Earlier this month, news of the impending demolition of Marilyn Monroe’s iconic Los Angeles home garnered widespread attention. Many questioned why someone would spend over $3,000 per square foot, already a high price for the neighborhood, only to tear down this local landmark.
The property quietly changed hands in August, purchased by a mysterious trust named “Glory of the Snow 1031 Trust” for approximately $8.4 million in cash. The trustee of this trust is Andrew Schure, a Philadelphia-based businessman.
Speculation abounded that the new owner might be a developer or a wealthy individual planning to construct a custom dream home on the half-acre lot. However, the true story behind the purchase is more intricate.
This week, the L.A. tour bus service Esotouric uncovered a significant clue about the owner’s identity. Recent photos revealed that the wall and hedge separating Monroe’s home from the neighboring, much larger house had been removed. This suggests that the two properties are being combined to create a single, expansive compound.
The house next door is owned by Brinah Milstein, a notably wealthy heiress married to Roy Bank, a former reality television producer and native of Philadelphia. Milstein acquired her current Brentwood home, a 6,000-square-foot mansion built in 2006, in 2016 for approximately $8.2 million.
Brinah Milstein, 42, is the daughter of the late Carl Milstein, a prominent businessman and real estate developer in Cleveland. In the 1970s, he served time in prison for bribing a federal housing official and founded Associated Estates (AEC), which later became one of the largest owners and managers of apartment buildings in Ohio.
In 2015, AEC was sold for $2.5 billion. Today, some of Brinah Milstein’s siblings hold executive positions at Milstein Asset Management, a single-family office with a portfolio of assets and investments worth billions of dollars.
Aside from her $16.6 million Brentwood compound consisting of two properties, records show that Milstein recently purchased an oceanfront vacation home in Newport Beach, California, for $8.2 million.
The future plans for the Monroe property after the existing house is torn down remain uncertain. However, it appears likely that it will become part of a larger estate, with ample space to accommodate amenities such as a tennis court, guesthouse, gardens, or additional parking garages.
Despite concerns over the demolition plans, there is still hope for preservation. The Los Angeles City Council recently voted unanimously to consider the house for historic preservation, leading the building department to revoke Milstein’s demolition permit. Some neighbors have also claimed that Milstein has reconsidered her decision to tear down the iconic home.
While critics have questioned the significance of preserving the Monroe house, emphasizing its multiple remodels since her time and its status as just another Spanish-style hacienda in Los Angeles, others argue that “imperfection is beauty,” a sentiment once expressed by Monroe herself. This sentiment has led to a debate about the importance of preserving a piece of Hollywood history.
