Los Angeles Judge Blocks Demolition of Marilyn Monroe Home

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has denied a couple's request to demolish Marilyn Monroe's former Brentwood home, which the city designated as a Historic-Cultural Monument to preserve its legacy. The owners, Brinah Milstein and Roy Bank, who purchased the property in 2023 for $8.35 million, sought to tear down the house to expand their adjacent residence. However, preservationists and local officials, including Councilwoman Traci Park, campaigned to protect the site due to its cultural significance as Monroe's sole owned residence and the place where she died in 1962. The judge ruled that the landmark designation stands, emphasizing the public's desire to maintain the property. The owners argued the house had been altered extensively and claimed the city's designation process was improper, but the court's decision upheld the city's authority, allowing Monroe's legacy to endure. This ruling follows strong public opposition to the demolition and solidifies the home's status as a protected historic site.