Developer promises to preserve Jekyll

September 26, 2007
By MARY STARR | The Brunswick News

A developer named to direct $441 million in redevelopment projects on Jekyll Island reassured island watchdogs Tuesday that his company would make sure the state-owned resort remains a place everyone can enjoy.

"We want to create an inclusive atmosphere and maintain environmental sensitivity," said Mercer Reynolds III, chief executive officer of Linger Longer Properties, at a meeting Tuesday morning to outline the plan. "The island will remain affordable and accessible to all Georgians," he said. On Monday, the Jekyll Island Authority board of directors said it had chosen Reynolds' company from among three finalists to head long-anticipated reconstruction of the island's aging beachfront motels, attractions and infrastructure.

Among other things, Linger Longer is proposing the construction of three new hotel properties offering a range of rental prices, averaging from $105 to $183 per night. Combined, the three new hotels would cost $162.5 million and add 725 new rooms to the island. Additionally, Reynolds' company is proposing 160 time-share condominium units and 227 vacation cottage units at a total cost of $122 million; a new convention center to replace the existing one, with a first-phase cost of $25 million; a village center of shops and restaurants for $9.78 million; road, park and other infrastructure improvements estimated at $25.7 million; and parking garages totaling $6.4 million. A $90 million replacement resort for the Buccaneer motel has already been announced by Texas developer Trammell Crow. 

As expected, the proposal isn't without its critics. Among particular concern to some Jekyll Island residents is the plan to build additional condominiums and rental units on the island. Dan Egan of the Initiative to Protect Jekyll Island said that visitors he's spoken with are overwhelmingly opposed to condominiums. In an unscientific survey recently done by his group, only 2 percent of respondents favored condos, he claimed. "What was the empirical data used to determine the number of condos planned?" he asked.

Not all public comment was critical. James Veal, owner of the Beachview Club, a hotel on the Jekyll beachfront, said he welcomes the improvements. "This is one of the most well-designed plans I've ever seen," Veal said as he examined a three-dimensional model on display at the Jekyll Island Convention Center. Tise Eyler, a former president of the Jekyll Island Citizen's Association, also said he's looking forward to seeing the project take shape. "I like what I see," Eyler said.

Jim Langford, project engineer for Linger Longer, said the company is attempting to design a lodging mix that would attract many different types of visitors. The condominiums will be two- and three-story buildings and will be built in a cottage style reminiscent of early Jekyll Island architecture, Langford said. Pricing and lease terms remain to be worked out, he said, adding that none of the condos would be sold as permanent residences. He cautioned the audience that not everything in the plan is definite. "Everything is on the table, including the number of (condo) units," Langford said.

According to the Linger Longer plan, the present beachfront Jekyll Convention Center will be torn down to make way for the village center, tentatively named Horton Square. A new convention center would be built away from the beach, bordering Shell Road and the Great Dunes Golf Course.