Pavilions Motel Closed Due to Hoes. Located at 2338 Ocean Park Boulevard, near Clover Park

The permanent shutdown and restrictions on the Pavilions Motel in Santa Monica's Sunset Park neighborhood represent a major victory for city officials and local residents after more than two decades of persistent issues at the site.

Located at 2338 Ocean Park Boulevard, near Clover Park, the 20-unit budget motel-owned and operated by Saeed Farzam and Goharshad Farzam since September 1990-has long been described by authorities as a notorious hub for criminal activity. City complaints highlighted open drug sales (often in the parking lot or through "take-out" windows), prostitution, violence, fights, chronic disorder, building code violations, and other quality-of-life problems. The property's proximity-within just two blocks of an elementary school and a public park-amplified community concerns, with residents and officials repeatedly calling it a blight on the neighborhood.

The saga escalated significantly in recent years. In May 2024, the Santa Monica City Attorney's Office filed a nuisance abatement lawsuit in State Superior Court against the Farzams and the motel, alleging violations of the state Drug Abatement Act, public nuisance laws, and local ordinances.

The 20-page complaint detailed evidence from search warrants executed in January and February 2024, which uncovered approximately 146 grams of methamphetamine, 98 grams of fentanyl, drug packaging, scales, and a handgun. It also noted five deaths at the property since 2019, at least three linked to drug or alcohol abuse.

Despite prior enforcement efforts-including a joint code enforcement and police operation in 2007 that led to temporary closure and arrests-the issues persisted, prompting the city to seek an immediate halt to disruptive activities, property improvements, a one-year closure, civil penalties of $25,000 per defendant, and cost recovery.

In March 2025, a City Hearing Examiner upheld the revocation of the motel's business license (initially decided in June 2024), declaring it a public nuisance and ordering a one-year shutdown with no reopening under current ownership during that period. The owners appealed and later filed a federal civil-rights lawsuit against the city, seeking over $10 million and reinstatement of their license, claiming wrongful actions and constitutional violations.

The turning point came on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, when the Santa Monica City Council unanimously voted 7-0 to approve a comprehensive settlement agreement that resolved both the city's nuisance-abatement lawsuit and the owners' federal suit. Under the terms, the Farzams agreed to permanently keep the Pavilions Motel closed-no reopening, no operation of any other business at the property, and no occupancy allowed moving forward. They also committed to maintaining compliance with the city's drug-abatement, vacant-property, and public-nuisance codes for any future actions related to the site. Additionally, the owners are barred from owning or operating another motel in Santa Monica for a decade (10 years), with a suspended $100,000 penalty that would activate upon any violation of the agreement.

This outcome ends years of litigation and provides substantial relief to Sunset Park residents and nearby businesses, who have long reported the motel as a persistent challenge to safety and neighborhood quality of life. City officials, including interim City Attorney Heidi von Tongeln, hailed it as a significant step in combating crime and blight in targeted commercial properties.