WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Washington REIT (Washington Real Estate Investment Trust) (NYSE:WRE) has completed the second sale transaction of its suburban Maryland office portfolio comprising approximately 491,000 square feet for aggregate sales proceeds of $128.5 million.

The second sale transaction, which contains 51 Monroe and One Central Plaza, has been structured in a reverse-1031 exchange in conjunction with the acquisition of Riverside Apartments, an apartment community in Alexandria, VA, consisting of 1,222 units and potential onsite density to develop additional units.

“This transaction completes the sale of Washington REIT’s Maryland office portfolio and reallocates capital from suburban office into value-add, urban in-fill multifamily with higher growth potential, lower leasing capital requirements and greater cash flow stability,” said Paul T. McDermott, President and Chief Executive Officer of Washington REIT. “Our office portfolio is now predominantly located in urban-infill, metro-centric locations in The District and Northern Virginia and is well-positioned to benefit from improving fundamentals in the Washington Metro Region.”

Washington REIT is a self-administered, self-managed, equity real estate investment trust investing in income-producing properties in the greater Washington metro region. Washington REIT owns a diversified portfolio of 49 properties totaling approximately 6 million square feet of commercial space and 4,480 residential units, and land held for development. These 49 properties consist of 19 office properties, 16 retail centers and 14 multifamily properties. Washington REIT shares are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:WRE).