American Community: Announces 2 Major Transactions

                               News Release


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                              CONTACT
January 8, 1999                                    Edwin L. Kelly
                                                   (301) 843-8600


                    AMERICAN COMMUNITY PROPERTIES TRUST
                   ANNOUNCES TWO MAJOR LAND TRANSACTIONS


     St. Charles, Md. -- American Community Properties Trust (AMEX, PE:

APO) a diversified real estate organization, today announced the December

1998 closing of a 2.76-acre commercial site at its Parque Escorial master

planned community in Puerto Rico, to a local investor for $3 million and

the execution of a contract for $6.4 million for the sale of a 5.92-acre

commercial site to a Ford Motor Company dealer with operations in Florida

and Puerto Rico.  The latter will close upon the completion of certain

improvements, expected to be finished by June 1999.

     ACPT Executive Vice President, Francisco Arrivi, who manages land

sales in Puerto Rico, said "We are delighted to welcome these two new

businesses to Parque Escorial as it shows that there continues to be strong

demand for the remaining commercial land in the business park located

here."

     Upon completion, the 430-acre Parque Escorial will have over 1 million

square feet of commercial space, 500,000 square feet of office and light

industrial space and 2,700 residential units.  Started in 1994, there are

currently 1,100 residential units completed or current under construction

and over 500,000 square feet of commercial and office space open for

business with an additional 100,000 square feet under construction.

     ACPT is a spin-off from Interstate General Company L.P. (IGC) and

specializes in community development, investment apartment properties, and

asset management services.  It currently is listed on the American and

Pacific stock exchanges under the symbol AmCmntyProp (APO).

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