A Beach homeowner, angered by Councillor Sandra Bussin’s attempt to have his house designated as a heritage property and stop its redevelopment has taken his fight to her doorstep.

Geoff Teehan and his wife Melissa challenged Bussin from the front row of a local meeting Thursday night at Adam Beck Community Centre. “This is my life,” shouted Teehan angrily at Bussin, who sat only a metre from him. About 40 supporters noisily filled the small room.

The Teehans bought 204 Beech Ave. this year with the intention of tearing down the existing century-old cottage-style home and replacing it with one that is fully accessible.

Melissa Teehan, 38, was diagnosed in 2007 with transverse myelitis, a rare neurological disorder, and is confined to a wheelchair. The couple has two sons, 7 and 9.

“You’re on the wrong end of this and you know it,” her husband told Bussin. “We did our due diligence.” The Teehans made sure the house had no heritage designation before purchasing it, but Bussin became involved when a neighbour complained the house should not be torn down.

Bussin said Thursday night that she’d told the Teehans that she was going to do an “investigation,” to which both Teehans replied, “No, you said ‘bear with me.’”

Teehan accused Bussin of going behind the couple’s back when she commissioned ERA Architects to determine if the house had heritage value. She then presented the report at community council May 25 and moved that the city’s Heritage Preservation Services should report speedily on whether it should receive a historic designation.

At Thursday night’s meeting Bussin refused to answer when asked repeatedly by the Teehans and others about much the report cost and exactly how many people complained to her about the heritage value of the house.

“I am not going to be interrogated,” said Bussin. “This meeting will come to an end if there is continued shouting,” she threatened.

Moments later, it did — an hour early and without any resolution.

Local resident Nikisha Reyes-Grange was frustrated by the city’s interference. “What happens if you end up in a wheelchair? You can no longer live in the Beach?” Reyes-Grange observed.