Hardly anyone wants an indoor mausoleum in the Sault

Hardly anyone is interested in buying an indoor mausoleum in Sault Ste. Marie, it seems.

In February, SooToday reported that people lined up before 6 a.m. on the day that 144 outdoor mausoleum crypts were offered for sale to the public.

Last October, City Council agreed with a request from Ward 3 Coun. Matthew Shoemaker and Ward 4's Rick Niro to track demand for an indoor mausoleum for one year.

"To date there has only been one inquiry brought forward even with the media coverage of the request to study indoor mausoleum feasibility," says Brent Lamming, the city's director of community services.

"The cost of an indoor mausoleum is as much as three times the cost ($3 million) of an outdoor mausoleum ($1 million)," Lamming says in a report prepared for Monday's City Council meeting.

"As of March 24, 2021, there are only 28 single crypts available and companion crypts are sold out. This indicates that the city will likely run out by the end of 2021 or early 2022 if historical purchasing trends remain."

"Given the challenges to replenish the cemetery reserve to meet the existing outdoor mausoleum requirements, it is not recommended to move forward with an indoor mausoleum build at this time unless significant demand is received from the community."

Monday's City Council meeting will be livestreamed on SooToday starting at 4:30 p.m.