Historical Facts
A Name From Which It’s Made
The Granite Works consists of 19th century historic buildings, dating from the 1850s to the 1890s, joined together.
In 1884, John Quincy McDonnell, son of Patrich McDonnell, moved with his wife and seven children to Buffalo in order to open a branch office of McDonnell & Sons, which came to be located at 858 Main Street, between Allen and Virginia streets.
The project takes its name from the two-story Granite Works at 858 Main Street.
Redevelopment
An Award Winning Vision
First Amherst’s innovative development efforts produced the award-winning Granite Works project. The Granite Works was the first mixed-use historic redevelopment in downtown Buffalo and is considered by many to be the “gold standard” for re-use and historic preservation in the region.
The Landmark Society of WNY presented First Amherst with the Pewter Plate Award for Exemplary Preservation Leadership in recognition of the successful Granite Works project. The Granite Works was also awarded the Brick-by-Brick Award for Best Residential Redevelopment Project.
Gallery
A Look into the
Architectural Past
About
First Amherst Development Group
Generations of Excellence
From our humble beginnings owning a single building, First Amherst Development Group has grown into one of the most respected and diversified real estate development companies in Western New York.
Our transformation into an award-winning commercial real estate development and property management company has taken over three generations. We spent that time identifying exactly what it is that makes a tenant’s experience exceptional—and what makes a property more than a building, but a true representation of businesses and individuals.
Most of all its taken devotion to clients and to a set of principles.
