AvalonBay: Management Transition Details

For Immediate Release
February 22, 1999

   AvalonBay Communities, Inc. Announces Management Transition
                             Details


(Alexandria, VA)- AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE/PCX Symbol: AVB)
announced today several management changes in connection with the
departure of Charles H. Berman, its President, Chief Operating Officer
and a director. Bryce Blair, currently Senior Vice President --
Development/Acquisitions and a fourteen year veteran with the company,
will be appointed Chief Operating Officer, and Robert H. Slater,
currently Senior Vice President -- Property Operations and an eleven
year veteran with the company, will be promoted to Executive Vice
President.

     Richard L. Michaux, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated
"This realignment of management completes a transition plan that
addresses the shift in our business focus from external portfolio growth
to internal operations and recycling capital into our development and
redevelopment pipelines.  Both officers have extensive experience at
AvalonBay in development and property operations, and their elevation
demonstrates the depth of AvalonBay's management team.  They will
provide superb leadership and management as we selectively pursue our
pipeline and maximize revenue from existing communities."

     Mr. Blair joined the predecessor of Avalon Properties in 1985 and
was a Senior Vice President of Avalon Properties from the time of its
formation.  He oversaw development, construction, and acquisition
activity throughout Avalon Properties' markets prior to the merger of
Avalon and Bay Apartments.  Mr. Blair is a 1985 graduate of Harvard
Business School and a magna cum laude graduate in engineering from the
University of New Hampshire.

     Mr. Slater joined the predecessor of Avalon Properties in 1988.  He
was serving as Chief Operating Officer of Trammell Crow Residential
Services for the Mid-Atlantic Region at the time of the formation of
Avalon Properties and has served as a Senior Vice President of Avalon
Properties and AvalonBay since that time.  His responsibilities have
included all aspects of property management, including property
operations, marketing, risk management, resident services, and
engineering services.   Mr. Slater is a 1980 graduate of the University
of Virginia School of Law and a cum laude graduate from Vanderbilt
University.

     The company also announced that Leo Horey, Regional Vice President
-- Property Operations, has relocated from Alexandria to San Jose to
head up property operations on the west coast. Mr.  Horey is a ten year
veteran with the company.  Gwyneth Cote, Regional Vice President --
Property Operations, will expand her responsibilities to include heading
up property operations for all of the east coast.  Ms. Cote is a ten
year veteran with the company.

     The Company is reducing staffing of certain officers and associates
nationwide, including Max Gardner, Senior Vice President -- Development
and Acquisitions, Jeffrey Van Horn, Senior Vice President --
Investments, and Ron Mukai, Vice President -- Investments.  "Since the
merger of Avalon and Bay they have contributed significantly to our
success.  Max led our highly successful merger integration program and
most recently headed development and acquisitions on the west coast; and
Jeff and Ron have, among other tasks, tracked all aspects of our
external portfolio investments," stated Gilbert M. Meyer, Executive
Chairman of the Board.   "Their departure relates to the desire to
realign and refocus senior management in connection with renewed
emphasis on our internal operations, our sale of assets, and our
redeployment of capital into the development pipeline.  We thank them
for their contributions and know they will be successful in their future
endeavors."


About AvalonBay Communities, Inc.

AvalonBay, named the NAHB Development Company of the year for 1998/1999
and the Property Management Company of the Year for 1996/1997, owns or
holds an ownership interest in 141 apartment communities containing
41,173 apartment homes in sixteen states and the District of Columbia,
of which presently fourteen communities are under construction and
thirteen communities are under reconstruction.  AvalonBay is an equity
REIT in the business of developing, redeveloping, acquiring and managing
multifamily apartment communities in high barrier-to-entry markets of
the United States.  More information on AvalonBay may be found on
AvalonBay's Web Site at http://www.avalonbay.com. For additional
information regarding this news release, please contact Richard L.
Michaux, President and Chief Executive Officer at (703) 317-4602.

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  The forward-looking
statements contained in this release are statements that involve risks
and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the demand for
apartment homes, the effects of economic conditions, the impact of
competition and competitive pricing, changes in construction costs, the
results of financing efforts, potential acquisitions under agreement,
the effects of the Company's accounting policies and other risks
detailed in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.


End