Public nuisance Pavilions Motel to close after ruling in favor of city of Santa Monica

The Pavilions Motel in Santa Monica has been ordered to close permanently following a ruling that upheld the city's decision to revoke its business license due to persistent public nuisance issues. The owners, Saeed Farzam and Goharshad Farzam, had their license revoked in June 2024 after the motel was identified as a site for drug-related and disruptive activities, posing risks to public safety. Despite appealing the decision, a hearing examiner confirmed the revocation after a series of administrative hearings. The motel's owners were provided a 90-day period to comply with several conditions, including hiring qualified overnight staff, rectifying code violations, and granting access to security footage for local police. Unfortunately, they did not fulfill these conditions, resulting in the closure.

Consequently, the city has imposed a one-year ban on the owners obtaining a new business license. The Santa Monica authorities are committed to ensuring that the property does not become a public nuisance while it remains closed. Additionally, a civil lawsuit aimed at further addressing these issues and seeking monetary penalties is still in progress.