Benjamin Obletz
President & CEO, First Amherst
Amherst, NY 14226
President and CEO, Ben Obletz is a 3rd generation owner and developer of First Amherst Development Group.
Phone (716) 839-1400 x111
President and CEO, Ben Obletz is a 3rd generation owner and developer of First Amherst Development Group.
Property Types
Office, Retail, Multi-Family
Markets
Buffalo/Niagara Falls
Bio
Ben has served as lead partner in major development and adaptive re-use projects that are considered pioneer in the rebirth of downtown living in the City of Buffalo. In 2003, he led the conversion of the former Elk Street food terminal into upscale luxury apartments, now known as The Lofts @ Elk Terminal. Soon after, he led his project team in the development of The Granite Works, a mixed-use development located on the 800 block of Main Street in downtown Buffalo, involving the renovation and re-use of five adjacent historic structures into a combination of residential and commercial/retail properties. Most recently, Ben led his team in the development of Nineteen North, a newly built luxury apartment building in Buffalo’s historic Allentown District. Ben has worked closely with the City of Buffalo, the Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency (BURA) and the New York State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to bring new life to older buildings in the Queen City. He has become a subject matter expert and industry spokesperson on the topic of adaptive re-use housing, downtown Buffalo housing and historic preservation. Ben has considerable experience in all aspects of the company’s operations, while providing leadership and direction to an executive management team responsible for leasing, marketing and administration, accounting, finance and development, and property operations, he continues to be involved in the development and management of numerous commercial, retail, industrial and residential properties. As a result of Ben’s leadership in the development of The Granite Works, his company received the “Buffalo Preservation Award” from the City of Buffalo Preservation Board; the “Pewter Plate Award” from the Landmark Society of the Niagara Frontier for exemplary preservation leadership; and the Business First “Brick By Brick” award for Best Residential Project. Ben also accepted a “Zenith Award” from the Amherst Chamber of Commerce, honoring First Amherst Development Group for exhibiting superior dedication to maintaining the highest standard of ethical performance and professional service to its customers. Personal awards include Buffalo Spree magazine’s “Best Developer of WNY” award, the “Horizons Citizen of the Year Award” from the Boy Scouts of America in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the local community and dedication to serving Western New York, and the Working For Downtown (WFD) “Fernbach Award” for his commitment to the aesthetic improvement of downtown Buffalo. A native of Buffalo, Ben graduated from The Park School of Buffalo and majored in Business Management at the University at Buffalo. He is an Executive Board member and Secretary of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, and a Board member of 43×79 Group, a forum of business leaders with a common philosophy towards the betterment of Western New York. Ben is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Buffalo Renaissance Foundation and Erie County Medical Center Foundation. Previously, Ben was on the Board of Directors for Buffalo Urban Development Corp., Co-Chair of the Buffalo Building Re-use Project led by the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, and Board President of the Buffalo Police Foundation.
