Ben Obletz

Background

About Ben Obletz

PRESIDENT & CEOFirst Amherst Development GroupBen Obletz is President and CEO of First Amherst Development Group a commercial and residential development, management, and leasing company, with multiple affiliated entities and ownership companies. 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.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 bringing 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. A native of Buffalo, Ben is an executive board member and secretary of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, and chairman of the board for 43x79, 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 for the Buffalo Renaissance Foundation, Buffalo Urban Development Corp, and Erie County Medical Center Foundation. Previously, he was co-chair of the Buffalo Building Re-use Project led by the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, and board president of the Buffalo Police Foundation.