Comments on: Senator: Jekyll Island not a done deal

By: EDD COOK JR

EDD COOK JR — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 02:02:45 +0000

JEKYLL BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE, NOT THE DEVELOPERS ! THE DEVELOPERS HAVE RAPED THE REST OF THE U.S. COAST FOR “FUN AND PROFIT”, ESPECIALLY PROFIT. IT’S TIME TO STAND UP AND SAVE WHAT LITTLE REMAINS OF “OUR” COAST. THE PEOPLE MUST STOP THIS TRAVESTY AND RECLAIM THE ISLAND BY ANY MEANS POSSIBLE-AND I DO MEAN “ANY MEANS”.

By: JON STEVENSON

JON STEVENSON — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:02:58 +0000

KUDOS TO SENATOR CHAPMAN. HE HAS POINTED OUT HOW TRULY INFECTED THE JIA IS WITH REGARD TO DEVELOPMENT. THE MOST RECENT PLAN BY LLC IS ONLY AN ATTEMP TO DEFRAY OPPOSITION TO LARGER DEVELOPMENT ON JEKYLL. DON’T BELIEVE FOR A MINUTE THAT IT WILL STOP WITH THE SCALED BACK PLAN. AS THE OLD PROVERB SAYS ‘ONCE THE CAMEL GETS HIS NOSE IN THE TENT THE REST IS SURE TO QUICKLY FOLLOW’.

By: Georgia On My Mind

Georgia On My Mind — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 18:45:53 +0000

Thanks, Senator Jeff Chapman, for exposing the truth about the BAG report. I too sat through the hour long BAG power point presentation that tried to convince the audience that Jekyll Island is headed for financial ruin because of declining visitation. I quickly determined that neither their statistics nor their logic had merit. If Jekyll Island is headed for financial ruin, the situation can be blamed on the purposeful neglect of accommodations by its stewards, the JIA, who cannot see beyond the promise of profits from wholesale redevelopment at the expense of the serenity of the island and its ecological health. If JIA were truly sincere about maintaining the integrity of the island’s environment and enhancing visitor experience while at the same time boosting revenue, surely it can come up with some more creative ways to do so than to turn the island over to a corporation whose only interest is exorbitant profits from high end hotels which will exclude the ordinary people of Georgia. It seems to me Americans have seen enough of pandering to wealth-mongers in the past month.

Instead of relying on a report completed by the very company that helped select LL as JIA’s private partner, how about asking the people of Georgia what they want for their state park? How about soliciting ideas from the people of Georgia about what would enhance their visitor experience? Chances are, the answer will not be more high end hotels and less open beach front.

By: Susan DeHoff

Susan DeHoff — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 15:34:57 +0000

Sen. Jeff Chapman’s comments about the Bleakly Advisory Group’s relationship with the Jekyll Island Authority leads to the conclusion that the Jekyll Island Authority (JIA) is primarily concerned with Jekyll Island’s profitability. Profitability for whom seems to be up for debate.

Sen. Chapman’s comments also make it clear that there are some major gaps in stewardship of Jekyll Island. As a state park, Jekyll Island is in need of an advisory group focused on caring for the best interests of Georgia citizens. As a fragile barrier island, Jekyll Island is in need of an advisory group focused on protecting its natural resources and coastal marine environment.

JIA seems to be morphing into the Jekyll Island Authority Land Development Group. Perhaps its only focus should be on issues that affect the amount of money to be made by using Jekyll Island’s many resources. It is not only short-sighted but also environmentally dangerous, however, not to add advisory groups who would focus on the interests of (1) Georgia’s citizens and out-of-state tourists who provide that financial profit and (2) the preservation of the natural environment that allows the mainland protection provided by a barrier island.

Susan DeHoff, annual tourist
Shrewsbury, MA

By: Sandra Hamel

Sandra Hamel — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:42:12 +0000

Can Senator Chapman find no other voices in the Republican Party to help him save Jekyll Island State Park from over development and privatization? Why are these politicians so quiet?
If I were a developer, as LLC is, I would just love having friends such as Governor Perdue, the JIA (appointed by the governor), Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, House Majority Leader Jerry Keene, Senator Eric Johnson, President Pro Tempore, and Representative Jack Kingston…to name a few.
But, they are no friends of Jekyll Island State Park and the people they should be representing. And we shouldn’t be fooled by the so called “downsizing” of their project. It’s still more than JI needs.
These are powerful people pushing for excessive beach development in a “State Park”, And they now have the Bleakly Group trying to give their project legitimacy.
Forbes Magazine recently carried an AP article “Ga. island getaway scraps upscale condos, hotel”. In that article there were comments made that should continue the concern for the future of Jekyll Island.
Jim Langford, project manager for Linger Longer said public criticism drove the changes. But, he also acknowledged the grim economy played a role.( What does this “developer” have planned on Jekyll Island when the economy turns around? )
Jones Hooks, director of Jekyll Island, said it wasn’t clear whether revenue would meet the goal after the redevelopment plan dropped the upscale amenities. He was quoted as saying “There may need to be additional amenities, but that would be a decision of the board. He also said “This is the plan. This is it. Who knows what the future holds?” ( What does that comment mean? ).”
Both of these individuals leave open the possibility of returning to more development on Jekyll Island.
The “board” Jones Hooks refers to, by the way, is the same JIA board that, former, JIA board member Ed Boshears has accused of corruption. And, he has requested a Grand Jury investigation. Those allegations of corruption should, immediately, stop this JIA board from making any decisions on the future of Jekyll Island, until a full investigation has been completed. The people of Georgia deserve to know the truth about what is going on within their state park. Why are we not hearing more about this?
Senator Chapman needs help from our legislators. Georgia needs legislation to protect Jekyll Island forever. Laws need to be written so that, never again, will the people of Georgia have to become so involved to protect Jekyll Island State Park. It’s their Georgia island getaway.

By: Robin Banks

Robin Banks — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:19:13 +0000

Chapman hits the nail right on the head with the points he makes in his article and I think the most central one is his criticism that JIA and BAG are treating JI as a “coastal resort” rather than a state park. Any planning based explicitly or implicitly on this premise is bound to be badly flawed. JI may need a bit more polish ; the last thing it needs is a transformation.

Surely it is time the replace the misguided membership of JIA and return to the kind of leadership and direction that has made JI the beautiful and unique haven that draws so many of us year after year.

By: Carla

Carla — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:02:05 +0000

Comparing Jekyll Island to “other coastal resorts” is the dead giveaway. Jekyll is not a resort. People who want resort atmosphere and trimmings go to Hilton Head, etc. People who want a natural park environment, with ecological importance and outstanding educational opportunities for children and Elder Hostels and the like, and who want ease and simplicity in their family vacations go to Jekyll. And people who want/need an affordable vacation go to Jekyll. My family currently frequently visits Jekyll; $240/night would be prohibitive.

A real assessment by public land experts with environmental impact is needed, not just a review of the BAG study. A second opinion not motivated by profit and done by entities that do not carry the conflict of interest which of course those who selected the developer have.

Enough already.

By: susanme9

susanme9 — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 07:41:26 +0000

The Jekyll Island Authority, Linger Longer Communities, and the Bleakly Advisory Group have ties that bind. Can the people of Georgia trust these people with the future of our only coastal state park? Is this study geared to revitalize Jekyll or is its main objective profit driven? This study is based on assumptions that they expect Jekyll to meet.

Like Senator Chapman said Jekyll deserves only the very best public land planners. Privatization is a bad idea and has no place in the management of public property. Hopefully there are people in our state government that can oversee the management of Jekyll while using the island’s and the people’s best interest as their guideline.
Thank you Senator Chapman for looking out for Jekyll and the people who truly love it. It is easy to see when someone “gets it”. We love Jekyll and we are not willing to compromise when it comes to giving control of its future to people who are not in it for the right reasons. We must stand firm and never give away what belongs to all of us.

By: Diane

Diane — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 01:34:14 +0000

“If we squander our fossil fuels, we threaten civilization; but if we squander the capital represented by living nature around us, we threaten life itself.”
___E.F. Schumacher, Small is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered, 1973.

Last week I had the good fortune to be on Jekyll for a week, part of it during the Coastal
Birding and Nature Festival, and I took numerous walks and bike rides, enjoying the island’s varied ecosystems and spent a day on Sapelo as well.

Once I came back to the city, the juxtaposition of those pleasures with the news of continuing economic crisis, caused me to pull Schumacher’s little book off the shelf. I was amazed all over again at his prescience when writing over 30 years ago. Had America been operating on a paradigm based on “economics as if people mattered,” I do not believe we would be in quite the financial mess we are. Moreover, those of us who love places like Jekyll and see no need for anything more than a choice of a good campsite, a decent hotel room, or a reasonably priced house to rent would not be considered as some sort of strange species who just don’t “get it.”

While I do understand the necessity of Jekyll’s being self-supporting, I think the JIA partly keeps trying to market it to the wrong audience. People who need handy outlet malls and the sense of being in a ritzy place with all the “right” sort of people, will never find Jekyll as appealing as Hilton Head. Those who admire a beach only for its lovely blue waters and snowy sand aren’t going to give up the Gulf beaches.
It doesn’t matter how many condos are built are how cutesy a town center Linger Longer manages to design.

And D.R. Ronaldo is right in the first comment on Sen. Chapman’s remarks: the JIA mismanaged this re-development from the start; therefore, suspicion of their efforts will continue because of that. No one has ever explained to me WHY the capacity study and more than token participation by the real stakeholders, Georgia’s citizens, weren’t asked for first. I can only conclude that the JIA and the governor thought no one would raise any serious fuss. Wrong. What JIA and the politicians behind them have done is ensure the creation of a passionate and concerned group of Georgians who are always going to be watching and questioning. For the life of me, I can’t understand why only Senator Chapman and a few others like Rep. Debbie Buckner understand this and agree that Jekyll can be improved and sustained in reasonable ways. Let’s not forget that had it not been for the efforts of Georgians and legislators such as Chapman, the south end of the island would probably also now be up for grabs.

The real problem with the Bleakley report as well as with too many of the real estate/developer types on the JIA board is that they operate from a paradigm that is looking more dated than ever: large is good, more money is the only meaningful life goal, and economics is all that matters.

By: Howard Sculthorpe

Howard Sculthorpe — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 01:08:12 +0000

Clearly the whole Linger Longer/JIA love affair stinks to high heavens. And, the BAC “analysis” is unworthy of the name.

Some facts:

- The BAC analysis started with the premise that a lot more development (read developer profits) would be needed to make JIA viable. They then backed into a scenario of massive increases in the number of residents. Their “analysis” didn’t begin to consider what the visitor attractions would be – just numbers of visitors times expenditure per visitor. There seems to be a “Build it and they will come” mentality to this whole scenario.

- The Linger Longer proposal (which they termed the “Final” proposal – think about that one), includes a 160 unit time share which would be sold to owners at a price of $16,500 for one week. That times 52 weeks times 160 equals $137 Million! What is the attraction of these time shares that would justify that price? Of course it’s the oceanfront location – prime Georgia owned property. What would Georgians get out of the deal? As Senator Chapman points out, $2.75 Million. Talk about a sweetheart deal! The probable cost of these units is $200K or so. That would yield a gross (very gross!) profit of over $100 Million.

- The “end game” appears to be letting Linger Longer be in the driver’s seat to privatizing the island. Georgia citizens be damned!

As they say in bridge, Let’s review the bidding.