BRONX, N.Y. - Residents of a historic house in the Bronx are trying to save their building from the wrecking ball.

The Villa Rosa in Spuyten Duyvil was built in 1924. 

When it was sold last year, residents say they were told it would be renovated.

But the owner is planning to knock it down to make way for a new seven-story development.

"I think that things like this shouldn’t happen without some ideas of the aesthetics. We have no idea what the plans are going to be," said Este Gardener, a neighborhood resident.

"Villa Rosa was created because people wanted to get out of the hustle and bustle of Manhattan. And they wanted that  neighborhood charm, that historic charm. There’s not a lot of that left and we really want to make sure that we’re holding on to that," said Sara Fallon, a neighborhood resident.

A spokesperson for the property owner tells NY1 its intentions were made clear from the start.

The owner's request to demolish the existing building has not yet been approved by the city.