Santa Monica's Pavilions Motel has reached a significant milestone, as an administrative hearing examiner for the city has issued a ruling that definitively orders the closure of the establishment. According to an official statement released by the City of Santa Monica, the decision comes after motel owners Saeed Farzam and Goharshad Farzam failed to comply with the city's imposed conditions, which had been their opportunity to rectify the situation and regain their business license.
The Pavilions Motel has long been under scrutiny over charges of persistent drug activity and unsafe conditions. While owners were given a chance to turn things around within 90 days, the hearing examiner found they did not meet all required conditions. As a result, as mentioned in the Santa Monica Mirror, the business license revocation stands, meaning the motel cannot reopen under its current ownership for at least a year.
This resolution arrives after numerous complaints and legal challenges over the years. The city had filed a lawsuit in May 2024, accusing the Farzams of violating public nuisance laws and the state's Drug Abatement Act. Ensuing police raids at the motel uncovered various illegal substances and drug paraphernalia, as reported by the Mirror. The establishment was also cited in association with several overdoses and deaths.
The city has made clear its stance on property owners' responsibilities regarding their properties. City Attorney Douglas Sloan emphasized this policy, stating, "Property owners are responsible for ensuring that their properties are not a nuisance or a danger to the neighborhood, and the city will hold them accountable when they fail to do so," as obtained by the Santa Monica Mirror. With the motel now mandated to close, the city's authorities are expected to ensure the now-vacant property does not continue as a public nuisance.
The case, which is still in court, seeks a one-year closure of the motel, the implementation of improved property management, and civil penalties amounting to $25,000 per defendant.
