It may be a 7,300 square-foot, $7-million, newly renovated mansion in one of Vancouver’s most upscale neighbourhoods, but that’s not stopping its owners from wanting to tear it down – a decision that dozens protested Sunday afternoon.

“It’s greed, it’s money,” said Bev Watt, who is a member of the group protesting the potential teardown. “This is about the common good, this is about the environment. To me that is not green and it's unsustainable.”

The owners of 6088 Adera St., a luxury home in Shaughnessy, have filed an application with the city to demolish the house – a decision that has angered many people living in the area.

Vancouver has a goal of being the “greenest city in the world”, but city councillor Adriane Carr says that’s not possible if the teardown of well-built homes is permitted.

“You're talking about a city that's in housing crisis, where homes are being torn down, monster homes built staying empty and all of that escalates the prices,” Carr said, noting that the best way to change this is by changing zoning bylaws.

But not everyone wants the government intervention. Richard Younker lives in the area, and says redevelopment has been appropriate for the neighbourhood.

“I generally believe that people should be able to build a home that suits them,” he said. “I think that if people have the money and the wherewithal to want to change a home that they should be able to do so - at any stage.”

But many – including the protestors – see this home and its future a symbol of Vancouver and its changing face.

“The change is happening so rapidly, we do need action,” said Carr. “This is a crisis in Vancouver.”

With files from CTV Vancouver’s Alex Turner