Los Angeles is investigating whether to crack down on tour buses that drive near a home once owned by Marilyn Monroe, according to a proposal backed by the City Council on Friday.
The Brentwood home was appointed by the city as a historic monument in June, a move that helps protect the residence from demolition, after its new owners began preparing to demolish the house.
Monroe bought the house for $75,000 in 1962 and died there of an apparent overdose six months later. Councilwoman Traci Park, who represents the area where the home is located, argued that demolishing the home “would be a devastating blow to historic preservation.”
The owners sued the city over pressure to make the house a landmark, claiming it had undergone major changes since Monroe’s death. “There is not a single part of the house that contains any physical evidence that Ms. Monroe ever spent a day in the house,” the lawsuit said.
In June, a judge denied the owners’ push for a preliminary injunction to halt the historic designation process. The council voted soon after to recognize the home as a monument.
Amid the debate over the Brentwood house, neighbors had complained that hordes of tourists and fans were bringing unwanted traffic to the area.
Park suggested that the LA Department of Transportation assess whether to limit bus service on two routes near the historic home, one on 5th Helena Drive, the other on Carmelina Avenue.
The City Council voted 13-0 Friday to move forward with that evaluation, a step that could ultimately lead to tour buses being blocked for certain hours or all times.
Times staff writer Jack Flemming contributed to this report.