India, Aug. 18 -- The city has heard of cooperative housing societies opting for self-redevelopment, however, for the first time, a bungalow in the tony suburb of Bandra will go through a make-over, financed by its owners. The Pereira family has decided to get their 87-year-old abode rebuilt into a multistory tower where they plan to occupy the top four floors and make the rest available to interested buyers.

The bungalow, Victoria Cottage along Veronica street, was built in 1938 by Dominic Lewis Pereira, who earlier lived in Mahim. Dominic later sold the bungalow to Didacus Everest Pereira. At present, Didacus's son Vivian and his wife Myra, have been living at the bungalow since their marriage in 1975.

"Victoria Cottage is part of the...