Tuesday, 6 January 2015

Unhappiness over Sengkang temple with columbarium




7 other cases of residents opposing developments near their homes
By Jalelah Abu Baker, The Straits Times, 5 Jan 2015

Future residents of Build-To-Order (BTO) project Fernvale Lea are up in arms over a planned Chinese temple with columbarium next to their flats. The columbarium, where funeral urns will be stored, will take up 15 per cent of the temple it will be housed at.

About 400 would-be residents of Fernvale Lea attended a closed-door dialogue with Dr Lam Pin Min, MP for Sengkang West, on Jan 4. There have even been requests to get refunds from the Housing Board.

There have been other cases of people not wanting certain types of amenities in their neighbourhood - or, as many know it, the not-in-my-backyard (Nimby) syndrome. Here are some past incidents:

1. October 2013 - International school in Pasir Ris

Issue: Building of international school near homes

A group of residents in Pasir Ris were against the idea of a 12-storey international school looming over their homes and causing traffic congestion. They also wanted to preserve the forested area that had to be cleared for the building.

Outcome: New roads off Pasir Ris Drive 3 and opposite Pasir Ris Drive 10 were created to ensure smooth traffic. Academic buildings were tilted at an angle to reduce the sense of "towering" over the homes, which are mostly terrace or semi-detached homes. The school amenities which generate higher level of noise - such as the school bus drop-off points, sports facilities and the school canteen - were built farthest from the neighbouring residences, nearer to Pasir Ris Drive 3.


2. February 2013 - Nursing home in Yew Tee

Issue: Some Yew Tee residents were against plans to build a nursing home in their neighbourhood. They raised concerns like noise pollution during construction, traffic congestion in the single-lane roads that serve the area, and the nursing home blocking their view. 

Outcome: The nursing home was built to be seven storeys, instead of eight, and the single lane in Choa Chu Kang North 6, towards Choa Chu Kang North 5, was expanded into a dual lane.


3. May 2012 - Nursing home in Bishan East

Issue: Residents said their view would be blocked by the nursing home, and that air flow would be restricted by the building. 

Outcome: The building was capped at six instead of eight storeys.
4. May 2012 - Tall condominiums in Upper Bukit Timah

Issue: Dairy Farm, Chestnut and Cashew estate residents were concerned about taller condominiums being built in the area blocking their green view of a secondary forest, and towering over their low-rise homes. They were also worried that the development may harm the plant and animal life, and increase surface runoff into a canal, which already fills when it rains. They were also upset that a planned road in the area would cut into a canal-side jogging trail popular with residents.

Outcome: The housing blocks on the site were limited to 15 storeys, and a proposed commercial property next to the site was relocated elsewhere. The construction of the road was held off.


5. March 2012 - Studio apartments for elderly in Toh Yi

Issue: Residents in Toh Yi were unhappy with the idea of studio apartments for the elderly being built in their estate. Plans were for the apartments to be built where the area's main recreational facilities - a basketball court, jogging track and community garden - were. Residents were concerned that these facilities would be taken away from them. Some also questioned if the site was suitable for building apartments for the elderly because of the slopes.

Outcome: HDB decided to build a children's playground and community garden on the second floor of the studio apartment building that would be open to everyone. A jogging path was also planned. Fifty carpark spaces were added to relieve the parking shortage in nearby blocks, and footpaths were added to link the studio units seamlessly to the surrounding neighbourhood.


6. October 2008 - Workers' dormitory in Serangoon Gardens

Issue: Serangoon Gardens residents were up in arms over plans to build a workers' dormitory in their estate. They cited noise and pollution from buses ferrying workers, a possible increase in crime, traffic congestion, and lower market value for their properties in the upper-middle class neighbourhood as reasons for their unhappiness.

Outcome: No more than 600 foreigners - generally factory workers in the IT and electronics industries in Ang Mo Kio - were housed at the dormitory, although a feasibility study showed that the space could accommodate 1,000 people. An access road to the building was built, so that buses transporting workers to and from the dormitory need not wind through the estate, and would not worsen traffic congestion problems. The facility came with amenities, designed to ensure that workers would spend most of their time in the dormitory. The area for the site also ended up smaller than planned, making it farther from homes.


7. October 2007 - Funeral home in Sin Ming

Issue: A proposed building in Sin Ming for funeral parlours triggered protests among some of the area's residents, who said there were already too many of them in the estate. They said that placing it near their residential blocks was not ideal, taking into account traditional superstitions which associate death and dying with bad luck. Some also feared a drop in the value of their properties. The site for the proposed building was an empty plot next to Bright Hill Temple, which is near Ai Tong School and residential areas, including HDB blocks and private condominiums.

Outcome: The Government brought forward the development of an adjacent industrial site so it can serve as a buffer between the funeral parlour site and the nearest residential areas and school. Work on the funeral parlour started only after the industrial site developed. The Government also increased the number of car parking lots. The operator of the parlour was also given conditions such as having fully enclosed and air-conditioned premises and confining all activities indoors. All services and activities were screened off from public view through the design and landscaping of the development.




Post by The Straits Times.





Columbarium issue sparks calls for flat refunds
Would-be residents convey request to HDB through MP at dialogue
By Samantha Boh, The Straits Times, 5 Jan 2015

SOME upset would-be residents of Fernvale Lea have asked the Housing Board for a refund for their flats over the columbarium issue.

They conveyed their request to Dr Lam Pin Min, MP for Sengkang West, during a three-hour closed-door dialogue which was attended by 400 people.

In spite of assurances from him that there would not be a crematorium or funeral parlour services at the Chinese temple, a group gathered around a table where they could leave contact details for HDB to call them about a refund. It is unclear how many eventually did so.

Dr Lam, giving a quick rundown of the dialogue, said: "They felt uncomfortable that such a (columbarium) service would be provided there and have requested that HDB look at their request for a refund."

The URA and HDB said in a joint statement later in the evening that they are looking into the request.

The Straits Times understands that several of those who attended the dialogue felt that HDB should have been more upfront about the columbarium.

News of the columbarium, which is expected to be completed by next year, had surprised many residents when it was reported last week.

Dr Lam said that it was indicated in the Fernvale Lea brochure for the new flats.

"There is really nothing to hide," he added.

He also noted that it is not uncommon to have columbarium services at places of worship.

Three temples within Anchorvale - Puat Jit Buddhist Temple, Nanyang Thong Hong Siang Tng Temple and Chee Hwan Kog Temple - already have similar set-ups.

There will be 3,258 residential units in the vicinity of the temple, spread across Build-To-Order projects Fernvale Lea and Fernvale Rivergrove, and executive condominium Lush Acres.

To a number of them, the concern was how the resale value of their flats would be affected by all this. One of them was project manager Vicky Naidu, 33, who said that rejecting the flat "is a very tough decision".

"We have already waited for so many years to get a house, so if I reject this, I have got to wait another few years.

"It is not an easy decision to make overnight."




Post by The Straits Times.





Is living near the dead really so dreadful?

HERE we go again.

First, it was a foreign workers' dormitory in Serangoon Gardens, then studio apartments in Toh Yi Drive and eldercare facilities in Woodlands and Bishan, and now it is a columbarium in Sengkang West ("Columbarium issue sparks calls for flat refunds"; yesterday).

The not-in-my-backyard syndrome has resurfaced again, this time in the form of objections to "living near the dead".

Will this issue never end in land-scarce Singapore? Already, it is posing a headache for urban planners.

Unless we banish all matters related to ageing, dying and the dead to offshore islands, Singaporeans will continue to debate this issue in years to come. Sengkang West will not be the last as our population continues to age.

Notwithstanding the controversy between the seller and buyers over disclosure of information, we need to ask ourselves: Is living near the dead really so dreadful? What about funeral wakes at HDB void decks, some lasting up to a week? Wouldn't these be more of a nuisance to residents?

We have learnt to live with and accept void-deck funeral wakes, so why can't we accept a columbarium that is part of the neighbourhood?

 Douglas Chua
ST Forum, 6 Jan 2015









Columbarium builder committed to run temple
But faith groups say land bid from commercial entity was 'surprising'
By Melody Zaccheus, The Straits Times, 7 Jan 2015

THE company that is planning to build a columbarium in Fernvale Link has affirmed its commitment to running a Chinese temple at the site to serve the community, the authorities said yesterday.

In a statement yesterday, the Housing Board and Urban Redevelopment Authority said that the company must adhere strictly to the tender conditions and preserve the intent of the site as a Chinese temple.

The site has been zoned a "Place of Worship" since 2003. Guidelines allow space of up to 20 per cent of gross floor area at such places to be set aside for ancillary columbarium use. This must be located inside the main building, out of sight from the surrounding developments, the statement said.

Last July, Eternal Pure Land, which is owned by Life Corp, won a tender for the 2,000 sq m site for $5.2 million.

News that a columbarium will be built as part of the temple sparked an outcry from some nearby flat owners.

Faith associations and property experts said it is surprising that a commercial organisation was allowed to bid for land earmarked for religious use.

But they added that could become more common in the future as land gets more expensive.

Describing the practice as rare the Singapore Buddhist Fede-ration's Venerable Shi Chuan Guan, the chairman of its dharma propagation committee, said religious groups usually bid for land to serve the needs of their devotees and are "never commercial endeavours".

Singapore Taoist Federation's administrator, Master Wei Yi, said that temples usually run their own columbaria.

"We take it as a service to the community... It's not about making money," he said.

There are more than 60 columbaria in Singapore.

The Government runs four of them. They are in Mandai, Yishun, Choa Chu Kang and Upper Aljunied Road. The rest are mostly run by churches and temples.

Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery houses a columbarium with more than 200,000 niches at Bright Hill Road. Prices range from $1,600 to $9,880 for a niche.

A niche at a Christian columbarium, the Garden of Remembrance in Choa Chu Kang, starts at $3,500 for a 60-year lease, while those at the privately owned Nirvana Memorial Garden next door average $6,000.

But real estate firms said corporate and religious partnerships could be the way forward as land and construction costs are steep.

R'ST Research director Ong Kah Seng said it could work for small and cash-strapped religious organisations.

"The commercial entity has the means to execute the end product. It can otherwise be a costly affair for a religious group with little expertise in the area," he said.

Amitabha Buddhist Society's secretary Ben Lee, 50, however, believes business should not be mixed with religion.

He said: "The needs of worshippers should be at the heart of any expansion effort. I don't think it is right for a company to profit from religious groups."





Sengkang temple to cost $20m
By Lester Hio, The Straits Times, 7 Jan 2015

BUILDING a temple with a columbarium in Sengkang will cost developer Life Corporation almost $20 million, according to documents filed by the company.

The land tender bid cost $5 million and the construction itself will cost $15 million.

The Housing Board (HDB) launched the tender for the site in Fernvale Link, which was awarded to a Singapore company, Eternal Pure Land, last July.

The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Life Corporation, which is listed on the Australian stock exchange.

Life Corporation is an Australian company which was originally set up as a cord blood banking company named Cordlife in 2001.

In 2013, Life Corporation sold off Cordlife and re-established itself under its current name, with a new focus on funeral services.

To that end, it acquired Singapore Funeral Services, which provides funeral and casket services, in December 2013 for $8 million, according to its annual report last year.

Life Corporation's chairman, Mr Kam Yuen, said in the report that "the private columbarium business will complement (its) existing funeral services".

Life Corporation chief executive Simon Hoo has said there will be no funeral services at the Sengkang site.

For the financial year ended June 30, 2014, the company reported a net loss of A$2.6 million (S$2.8 million), up 61 per cent from its A$1.6 million loss in 2013.

Data from the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority shows Eternal Pure Land was registered on June 12 - 16 days after the tender was put up - for the "sales of bereavement products and services".

Its winning bid was $5.2 million, according to tender documents on the HDB website, almost three times as much as the lowest one.

The two other bidders, Peng Hong Association and Xing Guang Maitreya Society, bid $4 million and $1.8 million respectively.





Residents elsewhere don't mind
By Danson Cheong, The Straits Times, 7 Jan 2015

THE opposition among residents to a proposed columbarium in the upcoming Fernvale Lea estate does not seem to be mirrored in other areas of Singapore that already accommodate such centres.

The Straits Times spoke to 30 residents living near three columbariums nestled within residential areas and found a general level of acceptance.

Many shared the views of Bukit Purmei resident Alvin Sum, who has been living beside the Church of St Teresa, which houses a columbarium, for more than 20 years.

"Singapore is so small, if you don't want to build it here, where would you put it?" said the 35-year-old civil servant.

"At the end of the day, we will all end up there as ashes."

The columbarium at the Church of St Teresa is above ground and visible from some housing blocks around the church.

Yishun resident Tay Siew Fang, 50, said it was convenient living beside such facilities.

"People should regard this kind of building in the heartland as a benefit, not a problem," said Madam Tay, who works in a bakery and lives near the Yishun Columbarium in Yishun Ring Road.

"Who wants to travel so far when you can offer prayers right in the neighbourhood?"

Some residents were not even aware at first that there was a columbarium in their backyard.

"I didn't know about it when I moved in," said Mrs Qian Au Mei, who moved to the area two years ago.

Mrs Qian, 70, lives near the Faith Methodist Church in Commonwealth, which has a columbarium.

"I have no complaints, it's not a big deal," she said.

But a few felt that living so close to columbariums could bring bad luck or fengshui.

"I've been living here for more than 30 years, I'm used to it," said another Bukit Purmei resident, Madam Siew Hui Qing, 65.

 She added: "I think it's not good for fengshui, but even if I give feedback, they are not going to do anything about it."

 Additional reporting by Samantha Goh and Isaac Neo




Post by The Straits Times.






Columbarium in Sengkang: FAQ on death-related facilities and sites in Singapore
By Jalelah Abu Baker And Lester Hio, The Straits Times, 12 Jan 2015

Some residents of Fernvale Lea, an upcoming Build-To-Order (BTO) HDB project in Sengkang, have protested against the housing of a columbarium within a Chinese temple near their flats.

Some said that they did not know about the columbarium plans. Others pointed out that a mention of it was in fine print in a brochure.

Here are answers to some commonly-asked questions about the issue.
Q: What are the sort of death-related facilities and sites in Singapore?

There are basically four:

Funeral parlour: A place where the dead are prepared for burial or cremation.

Crematorium: Where a body is cremated.

Cemetery: Where the dead are buried.

Columbarium: A room or building with niches for funeral urns to be stored.
Q: Which authority is in charge of these sites/facilities?

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) decides how land can be used through its Master Plan, which takes into account the overall planning considerations in an area. Land that is zoned for death-related facilities and sites are then put up for tender by agencies that are allocated these land plots. In the case of land where BTO flats are built, the agency that does this is the Housing Board.

The National Environment Agency manages cemeteries in Singapore and also four columbaria in Mandai, Yishun, Mount Vernon and Choa Chu Kang.

Private columbaria are managed by the businesses or organisations behind them.
Q: Where can I get more information on land use?

The latest URA Master Plan 2014 shows how land is zoned.

Land uses are marked according to colour. For example, light blue denotes a "water body", light yellow denotes a "reserve site" and red with a "H" denotes "health and medical care".

The Master Plan is reviewed every five years.

It does not give details on actual development. For example, a site marked "place of worship" could be a mosque, church or temple.
Q: What does it mean if a parcel of land is marked "reserve site"?

URA defines it as such: "These are areas the specific use of which has yet to be determined. Interim uses that are compatible with the uses in the locality may be allowed subject to evaluation by the competent authority."

Land parcels that are zoned "reserve site" may be put into any use in future, including for death-related facilities.

However, the future use of a reserve site will take into consideration how it can complement surrounding developments. For example, it is unlikely that a land zoned reserve site located in the middle of a housing estate will be used for a cemetery in future.
Q: What do the rules say about the development of columbaria?

According to URA guidelines in place since 1999, columbaria can be part of free-standing buildings being used as places of worship, clan associations, homes for the aged, nursing homes and religious schools.

There must be a 4.5m buffer between the sites where the columbaria are housed and other buildings.

The URA guidelines allow space of up to 20 per cent of the total gross floor area to be set aside for columbarium use.

The columbarium must be located inside the main building, out of sight from the surrounding developments and preferably in the basement.

If it has to be located above ground, it should be screened from public view.

All death-related facilities must also be well integrated with the surroundings and other boundaries.
Q: What sort of land-use information does a person applying for a BTO project normally get?

HDB Build-To-Order projects are launched on HDB's website.

A sales brochure will be made available to the public. It will contain the project's location map, site plan, unit distribution, typical floor plan, layout ideas and general specifications.

The location map will show future roads and facilities including MRT lines and schools.

If at the time of launch details are available on proposed buildings, they will also be shown.
Q: When was Fernvale Lea marketed?

Fernvale Lea, which will have 1,150 units in eight 26-storey high blocks, was launched under the HDB Build-To-Order exercise in January 2012. It will be ready this year.
Q: What information exactly was given out to residents?

Some residents referred to the hard-copy sales brochure, which contained information specific to Fernvale Lea and another BTO project in Sengkang. The brochure came with a map which showed the site of the Chinese temple and other facilities in the area. Residents said the possibility of the temple housing a columbarium was mentioned only in fine print at the bottom of the page.

The fine print read: "The information contained herein is subject to change at any time without notice and cannot form part of an offer or contract. The proposed facilities and their locations as shown are only estimates."

 It went on to say: "The proposed facilities may include other ancillary uses allowed under URA's prevailing Development Control guidelines. For example, places of worship may also include columbarium as an ancillary use, while community centres may also include childcare centres."


A HDB webpage which displayed information on four BTO projects launched in 2012, including Fernvale Lea, also had the same disclaimer in fine print.

An electronic sales brochure specific to Fernvale Lea and typically released at the start of BTO application, however, has a more general disclaimer. It stated: "The proposed facilities, their locations and surrounding land-use shown in the maps and plans are indicative only and subject to change or review. These facilities may include other ancillary uses allowed under URA's prevailing Development Control guidelines."

The site plan in the e-brochure showed an area marked out as "Site Reserved for Chinese Temple".
Q: When was the tender for the Chinese temple site put up?

HDB put up the tender on May 27, 2014. The tender closed on July 8 and was awarded on July 17.
Q: Who won the Chinese Temple site bid?

Singapore company Eternal Pure Land Pte Ltd, which is wholly owned by Life Corporation. It had put up a bid for $5.2 million.

Life Corporation is an Australian company which was originally set up as a cord blood banking company named Cordlife in 2001. In 2013, it sold off Cordlife and re-established itself under its current name, with a new focus on funeral services.

It acquired Singapore Funeral Services, which provides funeral and casket services, in December 2013 for $8 million, according to its annual report last year.

Life Corporation has offices in both Australia and Singapore.

Eternal Pure Land was set up on June 12 last year, 16 days after HDB put up the site for tender.

There were two other bidders for the site: Peng Hong Association, which had a bid of $4 million, and Xing Guang Maitreya Society, which had a $1.8 million bid. Both are Buddhist societies. It is not clear what their plans were.

What has Life Corp revealed of its plans for the site?

Life Corporation intends to use the land for a Chinese temple with an integrated columbarium.

In an announcement posted to the Australia Securities Exchange on Nov 21, 2014, Life Corporation said the land was "integral to Life Corporation's expansion plans and strategic direction to provide a full suite of premium funeral services".

It also stated that the land will be used for the construction of a "Chinese temple with an integrated state of the art automated columbarium".

It added that "this represents a major step forward in Life Corporation's intention to become the leading provider of funeral and funeral-related services in Singapore".
Q: Why are Fernvale residents unhappy?

Residents cited various reasons for their unhappiness.

Some did not like the idea of living next to the dead. According to a petition put up by angry residents, some said they did not want their children to be exposed to "these kinds of things so young in their lives".

Others were annoyed that the site was not clearly marked as being used for a columbarium. They said the possibility of a columbarium at the site of the temple was in fine print, and HDB did not also make that clear to them.

Others were worried that the proximity of a columbarium would affect the resale value of their flats.
Q: How have the authorities responded?

HDB has maintained that it is within URA guidelines for the temple to develop a columbarium, as long as it comprises only up to 20 per cent of the total area.

URA and HDB also said they will ensure that the proposed temple will integrate well with the surrounding developments, the same way other existing places of worship with columbarium space have been integrated in many residential estates.

They also added that "to allow for flexibility in the choice of operating model, the tender was open to both private companies and religious organisations".

MP for Sengkang West, Dr Lam Pin Min, addressed the issue in a Facebook post on Dec 30 last year. He reassured residents that there will be no crematorium or funeral services on the site. The columbarium will also be kept within the complex, screened from public view.

He also pointed out that similar setups can be found at the Puat Jit Buddhist Temple in Anchorvale and the Church of St Francis Xavier in Serangoon Gardens.

He held a dialogue on Jan 4, 2015 with the residents, HDB, URA and Life Corporation to discuss the issue.

Some residents want to give up their flats and are waiting to see if they will be allowed to get a refund from HDB.





What Nimbyism says about society

Editorial, The Straits Times, 14 Jan 2015

ANY measure of liveability applied to land-scarce Singapore would certainly invoke a common readiness to share spaces. Conversely, any opposing attitude would be a recipe for social discord - like a not-in-my-backyard (Nimby) outlook or a drawbridge mentality that seeks to keep some things or some people at a distance.

Instances of the latter are deeply troubling because they betray a social backwardness that is at odds with the forward-looking spirit of development that characterises the Republic.

The latest Nimby controversy over a planned columbarium in Sengkang brings to mind the negative trait. But some unhappy buyers of new flats at Fernvale Lea say the issue is the proper disclosure of planned uses of adjacent spaces. Government agencies have a duty to inform existing and prospective residents about uses that may affect their living environment and home resale values. That argument is sound in principle. Alongside it, one must also weigh other considerations like larger imperatives, practicality and cost.

Once associated with the hazardous waste industry, Nimbyism has come to describe a certain pickiness of people in urban settings. Facilities such as train stations, malls and parks are welcomed. But care facilities for recovering addicts, former offenders and the elderly are resented. The Nimby pack might question the rationale of urban planners or point to alternative locations, but that would be missing the larger point.

A mature society must show a willingness to accommodate all infrastructure that is deemed a social good - for example, developments for the elderly (like nursing homes and studio apartments); housing for foreigners working in critical areas; an international school; and, yes, resting places for the dead (like the funeral parlour in Sin Ming).

The authorities have shown a willingness to accommodate residents' concerns but, rightly, not to cancel development plans. In some instances, new roads and parking lots have been built to address congestion concerns. In others, the timing and scale of planned developments have been adjusted. Such moves should be embedded in planning software.

There is no room for a win-lose attitude in resolving disputes of this nature. To be a citizen of a tiny, densely populated city state is to accept accommodation of competing needs for space.

It would be regressive if individual interests are increasingly placed over communal interests and, worse, if these are politicised. In an ageing society, it would be truly sad for all if young and old live segregated lives. This was not how Singapore was conceived by pioneers; this is not what it should evolve into.




Post by The Straits Times.





* Sengkang columbarium issue: HDB rejects flat buyers' refund requests
By Lester Hio, The Straits Times, 24 Feb 2015

THE Housing Board has rejected the requests of unhappy flat buyers for refunds on their Build-To-Order (BTO) flats, made last month when they discovered that a temple with a commercial columbarium would be built near the estate in Sengkang.
That project will no longer go ahead as planned.

HDB said in a statement that it received 95 requests as at Feb 9 from future residents of three BTO projects along Fernvale Link - Fernvale Lea, Fernvale Rivergrove and Fernvale Riverbow - asking to cancel their bookings, and get a refund.

These 95 make up 2.4 per cent of the 4,000 units in the three BTO projects.

HDB reiterated that the Ministry of National Development (MND) and its agencies would ensure that the site is restored to the original plan of a Chinese temple. Whether it has a columbarium or not would depend on the temple's trustees, and would be subject to the Urban Redevelopment Authority's guidelines and approval.

HDB sent official letters or e-mail to buyers to turn down their requests on Feb 16.

The buyers have until Friday to notify HDB if they wish to proceed with the cancellation of their flat application. If they do so, they will be subject to the standard process of cancellation, wherein they forfeit the option fee paid if they cancel before signing the Agreement for Lease. This can range from $250 to $2,000, depending on flat type.

If they cancel after signing the agreement, they will forfeit 5 per cent of the flat's purchase price.

The appeals for refunds were made after buyers discovered that a temple complex with a commercial columbarium, run by Australian-listed company Life Corporation through its subsidiary Eternal Pure Land, would be built nearby.

At a dialogue with residents and agencies involved, called by Sengkang West MP Lam Pin Min on Jan 4, buyers claimed that the site was earmarked for a temple and should not be given to a for-profit company.

Others said they were misled by the site plan and did not want to live near a columbarium.

A group of residents left their names with HDB afterwards, asking for a refund. There have been no further updates from HDB or MND on their talks with Eternal Pure Land regarding the site.

Restaurant manager Catherine Neo, who asked for a refund, said: "A temple columbarium won't hold as many niches as a commercial columbarium, so that's okay with me. There's nothing that can be done. I'll get the key and move in, but I might not stay there for long."



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