American Community: Sells Residential Land

                                
                          News Release
     
     
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                             CONTACT
July 7, 1999                                      Edwin L. Kelly
                                                  (301) 843-8600
                                
      AMERICAN COMMUNITY PROPERTIES TRUST ANNOUNCES SALE OF
               RESIDENTIAL LAND AT PARQUE ESCORIAL
                                
     ST. CHARLES, Md._ American Community Properties Trust (ACPT)
(AMEX, PE: APO) a diversified real estate organization, announced
today that one of its subsidiaries has completed the sale of 8.4
acres of residential land in the master planned community of
Parque Escorial in metropolitan San Juan, Puerto Rico.  The
parcel has been sold to Jardines del Parque S.E. for $5 million
and is approved for 200 condominium units.  Jardines is owned by
Edwin Loubriel and Robert Hatton, Jr., two successful residential
home builders based in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
     Carlos R. Rodriguez, Chief Executive Officer of the Puerto
Rico operations stated,  "There is significant interest in the
next phase of the residential land at Parque Escorial.  This is
the first sale of the 800 units planned for this phase and we are
pleased to have Messrs. Loubriel and Hatton continue to build in
Parque Escorial."  This sale was recorded in the quarter ended
June 30, 1999.
     Parque Escorial is a 450 acre master planned community in
the San Juan metropolitan area.  The community is approved for
2,900 housing units and approximately 104 acres for commercial
and business park usage.  Parque Escorial is owned by Land
Development Associates in which ACPT owns a 100 percent interest
through its Puerto Rico entities.
     ACPT, with operations in Maryland and Puerto Rico,
specializes in community development, investment apartment
properties, and asset management services.  It is currently
listed on the American and Pacific stock exchanges under the
symbol AmCmntyProp (APO).
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