Form: SC 13G/A

Schedule filed to report acquisition of beneficial ownership of 5% or more of a class of equity securities by passive investors and certain institutions

February 10, 2006

SC 13G/A: Schedule filed to report acquisition of beneficial ownership of 5% or more of a class of equity securities by passive investors and certain institutions

Published on February 10, 2006



UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. 8)*

AvalonBay Communities, Inc.
------------------------------------
(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock
-----------------
(Title of Class of Securities)

053484101
---------
(CUSIP Number)


Date of Event which Requires Filing of this Statement

December 31, 2005
--------------------

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which the Schedule
is filed:

[x] Rule 13d-1(b)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(c)
[ ] Rule 13d-1(d)

* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and
for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in prior coverage.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed
to be "filed" for the purpose of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or
otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be
subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

SEC 1745 (12-02)


Page 1





Page 2 of 7 Pages

Amendment Filing 8 to Schedule 13G (continued)

CUSIP No. 053484101
- - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

Cohen & Steers, Inc. 14-1904657
- - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) [ ]
(b) [x]
- - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY


- - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

New York
- - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF 5 SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES 4,563,445
BENEFICIALLY -------------------------------------------------------------
OWNED BY 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH 26,994
REPORTING -------------------------------------------------------------
PERSON 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 5,042,610
-------------------------------------------------------------
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
26,994
- - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

5,069,604
- - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*


- - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

6.9%
- - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

HC, CO
- - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT



Page 3 of 7 Pages


Amendment Filing 8 to Schedule 13G (continued)

CUSIP No. 053484101
- - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc. 13-3353336
- - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
(a) [ ]
(b) [x]
- - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 SEC USE ONLY


- - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

New York
- - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF 5 SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES 4,563,445
BENEFICIALLY -------------------------------------------------------------
OWNED BY 6 SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH 0
REPORTING -------------------------------------------------------------
PERSON 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
WITH 5,042,610
-------------------------------------------------------------
8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
- - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

5,042,610
- - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*

- - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

6.9%
- - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

IA, CO
- - -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT



Page 4 of 7 Pages

Amendment Filing 8 to Schedule 13G (continued)

CUSIP No. 053484101
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON (entities only)

Houlihan Rovers SA
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP
(a) [ ]
(b) [x]
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3) SEC USE ONLY


- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4) CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

Belgium
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER 5) SOLE VOTING POWER
OF 26,994
SHARES -------------------------------------------------------------
BENEFICIALLY 6) SHARED VOTING POWER
OWNED BY 0
EACH -------------------------------------------------------------
REPORTING 7) SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
PERSON 26,994
WITH -------------------------------------------------------------
8) SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
0
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9) AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

26,994
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10) CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ]

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9)

0.04%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

IA
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*SEE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE FILLING OUT!




Page 5 of 7 Pages

Item 1.

(a) Name of Issuer:
AvalonBay Communities Inc.

(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices:
2900 Eisenhower Avenue
Suite 300
Alexandria, VA 22314

Item 2.

(a) Name of Persons Filing:
Cohen & Steers, Inc.
Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc.
Houlihan Rovers SA
(b) Address of Principal Business Office:
The principal address for Cohen & Steers Capital Management,
Inc. is:
280 Park Avenue
10th Floor
New York, NY 10017

The principal address for Houlihan Rovers SA is:
Chausee de la Hulpe 116,
1170 Brussels, Belgium
(c) Citizenship:
Cohen & Steers, Inc: Delaware Corporations
Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc: New York Corporation
Houlihan Rovers SA: Belgium
(d) Title of Class Securities:
Commmon
(e) CUSIP Number:
053484101


Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to Rule 13d-l(b), or
13d-2(b), check whether the person filing is a

(a) [ ] Broker or Dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act

(b) [ ] Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act

(c) [ ] Insurance Company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of
the Act

(d) [ ] Investment Company registered under Section 8 of the
Investment Company Act

(e) [x] An investment advisor in accordance with Section
240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E)

(f) [ ] An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance
with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F)

(g) [x] A parent holding company or control person in accordance
with Section 240.13d-l(b)(1)(ii)(G)

(h) [ ] A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the
Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813)

(i) [ ] A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an
investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (15U.S.C. 80a-3)

(j) [ ] Group, in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(l)(ii)(J)


Page 6 of 7 Pages


Item 4. OWNERSHIP:

(a) Amount Beneficially Owned as of December 31, 2005:

See row 9 on cover sheet

(b) Percent of Class:

See row 11 on cover sheet


(c) Number of shares as to which such person has:
(i) sole power to vote or direct the vote:
See row 5 on cover sheet

(ii) shared power to vote or direct the vote:
See row 6 on cover sheet

(iii) sole power to dispose or to direct
the disposition of:
See row 7 on cover sheet

(iv) shared power to dispose or direct
the disposition of:
See row 8 on cover sheet


Item 5. OWNERSHIP OF 5% OR LESS OF A CLASS
N/A

Item 6. OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN 5% ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON
N/A

Item 7. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH
ACQUIRED THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT
HOLDING COMPANY

Cohen & Steers, Inc holds a 100% interest in Cohen & Steers Capital
Management, Inc., and investment advisor registerd under Section 203
of the Investment Advisers Act, and holds a 50% interest in Houlihan
Rover SA, an investment advisor registered under Section 203 of the
Investment Advisers Act.

Item 8. IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP

Cohen & Steers, Inc holds a 100% interest in Cohen & Steers Capital
Management, Inc., and investment advisor registerd under Section 203
of the Investment Advisers Act, and holds a 50% interest in Houlihan
Rover SA, an investment advisor registered under Section 203 of the
Investment Advisers Act.


Page 6 of 7 Pages

Item 9. NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP

N/A

Item 10. Certification

By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the
securities referred to above were acquired in the ordinary course of business
and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not have the effect of changing
or influencing the control of the issuer of such securities and were not
acquired in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such
purposes or effect.

Signature

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify
that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Date: February 10, 2006

Cohen & Steers, Inc.
Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc.
By:

/s/ Robert Steers
---------------------------------------------
Signature


Robert H. Steers, Co-Chairman and Co-CEO
Cohen & Steers Inc.
Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc.
---------------------------------------------
Name and Title




Houlihan Rovers SA
By:

/s/ Joseph Houlihan
---------------------------------------------
Signature

Joseph Houlihan, Managing Director
Houlihan Rovers SA
---------------------------------------------
Name and Title




Page 7 of 7 Pages


JOINT FILING AGREEMENT

In accordance with Rule 13d-1(k) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, the undersigned hereby agree to the joint filing with all
other Reporting Persons (as such term is defined in the Schedule 13G referred to
below) on behalf of each of them of a Statement on Schedule 13G including
amendments thereto) with respect to the Common Shares of AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES,
INC. and that this Agreement may be included as an Exhibit to such joint filing.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned hereby execute this Agreement as
of February 10, 2006.


Cohen & Steers, Inc.
Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc.
By:

/s/ Robert Steers
____________________________________________
Signature


Robert H. Steers, Co-Chairman and Co-CEO
Cohen & Steers Inc.
Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc.
____________________________________________
Name and Title




Houlihan Rovers SA
By:

/s/ Joseph Houlihan
---------------------------------------
Signature

Joseph Houlihan, Managing Director
Houlihan Rovers SA
____________________________________________
Name and Title