April 04, 2013--Jekyll Island officials are optimistic that the planned 200-room Westin hotel is moving toward its scheduled April 15 groundbreaking.

The board of the Jekyll Island Authority approved an amendment to the hotel's ground lease Wednesday, removing a parcel of land slated to become a 39-suite extension of the Jekyll Island Club Hotel. Separating the parcels came at the request of PNC Bank, which is financing the funding for Jekyll Landmark Associates and allows the developer to move forward with its financial closing.

Jones Hooks, executive director of the authority that operates the island, said he was confident the project will come to fruition this month and the amendment will have little impact on the future development of the smaller lot planned for the 39 suites.

"This should not be interpreted as any issue for the suites parcel. That project conceptually is still something we're interested in and see moving forward," Hooks said. "They're still moving forward with their financial closing."

The Westin is a large part of the island's ongoing revitalization and is needed to supplement accommodations and conventions at the Jekyll Island Convention Center, which opened in May. Some larger organizations have said they are holding off on booking conventions on the island until more lodging is available.

The hotel will eventually join a 120-room limited service Hyatt Place hotel and the smaller suites lodging facility. Jekyll officials hope that combining these hotels with a Beach Village retail complex will create a town center feel.

Construction on the retail center is on hold until the Westin gets under way. A provision in the authority's loan to self develop requires ground to be broken on the hotel before the retail complex can be built.

-- Reporter Nikki Wiley writes about government, business and other local topics. Contact her at [email protected], on Facebook or at 265-8320, ext. 321.

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