Home Properties Brings Green Living to 1200 East West and the Silver Spring, Maryland Community

SILVER SPRING, Md., May 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Home Properties, Inc. (NYSE: HME) today announced the grand opening of its latest apartment community, 1200 East West, in the heart of Silver Spring, Maryland. Just one block away from the Washington, D.C. Metro and within easy access of I-95 and I-495, this transit-oriented apartment community offers opportunities for residents to enjoy upscale and green living within close proximity to our nation's capital.

"Silver Spring has experienced a renaissance of sorts throughout the past decade," observed Donald Hague, Senior Vice President of Development for Home Properties. "We are proud to be part of that transformation – redeveloping a property that used to be an unsightly auto-repair shop into 247 Class A apartment homes with an emphasis on a green lifestyle."

Home Properties has submitted 1200 East West as a candidate for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification. A third-party certification program of the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED certification signifies a building project that is environmentally responsible and a healthy place to live and work. The smoke-free community was designed to support the environment by offering energy-efficient heating, air conditioning, windows, appliances and recycling opportunities. Because of its close proximity to Silver Spring shopping, bus lines and the Metro, residents may even choose to live car-free, further reducing area traffic and environmentally unfriendly fuel emissions.

Home Properties' commitment to a green lifestyle at 1200 East West involves making an impact on the well-being of not only its residents but the Silver Spring community-at-large. To that end, they welcomed the opportunity to partner with Project Youth ArtReach, a core program of Class Acts Arts that introduces the arts to young people in Maryland correctional settings. A team of young men from the Montgomery County Correctional Facility designed and painted "Maryland Blooms," a mural located in 1200 East West's serenity garden.

"The mural is really the product of tremendous teamwork by these young artists," said Hague, also a Class Acts Arts board member. "The program not only teaches young people the arts but also instills the value of cooperation to reach a positive end result – a lesson Home Properties is proud to share with our residents."

Another highlight of green living at 1200 East West is the "East/West Beacon" sculpture by Philadelphia artist Ray King. Commissioned by Home Properties, the stainless steel and holographic glass sculpture is a true landmark piece – located in front of 1200 East West and greeting Silver Spring residents and commuters on East West Highway.

Recently opened in February 2010, 1200 East West currently has 44% of its apartments leased. For more information about a green lifestyle and leasing information at 1200 East West, please visit us on the web at 1200EastWest.com.

Home Properties is a publicly traded apartment real estate investment trust that owns, operates, develops, acquires and rehabilitates apartment communities primarily in selected Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Southeast Florida markets.  Currently, Home Properties operates 110 communities containing 37,494 apartment units.  Of these, 36,344 units in 108 communities are owned directly by the Company; 868 units are partially owned and managed by the Company as general partner, and 282 units are managed for other owners.  For more information, visit Home Properties' website at www.homeproperties.com.

U.S. Green Building Council, www.usgbc.org

SOURCE Home Properties, Inc.