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While most neighbours were supportive, Mr. Teehan said, a vocal few began campaigning to have the existing home designated a heritage property, creating an online petition and sending concerned emails to the office of Councillor Sandra Bussin.

“I’ve been here 15 years, and I’m not happy,” said Elizabeth Brown, who lives across the street. While she sympathized with the Teehans’ plight, she called the proposed rebuild “excessive and inappropriate” for a neighbourhood comprised of century-old properties.

“We don’t need this to be torn down and replaced with a contemporary cube,” Ms. Brown said. “We need to preserve for the future.”

” also emerged, with former Beach resident Kirstin Campbell — who now lives in Germany — lamenting the destruction of “another integral part of the Beaches heritage.”

Amid heavy criticism from readers, the blog was recently taken offline, but the residents’ efforts appear to have spurred Ms. Bussin to act. In community council this week, she introduced a motion asking heritage preservation services staff to report on designating 204 Beech a heritage property; the motion passed, meaning the Teehans’ plans to build their new home by 2011 will be put into a holding pattern until the report is complete.

“It’s very compelling,” Ms. Bussin said of the Teehans’ circumstances. “I have great empathy for the family; however, we’re dealing with a Beach legacy property that will be gone forever.”