If you know Tucker Curtin, then you know that he is passionate about Buffalo. He's also one of the city's most inspiring businessmen. The combination of being fervent Buffalo supporter and creative entrepreneur has delivered us Lake Effect Diner, The Steer Restaurant, and of course, Dug's Dive. When Tucker headed to the Outer Harbor to invest in a waterfront establishment, he set out to rethink what his immediate surroundings might one day look like. That vision has been years in the making, fluctuating from becoming a year 'round destination to a summer resort. A summer resort? Yes, with all of the recent waterfront hype, Tucker has been busy drafting up his own images that he feels would offer the biggest impact on the Outer Harbor in the shortest period of time. If the public momentum is there, then why not marry that with private investment? Tucker has become an anchor of sorts... now he feels that the time is right to build off the existing amenities such as the restaurant, bike trails, boat slips, etc. From Tucker:
"The plan was contrived by fulfilling the community's desire for recreational accessibility of the Outer Harbor. This is one for the people that will inspire future sustainable development and recreational opportunities. The Outer Harbor is our natural playground. As you can see, the plan includes boat rentals. I also believe there should be a system of rented bikes, sea kayaks and other modes of integrated recreational transportation, rental options, and a series of transportation hubs all connected between Erie Basin Marina, Festival Park and Dug's Dive - by road and water, we establish the heritage corridor experience. Once we figure out exactly what we want and need, I will help to build it!"
Take a look at the following renderings (click to enlarge) and you will see the direction that Tucker is going. You'll find rentable cabanas, a new beach with fire pit and towel rentals, a galvanized water slide, a stage for live music, giant checker and chess sets, a retail row, a deli with groceries, mini golf... there's even a new Dug's Dive building (different location) and additional food and bar offerings. Could one man's vision become a reality? As far as scale goes, this plan looks to be a much easier lift than the myriad of plans preceding it. There are no major land reconfigurations. There are no million dollar hotels. These are amenities that appear to be minimal investment that should lure additional investment to the Outer Harbor - especially since the person doing the luring is planning on heavily investing himself.
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"The plan was contrived by fulfilling the community's desire for recreational accessibility of the Outer Harbor. This is one for the people that will inspire future sustainable development and recreational opportunities. The Outer Harbor is our natural playground. As you can see, the plan includes boat rentals. I also believe there should be a system of rented bikes, sea kayaks and other modes of integrated recreational transportation, rental options, and a series of transportation hubs all connected between Erie Basin Marina, Festival Park and Dug's Dive - by road and water, we establish the heritage corridor experience. Once we figure out exactly what we want and need, I will help to build it!"
Take a look at the following renderings (click to enlarge) and you will see the direction that Tucker is going. You'll find rentable cabanas, a new beach with fire pit and towel rentals, a galvanized water slide, a stage for live music, giant checker and chess sets, a retail row, a deli with groceries, mini golf... there's even a new Dug's Dive building (different location) and additional food and bar offerings. Could one man's vision become a reality? As far as scale goes, this plan looks to be a much easier lift than the myriad of plans preceding it. There are no major land reconfigurations. There are no million dollar hotels. These are amenities that appear to be minimal investment that should lure additional investment to the Outer Harbor - especially since the person doing the luring is planning on heavily investing himself.
Love it, something like this might kick start the Freezer Queen project too. I have always thought some of the wide open area to the north could be a sports recreation complex with indoor/outdoor facilities like ice rink, soccer and ball diamonds, volleyball courts with lights (outdoor rink in winter) and even an indoor dome for soccer, golf range and for baseball teams to lease out in spring. Together with outdoor bike and running trails it could be a real people gathering attraction. Swimming lanes in the lake would be nice too.