Marilyn Monroe's LA Home Declared Historic to Prevent Demolition

Marilyn Monroe enthusiasts have achieved a significant victory in preserving her legacy in Los Angeles. The house where Monroe briefly lived and passed away has been designated a historic cultural monument. Additionally, a Palm Springs planning commission decision has increased the likelihood that the 26-foot statue "Forever Marilyn" will remain in place.

The Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously on Wednesday to grant the historic designation to Monroe's Brentwood home. This decision followed a prolonged debate over whether the house should be demolished. The current owners, who reside next door, had planned to raze the property to expand their estate. However, the council decided to preserve it.

Historic Designation for Monroe's Home

"There's no other person or place in the city of Los Angeles as iconic as Marilyn Monroe and her Brentwood home," stated Traci Park, the council representative for the area, before the vote. Monroe purchased the house for $75,000 and died there on August 4, 1962, from an apparent overdose. The current owners, Brinah Milstein and Roy Bank, bought the house for $8.35 million and had obtained a demolition permit but faced opposition.

The owners argued that the house had undergone so many changes over the years that it no longer held historical significance. They also claimed it had become a nuisance due to tourist traffic. Peter C. Sheridan, an attorney for Milstein and Bank, described the designation process as "biased, unconstitutional and rigged." He asserted that Park and her staff were unresponsive to efforts to find a solution and ignored opposition from civic and homeowners groups.

Controversy Over "Forever Marilyn" Statue

In Palm Springs, the "Forever Marilyn" statue depicts Monroe in her iconic billowing dress scene from "The Seven Year Itch." The statue has been moved around various locations in the U.S. and is now back in Palm Springs. A hotel industry group that owns the statue wants it to remain permanently, but some residents oppose this idea.

A technical decision by the Palm Springs planning commission on Wednesday marked a step toward keeping the statue in its current location. The Desert Sun reported that this matter will continue before the Palm Springs City Council in the future.

Sheridan also noted that over 14 different prior owners had received dozens of permits to remodel the home extensively. He argued that these changes left nothing reflecting Monroe's brief time there 60 years ago.

The preservation of Monroe's home and the potential permanent placement of her statue are seen as significant steps in maintaining her cultural legacy. Fans of Monroe continue to advocate for these landmarks as symbols of her enduring impact on popular culture.