9 replies to this topic

[912]

For a state with such a small coastline, Georgia is blessed with several islands that have been set aside for the purposes of conservation, like St. Catherine's, Sapelo & Cumberland.  Another one of these islands is Chatham County's own Ossabaw Island.

Keeping in mind that we already have plenty of coastal areas off limits to development, I think the economics are right to develop Ossabaw into a Hilton Head style family beach community.  Tybee Island is small, and has long been maxed out in terms of viable development.  As Savannah is such a tourist magnet, I think the addition of a second resort-style beach would be an economic boon for the area, and further solidify Savannah as a vacation mecca.

Ossabaw is at least twice as large as Tybee (if not more), so there's room for upscale amenities (golf, tennis, resorts), as well as boutique shopping, public beaches & the like.  If the State deeded the Island back to Chatham County, and developers with a defined vision were brought in, Ossabaw could be a crown jewel in Georgia's tourist crown.

Charleston has an upscale beach (IOP), and a more laid back, casual one (Folly).  Heck, even Brunswick has these on St. Simon's, Jekyll & Sea Island.  I think it's time for Savannah, and Georgia, to address the overall lack of quality beach & vacation opportunities, and develop Ossabaw.

Edited by fromsc2tx, 18 December 2007 - 08:36 AM.

[cocateho]

fromsc2tx, on Dec 18 2007, 08:46 AM, said:

For a state with such a small coastline, Georgia is blessed with several islands that have been set aside for the purposes of conservation, like St. Catherine's, Sapelo & Cumberland.  Another one of these islands is Chatham County's own Ossabaw Island.

Keeping in mind that we already have plenty of coastal areas off limits to development, I think the economics are right to develop Ossabaw into a Hilton Head style family beach community.  Tybee Island is small, and has long been maxed out in terms of viable development.  As Savannah is such a tourist magnet, I think the addition of a second resort-style beach would be an economic boon for the area, and further solidify Savannah as a vacation mecca.

Ossabaw is at least twice as large as Tybee (if not more), so there's room for upscale amenities (golf, tennis, resorts), as well as boutique shopping, public beaches & the like.  If the State deeded the Island back to Chatham County, and developers with a defined vision were brought in, Ossabaw could be a crown jewel in Georgia's tourist crown.

Charleston has an upscale beach (IOP), and a more laid back, casual one (Folly).  Heck, even Brunswick has these on St. Simon's, Jekyll & Sea Island.  I think it's time for Savannah, and Georgia, to address the overall lack of quality beach & vacation opportunities, and develop Ossabaw.

save ossabaw. i like the fact we have a few pristine islands, without that well be like florida. the road to tybee needs to be widened, which is, i believe, already in the plans. also i think the hieght limit, at least on the beach, along the main areas, not so much the south end, should be raised to about 6-7 stories. that seems reasonable to me.

[912]

I guess my point is that for a state with such a limited coastline, we already have a ton of protected islands.  I forgot to add Wassaw & the many smaller islands & hammocks that are protected as well.  I think with the ongoing population & tourism boom, it makes sense to develop one of these islands, and Ossabaw, to me, makes the most sense.

Yes, Tybee road needs to be expanded (and it will be), and it's elevation needs to be raised, but that doesn't do anything to "add" more room to the small island.  I just think it would be nice to have a second beach.

[cocateho]

fromsc2tx, on Dec 19 2007, 06:10 AM, said:

I guess my point is that for a state with such a limited coastline, we already have a ton of protected islands.  I forgot to add Wassaw & the many smaller islands & hammocks that are protected as well.  I think with the ongoing population & tourism boom, it makes sense to develop one of these islands, and Ossabaw, to me, makes the most sense.

Yes, Tybee road needs to be expanded (and it will be), and it's elevation needs to be raised, but that doesn't do anything to "add" more room to the small island.  I just think it would be nice to have a second beach.

well being almost half raised on wassaw and sapelo, im kinda biased about keeping them they way they are, especially those two and ossabaw. but thats just me. thing is though, people do use the islands so developing one would kinda put all of those people out. i think little tybee, if anything, or one of the small ones, should be developed, just with midrises.

[socaguy]

Isnt Jekyll island about to get a 400 million dollar "makeover"?  Lets focus on the islands that have development already before we destroy any more of Georgias beautiful coastline.

[cocateho]

socaguy, on Dec 19 2007, 08:57 PM, said:

Isnt Jekyll island about to get a 400 million dollar "makeover"?  Lets focus on the islands that have development already before we destroy any more of Georgias beautiful coastline.

amen! lol

[912]

socaguy, on Dec 19 2007, 08:57 PM, said:

Isnt Jekyll island about to get a 400 million dollar "makeover"?  Lets focus on the islands that have development already before we destroy any more of Georgias beautiful coastline.

Would you say that the development on Hilton Head has destroyed that island? How about on Kiawah? Sea Island?

Jekyll is about to receive a facelift, but it too is very limited in the amount of available land for development.  Pretty much all of the developed islands in Georgia are "maxed out".  Again, with a growing coastal population, and being located in the theoretical "safest place fron hurricanes on the East Coast", as well as a need to develop more family-friendly recreational & vacation opportunities, I still maintain that one of the undeveloped islands will eventually be developed.

But hey, it was only a thought.

[Spartan]

developing sea islands and coastal areas in general is a bad idea. SC spends millions of dollars every year in Hilton Head, Myrtle Beach, and the Charleston barrier islands on beach renourishment. Barrier islands are designed to shift, and will do so over time- ignoring any human structures on them. Georgia would be wise to learn from South Carolina and Florida when it comes to beachfront development. Take advantage and maximize the towns you have now, but lets not create more of them.

[Topher1]

fromsc2tx, on Dec 20 2007, 06:21 AM, said:

Would you say that the development on Hilton Head has destroyed that island? How about on Kiawah? Sea Island?

Hilton Head?  Absolutely.  The island and the roads leading to it are a traffic snarled nightmare.  Very little of the island is available for public use.  I did spring break last year at a friend's family vacation home in Sea Pines Plantation (a gated subdivision that encompasses like 1/4 of the island) and was disgusted with the way a beautiful place has been carved up.  The friend made a comment along the lines of "There used to be a problem with the of deer causing accidents/unwanted human interaction, so they had to destroy/ship out the entire deer population."  She stated this without a tinge of irony, as if it was the  deer's fault that their island was being paved over for private homes that are used a very small percentage of the year...  Needless to say, HHI had nothing that interested me, though the side trips to Savannah and Charleston were, as always, fantastic.

Edited by Topher1, 21 December 2007 - 10:23 PM.

[socaguy]

I find the natural coastal islands MUCH more interesting than any of the existing developed areas along the coast, (HHI, Myrtle Beach, SSI, JI, etc).