Lake Lanier Islands gets lease approved

ATLANTA - The Lake Lanier Islands Development Authority approved a revised 50-year lease for the resort Friday.

Gwinnett County businessman Virgil Williams asked for the lease revision and extension after becoming owner of the 1,000-acre resort a year ago.

The lease must also be approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The agreement makes the authority responsible for renovations and improvements while the lease holder is in charge of operating and maintaining the resort. The lease also gives Williams a three-year window to decide what to do with the former PineIsle resort, which closed last fall.

Williams has the option of demolishing the hotel or creating a plan for redevelopment.