Sunset Jekyll Island
Tuesday, December 9th, 2008
Another beautiful sunset on Jekyll Island….
Uploaded by bobistraveling to Flickr.com on 4 Dec 08, 5.56AM PST.
Archive for 2008
Griffin in Rehab
Tuesday, December 9th, 2008
This is Griffin, a loggerhead turtle at the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island. He is a patient in the turtle hospital who has to be tube fed. His diagnosis stated that he is “lethargic and floats.” That is exactly how he looked to me, too!
Uploaded by J.Ruth on 6 Dec 08, 7.12PM PST.
ASA “Santa’s Special Sleigh” Visits the Georgia Sea Turtle Center
Monday, December 8th, 2008
Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA), a wholly owned subsidiary of SkyWest, Inc. (NASDAQ: SKYW), flew 30 students from Hendrix Drive Elementary School in Forest Park, Ga., to visit Santa Claus on Jekyll Island, Ga. The students departed
The students were chosen to fly aboard “Santa’s Special Sleigh” as a reward for excelling in
ASA is a partner with
“For many of these children Santa’s Special Sleigh is their first opportunity to experience the excitement of flying,” said
According to Nancy Said, principal at
After arriving at the
Christmas Tree Lighting Festival Ushers in the Holidays on Jekyll Island
Monday, December 8th, 2008
The Jekyll Island Authority ushered in the 2008 Christmas season on November 29 with the annual Jekyll Island Christmas Tree Lighting Festival. Approximately 2,600 holiday well-wishers attended the festival and enjoyed such activities as face painting, ornament making, sand art, candle art, a mock turkey shoot and the always popular snow. The main attraction, of course, was Santa who was on hand to listen to Christmas wishes and take pictures.
Stage entertainment was provided by Steps of Faith Dance Group, Studio South, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center, and the Fred McKinnon Band. Festival guests also enjoyed strolling entertainment provided by the “Bubbleman”, a magician, and a balloon artist who also participated at the emcee. To round out the experience festival food vendors offered warm treats such as hot chocolate, homemade soups and stews, fresh slices of pizza, and delicious funnel cakes.
Improved Boat Ramp Opens at Jekyll Island
Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008Reprinted from Jacksonville.com, By Teresa Stepzinski
BRUNSWICK - The bigger, better Jekyll Island public boat ramp is now open to fishermen and boaters.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources has completed a $441,265 project to renovate and expand the boat ramp on Jekyll Creek near Ski Rixen Pond. It was one of four public boat ramps in Coastal Georgia to undergo renovations with state funds approved by the General Assembly. Another is at Bellville in McIntosh County.
Beginning July 7, workers replaced the old 20-foot-wide concrete ramp with a 50-foot-wide one and added 80 feet of floating dock to the 20-foot long service dock, said Shawn Jordan, project coordinator with the department’s Coastal Resources Division.
The adjacent parking lot was upgraded and expanded by two acres, Jordan said.
The renovations will benefit both resident and non-resident anglers and the local economy, said Doug Haymans, the division’s constituent services program supervisor.
“The boat ramp is now big enough to accommodate regional and national fishing tournaments. There is plenty of water and room to launch three 30-foot boats at once during low tide from the ramp,” Haymans said.
Boats that size are common in kingfish and other tournaments.
Recreational and sportfishing generates millions of dollars for Georgia’s economy each year. The state’s best triple tail fishing is found off Jekyll Island. It also is a popular launching site for fishermen seeking redfish and trout in nearby waters, Haymans said.
Before the state’s budget crunch, the General Assembly approved spending $1.3 million to improve four Coastal Georgia public boat ramps. The Jekyll project was the largest.
New Jekyll Hotel Planned
Wednesday, November 26th, 2008By ANNA FERGUSON
Reprinted from the The Brunswick News
The Jekyll Island Authority made a giant step toward revitalization of the state-owed island Tuesday when the board approved a new ground lease with 150 Beachview Holdings to redevelop the former Georgia Coast Inn hotel site.
The development of the 5.8-acre beachside site, which had been sitting vacant for several years, adds a great push toward the planned revitalization of Jekyll, said Jones Hooks, authority executive director.
Approved by the authority board at a special conference call meeting, the hotel is projected to bring in more than $7 million for the island over a 15-year period and is “a good, big step for us,” Hooks said.
With unanimous approval of the lease comes a heavy forward momentum to the island. Along with the Georgia Coast Inn site, several other projects are schedule to get under way soon to move further on the authority’s revitalization goals, Hooks said.
Totalling some $350 million in revitalization efforts over the next few years, the projects include five new hotels, Linger Longer Communities’ planned Jekyll Island Beach Village and expansion and remodeling of the current convention center.
The new Inn and Cottage at Georgia Coast, as the Georgia Coast Inn site is expected to be called, will compliment these neighboring projects and help move toward the overall goal of restoring Jekyll Island its glory days, Hooks said.
Gary Mongeon, vice president of the Bleakly Advisory Group and a financial adviser for the island’s redevelopment mission, said the site will help the island build momentum in the progress of the revitalization efforts.
Each acre of the 5.8-acre site is projected to bring in about $1.2 million, which Mongeon said is the highest return rate of any Jekyll project.
“This is a pretty significant financial investment to the authority,” Mongeon said. “Based on the analysis, dollar for dollar spending, this project will have a $13 million to $15 million impact on the Jekyll Island Authority when visitation spending is taken into account.” In a time when the economy has turned south and construction projects have all but halted throughout the region, the agreement is a sign of the health and vitality of the island, both now and into the future, Hooks said. “This project is big news in a bad economy,” Hooks said. “Development activity has all but stopped in the region, but here on Jekyll Island we have five new projects moving forward.”
Constructed in 1961, what was a Ramada Inn has changed names and owners during the decades and was closed in 2003 after being run under the independent name of Georgia Coast Inn. In 2005, the four-story structure fell into disrepair and was demolished.
Being built in the footprints of the former hotel, the new project will feature low-rise construction with traditional beach cottage architecture, designed by the St. Simons Island firm Harrison Design Associates.
Scheduled to open in April 2011, the renovation project will combine the small inn with about 30 beachfront cottages in an attempt to keep the development low in density and confined to a minimal space to reduce the environmental impact. This low density approach was key in obtaining approval for the lease, Hooks said.
“This is so in keeping with the spirit of Jekyll,” Hooks said. “It is a very exciting move for the authority and the island.”
Firewise Community Program Offered on Jekyll Island
Tuesday, November 25th, 2008What:
“Becoming a Firewise Community” –Educational seminars and discussions hosted by the Jekyll Island Authority, the Georgia Forestry Commission, and the Jekyll Island Garden Club on how to be a firewise citizen. Speakers will cover topics such as firewise assessment procedures and firewise landscaping. The event is free and open to the public.
When:
December 2 – 3:00 PM- 5:00 PM
December 3 – 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Where:
Upstairs Morgan’s Grill at the Jekyll Island Golf Clubhouse
Agenda:
December 2 (Tuesday afternoon)
3:00 PM: Sign in
3:10 PM: Welcome- Sharon Davidson,
3:20 PM: Introduction to Firewise- Gayle Slauson, GFC Firewise Specialist
3:40 PM: Firewise Assessment Procedure- Mark McClellan, GFC Chief Ranger
4:20 PM: Firewise Landscaping on the Coast- Christa Frangiamore, JIA Conservation Manager
4: 40 PM: Discussion
5:00 PM: Adjourn
December 3 (Wednesday morning- coffee served)
9:30 AM: Orientation- Jason Richardson, JIA Director of Public Safety
10:00 AM: Field Assessments- Gayle Slauson & Mark McClellan
11:15 AM: Discussion and Next Steps
12:00 PM- Adjourn
Jekyll Island Authority Announces New Revitalization Project
Tuesday, November 25th, 2008New inn & cottage colony to be built on the site of the former Ramada Inn
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Eric Garvey, Senior Director of Marketing
Jekyll Island Authority
(912) 635-4081
egarvey@jekyllisland.com
JEKYLL ISLAND, GA - November 25 – The Jekyll Island Authority today approved a new ground lease with 150 Beachview Holdings LLC, clearing the way for an exciting new redevelopment of the former Ramada Inn/Georgia Coast Inn hotel site. The 5.8 acre beachside site has been vacant for several years, and the new project adds to the progress and momentum of the revitalization of Jekyll Island.
The new project will be a combination of a small Inn and a colony of 27-32 beachside cottages. The low density approach is a key factor in gaining support and approval.
“The Board is pleased that the leaseholder came forward with such an attractive plan for the site,” stated Bob Krueger, Chairman of the Jekyll Island Authority. “We are looking for the right balance of development and protection of natural areas, and this project fits well with the other revitalization projects that have already been announced.”
New South Partners, LLC and Global Asset Alternatives, LLC are partners in 150 Beachview Holdings and have secured the ground lease to the former hotel site after years of legal disputes. In order for the new development to move forward, an extension of the existing lease was required. That was obtained through the Jekyll Island Authority Board action on Tuesday.
“I’m thrilled to get this project moving forward,” stated Rick Patton, principal with New South Partners, LLC. “We are a Georgia company, and we know that Jekyll is a special place and this is a special site. It is deserving of a quality development that fits responsibly into the natural beachside setting.”
The former Ramada Inn was first constructed in 1961 and opened as a Holiday Inn. The property sold in 1963 and became Stuckey’s Carriage Inn, later becoming a Ramada Inn, then independent Georgia Coast Inn until closing in 2003. The hotel was popular with conventioneers and was known for its swimming pool shaped like the State of Georgia. The four-story structure fell into disrepair and was demolished in 2005.
The new project will feature low-rise construction with traditional beach cottage architecture. The local St. Simons office of Harrison Design Associates will handle the cottage designs as well as the Inn’s exterior architecture.
The revitalization of Jekyll Island now boasts five new hotel projects, including the planned Jekyll Island Beach Village, which will create a new gathering place on the island with integrated shopping, dining, plaza, park and a completely renovated and expanded Convention Center. Revitalization is being guided by several important policies that are meant to protect the character of Jekyll Island, as well as protect the natural environment and enhance conservation efforts. The new Inn & Cottages at Georgia Coast will comply with newly adopted design guidelines which provide regulation of architecture and restrict both density and building height. Projects are also monitored by a new visitation forecast model developed by Bleakly Advisory Group.
“This project fits nicely in the current forecast model,” explained Gary Mongeon with Bleakly Advisory Group. “It is lower density compared to other projects, yet provides the highest per acre return to the Jekyll Island Authority.”
The Jekyll Island Authority provides a limited number of commercial ground leases for private hotel development. Ground leases are tied to the appraised value of the land as required by law. The Jekyll Island Authority uses local appraiser Richard Freeman to determine the value range of each leased parcel.
A key component of a ground lease for new development is a rent escalation feature. Rent on a ground lease begins immediately, but escalates over the course of construction through opening and to the point of full operation.
“The rent escalation feature allows the developer to successfully get underway, and allows the Jekyll Island Authority to fully share in the future success,” stated Jones Hooks, Executive Director with the Jekyll Island Authority. “We also place constraints and requirements on the developer, so we can maintain control and not let development become bigger than what the public wants on Jekyll.”
The Jekyll Island Authority requires all development be sensitive to the natural environment, even if it is replacing an existing structure in approximately the same building footprint. The new Inn & Cottages project will stay away from the dunes line and beyond the shoreline jurisdiction line as defined by Georgia’s Shoreline Protection Act. All new projects must also comply with a new beach lighting ordinance, created with public and expert input to protect the beach from light pollution. Artificial light has been shown to disrupt the nesting and hatching behavior of the loggerhead sea turtle.
“This project is big news in a bad economy,” stated Hooks. “Development activity has all but stopped in the region, but here on Jekyll Island we have five projects moving forward.”
Jekyll Island currently has seven hotels open and operating, including the signature Jekyll Island Club Hotel. Other hotels along the beach include the boutique Beachview Club Hotel, the Days Inn & Suites, Oceanside Inn & Suites, Quality Inn, Oceanfront Clarion Resort and the Villas By The Sea. Privately owned cottages are also available for vacation rental, more information is available at jekyllisland.com. Information regarding all Jekyll Island revitalization projects and policies can be found at jekyllisland.com/news.
Revitalization Presses Forward on Jekyll Island, GA
Friday, November 21st, 2008
First Redeveloped Condominium Hotel Opens Doors This Week
Jekyll Island, Ga., Nov. 18, 2008 – Although real estate development has stagnated in most parts of the country, it’s moving ahead rapidly on Jekyll Island, Georgia. In October, the board of directors for the Jekyll Island Authority approved revitalization plans for the island paradise, and this week Jekyll Oceanfront Resort becomes the first redeveloped condominium hotel to open its doors to owners and guests on this state-owned barrier island.
“During the real estate boom in the early part of this decade, developers seemed to have overlooked Jekyll Island,” said Tripp Snyder, Managing Partner, Jekyll Oceanfront Development Investors 1, LLC (JODI 1), “so the prices have remained extremely attractive for development. The hotel condominiums are absolutely one of the best investments on the East Coast because of the incredible affordability of Jekyll Island.”
Lower construction costs have allowed Jekyll Oceanfront Development to rebuild and now sell these condo-hotel villas at a great value. They used the best architects, designers, and contractors available to update and enhance the former 1970’s-style facilities to 21st-century standards. For example, the lobby of the resort is undergoing a complete re-design by noted interior designer Lisa Torbett, whose work has been featured in Architectural Digest and other prestigious design publications.