State Bond Funds to Improve Life Safety and Access Issues in the Historic District
PRESERVATION: Life Safety and Access Improvements
By Bruce Piatek, JIA Director of Historic Resources
Recently, the Jekyll Island Authority (JIA) board approved $1.6M in state bond funds to be used over the next five years to address life safety and access improvements within the National Historic Landmark District.
The life safety improvements include the addition and upgrade of fire exits, enhanced fire suppression systems, and additional improvements to make the area safer for guests and staff. Access improvements will consist of the installation of new paved walkways, ramps, elevators, and accessible restrooms, as well as the removal of access obstacles.
These funds were approved by the State of Georgia based on a review I conducted of all the properties in the historic district shortly after my arrival on Jekyll.
As a result of the approved funding, a five-year plan is in development to prioritize the improvements, develop the documents needed to obtain bids, and begin the construction process. Samples of the types of projects included in the bond improvements can be seen in the images included with this article. These upgrades, coupled with the MOSAiC Project, will keep us quite busy over the coming years.
