Anna Maria Ends Pier Lease With Mote Marine Following Hurricane Damage

The City of Anna Maria and Sarasota-based Mote Marine Laboratory have mutually agreed to terminate the lease that allowed Mote’s Marine Education, Science & Outreach Center to operate rent-free on the City Pier.

City commissioners unanimously approved the lease termination during their Thursday, Jan. 8, meeting. The Mote facility, which featured a touch tank with live marine life and a mix of live and virtual educational exhibits, opened in May 2023 and occupied the larger of two city-owned buildings at the T-end of the Anna Maria City Pier. The outreach center ceased operations after hurricanes in the fall of 2024 destroyed the pier walkway and damaged critical infrastructure.

Construction of the new pier walkway is currently underway by Tampa Bay Marine. Most of the concrete pilings have already been driven, and the project is scheduled for completion by March 31. Mayor Mark Short has said he anticipates the City Pier fully reopening this fall.

The smaller pier building on the northwest end of the pier has been emptied of its contents but remains under lease to Brian Seymour and his business partners, Vic Mattay and Nick Graham. Operating as GSM Partners LLC, the group opened the City Pier Grill & Bait Shop in December 2020. Both city-owned pier buildings remain inaccessible to foot traffic until the new walkway is completed.

Lease Terminated by Mutual Agreement

When presenting the termination request to the commission, Mayor Short said the decision followed months of discussion with Mote officials, Manatee County leaders, the county administrator, and the Tourist Development Council. He described the action as a mutual termination that reflects changing conditions and future plans for the pier.

Short said the city will hold a public meeting in January or early February to gather commission input on how to proceed with selecting a new tenant for the larger pier building. He also plans to consult with the city’s engineering firm and Tampa Bay Marine to determine whether structural improvements will be needed to accommodate a different use of the space.

Commission Chair Charlie Salem called for a motion to terminate the lease, which was approved 5-0.

Letter Outlines Reasons for Termination

The Jan. 8 agenda packet included a termination letter addressed to Mote President and CEO Dr. Michael Crosby for co-signature. In the letter, Short thanked Mote for its partnership and outlined the circumstances that led to the decision.

The letter noted extensive pier damage from the 2024 hurricanes, including destruction of the walkway to the outreach center and the loss of mechanical infrastructure. All fixtures and furnishings were removed to allow for remediation and repairs.

The letter also cited Manatee County’s plans to expand ferry service directly to the pier, which is expected to significantly increase foot traffic. According to the city, those plans raised concerns about visitor flow, safety and the long-term best use of the pier space.

Given these changes, the city proposed ending the lease so both parties could move forward with their respective priorities.

Background on Pier Leasing

The original wooden City Pier was built in 1911 and served as a hub for steamboats and supply vessels traveling to and from Anna Maria Island. The current pier buildings were completed in 2020 as part of a reconstruction project following damage from Hurricane Irma in 2017.

Lease negotiations for the rebuilt pier included several proposals that were ultimately rejected before the city approved a lease with Seymour and his partners in September 2020. The grill and bait shop opened later that year. Their initial five-year lease was set to expire at the end of 2025, but lease payments were suspended after the hurricanes and the expiration date extended to account for the closure.

In September 2021, the city commission approved a 10-year, rent-free lease agreement with Mote. While the outreach center was envisioned as an educational asset, delays pushed its opening to May 5, 2023.

With the lease now terminated, city leaders say the focus will shift to rebuilding, reopening the pier and determining the best future use for its largest building.