Marilyn Monroe’s former home declared historic monument to avoid demolition

The Brentwood, Los Angeles, home where Marilyn Monroe lived pictured after she was found dead there in August 1962 (Harold Filan/AP/File)

Fans of Marilyn Monroe have won a battle to preserve her mark on Los Angeles and are a step closer to seeing a towering statue of the actress remain in Palm Springs.

The Los Angeles home where Monroe briefly lived and died has been declared a historic cultural monument, while a Palm Springs planning commission decision boosted chances that a 26-feet (eight-metre) statue called Forever Marilyn will stay in place.