Harry Stinson is not letting his plans for the Central Terminal go down without a fight.
The Canadian developer is holding a news conference Tuesday morning in Buffalo to announce his intention to continue working on plans to redevelop the Central Terminal into a mixed-use and entertainment complex.
"We are proceeding anyway," Stinson told 7 Eyewitness News in a phone interview.
The Central Terminal Restoration Corp. announced earlier this month that its designated developer agreement with Harry Stinson's JSK International will not be renewed when it expires May 24. Instead, the Urban Land Institute has agreed to conduct a study by June 30 on future uses of the building. The national real estate organization has performed similar studies on the Richardson Olmsted Complex and One Seneca Tower.
At the time, Stinson said he was completely blindsided by the CTRC's decision to kill their working relationship with Stinson.
Stinson says he has the support of Robert Rich of Rich Products Corporation, and suggests Rich has shown interest in moving one of his companies into the building.
Stinson plans to present evidence on Tuesday that indicates an urgency to redevelop the Central Terminal.
"We have noticed within the last year significant deterioration of the building," Stinson said.
He says the tiles are falling off the walls and the building is "disintegrating."
The CTRC responded late Monday to Stinson's latest appeal.
"We sincerely appreciate Mr. Stinson's passion for the project, and we remain excited about getting the results of the Urban Land Institute study. The insights from the ULI study will help us determine the next steps for this historic property so that any redevelopment plans are in lockstep with the best interests of the neighborhood and the city of Buffalo," CTRC's John Jiloty said in an email statement.
Stinson's news conference will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. on Curtiss Street, just south of Central Terminal in Buffalo.
