Lakeview Cemetery is one step closer to getting a new mausoleum.
Emilio Raimondo, who owns architectural firm Raimondo+Associates, presented his design for the new building during Tuesday’s city council meeting.
Raimondo told council members that the mausoleum will boast a courtyard and reflecting pool, along with 184 crypts, 1378 interior niches, and an additional 795 exterior niches.
“There’s certainly a need and demand for some inventory,” Raimondo said. “The existing mausoleum is relatively full. Some of the crypts that remain are what we consider in an undesirable location.”
According to Raimondo, crypts closer to windows are more marketable, and this was taken into consideration when drawing up plans for the new building.
“We wanted the design to optimize some of the internal crypts and niches,” he said. “There’s quite a bit of glass on all four sides. In turn that makes the crypts more marketable and can demand more revenue for the city of Thorold and make it more desirable for prospective purchasers.”
After the presentation, councillors offered praise for the mausoleum’s design.
“I’m very excited to see this for the citizens of Thorold,” said councillor Mike De Divitiis. “I think this will help us compete with other cemeteries.”
In the past few years, Lakeview Cemetery has been going through some growing pains.
First, the admin building was forcibly closed after reports of black mold and asbestos. Then, there were staffing issues, and just last month, city council voted against opening up space in the cemetery for the local Muslim community.
When it comes to the new mausoleum, Councillor Henry D’Angela wants Thorold residents to be able to give their feedback, and asked for a public meeting on the proposal.
“That’s a great suggestion,” said Raimondo. “We’d be prepared to participate.”
Construction of the new mausoleum is estimated to cost around $2,535,000.
The project will need to be approved during the 2024 Capital Budget deliberations. Funding is expected to come from the sales of the crypts and niches.
Raimondo is also currently working on the plans for the renovation of the cemetery’s admin building which will be presented to city council at a later date.
