Marilyn Monroe’s only Los Angeles residence has officially been spared from demolition after a highly publicized legal battle.
On Tuesday, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant ruled in favor of the city, blocking homeowners Brinah Milstein and television producer Roy Bank from tearing down the legendary Brentwood property. The decision follows a City Council vote last year that protected the Spanish-style home by designating it as a historic cultural landmark.
How the Legal Battle Began
The controversy began in September 2023 when Milstein and Bank submitted plans to demolish the home at 12305 Fifth Helena Drive. The couple had purchased the property in July for nearly $8.4 million with the goal of tearing it down to expand their existing residence next door.
However, the demolition plans triggered immediate community outrage. Court documents from the City Attorney’s Office revealed that city officials were inundated with calls and emails expressing opposition to the proposal.
Los Angeles City Council member Traci Park responded by introducing a motion to designate the property as a historic cultural landmark, a measure that was approved by the City Council in June 2024. In response, Milstein and Bank filed a lawsuit arguing that the designation violated their property rights.
The Home’s Historical Significance
Marilyn Monroe purchased the 2,900 square foot, four bedroom home in February 1962 for $77,500, equivalent to nearly $832,000 today. The beloved star of Some Like It Hot lived in the home for only six months before her untimely passing in August of that same year at the age of 36.
Despite its cultural importance, the couple’s legal team argued that the property lacked any remaining physical evidence of Monroe’s life there. “There is not a single piece of the house that includes any physical evidence that Ms. Monroe ever spent a day at the house — not a piece of furniture, not a paint chip, not a carpet, nothing,” their attorney told Bloomberg.
What Comes Next
For now, the house will remain untouched. However, questions remain about whether it could be relocated to allow Milstein and Bank to proceed with expanding their property.
Regardless of future decisions, the ruling ensures that one of Hollywood’s most iconic homes will continue to stand as a piece of Los Angeles history — at least for now.