Marilyn Monroe’s Brentwood home has been officially preserved as a Los Angeles cultural landmark, following a unanimous vote by the Los Angeles City Council. This decision marks the end of a nearly year-long battle to save the iconic residence from demolition.
The Spanish hacienda-style home, located at 12305 West 5th Helena Drive, was purchased last July by real estate heiress Brinah Milstein and her husband, TV producer Roy Bank, for $8.35 million. The couple, who also own the adjacent property, initially obtained a city permit to demolish Monroe’s former home. However, this permit was later revoked, leading to a legal battle with the city.
Monroe, the legendary Hollywood actress, was found dead in this home in 1962 from a drug overdose. It is the only residence she ever owned independently, making it a significant piece of her personal history. The home, built in the 1920s, has been a point of contention between preservationists and the current owners, who argued that the house had been remodeled extensively over the years and no longer resembled its original state.
Councilwoman Traci Park, who represents L.A.’s 11th District where the property is located, played a pivotal role in the preservation efforts. “We have an opportunity to do something today that should’ve been done 60 years ago,” Park stated during the council meeting. “There is no other person or place in the city of Los Angeles as iconic as Marilyn Monroe and her Brentwood home.”
The council’s decision was initially scheduled for June 12 but was postponed to allow for further discussions with Milstein and Bank. The couple had filed a lawsuit on May 6, seeking to block the monument designation, claiming they would suffer irreparable harm if they could not proceed with the demolition. However, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Chalfant sided with the city in a tentative ruling, stating that the property owners would not suffer irreparable harm since the council would address the matter.
Preservationists and supporters have long argued that Monroe’s final home is a beloved piece of Hollywood history. The Los Angeles Conservancy, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting historical landmarks, urged concerned citizens to advocate for the home’s designation as an official historic cultural landmark. The group highlighted that Monroe’s home was identified as potentially historic by the City’s SurveyLA program in 2013 but remained unprotected until now.
Before the council’s vote, the residence had been making its way through the process of being designated a monument, with approval granted by the Cultural Heritage Commission and the city council’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee. The lawsuit filed by Milstein and Bank alleged that the home did not qualify for such a designation, arguing that it had undergone numerous remodels and that the city had taken no action regarding its historic status for 60 years.
Monroe’s connection to the home adds to its cultural significance. Just months before her death, she expressed her love for the privacy the home offered in an interview with Life magazine. “I don’t want everybody to see exactly where I live, what my sofa or my fireplace looks like,” she told the magazine, emphasizing her desire to maintain some semblance of privacy.
The battle over the home has sparked a broader discussion about what is worth protecting in Southern California, a region rich with architectural marvels and Old Hollywood haunts. Monroe fans and preservationists argue that the residence is an indelible piece of Hollywood history, while the homeowners contend that the house has become a neighborhood nuisance due to the influx of tourists and fans.
The saga began when Milstein and Bank purchased the property and immediately laid out plans to demolish it to expand their estate. They obtained a permit but soon faced opposition from historians, Angelenos, and Monroe fans. Councilmember Park received hundreds of calls and emails urging her to take action, leading to a news conference where she passionately advocated for the home’s preservation.
In the months that followed, the landmark application advanced through various city committees, with Milstein and Bank barred from demolishing the home. Despite their efforts to sway the decision, including addressing the Cultural Heritage Commission directly, the couple’s arguments were ultimately unsuccessful.
The Los Angeles Conservancy celebrated the council’s vote as a victory for community advocacy. “This designation is proof that community advocacy WORKS,” the organization stated in an Instagram post, thanking Park for her efforts.
The Brentwood bungalow, built in 1929, is valued at about $8 million. Monroe lived there for just a few months before her tragic death at the age of 36. The home, now preserved as a cultural landmark, stands as a testament to Monroe’s enduring legacy and the city’s commitment to preserving its historical heritage.
Source: KCAL News, CBS News, Los Angeles Conservancy, CNN, Associated Press
