The couple alleges the L.A. City Council approved a “Historic Cultural Monument” designation for the property “without any notice” to the homeowners
NEED TO KNOW
- The home where Marilyn Monroe died in 1962 was named a historic cultural landmark in 2024 after the urging of preservationists
- Its owners say they were given no notice of the change and it has blocked their plans to demolish the structures, which they bought for $8.35 million in 2023
- The couple claim the home has undergone numerous renovations and seen 14 owners since Monroe’s death and no longer has meaningful ties to her
The owners of the Los Angeles home where Marilyn Monroe died are suing the city and mayor Karen Bass after the alleged “unconstitutional taking” of their private residence, according to a civil complaint obtained by PEOPLE.
Husband and wife Roy Bank and Brinah Milstein, who currently reside at the property, filed suit against the city and Bass on Jan. 23 in the Central District Court of California, Western Division. In the complaint, the owners allege L.A. took their single family Brentwood residence “without any public purpose or just compensation” through the use of the city’s “Historic Cultural Monument” ordinance.According to the complaint, Bank and Milstein purchased the property in 2023 for $8.35 million. At the time, the purchasers bought the residence “with the clear intent of demolishing the dilapidated structures on the property,” per court documents. They claim they spent an additional $30,000 to secure the proper demolition and grading permits — which the city initially approved.
However, problems began to arise for the homeowners on Sept. 8, 2023, when the City Council approved a motion, allegedly “without any notice” to the owners, to consider the property for a historic-monument designation. The motion subsequently invalidated the couple’s legally issued permits.
The complaint says the City Council ultimately approved the designation on June 26, 2024, against the wishes of the homeowners…