The Chairman of the Jekyll Island Authority will host the first meeting of the Jekyll Advisory Forum on February 5th, 2009. The new advisory forum was established by Chairman Bob Krueger to provide input and advice on future decisions facing the Jekyll Island Authority Board. The advisory group, comprised of leaders from across the state, will work with the board as it guides Jekyll Island through the revitalization process over the next several years.

“Even though we allow time at each board meeting for public input, this forum will be a more appropriate venue for deeper discussion on certain issues facing the Authority,” said Bob Krueger, Chairman of the Jekyll Island Authority Board. “Jekyll Island is such an important asset to all Georgia, and therefore this forum includes community leaders from across the state.”

Twenty-four invitees have confirmed their attendance at the inaugural meeting. Areas of expertise are widespread participants and include a representative from the Georgia Conservancy, Georgia Land Conservation, Jekyll Island residents, City of Brunswick, Glynn County, chamber of commerce representatives and citizens at-large.

“With revitalization in full swing, the Advisory Forum will be instrumental in keeping the lines of communication open between the Authority and the community,” said Jones Hooks, Executive Director of the Jekyll Island Authority. “We are committed to listening, and charting the right course the best serves the citizens of Georgia.”

The Jekyll Advisory Forum will meet regularly throughout the year and will be a valuable resource to the policy-making board. The revitalization of Jekyll Island seeks to reverse the downward trend in visitation that has occurred over the last twenty years as facilities have become outdated. Several hotel redevelopment projects are underway, and the Jekyll Island Authority has plans for a new convention center and “signature” beachfront park. Together with commercial redevelopment, new public amenities will attract more convention and vacation guests to the island. The revenue generated from visitor activity will make it possible for the Jekyll Island Authority to care for the public island, including 65% of the island that must remain undeveloped. As one of only three Georgia barrier islands accessible by automobile, Jekyll Island is a critically important tourism asset for the state. Because of the statewide importance, Jekyll Island Authority Chairman Krueger announced the formation of the forum upon his appointment in September 2008 as a way to receive input and advice.

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Following the adjournment of their January 14 monthly board meeting, the Jekyll Island Authority Board took a hard hat tour of the new Hampton Inn & Suites hotel.  Set to open late summer 2009, the hotel will included 138 hotel rooms, a restaurant, and meeting space. It will be the first new hotel to open on Jekyll Island since 1974.

The new hotel is being constructed on the basic footprint of the former Holiday Inn, preserving the oak tree canopy that is unique to the site. When open, the hotel will feature boardwalks through maritime forest and over protected sand dunes. The adjacent beach is the widest and most pristine on Jekyll Island, with wonderful views of Cumberland Island and the Atlantic Ocean.

The new Hampton inn & Suites is one component being built on the site of the former Holiday Inn. The developer is Jekyll Ocean Oaks LLC, and includes partners that also own and operate the historic Jekyll Island Club Hotel. The Jekyll Ocean Oaks project is one of five hotel redevelopment projects on Jekyll Island currently underway. Along with the seven hotels currently operating, the new hotel and convention center projects will bring about a revitalization of Jekyll Island making it a premier vacation and convention destination.

For more information about Jekyll Island revitalization visit www.jekyllisland.com/news.

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By Joe Wilkinson

During the gilded age of the late 1880s and until World War II, Jekyll Island was a place where Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Astors, Morgans and Pulitzers would escape the cold New York winters.

More than a century later, however, many of Jekyll Island’s facilities are in disrepair —- so much that even some Boy Scouts trying to earn merit badges don’t find much appeal to this precious coastal asset. Numerous civic and professional groups have scratched Jekyll off their list for annual conventions.

The sad fact is Jekyll has suffered a 23 percent drop in tourism since 1989. It is in desperate need of revitalization, and now is the perfect time to undertake a major redevelopment while protecting the fragile environment as the foremost goal.

Earlier this month, the Jekyll Island Authority finalized a 25-year contract with Linger Longer Communities to revitalize the island. On Monday, the authority made a final amendment to its long-term master plan so redevelopment can proceed in January. For the sake of Jekyll and the people of Georgia, it is time to now move forward and to stop changing the rules and moving the goal line. With this plan for the state to partner with the private sector to carefully redevelop Jekyll, all parties have won.

As someone who has a second home in Glynn County, the future of this island is as important to me as it is to the residents of Jekyll and others who fear the word development. I, too, am an environmentalist. Yet I knew it was important to strike a balance between making Jekyll attractive to the public and not harming the ecosystem including loggerhead turtles and a variety of birds. I believe the state has struck that balance with this developer.

I applaud the Jekyll Island Authority for responding to public concerns and working with the developer to scale back original plans for the 10-mile-long island. It agreed to reduce the size of the 22-acre Beach Village, the largest proposed project.

Concessions include:

> A proposed 141,000-square-foot convention center has been changed to a renovation of the existing convention center at 76,000 square feet.

> A proposal for 725 new hotel rooms has been scaled back to 350 rooms. The original concept was to include three hotels; now there will be two.

> A plan for a 59,000-square-foot retail shopping center has been reduced to 30,000 square feet.

The state will also earn $20 million in the first 15 years of the lease —- money that can be used for beach renourishment or to make repairs to the historic village where the wealthy visitors lodged so long ago.

In today’s economy, Georgia taxpayers are fortunate to find a private partner to operate and build these new facilities at no cost. In addition, a new Jekyll will bring 700 jobs to Glynn County and $94 million in sales tax and $38 million in motel tax revenue to the state and local coffers. That’s not worth another hour of delay because of continued disputes over procedure or the concept of this project.

In 1947, the state bought Jekyll for a bargain, just $600,000. The purpose was to make it a place for all Georgians to revel in a piece of the Golden Isles. As a member of the board of the Jekyll Island Foundation, I believe no one can say they are a true Georgian unless they have experienced the marshes of the island, Jekyll’s dunes or the sea turtles that nest there. Fortunately for all of us, Jekyll will be a much more appealing place thanks to the work those who will give it another Golden Age —- this time, in the 21st century.

>Joe Wilkinson, a state representative (R) from Sandy Springs, is a part-time resident of St. Simon’s Island and a member of the board of the Jekyll Island Foundation.

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