Amenities/character

Stately trees in a wide landscaped medium watch over one of two main entrances to Maximo Moorings. Neighborhood pride is evident in the manicured yards and cleanliness of the community. On some streets sea birds tiptoe across front lawns while others songbirds and sea gulls complete for attention. Convenient shopping is a big asset. Bay Pointe Plaza is within the neighborhood and offer the community resource center, Publix, Eckerds Drug Store, a post office, West Marine Store and numerous service establishments. There are banks, medical offices and an animal hospital. Diverse restaurants include Leverocks Seafood House accessible by boat, Portofinos Italian Restaurant, Joffreys Coffee Co., Yogurt and More and Ai-Mel-Thai.

Maximo Marina is near 48th Avenue on 37th Street South. Its a full service yard offering sales, service and docking facilities. Residents can live aboard their boats here. Deep water can accommodating a 65-foot boat that draws 6 feet of water. While there are a few sail boats, power boats rule.

This neighborhood offers convenient access to Interstate 275 (only 3 minutes away),to the Skyway Bridge (only 5 minutes away), and 10 minutes to downtown St. Pete or the St. Pete Beach..

History

The Signature of Maximo Moorings, our focal point, is Fuller Circle. At the foot of the flag pole there is a brass plaque which is dedicated to Walter P. Fuller and was presented to our community by Morty and Babe Wolosoff, the developers of Maximo Moorings.

We wondered who Walter Fuller was and about his connection with the Wolosoff brothers. So, a few weeks ago we called Morty Wolosoff and had a most interesting conversation. Hes well over 80 new and splits his time between New York City in the summer and Palm Beach in the winter. He was pleased to share some of his early memories of our area, some of which go back almost forty years. Walter P. Fuller, he said, was the real estate broker who sold him and his brother a several hundred acre parcel of land, part of which became Maximo Moorings and part of which is now Dolphin Cay. During the course of their business transactions they became good friends. Their association indirectly resulted in the creation of Maximo Moorings Marina, which in turn launched our residential area. Heres how that all came about:

Mr. Wolosoff said he was being driven around the south side of St. Petersburg in about 1956 with a friend of Walter Fullers. Just incidently Mr. Fullers friend had recently purchased a new boat and needed to rent a boat slip. During the course of this ride they stopped at the only two marinas at the southern tip of 34th Street. Both of them told Mr. Fullers friends there were no empty slips for rent and that every marina in town was full and had a waiting list. Mr. Wolosoff said when he heard those comments a light flashed in his head and he immediately decided to develop his newly acquired land with a marina as the center piece. By the last 1950's the Maximo Moorings Marina was a reality and was billed as The Worlds largest Covered Marina. Dirt dredged from the bottom of the channel and from the dock area was used to fill low spots in the subdivision. Thus, the marina and the residential development fed on each other. They both prospered and both viable and vigorous today.

The original structure in the middle of Fuller Circle was a tall multi-level fountain arising from a large round pool at the base. Water was pumped up 30 to 40 feet high and splashed downward on overflowing dishes or platforms. It was illuminated with flood lights at night and was a pretty spectacular centerpiece. As time passed however, the cost of maintenance of the pool pumps and lights, the cost of electricity and water and the problem of water spray on cars on windy days caused the structure to be removed and replaced by our impressive flag pole.

We are proud to fly our nations flag on a 24 hour a day basis at our entry. And we are again indebted to Janie and Karl Hokanson, Maximo residents and proprietors of the Eagles Nest for their generous contribution on a new star-spangled banner now aloft in Fuller Circle. What a find feel-good symbol we have.

Architecture

The neighborhood has a mix of single family homes, condominiums and villas. The Property Appraiser shows homes ranging $70,300 for 1,092 square-foot houses built in 1958 to $180,700 for a 2,392 square -foot house built in 1995. New construction continues on several streets. There are fewer than a dozen lots remaining. Condos and villas range in price from $30,800 to 479,200. There are a few rentals.

Masonry construction is the norm with ceramic tile roofs in abundance. Decorative concrete block entrances are found. Fieldstone or brick fronts are popular. Two-car garages are prevalent, but one-car garages and carports can be seen. Sidewalks are absent. Large flower pots overflowing with colorful blossoms are fashionable. There are palms, pines, oaks and magnolias. Pastel paint shades of peach, blue, putty, yellow and mauve are among numerous white homes. Those on the waterway have docks, davits and boats.

While most use landscaping to designate boundaries, some have chosen wooden fences. Circular driveways, pebble yards and xeriscaping are seen. House numbers are prominently displayed. There are Children at Play signs, bus stops and portable basketball hoops.


Boundary

49th Avenue South to 53rd Avenue South between 34th and 44th Street Sou
Information compliments of www.stpete.org