Controversy over Jekyll continues

2008-02-08

By Robert Tribble

The controversy continues among the public, the JIA Board, the big developers and the lawmakers as to what amount of revitalization is needed on Jekyll Island, Georgia’s jewel located on the coast near Brunswick. The dispute has been going on for sometime now.

Current state law mandates JIA (Jekyll Island Authority) to insure that hotel rates remain affordable to the average citizen. That seems to be the switch that turns the wheel that drives the debate. What is affordable nightly rates on the island for the average citizen? Is it $75 per room per night? Some builders seem to think it could be much more.

Presently there is a nice drawing located on the site of what once was the Ramada Inn on Beachview Drive that shows a beautiful six story hotel, including the ground floor, with wings on both sides. My guess is that rooms in that facility would range from $150 to $250 per night when built.

Another hotel on Beachview Drive has been approved by the JIA authorizing the owner of the Jekyll Oceanfront Clarion Resort to construct a $27 million, 150 plus room hotel on half the site of existing buildings. The JIA board was told the rooms will be moderately priced but specific rates have not been established. $27 million, 150 rooms translates to $180,000 per room. Don’t see how an average person could afford one of these rooms

The other half of Jekyll’s largest hotel property is to be converted into 126 hotel condominiums that will be sold to private owners who cannot spend over 14 days in the units between June 1 and September 30, or more than 90 days in the off season. The goal for completion of this project is the summer of 2009.

When Jim Morrison, Jekyll Golden Islander reporter, asked what the price of the condos would be, he was told they would be a lot less than those on St. Simons Island. The last time it was looked at the price was in the $250,000 to $350,000 range, but that was two to three years ago, Morrison was told.

A JIA board member said he had seen an ad promoting the condos as residential that owners could live in year round. He was told that matter needed to be clarified with the real estate agent.

It was stated that a paying customer could live in the condos all year if they wish. No rental price was given for the condos.

Varying views exist from Georgians and those from other states as to what should and should not be done to the island. Many families have been coming to Jekyll for fifty years, renting motel rooms or a house for whatever period of time, and enjoying the non congestion, the beach, the bike trails, the fishing and so on.

These folks fear that wealthy developers care little about keeping the island affordable for the average person and their sole interest is making their bank accounts larger.

Some of these folks also shame Gov. Sonny Perdue for his political appointments to the JIA board that are pro-growth. They want the beach kept open to everyone, the wildlife not disturbed in anyway and see no need for a new convention center as there are two nice ones already.

In addition to the two hotel constructions previously mentioned, new hotel units are planned for sites that formerly were home of the Buccaneer and Holiday Inn Hotels. Seems these four additional hotels should take care of Jekyll’s needs for a number of years into the future.

What we do not need on Jekyll Island is expanded shopping facilities or a convention center near the historic Jekyll Island Hotel and cottages as some propose. That area is where the history of the beautiful island basically started and it certainly needs to be preserved as such.

In conclusion, no question about it Jekyll Island does need some revitalization, however it must be done tastefully and not to the extent it would even approach what has happened on St. Simons Island. Let those who enjoy all the traffic and over commercialization there move there.

(Tribble is president of Trib Publications of which this newspaper is a member)

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