THE DRAPER LAKE DETAILS
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Draper Lake History – Long before 30A became a prestigious getaway for celebrities and second homeowners from across the country, Draper Lake captured the heart of artist Flora Aleene Sinclair-Franz.
The Chipley, Florida native, who worked alongside Frank Lloyd Wright during her time as a young student at the Art Institute of Chicago, fell in love with what was then a simple network of dirt roads and picturesque views. The “fiercely independent” painter purchased all of the land surrounding the lake for herself in the 1930s. While it was the promise of turpentine that brought her family, and many others, to the area in those days, it was the stunning landscape that called her to 30A.
With panoramic views of a treasured coastal dune lake and the sandy gulf beaches, the area was simply too much for her to pass up, especially since naturalistic scenes and still life were her proffered painting subjects. Flora even struck a deal with her old friend Frank to build an art studio on the property so she could teach classes to local residents and any visitors who may have found their way to the area in those days.
Unfortunately, the grand architectural plan never materialized but after years of family trips to the land, Flora finally “found” her home at 58 Sinclair Lane in 2009. Although she didn’t live long enough to see the home, which is located on what is left of the family land at Draper Lake, her love for the area inspired the vision of architect J. Michael Hunnicutt and her son Karl, who worked together on the design.
“Karl Sinclair Franz really tried to capitalize on what his mother, Flora, loved about the property,” says a family friend. What resulted really set the standard for the architecture throughout Draper Lake community. It uses all-natural materials, like cedar siding and wood roofing, and of course the views are just unmatched. There’s really no other place like this in the area!”
Town Architect Geoff Chick – Inspired by the quality of life along the Gulf Coast, Geoff moved to the Florida Panhandle after earning his professional degree from Cornell University in 1996. A native of Massachusetts, Geoff has spent the ensuing years cultivating his knowledge of the area and its local building traditions.
Frustrated by the generic nature of the builder driven housing industry, he founded Geoff Chick & Associates in 2001. Dedicated to serving the needs of his clients with a more intimate collaboration, Geoff specializes in building single-family custom homes which are unique to the site and their occupants. With extensive field construction experience and a substantial portfolio of built work, Geoff continues to create homes which manifest his profound sense of scale and the honest use of materials. His solutions are both pragmatic and poetic, merging established vernacular forms with a modern aesthetic.
Geoff is a registered architect in the State of Florida, is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, and a member of the American Institute of Architects. Geoff resides in South Walton County with his wife, Shawn, and their two children. Learn more about Geoff and his work at GeoffChick.com
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We love our unique 30A community and we know that you will as well. Please reach out to us with any questions or if you want any additional information about making Draper Lake your new home. Just use either button below to send us an email. Thanks for visiting and we look forward to hearing from you soon!