LETTER TO COMPANY RE: CHANGE IN PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

Published on November 18, 1998


Exhibit 16.1



November 11, 1998

Mr. Thomas J. Sargeant
Chief Financial Officer
AvalonBay Communities, Inc.
2900 Eisenhower Avenue, Suite 300
Alexandria, VA 22314

Dear Mr. Sargeant:

This is to confirm that the client/auditor relationship between AvalonBay
Communities, Inc. (Commission File Number 1-12672) and PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP has ceased.




Yours very truly,

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP







cc: Chief Accountant
SECPS Letter File, Mail Stop 11-3
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20549