Linger Longer Communities and the Jekyll Island State Park Authority Seek Public Input on Revitalization Plans

JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga., Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ — Georgians interested in the future of Jekyll Island will have multiple opportunities to preview and comment on plans for revitalizing the Jekyll Island Town Center.

Open public meetings will be held Nov. 14 at 9:30 a.m. at the Jekyll Island Convention Center on Jekyll Island; in St. Mary’s Nov. 14 at 3:30 p.m. at Heritage Bank at 392 Charlie Smith Sr. Highway; in Augusta Nov. 15 at 6:30 p.m. in the Knox Room at the National Science Center's Fort Discovery; and in Atlanta Nov. 20 at 3:30 p.m. at the Cobb Galleria on Cobb Parkway and Galleria Drive.

“Since our selection as the Jekyll Island Authority’s private development partner, we have been listening to what Georgians envision for the future of Jekyll Island,” said Jim Langford, project executive for Linger Longer Communities. “We have already received significant feedback through our Web site at www.rediscoverjekyll.com and appreciate the strong support, creative ideas and input we are receiving. We look forward to hearing more from the public once they have the opportunity to review our plans.”

Each public meeting will last approximately two hours and will include a presentation on the plans, followed by a question and answer session. All feedback will be taken into consideration by Linger Longer and the Jekyll Island Authority. Representatives of the Jekyll Island Authority, the organization responsible for managing, maintaining and preserving Jekyll Island State Park, will also be on hand at the meetings. A Web site with details on the plan — www.rediscoverjekyll.com — also allows for public review and comments on the planned re-development, which will encompass less than two percent of the island.

Linger Longer Communities was unanimously selected by the board of the Jekyll Island Authority as its private revitalization partner on Sept. 24, 2007. The Authority based its selection on proposals from four developers to build a town center. By law, 65 percent of Jekyll Island will always remain undeveloped and in its natural state.

“The Linger Longer plan is environmentally sensitive, and contains a mix of affordable housing options, three new hotels (at varying price points) and a new convention center. Their proposal was far and away the strongest, and most in keeping with what Jekyll Island is intended to be. As the caretakers of Jekyll Island, we also wanted a partner with an established track record of land conservation and management … and we found that uniquely in the Reynolds family who owns Linger Longer,” said Ben Porter, chairman of the Jekyll Island State Park Authority.

Linger Longer's plans for the proposed re-development site include a mix of economy, mid-scale and convention hotels, affordable vacation club offerings and beach cottages available for rent on a weekly basis. The new Jekyll Island Village will not contain any new permanent year-round residents. Unique and quaint shops, restaurants, public parking, an environmental discovery center, parks and a restored wetland will round out the mix.

More detailed information on the plan, including project renderings, downloadable images and site plans can be found at www.rediscoverjekyll.com.

Additional detail on Jekyll Island as it exists today can be found at www.jekyllisland.com.

About Linger Longer Communities

Headquartered in Greensboro, Ga., Linger Longer was formed in 1985 by Mercer Reynolds and Jamie Reynolds to develop Reynolds Plantation, one of Georgia's premiere mixed-use developments. Reynolds Plantation is a 10,000-acre golf and lake community featuring 99 holes of championship golf and 80 miles of shoreline. Additional Linger Longer Communities include Reynolds Landing at Lake Oconee, a resort community centered around a classic Bob Cupp golf course, and Achasta in historic Dahlonega, Ga.

Communities developed by Linger Longer feature the cornerstone principals of creating meaningful, long-lasting communities with minimal natural disturbance and exceptional amenities. Stewardship of the land, expansion of historic preservation and strengthening wildlife preservation are hallmarks of its planning and operations.

About Jekyll Island:

Jekyll Island is a barrier island on Georgia's coast — midway between Jacksonville, Fla. and Savannah, Ga. Accessible by car, just minutes from I-95, Jekyll Island offers a variety of amenities, including 10 miles of beach, four golf courses, a 250-acre Historic Landmark District, water park, tennis center, and an array of lodging options including hotels, cottages and campgrounds. Owned by the State of Georgia, and managed by the Jekyll Island State Park Authority, Jekyll Island has had development limited to just 35 percent of its available land area. This unique aspect of Jekyll Island serves to preserve the critical barrier island ecosystem and provides guests with a unique escape from the crowds and complications of other beach resort destinations. Please visit www.jekyllisland.com for more information or call 1-877-4JEKYLL.
    For more information on the Jekyll Island revitalization project, visit
    www.rediscoverjekyll.com.

    For more information on Linger Longer Communities, visit
    www.lingerlongercommunities.com.

    For more information on Jekyll Island, visit www.jekyllisland.com.
SOURCE Linger Longer Communities

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