Doesn’t Marilyn Monroe’s house have to be torn down? The LA property is intended to become a historical and cultural monument.
The last residence of Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962) has been saved for the time being. Local authorities were able to prevent the property from being demolished. A demolition permit that had already been issued was stopped for the time being, and the Los Angeles City Council initiated a process to designate the house as a historical and cultural monument.
Villa with a dramatic past
, Monroe bought the single-story, 270-square-meter property in the early 1960s for $75,000 after the end of her third marriage to writer Arthur Miller (1915-2015). The property, located at 12305 Fifth Helena Drive, was the only residence the actress ever owned alone. In August 1962, at the age of 36, she was found dead in one of the bedrooms. The cause of death was determined to be acute barbiturate poisoning.
The Spanish Colonial-style residence was sold in 2017 for around $7 million and was subsequently managed by a hedge fund manager. At the beginning of 2023 it came into the hands of new owners who finally applied for demolition, which was initially approved.
Rescue at the last second
Only at the last second did members of the city council manage to prevent the demolition. Council member Traci Park, 47, commented on the matter in a press conference: “My team and I immediately took action. But unfortunately, the Ministry of Construction and Safety issued a demolition permit before my team and I could fully intervene and address this problem were able to solve”.
She added: “I am here with you today as steward of the neighborhood where Marilyn Monroe’s beloved final home is located. I am also here today to defend our city’s rich history and heritage.”
The demolition permit that had already been granted was initially revoked after Park’s intervention; the suitability of the property as a historical landmark of the city will be examined in the further process. The current owner is prohibited from making any significant structural changes to the property until the process has been completed.
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
