Santa Monica Pickleball Project: More than five months after selecting a vendor for a pickleball project at 1318 4th Street in Santa Monica, no construction has begun, and the site remains vacant. Santa Monica Pickleball and Padel, LLC was awarded the contract to develop pickleball and padel courts at the former site of Parking Structure 3, but ongoing legal disputes, project modifications, and permitting delays have prevented any progress.
A Project with Evolving Plans and Legal Disputes
The selection process for the pickleball facility began in September 2024, after the withdrawal of a previous development proposal by Haibu Media Group. Two contenders competed for the space:
- CityPickle, a New York-based company operating 34 courts across multiple locations.
- Pickle Padel Paw, a local partnership between Pickle Pop, Pickletown, and the Pickleball Center.
CityPickle initially won the bid, proposing a nine-court pickleball facility with food and beverage vendors, but the decision was reversed in favor of Pickle Padel Paw. The winning bid included four pickleball courts, two padel courts, a beer garden, a food stand area, and a premium dog park. The project was expected to generate $2.9 million annually and open by early February 2025.
However, a legal dispute between the project’s partners soon followed. In January 2025, Santa Monica Pickleball and Padel, LLC filed a lawsuit against Pickletown owners, alleging interference in the project.
The lawsuit claimed that Pickletown’s co-owners, Mary Pat Faley and Ilene Feldman, withdrew their financial commitments but continued to assert control over project decisions. As of March 4, 2025, the lawsuit was dismissed, with both parties agreeing to separate without further claims.
Permitting Delays and Lack of Progress
Since the lawsuit, the project description has changed significantly. The latest permit application now lists eight paddle sports courts, with no mention of a dog park or food and beverage outlets. Even one of the planned partners, Dogdrop CEO Shaina Denny, stated that she had not received any updates on the project in some time.
Despite claims by DTSM CEO Andrew Thomas and Santa Monica Economic Development Manager Jennifer Taylor that the courts would open in March 2025, there have been no visible signs of progress at the site.
- Permit applications have remained inactive since December 2024 and still require re-submission.
- No construction work has begun, and no rent has been paid on the site, despite prior agreements.
- The site remains empty, with no confirmed timeline for project completion.
Challenges in Building Padel Courts
One major obstacle in moving forward is the construction of padel courts, which require 14-foot-high plexiglass back walls. DTSM Business & Community Development Manager Martin Ronzio-Garcia stated that the new plan is to prioritize pickleball courts first, with padel courts to follow later. There are also discussions about reintroducing a dog park component once the courts are operational.
Future of the Site Remains Unclear
Adding further uncertainty, a notice of pending design review has been placed on the chain-link fence at 1318 4th Street, indicating that a separate proposal for a six-story affordable housing project is under review.
The City Council will hold a hearing on March 17, 2025, to discuss the development, which includes 122 residential units, ground-floor retail, and subterranean parking.
Since the demolition of Parking Structure 3 was completed in November 2022, the site has remained vacant while economic concerns continue to shape the future of development in Santa Monica. Whether Santa Monica Pickleball and Padel, LLC will be able to move forward with its planned courts or face further setbacks remains uncertain.
News in Brief: Santa Monica Pickleball Project
Santa Monica’s pickleball project at 1318 4th Street remains stalled, with no construction, unpaid rent, and an evolving design plan. Originally planned as a pickleball and padel facility, the project has faced legal disputes, permitting delays, and funding uncertainties. Meanwhile, a separate affordable housing proposal for the site is scheduled for review by Santa Monica City Council on March 17, 2025.
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