RICHMOND — Chains have shackled the doors of Richmond’s Craneway Pavilion for weeks amid a dispute between the development company that leases the building from the city and a subtenant that has operated pickleball courts there for just over a year.

Since March 2024, a pickleball club has operated out of the Craneway Pavilion, a former Ford plant, turned World War II vehicle assembly plant, turned event space that’s owned by the city of Richmond but leased by Orton Development at $1 annually for 55 years.

The courts there fell silent about two weeks ago after silver chains were wrapped around the door handles of the historic building and signs were posted in the windows informing the public that “the Craneway Pavilion is closed for pickleball and other events.”

Site operator Rachel Hong

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