The Los Angeles City Council has voted to designate Marilyn Monroe’s former home, where she died of a drug overdose in 1962, as a historic and cultural landmark. This decision blocks plans to demolish the property. The motion to consider the Spanish Colonial-style house in L.A.’s Brentwood section for historic preservation was introduced by Councilwoman Traci Park and unanimously approved on the same day, according to spokesperson Jamie Paige.
The motion enforces a temporary halt on any demolition, significant alteration, or removal of the property while the designation process is underway, as stated in the motion itself.
Park’s spokesperson, Jamie Paige, stated that she visited the property on Thursday and no work had been done there. A demolition permit had been granted by the city to the current owner of the house, a little-known entity called Glory of the Snow Trust, she added.
Marilyn Monroe purchased the single-story, 2,900-square-foot (270-sq-meter) house, which was the only home she ever independently owned, in the early 1960s for $75,000 after her third marriage ended with playwright Arthur Miller, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
The famous actress, known for her roles in films such as “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” “Some Like It Hot,” and “The Misfits,” was found dead in a bedroom of the house in August 1962 at the age of 36. Her death was determined to be a result of acute barbiturate poisoning.
The Los Angeles Times stated that the property, which spans half an acre (0.20 hectares) and includes a swimming pool and guest house, was purchased in 2017 for $7.25 million by Glory of the Snow LLC, managed by a hedge fund executive. Earlier this year, it was sold to the Glory of the Snow Trust for $8.35 million.
Neither Councilwoman Park nor her spokesperson could identify any representatives for the trust, and the reason behind the planned demolition remains unclear, according to Jamie Paige. The Los Angeles Times reported that the trust is not associated with any individual’s name.
The news that the gated, four-bedroom hacienda, located at the end of a cul-de-sac, was scheduled for demolition sparked outrage on social media, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
The Los Angeles Department of City Planning previously nominated the property for landmark status, with a 2013 evaluation acknowledging its potential significance due to its association with Marilyn Monroe, but further research was deemed necessary.
Marilyn Monroe named the house Cursum Perficio, which means “My journey ends here” in Latin, as confirmed by the Los Angeles Times.
(Reporting by Steve Gorman; Editing by Sandra Maler)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
