Millionaires built the Club Hotel when Jekyll Island was a preserve for the rich. It's been owned by the state since 1949. Residential rents haven't gone up since, but a proposal would change that. (photo Orlando Montoya)
About 600 residents live on the state-owned island and lease their land from the state's Jekyll Island Authority.
J.I.A. officials have scheduled drop-in workshops Wednesday for lease-holders to find out how the latest proposals would effect them.
There have been four versions of the planned rent increase since June, when officials proposed a hike to make rents more in line with inflation and coastal property values.
Current rents, averaging $334 annually, were set back in 1949 and didn't include any adjustment mechanism.
Under the current plans, the average rent would be $524 dollars next year and would double in five or ten years.
An early suggestion had annual rents possibly in the $30,000 to $70,000 dollar range.
That shocked many residents, many of whom also have mortgages on their homes.
The individualized sessions will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the J.I.A.'s administrative office at 100 James Road.
