Itâs official: Marilyn Monroeâs Brentwood, Los Angeles, homeâthe sole residence she owned in her 36 years, and site of her 1962 deathâwill not be torn down, contrary to the plans of its current owners, who bought the Spanish colonial dwelling last August for $8.35 million. Outrage from fans of Monroe and of historic architecture ensued upon news of the homeownersâ intentions. In the wake of the uproar, local council member Traci Park launched an effort to designate the property a cultural-historic landmark. It took nearly a year, but on Wednesday, she succeeded: A unanimous vote from the LA City Council finalized its designation, protecting Monroeâs former abode from demolition, the Los Angeles Times reports.
âWe have an opportunity to do something today that shouldâve been done 60 years ago. Thereâs no other person or place in the city of Los Angeles as iconic as Marilyn Monroe and her Brentwood home,â Park reportedly said before the vote. âTo lose this piece of history, the only home that Monroe ever owned, would be a devastating blow for historic preservation and for a city where less than 3% of historic designations are associated with womenâs heritage.â
The owners of the property, heiress Brinah Milstein and producer Roy Bank, also own the neighboring parcel and scooped up Monroeâs final residence with plans to raze it and expand their estate. The couple sued the city last month, claiming that âbackdoor machinationsâ were used to block them from tearing down the abode. They asserted that the home was not worthy of monument designation, due in part to remodels done to its interior in the years since Monroe resided there.
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During her speech on Wednesday, Park discussed plans to potentially relocate the house to somewhere more accessible to visitors , or to restrict tour buses from the areaâa sore spot for locals who are tired of frequent fan pilgrimages to the site.
The Gentlemen Prefer Blondes star bought the residence in February 1962 for $77,500 (roughly $800,000, when adjusted for inflation) and once referred to it as a âfortress where I can feel safe from the world.â