Marilyn Monroe's Brentwood Home Preservation Sparks Legal Battle

A legal saga has erupted over the preservation of Marilyn Monroe's former Brentwood home in Los Angeles, where she died in 1962. The current owners, Brinah Milstein and Roy Bank, purchased the property for $8.35 million in 2023 with plans to demolish the hacienda-style bungalow and incorporate the land into their adjacent estate. After a public campaign, the city designated the house a cultural-historical monument in 2024, blocking demolition. The owners are now suing the city for compensation, arguing their constitutional property rights have been infringed and their investment rendered worthless. A federal judge dismissed their takings claim but allowed an amended complaint. The house, unoccupied since 2019, has fallen into disrepair with a untiled roof, faulty systems, and possible mold. Preservationists fear 'demolition through neglect,' as the city lacks funding to purchase or maintain the property. The house cannot be seen from the street, and nearby residents complain about tour buses and trespassers. The LA Conservancy's Adrian Scott Fine emphasizes the home's symbolic importance as a symbol of Monroe's independence, while the owners' attorney David Breemer seeks 'just compensation.' The city council's Pete Brown calls the situation 'a quandary.'