11/28 - Jekyll developer asks to join suit as co-defendant

ajc
Associated Press
Published on: 11/28/07
A developer chosen to build a $352 million "town center" on Jekyll Island wants to join a lawsuit filed over the project —- as one of the parties being sued.

Linger Longer LLC filed papers in Fulton County Superior Court seeking to join the suit as a co-defendant with the Jekyll Island Authority, which operates the 7 1/2-square-mile state park off Georgia's coast.

Developer Wade Shealy sued the authority earlier this month after it rejected his proposal for revitalizing the island's aging hotels and tourism attractions in favor of a competing plan by Linger Longer, developer of the upscale Reynolds Plantation at Lake Oconee.

Jim Langford, Linger Longer's project executive, called the lawsuit "completely without merit" in a statement that said the developer asked to be a co-defendant to protect its own interests in the project.

The lawsuit seeks an injunction to stop Linger Longer from moving ahead with plans to build 1,100 hotel rooms, condominiums and time share units.

It claims the Jekyll Island Authority showed favoritism toward Linger Longer by accepting its proposal to build on 64 acres, while Shealy and rival developers were told to limit their plans to 45 acres.

The authority insists it was fair in selecting Linger Longer over Shealy's group and the Trammell Crow Co.