Bill Donohue, who also serves as Executive Director of the North Georgia Mountains Authority, said Lake Lanier Islands road signs are up between the resort and McEver Road and expects signs would appear all the way to I-985 soon. Donohue does not want to stop with signs; a community development district would benefit every business along the corridor.
"I think the benefits for the area and all the businesses along that corridor would be improved signage and access and a concept of making Exit (8) a gateway to Hall County," Donohue said. "We would look at ways to have sidewalks and benches and landscaping all the way through the corridor making it much more pedestrian friendly while improving the overall look and feel of the corridor."
Donohue said the partnership between Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority and Lake Lanier Islands Management is paying off with continuing development that is attracting visitors and corporate meetings. Donohue said resort road improvements were more of an economic challenge than the recession economy.
"Overall it's held up really well," Donohue said. "There were some difficult times with economy's impact but we really had some negative impacts because of the construction. When we tried to re-do all the roads in the resort while you're open it really was a challenge."
Donohue said with road construction over, Lake Lanier Islands had a good summer with renewed plans for a new hotel at Pine Isle.
"There are renewed efforts to try to talk to folks and figure the financing out; they had a deal almost done in 2008 and then there was the terrible market turn down, but now that all these other improvements have been made they're getting response to inquiries."
Donahue is hopeful that a new deal that will lead to a new hotel on the site might be ready by end of 2012.
Donohue said a community development district would benefit every business along the corridor
Donohue said the partnership between Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority and Lake Lanier Islands Management is paying off with continuing development that is attracting visitors and corporate meetings
http://accesswdun.com/article/2010/11/234137