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5 | W aterloo C hronicle | T hursday,July 23,2020 w aterloochronicle.ca Crossword & SudokuAnswers 85 BRIDGEPORT RD. E. WATERLOO (Across from the Bridgeport Rd. Plaza) SINCE 1971 519-893-8118 FURNITURE & MATTRESSES SINCE 1971 Comfort Plus SINCE 1971 FURNITURE & MATTRESSES Comfort Plus SINCE 1971 FURNITURE & MATTRESSES 85 WE HAVE RE-OPENED By Appointment Only WE HAVE RE-OPENED BY APPOINTMENT ONLY PLEASE CALL 519-893-8118 FOR DETAILS MON.,TUES.,WED. 10AM - 6 PM THURS.& FRI. 10AM - 6 PM SATURDAY 9AM - 5 PM SUNDAY 12 PM - 4 PM www.waterloochronicle.ca connected to your City of Waterloo council has OK'd the de- molition of the three vacant, boarded-up homes on Erb Street West, just east of West- mount Road, to facilitate additional park- ing and site improvements for a mosque. In order to expand parking and to facil- itate site improvements at the Waterloo Masjid, located at 213 Erb St. W., the Mus- lim Society of Waterloo and Wellington Counties requested an exemption to the city's demolition control bylaw, which re- quires replacement development if homes are demolished. The boarded-up homes have been va- cant since 2016, according to a city staff re- port that says the lands will be consolidat- ed -- with the larger property containing the existing Waterloo Masjid. "The applicant intends to expand the parking area for the Waterloo Masjid to meet high parking demands, with comple- mentary site improvements. The proposed site design identifies 17 additional parking spaces, enhanced landscaping, improved walkways, and improved on-site pedestri- an paths of travel," says the report. The proposed site design received en- dorsement for approval from the city's site plan review committee in June. Coun. Tenille Bonoguore believes it's a smart move that will not only help the mas- jid, but the neighbiourhood as well. "I'm usually against demolishing hous- ing but there's such a need for parking at this site," stated Bonoguore. "There's a very high turnover of parking on prayer days." NEWS WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? VACANT HOMES TO BE DEMOLISHED WHAT'SGOINGON WONDERING WHAT'S GOING ON SOMEWHERE IN YOUR COMMUNITY? VISIT WATERLOOCHRONICLE.CA Bill Jackson/Torstar A vocal minority has once again swayed our politicians to do their bidding. Uptown motor vehicle traffic has been thoroughly strangled in order to provide space for bi- cycle traffic. What is the thinking here? If you build it, they will come? Perhaps, if driving becomes too frus- trating, people will forsake their cars. Wa- terloo will become like Amsterdam, with thousands of happy commuters bicycling to work every day. Now, all we need is an actual bicyclist. Hold it ... here comes one now! Oh. He's on the sidewalk. Bob Smith, - Waterloo LETTER TO THE EDITOR LOCAL BICYCLE LANES ARE POINTLESS