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Marilyn Monroe Home Demolition Fight Escalates

  //house-home.news-articles.net/content/2026/01/2 .. ilyn-monroe-home-demolition-fight-escalates.html
  Published in House and Home on Thursday, January 29th 2026 at 15:04 GMT by New York Post
      Locales: California, UNITED STATES

Los Angeles, CA - January 29th, 2026 - The legal fight over the fate of Marilyn Monroe's final residence in Los Angeles has intensified, with the current owners filing a lawsuit against the city and Mayor Karen Bass today, attempting to block a planned demolition to make way for affordable housing. The lawsuit marks a significant escalation in a months-long preservation battle, pitting historical significance against the city's urgent need for increased housing availability.

The property, a Spanish Colonial revival-style home in the affluent Holmby Hills neighborhood, is where Monroe was found dead in 1962, solidifying its place in Hollywood lore and American cultural history. While not formally designated a historical landmark, the owners, who acquired the home in 2022 for a reported $8 million, argue its intrinsic historical and cultural value warrants protection. They claim the city's decision to authorize demolition ignores established preservation laws and disregards the property's symbolic importance.

The City of Los Angeles acquired the land last year with the intention of constructing a 24-unit affordable housing complex. The project is part of a broader city-wide initiative aimed at addressing the severe housing crisis impacting Los Angeles, particularly the lack of affordable options for low-income residents. This crisis has been exacerbated by years of under-building and increasing property values, pushing many long-term residents to the brink of displacement. The city maintains that the need for housing outweighs the preservation of a single structure, even one with historical ties.

"We understand the sensitivity surrounding this property," stated a spokesperson for Mayor Bass's office. "However, the acute housing shortage demands difficult decisions. We are committed to providing safe and affordable homes for our residents, and this location presents a viable opportunity to do so. We believe a balance can be struck, and we are open to reasonable dialogue, but the needs of the many must outweigh the preservation of a single building."

The owners, however, are staunchly opposed to this rationale. Their legal counsel, John M. Zeiger, characterized the city's actions as a "historic injustice." "This is not simply about saving a house; it's about preserving a crucial part of American history and culture," Zeiger said in a press conference following the filing of the lawsuit. "The city is rushing ahead with demolition without adequately considering alternatives or the potential for adaptive reuse."

The lawsuit specifically alleges violations of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the city's own preservation ordinances. It argues that the city failed to conduct a thorough environmental impact assessment that would have evaluated the historical and cultural significance of the property before approving demolition. Furthermore, the owners contend that the city bypassed proper procedures for considering historical preservation designations.

The case is likely to become a high-profile legal battle, attracting attention from preservationists, housing advocates, and Hollywood enthusiasts alike. Similar disputes have arisen in Los Angeles over the demolition of culturally significant buildings, often highlighting the tension between progress and preservation. The outcome could set a precedent for how the city handles similar cases in the future.

While the city's need for affordable housing is undeniable, the owners argue that alternative locations for the project exist, and that the Monroe residence could potentially be incorporated into the design, perhaps as a museum or cultural center, thus preserving its history while also addressing housing needs. They've proposed exploring funding opportunities for restoration and adaptive reuse. This proposal, however, has been met with skepticism by city officials who cite budgetary constraints and the complexity of incorporating a historical structure into a modern housing project.

The court is expected to hear arguments in the case within the next few weeks, and a ruling could determine the fate of Marilyn Monroe's last home. The battle underscores the challenges faced by cities attempting to balance the preservation of historical landmarks with the pressing need for affordable housing in a rapidly changing urban landscape.