goodsam2 t1_jad91hg wrote on February 28, 2023 at 4:36 PM

Reply to comment by WhalerBum in Richmond mulls historic cemetery takeover by CrassostreaVirginica

Cemeteries in most other countries actually operate differently. Basically you bury a person then after like 100+ years they would then move the body to a crypt. The new spot would then be paid for by someone to bury them. Therefore having a plausible working model of how to continue maintenance on the grave.

American cemeteries don't do this and so when the cemetery becomes full they basically run out of money and someone who is not and will never be buried there needs to upkeep it.

Edit: I think American cemeteries do some investments to keep it updated from the grave spot.

Cactuscouch757 t1_jadqxag wrote on February 28, 2023 at 6:29 PM

Yeah this isn't really accurate. Cemeteries regularly disenter bodies of people who don't pay. They will send letters to next of kin and dig you up once no one answers. They then resell the plot. They even double stack caskets in some cases. Some cemeteries(hollywood) have perpetuity funds/investments, evergreen did not. You can still buy a plot in Hollywood today, it's most likely a used lot.

I still think burial grounds are the worst possible use of riverfront downtown land.

Ditovontease t1_jadvz5l wrote on February 28, 2023 at 7:00 PM

I mean at least Hollywood is open to the public so that you can actually enjoy the river (when I lived in the fan I’d go there to read by the river). If it were private apartments instead only rich fucks get to.

gleepgloopgleepgloop t1_jadujci wrote on February 28, 2023 at 6:51 PM

They do investing but there's no guarantee that the investments will pay off or won't be grifted at some point.