Two tower project proposed for current site of funeral home in Waterloo

CTV’s Krista Simpson finds out what the developers want to do with the Erb and Good Funeral Home.

Waterloo’s skyline could look quite different if a developer’s plan comes to fruition.

VanMar Developments wants to build two towers of residential units where the Erb & Good Funeral Home has stood for nearly 80 years.

The towers at 167 - 171 King Street South would reach 37 and 33 storeys, offering a total of 834 one and two bedroom units, but that plan is not yet set in stone.

“We proposed one and two bedrooms. There is the opportunity to do three bedrooms,” Paul Levek, development consultant with VanMar Developments, explained.

If approved, the buildings would include commercial and amenity spaces.

The plan also calls for a heritage building at the location, the Kuntz-Labatt house, to be moved. But it would still be part of the site and may be transformed into a restaurant.

“We’re in early days. We just really saw this as it would be the perfect spot for a really great restaurant,” Andrea Sinclair, partner with MHBC Planning said.

As it currently stands, the proposal would require amendments to the zoning bylaw to allow for more density and height and cut back on the amount of bicycle parking available at the site.

However, people living nearby are concerned about the height of the building and the lack of community greenspace.

“It seems like the developer wants to overdevelop the property,” Bob Publicover, a Waterloo resident, said. “I don’t want to be a victim of somebody else’s commercial decision.”

For now, the funeral home continues to operate and councillors with the City of Waterloo will consider the proposal.

“Staff will review the issue and provide further reporting to council at a later date,” Hans Roach, Ward 3 Councillor, said during a city council meeting on Monday.

The funeral home will eventually relocate to 1014 Victoria Street North. “We are committed to providing the same compassionate care and professional service throughout this transition,” Paula Heimpel, funeral director and general manager/owner of Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, said in an email.

The funeral home said the move isn’t imminent and there will be no interruption in Erb & Good’s services.