Realtor Advocates for “Forever Marilyn” Statue on Palm Springs Area Neighborhoods Listings

Palm Springs, California -

Palm Springs Realtor Geoffrey Moore has expressed his opinion advocating for the controversial Marilyn Monroe statue in downtown Palm Springs. The realtor says that the statue should be allowed to stay at its current location due to its positive impact on the cultural and aesthetic beauty of the Palm Springs Area Cities.

Geoffrey Moore says, “Marilyn Monroe is a Hollywood icon, her lasting appeal spanning generations, due to her ubiquity in pop culture. The statue recreates one of her most recognized images. I firmly believe that it deserves its place near the museum. Visitors will appreciate the photo opportunity and the city will add yet another landmark to its already impressive list. The statue has been getting a lot of attention and negative feedback. Though we respect the opinions of those who oppose the statue, we also firmly disagree because the spirit of the statue is just a part of what Palm Springs is all about. The statue is one in a long line of attractions that allows art to feed the fine culture of the Palm Springs Area. We strongly believe that it has become a big part of the historic downtown and must stay. The art installation will also have a positive effect on property values of the Palm Springs Area neighborhoods listings.”

The “Forever Marilyn” statue recreates Marilyn Monroe’s iconic look of trying to hold down her dress as it is blown up by the air from a subway grate. In November of last year, the Palm Springs City Council agreed to install the statue along Museum Way, west of Belardo Road, a location that is essentially between the art museum and the Kimpton Rowan hotel. The installation was said to be temporary and a decision on a permanent location was going to be made in three years. Palm Springs Art Museum Executive Director and CEO Louis Grachos opposed the installation as he believed that the statue objectifies women. He believed that in the era of the aftermath of the #MeToo movement, glorifying a sexually charged statue would send a wrong message to over a hundred thousand children that make the trip to the museum every year to soak in its exhibits celebrating the country and region’s culture.

Soon after the decision, the Committee to Relocate Marilyn (CReMa) was established to encourage the City of Palm Springs and PS Resorts to stick to its original planned location for the statue. The committee believes that the statue blocks the view leading to the art museum, an architecturally significant building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Moreover, the statue contradicts the special status of the museum as outlined in the Downtown Palm Springs Specific Plan, adopted in 2016, which made a provision for a clear and open way connecting Palm Canyon Drive to the museum.

CReMa says that the City of Palm Springs and PS Resorts stifled opposition to its plans and ignored the concerns of prominent community members. It also says that in the November 2020 City Council meeting, the council neglected to mention the Downtown Specific Plan at all. CReMa also says that there is a lack of trust in the community that the City of Palm Springs and PS Resorts will honor its promise of a temporary installation as the statue is not easy to move. They also believe that the city is merely trying to skirt the rules of the plan by calling the installation “temporary”.

Geoffrey Moore is a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI), and an Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR) that helps house hunters find their perfect next home in Palm Springs. He also provides his services in the cities of Bermuda Dunes, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, Cathedral City, La Quinta, and Rancho Mirage. His services extend to many neighborhoods within Palm Springs such as Historic Tennis Club | Palm Springs. He can be contacted at the phone number 760-641-5689 or his email id geoff@geoffreymoore.com.