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Historic Taking

5 0
28.04.2026

Zoning

Historic Taking

The owners of the house that Marilyn Monroe died in claim in a lawsuit that the city took their property when it landmarked it.

Christian Britschgi | 4.28.2026 4:31 PM

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Happy Tuesday, and welcome to another edition of Rent Free. This week's stories include:

A lawsuit alleging that the city of Los Angeles unconstitutionally landmarked the house Marilyn Monroe died in. The U.K. considering rent control to cope with rising costs caused by the U.S.-Iran War. Florida easing zoning restrictions on private schools.

Owners of House Marilyn Monroe Died in Fight Their Property's Landmark Status

The Los Angeles home where Marilyn Monroe died is now the subject of a legal fight between the city, which has declared the home a historic landmark, and the owners, who say the city's landmarking has effectively taken the property out from under them.

Rent Free Newsletter by Christian Britschgi. Get more of Christian's urban regulation, development, and zoning coverage.

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California couple Brinah Milstein and Roy Bank purchased the 2,300-square-foot home and surrounding 23,000-square-foot lot, in 2023.

That same year, they applied for permits from the city allowing them to demolish the as-of-yet nonlandmarked home. Just one day after the city issued those permits, it also initiated the process of turning Milstein and Bank's property into a "historical-cultural monument."

The landmarking of the property, which was completed in June 2024, prevented Milstein and Bank from demolishing Monroe's former home (which is........

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