A rare gem spanning over 200 feet on the Gulf Coast
59 Pelican Circle | By Erin Oden
In August, I had the opportunity to list and sell a spectacular and unique property that boasts one of the largest residential Gulf-front footages to be found along 30A. The residence at 59 Pelican Circle, a sprawling waterfront estate spanning 220 feet on the Gulf, broke records as the fourth-highest home-sale price in all of 30A’s history.
This property is particularly special to me, in that I first sold what was the original home back in 2014. While the home was dated, the double lot that commanded more than 200 feet on the Gulf was absolutely magical and begging for a sleek, stunning residence that would show off the impressive Gulf-frontage and expansive views. The new owners saw the potential and immediately hired an uber-talented team to create the dream vision.
Entirely renovated in 2015, prominent architect Geoff Chick and reputable builder Richard Swift collaborated to create a custom, modern design that showcased an expansive water frontage. Today, 59 Pelican Circle stands as a marvel along the Emerald Coast.
I had the recent pleasure of sitting down with Geoff Chick, who shared the story of creating the design of the renovated residence.
HOW DID YOU DISCOVER 30A? TELL US ABOUT YOUR FIRST VISIT TO 30A.
GEOFF CHICK: I came down here from college on spring break and fell in love with the area. I moved down here to goof off after graduation and never left. I found a career down here at the beach designing houses and that’s really been my passion. There was no Rosemary Beach back then. There we no Alys Beach. There was no Seacrest Beach. There was Seaside and Seagrove and everything east of there was still very much untouched. That all started after I moved here. So, I’ve gotten to watch all of that side of 30A be built up, because there was nothing there.
WITH YOUR BROAD BACKGROUND IN DESIGNING AND BUILDING ALONG ALL OF THE AREAS OF SCENIC 30A, TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCES ALONG PELICAN POINTE AND WHY PELICAN CIRCLE PROVIDES SUCH A SPECIAL AND UNIQUE LOCATION FOR DESIGNING AND BUILDING A LUXURY LEGACY RESIDENCE.
GEOFF CHICK: You’re centrally located there. You’re still close to all of the amenities of Rosemary Beach and Alys Beach but you’re far enough away that you can participate and enjoy if you choose. You’re also not too far away from Watersound and The Hub, going in the other direction. You’re close to everything but you’re tucked into the “private enclave” – that’s what I would call it – of Pelican Circle
WHAT WERE THE ORIGINAL VISIONARY ELEMENTS AND FEATURES THAT YOU WANTED TO BRING TO LIFE IN THIS PROJECT? WHAT ARE THE UNIQUE HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS EXCEPTIONAL RESIDENCE AT 59 PELICAN CIRCLE?
GEOFF CHICK: I think that one important thing to note about this property is that it was actually a remodel, so we had our hands tied with the existing structure. There was an older stucco home there, so we gutted the house completely down to the studs and redid all of the plumbing, all of the electrical and then reimagined the house to take advantage of the views. We were inspired by (architects) Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright. We added a lot of windows and doors facing the ocean to really capitalize on that view opportunity and the outdoor living space – with that beautiful swimming pool by Chad Horton.
The other thing we really wanted to work on was the curb appeal. That glass tower with the floating staircase was something that we wanted as you entered the property, for that to really pull you in. One of the things that was really cool about this property is where the house is located, to the far west side of the lot. We tried to make sure every room in the house had a view of the water. Even the back bedrooms look out across the pool area to the Gulf.
THIS HOME SITS ON A PARTICULARLY SPECIAL AND RARE HOMESITE, WITH 220 FEET OF GULF-FRONTAGE. HOW DID EACH OF YOU FOCUS THE ARCHITECTURAL AND EXTERIOR DESIGN PROCESS TO CAPITALIZE ON ONE OF THE LARGEST GULF-FRONT HOME SITES AVAILABLE ALONG SCENIC HIGHWAY 30A?
GEOFF CHICK: I think that the most important decision that was made in the design process was to preserve that big open space and leave it undeveloped. Rather than have a house eat up the whole lot, I think what to me exudes luxury and the value of that lot is an open space. You’re actually able to enjoy that Gulf experience without filling every square inch of the property with house.
WHAT TIDBITS DO YOU HAVE TO SHARE WITH THE FUTURE OWNERS OF 59 PELICAN CIRCLE?
GEOFF CHICK: I’ve done a lot of houses now with Richard Swift and he’s probably one of the best, if not the best contractor that I get to work with. Richard was able to take some of my ideas and make them better than what I imagined. Really dive into the interior experience because the box itself is really well designed and really well built.