Los Angeles' efforts to safeguard the city's historic charm scored a hit after the LA City Commission stepped in to save Marilyn Monroe's former Brentwood home from being turned into rubble. The Cultural Heritage Commission voted unanimously last Thursday to recommend the Spanish-style hacienda at 12305 5th Helena Drive as a historic cultural monument, as reported by NBC Los Angeles. This vote comes with a sigh of relief for preservationists who have fought to keep the property, where the Hollywood legend tragically ended her life, standing.
But let's not get too comfortable just yet. This victory, though pivotal, doesn't fully cement the house's fate. The designation can only delay the demolition by 180 days -- time that is needed to find a more permanent solution to preserve Monroe's only personally purchased home, which is currently off the public's beaten path. According to People, discussions even included the possibility of the home being moved to a location where it could more easily be seen by fans and history buffs alike. However, no one should hold their breath, as the process of moving such a historic structure would be neither quick nor cheap.
The fate of Monroe's home has been in limbo since a demolition permit was issued on September 5 to its current owners, Glory of the Snow LLC. An outcry ensued, leading the LA City Council to unanimously vote to temporarily suspend the said permit. It was a reaction that undeniably highlighted the significance of the property not just to Monroe's legacy but to the cultural fabric of Los Angeles as well. Glory of the Snow LLC originally shelled out $7.25 million for the house in 2017. Then, a trust of the same name gained control for $8.35 million last July. Their application to demolish the property was quickly filed but faced immediate backlash.
Among those working to ensure the icon's abode was spared from destruction is Scott Fortner, a historian and host of the All Things Marilyn Podcast. His involvement was crucial as he toiled alongside the Monroe Preservation Group to document the property's significance, which predates Monroe's residency. "Our efforts and research, which was shared with today's deciding body, concluded that famed historic Los Angeles architect Harbin Hunter not only lived at the home, but he also very likely designed it," Fortner told People. The house boasts Hunter family tiles that speak to its historical beginnings, emblazoned with "Cursum Perficio" -- meaning "I will persevere."
Monroe, who moved into the 1929 hacienda after her break-up with playwright Arthur Miller, invested more than what today equals over half a million dollars in refurbishing the home. She described the property warmly in an interview with Life Magazine before her untimely death, highlighting her desire for it to be a haven for troubled friends. It was here in August 1962, shortly after, that Monroe's housekeeper found her lifeless with the bedroom light on in the early dawn, a victim to what was ultimately ruled as a "probable suicide" by acute barbiturate poisoning.
