Central Terminal Restoration Corporation Announces New President
By Elena Cala Buscarino
buffalorising.com
September 24, 2009
The Board of Directors for the Central Terminal Restoration Corporation (CTRC) recently announced some changes following the sudden death of the board’s president, Michael Miller.
Mark Lewandowski was elected board president and chairman, while Anthony Bylewski will serve as first vice chairman. They, along with other Board members including Yuri Hreshchyshyn, Hank Olejniczak, Paul Lang, and Jeff Ingersoll, elected Sara Etten as Secretary and Derek Punaro as Treasurer.
Lewandowski has been instrumental in the CTRC since 1997, and is well acquainted with the mission and direction of the board through past President Russ Pawlak, and then Michael Miller. “Michael’s sudden death was a shock that was personally devastating to me,” Lewandowski said. “He called on that Thursday night to say he wouldn’t be at the board meeting, and then I got the ominous call the next morning.” Lewandowski says that that meeting was the only one he knows of that Miller ever missed unless he was out of town.
“It’s tough to get over,” he says, “but we need everyone to know we’re still around.” Indeed, Miller never spoke of the terminal without giving much credit and emphasis to the “supporting cast of characters” that Lewandowski was certainly a big part of.
“We’re an eclectic group,” Lewandowski says, “maybe not people who would even hang out together if not for the terminal functions and planning sessions.” All the better for the project planning they have ahead of them. Coming from all different backgrounds and areas of expertise, the common binding factor is their passion for the CTRC’s role in bringing life to the terminal’s future that will echo, and perhaps exceed, its past.
“We’re going to get this show on the road and create a vision. We have architects and planners that will create projects, that will in turn summon those with deep pockets,” Lewandowski stated. “We didn’t always go after help like that before, but we will. And we’ll have something to show investors. We know there are people out there willing to help.”
What about the revival of rail? “Oh, it’s there,” Lewandowski said. “There’s interest.”
The board also announced its intention to create a master plan by October 2010 to protect, stabilize and preserve the Central Terminal Rail Station for eventual renovation and reuse. The board’s top priority is to clarify issues and better inform public officials of the unique advantages of this site, as well as the significant long-lasting benefits that will occur once the terminal returns to regular use. The CTRC board invites all elected officials, community leaders, educators and neighborhood groups to join us as we develop our Master Plan to save this structure from destruction by time and neglect.