Chicago Investors Bixby Bridge Capital purchased Maximo Marina’s bank note in 2009. Less than a year ago, Island Global Yachting was hired to manage Maximo Marina in St. Petersburg, Florida, but Bixby Bridge Capital may now be regretting that move. New York City owned Island Global Yachting (IGY Marinas) manager, Lee Hicks has alienated the local boating and the neighborhood community on one too many occasions.  {The article closes with words from a long-time boater about the situation). Mr. Hicks has been raising rents and asking for long-term leases. The local businesses, some have been here over 20 years, cannot afford the new rent and terms. The slip and high and dry storage rents were increased with little or no notice. This approach may work in the Caribbean but doesn’t sit well here. Mr. Hicks refused to provide a lease to the Maximo Seafood Shack, a community gathering spot and tourism destination in the economically depressed Southside. Mr. Hicks told the Broadwater community Maximo Seafood Shack is a part of the future. Weeks later, a marina drawing was distributed with no restaurant plans. Another reason why Island Global Yachting’s Mr. Lee Hicks is not trusted. Island Global Yachting Lee Hicks has mentioned nothing about plans for condos, but there have been discussions with the city. The map that was distributed showed the parking yet conveniently had green overlaid on the condo area. We were told the renovation is starting with Millionaire’s Row, yet there are no permits on file. Island Global Yachting Lee Hicks is not sharing the plans with Skyway Marina District, residents, neighborhoods, and boaters! On April Fools Day, Mr. Hicks ordered the Shack’s owner to leave by 1 Aug. Despite Bixby Bridge Capital’s, Steven Fass telling the owner she had two years. I started the Change.org petition. Then Mr. Hicks told the owner, We don’t like being bothered over the weekend! You must be out by end of the month! The next week the national newspaper, Tampa Bay Times, covered the story. Bixby Bridge Capital’s, Steven Fass denied he told the owner she had two years. There was more negative press. Mr. Hicks changed the date back to 1 Aug. This changed again when Island Global Yachting’s Mr. Lee Hicks presented a letter to Margaret signed by Bixby Bridge Capital’s, Steven Fass. The termination letter said, leave by 21 May. Imagine the employees’ rollercoaster ride and what local neighborhoods are thinking of this! Island Global Marina and Bixby Bridge Capital are not to be trusted. The Shack’s owner has planned a farewell party for the neighborhood. Mr. Hicks was seen parading the Fire Marshall on the dock. He was overhead asking how many are allowed on the dock? He also doesn’t want the dock to collapse under the weight! This is from a Marina Manager who has exposed electoral boxes, electrolysis issues, roof panels flapping and blowing in the wind, and covered docks with a collapsed roof that blows in the wind. Last week a pylon was struck and collapsed in the channel. A few feet of the top was exposed just above the surface with no safety signage.  If you have something to add about Bixby Bridge Capital, Island Global Yachting, or issues at Maximo Marina, contact me. Boaters share stories how Island Global Yachting’s Lee Hicks is not to be trusted. Once the Shack closes, boaters do not have a reason to come to Maximo Marina and get gas. Several boat owners are now preparing to move their boats. One said, Mr. Hicks’s actions has changed their mind about putting a new 55’ cabin cruiser at Maximo Marina. Thee are other refusing to bring their boat here. Word has spread that Lee Hicks' word is no good. The boaters plan to boycott Maximo Marina and the fuel dock. In the Caribbean, IGY Marinas earned the nickname, Evil of the Caribbean, for taking over marinas in the Caribbean, removing the local vibe and turning the marina into a megayacht facility for the wealthy. This is according to a charter operator who is familiar with IGY Marinas. Their pattern is being repeated here. IGY has removed the local businesses, but this is not megayacht facility. While this approach may have worked in the Caribbean’s blue waters and tropical flair, Maximo Marina is not the Caribbean. The Gulf Coast has an entrenched boating and maritime community.  Island Group Yachting (IGY Marinas) has removed three businesses, raise rents, raised fees, while not maintaining the property. IGY Marinas’ business model may have allowed it to rape the Caribbean, but St. Petersburg, Florida’s boating community is not to be bullied. Read one boater’s assessment of Island Global Yachting. "The marina has long been a staple in this area for yachtsmen, fishermen and everyday boaters since the late 50’s. I have lived on Boca Ciega Bay my entire life, 53 years. My family has and still is in the marine business since 1954 in Pinellas County. Maximo Marina was the place to be and to be seen, if you were a boat owner in years past. Seaman’s Cove restaurant and Leverocks restaurant were on site. That was in the hay day of Maximo Marina. The past several owners were local businessmen who’s love for boating and fishing kept the marina open with reasonable rates but with very little upkeep or maintenance to the property. However it cashed flowed their business at that time having a 3-4 million investment.   As times changed thousands of waterfront homes and condominiums have been built within a ten mile radius of Maximo Marina. All of these have boat slips to keep their boat. Now insert the new marina’s that have been built in that same radius that have approximately 8,000 Hi-Dry slips. Those are big numbers that are now removed from the rental pool of boaters in this area. Our small group of local businessmen looks pretty smart now. It’s my understanding that the current owners payed about 9 million for this property and have committed to spending another 17.5 million in renovations over the next few years on the property. I am sure the improvements will be really nice and inviting to boat owners that need a place to keep their boat. Now Pass-A-Grille channel is shoaled in to a depth of 5.5 feet on low tide, Boca Ciega Bay is the same as is the Maximo entrance channel. Yet IGY has pulled the dark sunglasses over the out-of-town owner’s eyes. “Let’s build a Mega Yacht marina at Maximo Marina and they will come” but they can’t due to the yachts draft, poor planning and an out of town Management Company. In 60 plus years in this local marine environment I have seen this happen several times with out of town owners. Just think how many Chicago Style Pizza shops have come and gone over the years. When a new neighbor moves in you generally want to meet your new neighbors, has anyone ever recalled meeting the owners of Maximo Marina? How about the new IGY manager Lee Hicks? I bet not, because he can care less about the history or the locals who have supported Maximo in the past. Without history you have nothing to build on and without locals you have no business. Maybe the Chicago owners will have a nice “ROI” with this property; however I doubt it under this management team IGY. IGY does a great job managing the marinas they oversee, but this is sleepy South St. Petersburg Florida that still likes the personal touch that this boating community wants. If you have visited downtown St. Petersburg lately I am sure you have seen all the Art Gallery’s, restaurants, bars and night clubs that make downtown a destination location. The Harborage Marina has just opened a large Mega Yacht marina right at the Port that maintains a 25 foot draft for their customers. The Vinoy Resort has recently re-built their marina to except larger yachts. These locations have lots of activities for the owners, guest and crew to do daily. Maximo Marina has 5 fast food and 1 nice Italian place to eat. To me it’s a no brainer to skip Maximo Marina and head downtown if I had a nice large yacht. My final thought is the Chicago owners of Maximo Marina have been lead into thinking that their marina will be as nice as one of the other IGY locations that are top notch, in the best resort areas in the world. History tells this story!" Be sure to read the petition updates at the bottom of the petition by using the previous and next button, WATCH THE FILM TRAILER and Help #SaveTheShack: https://youtu.be/GLvFJOB5U_k The documentary will be submitted to local, national and international film festivals. See you in Sundance, Tribeca and Cannes Film Festival! A film crew is documenting the Chicago investors and IGY Marinas actions and the community’s response. The story is not just confined to Florida but this is an epidemic. Outside investors want to gentrify the local communities around the world in their vision without regard to the local community. This documentary is a wakeup call. This is happening now to someone you know! HOW CAN YOU HELP? We need our 25,000+ supporters to message (1) Bixby Bridge Capital, (2) IGY Marinas, and (3) St. Petersburg Mayor Kriseman CALLING on them to “Save the Shack” and please add your comments: 1. IGY Marinas a. Twitter https://twitter.com/igymarinas b. Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/IGYMarinas c. NYC Headquarters for Island Global Yachting (IGY Marinas). - Email them online. http://www.igymarinas.com/contact/ - Phone Global Headquarters in NYC: 212-705-5000 2. Chicago Owners Bixby Bridge Capital’s David Colburn and Steven Fass a. Email online: http://www.bixbybridgecapital.com/contact-us/ b. Phone: 847-313-6454 3. St.Petersburg MAYOR KRISEMAN Contact Mayor Kriseman via email at mayor@stpete.org Only time we heard from the St. Petersburg's Democratic Mayor Kriseman was when he was quoted in the Tampa Bay Times article, “"While the City encourages and appreciates investments into our community, and especially into the Skyway Marina District, this is ultimately a private matter between the owners of the marina and the seafood shack," the mayor wrote, adding that the city's focus is on "building up small businesses, not tearing them down." Yet, Mayor Kriseman has no problem calling the President of the Tampa Bay Rays and asking them to stay in St. Petersburg! 4. St.Petersburg City Council Contact City Council Member via email at council@stpete.org COMMENTS St. Petersburg, Florida — Bixby and IGY - all of these petitioners carry the money that feed this business and make it a great part of this community. If you care nothing about this community I presume you care about $$$$. We will take it elsewhere if you knock this place down. Pause for a moment please. There is a solution here is a win for everyone. Riverside, NJ — It is wonderful local business. Delightful place! St. Petersburg, Florida — We only come to Maximo for fuel because the Shack is there. Without it, we'll go elsewhere closer to home. Keep the shack open please St. Petersburg, Florida — I am signing because I am a sailor and boat owner and while progress occurs it should not be while its against the little people. St. Petersburg, Florida — I'm originally from St. Pete & I love this happy little place!! I have hunkered down there during a thunderstorm with patrons & also loved sunning while reading a book...not Gulf Shores, Alabama — I'm tired of corporate greed developing the beautiful and quaint areas of Florida then in a few years having the same spot be a run down, empty storefront, etc. We are a country of over production and over consumption and it hasn't helped our country in any way except to pad the bank accounts of the top one percent. It really needs to stop! Mobile, Alabama — I use to live in Tampa and I hate to see the mom and pop businesses destoryed by big business!! STATS 25,812 Supporters 2073 Comments Reached all 50 States 1005 Cities reached in the United States. 10 Countries — Australia, Canada, Denmark, Faroe Islands, Hong Kong, Luxembourg, Norway, England, Scotland, United States Regards, Robert Neff Independent Investigative Journalist @5wa on Twitter, https://twitter.com/5wa Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/rcneff Linkedin, https://www.linkedin.com/in/rcneff