The Florida Times-Union
September 17, 2007
By Brandon Larrabee
The Times-Union
ATLANTA - Decades ago, Jekyll Island was a playground for some of the wealthiest people in the world. The site of the current Jekyll Island Club Hotel was the center of social life.
Those representing a substantial portion of the world's wealth would gather there every night.
That was before the 1950s, when a period of abandonment by the barons who had overseen the island prompted the state to acquire Jekyll and turn it into a state park.
In one of the great ironies of the island's history, the General Assembly soon passed a law requiring Jekyll's accommodations to be affordable for Georgians of average means.
But some see that tradition endangered as the authority that oversees Jekyll moves toward choosing a private partner for a major redevelopment effort, and as developers begin to move in on hotel properties that are set to be revitalized.
"This island has a long-standing tradition of being affordable," said David Egan, who with his wife, Mindy, leads the Initiative to Protect Jekyll Island.
Egan and others see the coming revitalization as little more than an excuse to overhaul the island and turn it back into a playground for the wealthy.
Ben Porter, Jekyll Island Authority board chairman, said there is nothing to those fears.
"Our criteria is that we want a full range of hotel accommodations, from upscale to modest price," Porter said.
One of the question yet to be answered, though, is where the accommodations for lower- and middle-income Georgians will be when the overhaul is complete.
Porter didn't deny suggestions that hotels along the beach likely will be pricey, while more affordable places to stay could be a bit farther inland.
"It's unrealistic to believe that a big room facing the ocean is going to be a cheap room," Porter said.
He also defended the authority's position that it wanted hotels on the island that would appeal to "all Georgians" - a phrase that has come under fire from some opponents of upscale hotels who say that is a code word for bringing in high-priced accommodations.
"We have a responsibility to meet the needs of a broad range of economic levels," Porter said.
But Egan said the higher rates aren't necessary.
"We can have affordability and high-quality in a beachfront setting," he said. "That's a fact."
Sen. Jeff Chapman, R-Brunswick, said the authority is thinking more along the lines of what a private resort might do.
"It's a state park, and it's there so that Georgians can enjoy that beautiful environment that is not available to a lot of people," he said. "It sounds to me like someone is confusing private property with public property. It's not their goal to make huge profits."
Chapman also questioned why the authority had given an abatement to a developer set to build a potentially pricey facility on the site of the Buccaneer hotel.
"The real troubling part is that it doesn't appear that anything, essentially, is given in return," Chapman said.
Affordable rates could be one way of justifying the abatement, he said.
For some of those who visit Jekyll, low rates are one appeal, if not the only reason they go.
"If it were more expensive, it would prohibit us from staying more than just a few days," said Babs McDonald, an Athens resident who spends a week on the island with her husband almost every year. She said they have done so for almost 15 years.
And the affordability issue might not be limited solely to hotels, Egan said. The request for proposals issued by the Jekyll Island Authority opens the door for the private partner to assume control of at least some of the revenue-producing facilities, like golf courses.
"It wouldn't take long to see $100 golf rounds replace $35 golf rounds," Egan said.
Porter, though, said the revenue-generating facilities would only be turned over on a case-by-case basis, and if the private partner or developer has an idea for improving the facilities.
"We won't turn the island over to a private developer or group of developers and walk away," he said.
brandon.larrabee@morris.com,
(404) 589-8424
This story can be found on Jacksonville.com at http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/091707/geo_200152211.shtml.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
09/18 - Deal to help return Jekyll to vacation spot
ajc.com > Opinion
By BOB KRUEGER
Published on: 09/18/07
During the 1960s and 1970s, Jekyll Island was one of Georgia's favorite vacation spots. When Lucille Ball and Monty Hall ruled the airwaves ... winners on "Let's Make a Deal" often won trips to Jekyll Island and the then luxurious Buccaneer Hotel.
Fast forward 40 years. Most of Jekyll's hotel stock is tired and outdated.
In 2006, the Jekyll Island Authority sold the lease for the deteriorating Buccaneer Hotel, to developers, saving the hotel from bankruptcy. But despite maintaining affordable rates, the occupancy level for the Buccaneer this year has been only 37 percent.
Jekyll's former bread and butter, state professional associations, nonprofits, churches and other mid-sized conventions have been leaving the island in droves. While Jekyll has historically been self-supporting, if these declines continue, the Jekyll Island Authority will need to look elsewhere for revenue, or substantially reduce its operations of preserving and maintaining Jekyll.
Trammell Crow, a world class developer, has recently formed Jekyll Crow Replacement Hotel I. LLC, to construct a $90-million, three-star hotel and conference center on the Buccaneer site. Their plan calls for a conference center, 300 hotel rooms and 120 two-bedroom condominiums available for rental as hotel rooms during peak periods. Lease and hotel-motel payments to the JIA by the current Buccaneer over the next 20 years would total $7.5 million. Our new lease agreement for the larger hotel and conference center will give the JIA nearly $32 million over the same period or more than $1 million in new revenue per year.
Much has been made of a so called "sweetheart" deal between Trammell Crow and the JIA. Like most businesses, we negotiated this long term lease, and the details of the lease were then reviewed and voted on in a public meeting by the Jekyll Island Authority.
The Jekyll Island Club Hotel, which we greatly admire, made no lease payments at all to the JIA during its first decade of operation.
The city of Cumming, Forsyth County and state of Georgia recently assembled a package of incentives for Great Wolf Resorts to build a $130-million hotel, conference center and water park on Lake Lanier. That project will receive infrastructure improvements and tax incentives totaling $16.6 million. Jekyll Crow is receiving no rebates, no cash incentives, no tax reductions, no free land, no state appropriation or infrastructure improvements to their site.
We recently received a commitment from the Georgia Rotary Clubs International to return to Jekyll in 2009 if this new hotel is built. We look forward to helping Georgia restore Jekyll's luster, and placing it back atop metro Atlanta family vacation lists.
By BOB KRUEGER
Published on: 09/18/07
During the 1960s and 1970s, Jekyll Island was one of Georgia's favorite vacation spots. When Lucille Ball and Monty Hall ruled the airwaves ... winners on "Let's Make a Deal" often won trips to Jekyll Island and the then luxurious Buccaneer Hotel.
Fast forward 40 years. Most of Jekyll's hotel stock is tired and outdated.
In 2006, the Jekyll Island Authority sold the lease for the deteriorating Buccaneer Hotel, to developers, saving the hotel from bankruptcy. But despite maintaining affordable rates, the occupancy level for the Buccaneer this year has been only 37 percent.
Jekyll's former bread and butter, state professional associations, nonprofits, churches and other mid-sized conventions have been leaving the island in droves. While Jekyll has historically been self-supporting, if these declines continue, the Jekyll Island Authority will need to look elsewhere for revenue, or substantially reduce its operations of preserving and maintaining Jekyll.
Trammell Crow, a world class developer, has recently formed Jekyll Crow Replacement Hotel I. LLC, to construct a $90-million, three-star hotel and conference center on the Buccaneer site. Their plan calls for a conference center, 300 hotel rooms and 120 two-bedroom condominiums available for rental as hotel rooms during peak periods. Lease and hotel-motel payments to the JIA by the current Buccaneer over the next 20 years would total $7.5 million. Our new lease agreement for the larger hotel and conference center will give the JIA nearly $32 million over the same period or more than $1 million in new revenue per year.
Much has been made of a so called "sweetheart" deal between Trammell Crow and the JIA. Like most businesses, we negotiated this long term lease, and the details of the lease were then reviewed and voted on in a public meeting by the Jekyll Island Authority.
The Jekyll Island Club Hotel, which we greatly admire, made no lease payments at all to the JIA during its first decade of operation.
The city of Cumming, Forsyth County and state of Georgia recently assembled a package of incentives for Great Wolf Resorts to build a $130-million hotel, conference center and water park on Lake Lanier. That project will receive infrastructure improvements and tax incentives totaling $16.6 million. Jekyll Crow is receiving no rebates, no cash incentives, no tax reductions, no free land, no state appropriation or infrastructure improvements to their site.
We recently received a commitment from the Georgia Rotary Clubs International to return to Jekyll in 2009 if this new hotel is built. We look forward to helping Georgia restore Jekyll's luster, and placing it back atop metro Atlanta family vacation lists.
09/14 - Chapman's letter should open eyes
The Brunswick News
Date September 14, 2007
Section(s) Letters
State Sen. Jeff Chapman's letter to the Jekyll Island Authority Oversight Committee should open some eyes around the state.
The letter, the full text of which can be found on the website www.savejekyllisland.org, clearly identifies the central flaw in the JIA Board's approach to redeveloping the park's aging hotels, namely, that oceanfront property is unsuitable for modestly priced lodgings. Board Chairman Ben Porter, the letter points out, has stated that "the board will try to make sure that rooms are available to low-budget visitors.
"This will likely be done by inviting hotel companies to build accommodations in the park's interior - no one expects beachfront rooms to cost less than $170 per night."
Well, excuse me, but assigning average income Georgians to the interior of their own state park is just not acceptable.
As Sen. Chapman, in referring to the Trammell Crow deal, aptly asks in his letter, "Is subsidizing a multi-billion dollar company more important to the citizens of Georgia than enjoying beachfront property in a state park, which has a legislative mandate to remain affordable?"
Citizens across the state should rally around Sen. Chapman's cry for fairness in Jekyll's redevelopment. As the senator says, "Jekyll's revitalization must be friendly to average income citizens and consistent with Jekyll Island State Park 's well-earned reputation as 'the people's park,' or risk reverting back to an elitist resort, financially out of reach for enjoyment by the average Georgian."
Bonnie Newell
Jekyll Island
Date September 14, 2007
Section(s) Letters
State Sen. Jeff Chapman's letter to the Jekyll Island Authority Oversight Committee should open some eyes around the state.
The letter, the full text of which can be found on the website www.savejekyllisland.org, clearly identifies the central flaw in the JIA Board's approach to redeveloping the park's aging hotels, namely, that oceanfront property is unsuitable for modestly priced lodgings. Board Chairman Ben Porter, the letter points out, has stated that "the board will try to make sure that rooms are available to low-budget visitors.
"This will likely be done by inviting hotel companies to build accommodations in the park's interior - no one expects beachfront rooms to cost less than $170 per night."
Well, excuse me, but assigning average income Georgians to the interior of their own state park is just not acceptable.
As Sen. Chapman, in referring to the Trammell Crow deal, aptly asks in his letter, "Is subsidizing a multi-billion dollar company more important to the citizens of Georgia than enjoying beachfront property in a state park, which has a legislative mandate to remain affordable?"
Citizens across the state should rally around Sen. Chapman's cry for fairness in Jekyll's redevelopment. As the senator says, "Jekyll's revitalization must be friendly to average income citizens and consistent with Jekyll Island State Park 's well-earned reputation as 'the people's park,' or risk reverting back to an elitist resort, financially out of reach for enjoyment by the average Georgian."
Bonnie Newell
Jekyll Island
09/12 - Porter's leadership will prove valuable to Jekyll
The Brunswick News
Date September 12, 2007
Section(s) Letters
The state of Georgia has challenged the Jekyll Island Authority to re-energize Jekyll Island. To do so requires renovation, new development and the raising of revenue.
Ben G. Porter was also appointed chair of the authority. He seems to be the recipient of most of the criticism of the plans put forth by JIA.
Based on 30 years of knowing Porter, competing against him, working for him and working with him, it is my belief that he has one of the top business minds in the state.
Furthermore, from personal experience, I will state emphatically that his ethics are first-class.
I would suggest that re-energizing Jekyll Island is in good hands. You might question the details but not Porter's business acumen or his ethics.
In the end, it is my firm belief that all Georgians will be pleased with the accomplishments of JIA under Porter's most capable leadership.
Fred Newton
St. Simons Island
Date September 12, 2007
Section(s) Letters
The state of Georgia has challenged the Jekyll Island Authority to re-energize Jekyll Island. To do so requires renovation, new development and the raising of revenue.
Ben G. Porter was also appointed chair of the authority. He seems to be the recipient of most of the criticism of the plans put forth by JIA.
Based on 30 years of knowing Porter, competing against him, working for him and working with him, it is my belief that he has one of the top business minds in the state.
Furthermore, from personal experience, I will state emphatically that his ethics are first-class.
I would suggest that re-energizing Jekyll Island is in good hands. You might question the details but not Porter's business acumen or his ethics.
In the end, it is my firm belief that all Georgians will be pleased with the accomplishments of JIA under Porter's most capable leadership.
Fred Newton
St. Simons Island
Saturday, September 8, 2007
09/07 - Senator rakes Jekyll panel. He wants better answers from the island authority.
The Florida Times-Union
September 7, 2007
By CAROLE HAWKINS,
Times-Union correspondent
State Sen. Jeff Chapman is asking the Jekyll Island Authority Oversight Committee to get better answers on how the island's aging hotels and amenities will be upgraded.
In a memorandum sent to the six-member legislative committee Wednesday, Chapman criticized Jekyll Island Authority members for their "lack of transparency and accountability" in addressing public concerns about island redevelopment.
Chapman, R-Brunswick, has previously asked the authority members why they awarded a $10 million rent abatement to developer Trammell Crow, how they plan to honor a mandate to keep Jekyll Island affordable to average Georgians and how they plan to keep details of their work in clear view of the public.
The authority responded to those concerns in an Aug. 20 letter to Chapman and during a meeting with the Oversight Committee on Aug. 30.
Oversight Committee member Rep. Terry Barnard, R-Glennville, said he has not received Chapman's letter, but he is satisfied the authority is doing its job.
"I felt the board thoroughly answered our questions [at last week's meeting]," Barnard said. "Unless there's something I'm missing."
Chapman believes, however, there is quite a bit missing from the authority's responses, which he called "disappointing" in his letter to the Oversight Committee.
Chapman continued his criticism of the authority's awarding of a $10 million rent abatement to redevelop the old Buccaneer Hotel. Authority Chairman Ben Porter had explained the decision by comparing Trammell Crow's rent abatement to a similar deal given to developers of the Jekyll Island Club hotel years ago. But, Chapman says, such a comparison is apples and oranges.
"The Jekyll Island Club building, a historic property of the state of Georgia, required renovation to historic standards, at costs significantly higher than those associated with new construction," Chapman said in his letter. "No such showing of need has been presented in the case of the Trammell Crow project."
Authority member Ed Boshears supported Chapman's argument, and said a contract made just a year ago to redevelop the old Holiday Inn did not include such large incentives. In that case the developer would make a 2 percent gross receipts rent payment for the first three years instead of the standard 3 percent.
"It's nothing like the deal we gave to Trammell Crow," Boshears said.
Chapman also criticized the authority for not making details of the Trammell Crow contract and rent abatement available until one business day before the panel voted.
Such short notice gave the public too little time to prepare to comment on a $90 million contract that includes such a substantial incentive, Chapman wrote.
"This lack of transparency is inexcusable," he said.
Details of three proposals to build a so-called town square center are also expected to be closed to the public the until the authority's Sept. 24 meeting. In a recent interview Porter would not comment on whether hotel rates in those proposals were affordable.
Chapman continued to criticize the board for a lack of commitment in keeping Jekyll affordable to average Georgians.
In his letter to the committee, Chapman recommended the authority renegotiate the Trammell Crow contract in public view.
This story can be found on Jacksonville.com at http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/090707/geo_197608776.shtml.
September 7, 2007
By CAROLE HAWKINS,
Times-Union correspondent
State Sen. Jeff Chapman is asking the Jekyll Island Authority Oversight Committee to get better answers on how the island's aging hotels and amenities will be upgraded.
In a memorandum sent to the six-member legislative committee Wednesday, Chapman criticized Jekyll Island Authority members for their "lack of transparency and accountability" in addressing public concerns about island redevelopment.
Chapman, R-Brunswick, has previously asked the authority members why they awarded a $10 million rent abatement to developer Trammell Crow, how they plan to honor a mandate to keep Jekyll Island affordable to average Georgians and how they plan to keep details of their work in clear view of the public.
The authority responded to those concerns in an Aug. 20 letter to Chapman and during a meeting with the Oversight Committee on Aug. 30.
Oversight Committee member Rep. Terry Barnard, R-Glennville, said he has not received Chapman's letter, but he is satisfied the authority is doing its job.
"I felt the board thoroughly answered our questions [at last week's meeting]," Barnard said. "Unless there's something I'm missing."
Chapman believes, however, there is quite a bit missing from the authority's responses, which he called "disappointing" in his letter to the Oversight Committee.
Chapman continued his criticism of the authority's awarding of a $10 million rent abatement to redevelop the old Buccaneer Hotel. Authority Chairman Ben Porter had explained the decision by comparing Trammell Crow's rent abatement to a similar deal given to developers of the Jekyll Island Club hotel years ago. But, Chapman says, such a comparison is apples and oranges.
"The Jekyll Island Club building, a historic property of the state of Georgia, required renovation to historic standards, at costs significantly higher than those associated with new construction," Chapman said in his letter. "No such showing of need has been presented in the case of the Trammell Crow project."
Authority member Ed Boshears supported Chapman's argument, and said a contract made just a year ago to redevelop the old Holiday Inn did not include such large incentives. In that case the developer would make a 2 percent gross receipts rent payment for the first three years instead of the standard 3 percent.
"It's nothing like the deal we gave to Trammell Crow," Boshears said.
Chapman also criticized the authority for not making details of the Trammell Crow contract and rent abatement available until one business day before the panel voted.
Such short notice gave the public too little time to prepare to comment on a $90 million contract that includes such a substantial incentive, Chapman wrote.
"This lack of transparency is inexcusable," he said.
Details of three proposals to build a so-called town square center are also expected to be closed to the public the until the authority's Sept. 24 meeting. In a recent interview Porter would not comment on whether hotel rates in those proposals were affordable.
Chapman continued to criticize the board for a lack of commitment in keeping Jekyll affordable to average Georgians.
In his letter to the committee, Chapman recommended the authority renegotiate the Trammell Crow contract in public view.
This story can be found on Jacksonville.com at http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/090707/geo_197608776.shtml.
09/08 - Jekyll Island builder deal fought. Senator wants $10 million rent deal rescinded
ajc.com > Metro
By DAN CHAPMAN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/08/07
Sen. Jeff Chapman, the Brunswick Republican whose district includes Jekyll Island, demanded Friday that the state park's governing board rescind the $10 million rent break recently given to one of the nation's largest developers to build a new hotel.
Chapman also criticized the authority's "lack of transparency and accountability" as it begins awarding redevelopment contracts and questioned whether its secretive meetings are legal.
The senator's over-arching fear is that Jekyll Island Authority board members, who oversee the state park, will transform it into a well-heeled enclave unaffordable to middle-class Georgians.
"This is a state park. It's not about developing private property," said Chapman. "It's about allowing Georgians to have reasonable access to the coast and natural resources for recreation."
Authority chairman Ben Porter defended the board's actions and the rent break, insisting the process has been fair and legal, and that future accommodations will be affordable.
"Because of confidentiality and proprietary information, the information is secretive until the committee makes a recommendation," he said, "at which point the process will be totally public and transparent, and everybody will be totally satisfied."
On Sept. 24, the authority is scheduled to choose a master planner who eventually will develop hundreds of acres of prime island property. Three companies — Trammell Crow Co., Linger Longer Communities and Jekyll Island Revitalization Group — remain in the running. Each has submitted preliminary plans to redevelop the park's proposed 45-acre "town center" that stretches from the current retail district beyond the convention center.
"We have three excellent proposals and expect to come out with a fine plan for redevelopment to make Jekyll the premier, environmentally friendly destination on the East Coast," said Porter.
He added that the authority's decision last month to grant Trammell Crow – the Texas-based real-estate conglomerate that's also re-developing property along the beach – a $10 million rent break through 2020 is "a done deal."
Trammell Crow expects to tear down the Buccaneer Beach Resort by year's end and replace it with a 300-room hotel with 120 two-room condos. Hotel room rates could top $250 a night.
Chapman, in a six-page memorandum sent to Porter and members of the authority's legislative oversight committee this week, questioned "why would a multi-billion dollar corporation need to be induced into building a hotel complex on nine acres of prime oceanfront property?"
Porter has apologized for not allowing board members sufficient time to debate the merits of the Trammell Crow deal.
Chapman, board member Ed Boshears and Jekyll residents say lack of information and public input continues to plague the island's redevelopment.
No public hearings will be held before Sept. 24. The public won't likely learn details of the three proposals until after the winner is selected.
In an Aug. 31 letter to Bill Donohue, the authority's executive director, the Georgia First Amendment Foundation wrote that the authority "appears to have improperly conducted its public meetings [and] appears to be failing to comply properly with the requirements of the open records act."
Donohue said Friday that the board is "following the state's established procurement process" guidelines and to do otherwise would compromise bidders' confidentiality.
David Egan, an island resident and co-founder of the Initiative to Protect Jekyll Island, said he fears board members also will sacrifice affordability for big-bucks redevelopment.
"The ultimate goal is to keep the park accessible and affordable for most Georgians and visitors," said Egan, whose Web site, www.savejekyllisland.org, advocates public participation in the island's future. "What's missing is how the needs of average Georgians are being met."
Porter said they'll be met.
"The policy of the board has been, is and will remain to offer all levels of accommodations for all price ranges in any Jekyll revitalization," he said. "Logic says a beachfront, ocean-view room rents higher than one a hundred yards away, so those economy hotels will not be looking at the ocean. I don't see anything wrong with that."
Chapman does.
"That type of thinking is very troubling and actually discriminates against the public's access to public property," he said. "Jekyll is no different than a public building. Sure, oceanfront views are valuable, but they're equally valuable to all Georgians."
By DAN CHAPMAN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 09/08/07
Sen. Jeff Chapman, the Brunswick Republican whose district includes Jekyll Island, demanded Friday that the state park's governing board rescind the $10 million rent break recently given to one of the nation's largest developers to build a new hotel.
Chapman also criticized the authority's "lack of transparency and accountability" as it begins awarding redevelopment contracts and questioned whether its secretive meetings are legal.
The senator's over-arching fear is that Jekyll Island Authority board members, who oversee the state park, will transform it into a well-heeled enclave unaffordable to middle-class Georgians.
"This is a state park. It's not about developing private property," said Chapman. "It's about allowing Georgians to have reasonable access to the coast and natural resources for recreation."
Authority chairman Ben Porter defended the board's actions and the rent break, insisting the process has been fair and legal, and that future accommodations will be affordable.
"Because of confidentiality and proprietary information, the information is secretive until the committee makes a recommendation," he said, "at which point the process will be totally public and transparent, and everybody will be totally satisfied."
On Sept. 24, the authority is scheduled to choose a master planner who eventually will develop hundreds of acres of prime island property. Three companies — Trammell Crow Co., Linger Longer Communities and Jekyll Island Revitalization Group — remain in the running. Each has submitted preliminary plans to redevelop the park's proposed 45-acre "town center" that stretches from the current retail district beyond the convention center.
"We have three excellent proposals and expect to come out with a fine plan for redevelopment to make Jekyll the premier, environmentally friendly destination on the East Coast," said Porter.
He added that the authority's decision last month to grant Trammell Crow – the Texas-based real-estate conglomerate that's also re-developing property along the beach – a $10 million rent break through 2020 is "a done deal."
Trammell Crow expects to tear down the Buccaneer Beach Resort by year's end and replace it with a 300-room hotel with 120 two-room condos. Hotel room rates could top $250 a night.
Chapman, in a six-page memorandum sent to Porter and members of the authority's legislative oversight committee this week, questioned "why would a multi-billion dollar corporation need to be induced into building a hotel complex on nine acres of prime oceanfront property?"
Porter has apologized for not allowing board members sufficient time to debate the merits of the Trammell Crow deal.
Chapman, board member Ed Boshears and Jekyll residents say lack of information and public input continues to plague the island's redevelopment.
No public hearings will be held before Sept. 24. The public won't likely learn details of the three proposals until after the winner is selected.
In an Aug. 31 letter to Bill Donohue, the authority's executive director, the Georgia First Amendment Foundation wrote that the authority "appears to have improperly conducted its public meetings [and] appears to be failing to comply properly with the requirements of the open records act."
Donohue said Friday that the board is "following the state's established procurement process" guidelines and to do otherwise would compromise bidders' confidentiality.
David Egan, an island resident and co-founder of the Initiative to Protect Jekyll Island, said he fears board members also will sacrifice affordability for big-bucks redevelopment.
"The ultimate goal is to keep the park accessible and affordable for most Georgians and visitors," said Egan, whose Web site, www.savejekyllisland.org, advocates public participation in the island's future. "What's missing is how the needs of average Georgians are being met."
Porter said they'll be met.
"The policy of the board has been, is and will remain to offer all levels of accommodations for all price ranges in any Jekyll revitalization," he said. "Logic says a beachfront, ocean-view room rents higher than one a hundred yards away, so those economy hotels will not be looking at the ocean. I don't see anything wrong with that."
Chapman does.
"That type of thinking is very troubling and actually discriminates against the public's access to public property," he said. "Jekyll is no different than a public building. Sure, oceanfront views are valuable, but they're equally valuable to all Georgians."
09/07 - Chapman tells lawmakers to keep close tabs on Jekyll
Date September 07, 2007
Section(s) Local News
By HANK ROWLAND
The Brunswick News
State Sen. Jeff Chapman, R-Brunswick, says he is still unsure whether plans being made by the Jekyll Island Authority are in accordance with state law.
The law clearly states that the island should be affordable to a majority of Georgians, Chapman said Thursday.
He questions whether plans outlined by the authority, including a $90 million beachfront hotel-condo development proposed by Trammell Crow, during a meeting with the legislative oversight committee in August are in keeping with state law.
"That's the unique thing about the state park," Chapman said. "It has been described as being for plain people of Georgia. It should be available at the lowest rates."
Chapman says that and more in a letter to the legislative oversight committee, co-chaired by Sen. Tommie Williams, R-Lyons, and Rep. Jerry Keen, R-St. Simons Island. He urges the oversight committee in the letter to keep close tabs on the Jekyll Island Development Authority's plans.
"I cannot find any evidence that (the authority) has taken into consideration what I believe is the original intent ... of state law regarding affordability," he said. "Right out the gate, they're asking for a three-star hotel."
Chapman, who represents the island in the Senate, echoes the sentiments of residents on Jekyll. They, too, have questioned whether the proposed new look of the island will be within the financial reach of average Georgians.
"I want the affordability aspect of this state park to be reflected in their actions, and I don't want it after the fact," Chapman said. "I want it addressed up front, not after everything has been developed and accommodations built. Let's get it under control during the negotiations process."
Chapman said he doesn't know how to define affordability on Jekyll Island, where houses on leased land have been priced to sell at over $1 million. But he knows where to go to get the information: the University of Georgia.
"It is very capable of helping us define what is the average income in Georgia," he said.
It has been estimated that it will cost $170 per night per room at new beachfront hotels proposed on Jekyll.
"I can tell you it's not affordable," he said. "We can do better than that."
Chapman said he knows of hotels that are asking $90 to $120 a day per stay.
"And that's with companies that have very comfortable, modern facilities and that have to purchase the land," he said.
Land on Jekyll is leased, not bought. That gives developers an advantage, he said.
"Essentially, they're in a position to negotiate attractive rates," Chapman said.
Sen. Williams said Aug. 28 that the authority has said that there will be lower priced hotels on the island.
"(From) our conversations with some of the (authority) board members, they intend to have some affordable motels on the island," Williams said. "These affordable hotels may not be on the beach, but they will be there."
To Chapman, that might be fine, but only if over half of the new developments can accommodate average Georgians at an affordable cost.
Section(s) Local News
By HANK ROWLAND
The Brunswick News
State Sen. Jeff Chapman, R-Brunswick, says he is still unsure whether plans being made by the Jekyll Island Authority are in accordance with state law.
The law clearly states that the island should be affordable to a majority of Georgians, Chapman said Thursday.
He questions whether plans outlined by the authority, including a $90 million beachfront hotel-condo development proposed by Trammell Crow, during a meeting with the legislative oversight committee in August are in keeping with state law.
"That's the unique thing about the state park," Chapman said. "It has been described as being for plain people of Georgia. It should be available at the lowest rates."
Chapman says that and more in a letter to the legislative oversight committee, co-chaired by Sen. Tommie Williams, R-Lyons, and Rep. Jerry Keen, R-St. Simons Island. He urges the oversight committee in the letter to keep close tabs on the Jekyll Island Development Authority's plans.
"I cannot find any evidence that (the authority) has taken into consideration what I believe is the original intent ... of state law regarding affordability," he said. "Right out the gate, they're asking for a three-star hotel."
Chapman, who represents the island in the Senate, echoes the sentiments of residents on Jekyll. They, too, have questioned whether the proposed new look of the island will be within the financial reach of average Georgians.
"I want the affordability aspect of this state park to be reflected in their actions, and I don't want it after the fact," Chapman said. "I want it addressed up front, not after everything has been developed and accommodations built. Let's get it under control during the negotiations process."
Chapman said he doesn't know how to define affordability on Jekyll Island, where houses on leased land have been priced to sell at over $1 million. But he knows where to go to get the information: the University of Georgia.
"It is very capable of helping us define what is the average income in Georgia," he said.
It has been estimated that it will cost $170 per night per room at new beachfront hotels proposed on Jekyll.
"I can tell you it's not affordable," he said. "We can do better than that."
Chapman said he knows of hotels that are asking $90 to $120 a day per stay.
"And that's with companies that have very comfortable, modern facilities and that have to purchase the land," he said.
Land on Jekyll is leased, not bought. That gives developers an advantage, he said.
"Essentially, they're in a position to negotiate attractive rates," Chapman said.
Sen. Williams said Aug. 28 that the authority has said that there will be lower priced hotels on the island.
"(From) our conversations with some of the (authority) board members, they intend to have some affordable motels on the island," Williams said. "These affordable hotels may not be on the beach, but they will be there."
To Chapman, that might be fine, but only if over half of the new developments can accommodate average Georgians at an affordable cost.
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