Why are we tearing down affordable housing for parking spots?

The loss of even a single unit of affordable housing is tragic, and last night Kitchener council voted to demolish two properties so a funeral home could expand its business.

I know it doesn’t sound like much, two properties, but it means everything to the families who live there. They are paying affordable rents and now have to upend their lives during a devastating housing crisis where rents are astronomical and ownership is out of reach for most.

It is hard to begrudge a local business owner from wanting to expand his business. He owns those two properties after all. I’ve had nothing but good experiences with Henry Walser Funeral Home both professionally and personally. They really care about people. They tried to find alternatives to their original plan and even offered the families alternative housing (although that doesn’t make up for the loss of a place one calls home). But this is where I struggle with what has transpired over the last year: Where was the care from both the city and applicant at the beginning of this process?

After months of deferrals and revisions, the final plan approved by Kitchener council Monday night would save one of three properties from demolition. They really tried to reduce parking on site, but it wasn’t enough.

Let’s do some parking math based on the proposal that was approved last night. The funeral home currently has 113 parking spaces and says the lot fills up when the funeral home is in full operation.

They will have 133 parking spaces after the expansion, and 12 of those spaces will be off-site (on Becker Street just behind the funeral home where the properties are located) and used by staff.

So two homes will be demolished for eight parking spots. EIGHT.

Walser argued that off-site parking didn’t suit his “business needs.” I understand mobility challenges and the need for accessible parking, but many able-bodied people also attend funerals. Why couldn’t an agreement be made with Frederick Mall (short walk away) or Rexall pharmacy (right next door) to provide additional parking when needed? Surely those two locations can spare eight parking spaces on days when the funeral home is busy. I can also mention that the funeral home is on a very accessible bus route, but I know bus travel isn’t for everyone. Another viable option: Encourage car-pooling for people who plan to attend a visitation.

It just boggles my mind that vulnerable people will now lose their homes for eight parking spots. The other tragedy is that two reliable properties in central Kitchener will be erased from the city’s housing stock. This is a loss not only for the families living there but also for families who could have lived in those affordable homes in the future.

To me and every other engaged, forward-thinking citizen of this city, this decision reinforces the city’s fixation on car culture.

Politicians who voted in favour of Walser’s expansion told us they care about cars and the convenience of drivers more than the people who will lose their affordable homes. It is as simple as that.

Walser has a great reputation in this city, there is no denying that. He could have set an example for other local businesses by coming up with creative ways to get people to his funeral home without tearing down those homes, better yet, the city should have spearheaded such ideas.

We need to save homes and encourage better ways to travel, not tear down houses for parking lots.