Padel Plant vandalism reignites Richmond mural tensions
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A snapshot of a part of the Padel Plant after artist Mickael Broth wrote "Not for Sale" over his mural. Photo: Courtesy of a reader
A "F--k you!" written on the shattered glass of the canal-front Padel Plant is reigniting Richmonders' frustrations with developers — and a changing city.
Why it matters: The vandalism has sparked fresh debate on social media, with some people slamming the months-old venue for obscuring famous murals with pickleball and padel courts.
- Others noted the space is private property and called the outrage irrational.
Driving the news: Property owner Drew Wiltshire told Axios they plan to press charges against the person who smashed the window last week.
- Surveillance footage captured the vandalism, Wiltshire says, but they still don't know who did it or why.
- Two muralists who spoke to Axios said they don't condone the vandalism or know who was behind it, either.
Yes, but: That hasn't stopped residents from linking the incident to long-simmering frustrations over the murals — many of which, Wiltshire says, could be painted over as early as Monday after the majority of artists asked the venue to.
Catch up quick: The pickleball and paddlesport spot, founded by 23-year-old twin brothers from Maryland, opened in January at the Haxall Canal hydro plant.
- The location, formerly an abandoned privately owned building, has been a cultural public art destination for over a decade since the RVA Street Festival covered it with murals.
- The Padel Plant owners have promised to keep the murals open and accessible to the public.
- But last August, the festival's organizers said the murals being "a backdrop for a private enterprise" goes against the reason they were first created.
Zoom in: In May, artist Mickael Broth painted "Not for Sale" over his witch mural at the site and posted emails, dating back to January, in which he asked the owners to remove the mural to no avail.
- Since then, more muralists have asked for their art to be removed.
What they're saying: Padel Plant delayed painting over the murals to gather artist waivers first, says Wiltshire, who is also part-owner of the business.
- He also noted that despite the recent vandalism and pushback, there are "countless more people" who love the space and show up daily.
Hamilton Glass, a locally famous artist who has asked for his mural to be removed, told Axios that for him, it was about respecting "what was done before you."
- "You can't just come from out of town into a community and take over a space and use it for your profit without community first."
Go deeper: "Greetings from Richmond" mural vanishes without warning