As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 7, 2001
                                                        Registration No. 333-___

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                             -----------------------

                                    FORM S-3
             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                             -----------------------

                         SENIOR HOUSING PROPERTIES TRUST
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                             -----------------------

           Maryland                                   04-3445278
(State or other jurisdiction of         (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
incorporation or organization)

                                400 Centre Street
                           Newton, Massachusetts 02458
                                 (617) 796-8350
          (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
             area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)

                             -----------------------

 For Co-Registrants, please see "Table of Co-Registrants" on the following page.

                             -----------------------

                           David J. Hegarty, President
                         Senior Housing Properties Trust
                                400 Centre Street
                           Newton, Massachusetts 02458
                                 (617) 796-8350
   (Name, address, including zip code, telephone number, including area code,
                              of agent for service)

                              ---------------------

                                    Copy to:
                       Alexander A. Notopoulos, Jr., Esq.
                            Sullivan & Worcester LLP
                             One Post Office Square
                           Boston, Massachusetts 02109
                                 (617) 338-2800
                              ---------------------

     Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  From time
to time or at one time after the effective date of the Registration Statement as
determined by the Registrants.
     If the only  securities  being  registered  on this form are being  offered
pursuant  to  distribution  or interest  reinvestment  plans,  please  check the
following box. / /
     If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous  basis  pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933,  other than  securities  offered only in connection  with  distribution or
interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. /X/
     If this form is filed to  register  additional  securities  for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list  the  Securities  Act  registration  statement  number  of the  earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. / / _______
     If this form is a  post-effective  amendment  filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the  Securities  Act,  check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration  statement number of the earlier effective  registration  statement
for the same offering. / / _____
     If delivery of the  prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. / /



                                                      CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
====================================================================================================================================
     Title of Each Class of Securities to be            Amount to        Proposed Maximum      Proposed Maximum
                                                      be Registered       Offering Price           Offering            Amount of
                  Registered(1)                           (1)(2)         Per Unit (1)(2)(3)   Price(1)(2)(3)(4)    Registration Fee
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                         

Debt Securities of Senior Housing Properties
Trust (5) ...........................................
Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest, $.01 par
value per share, of Senior Housing Properties
Trust (6)............................................
Depositary Shares Representing Preferred Shares
of Senior Housing Properties Trust (7)...............
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, $.01 par
value per share, of Senior Housing Properties
Trust (8) ...........................................
Warrants of Senior Housing Properties Trust (9)......
Trust Preferred  Securities of SNH Capital Trust
I, SNH Capital Trust II and SNH Capital Trust III
(collectively, the "SNH Capital Trusts") (10)........
Guarantees of Trust Preferred Securities of the
SNH Capital Trusts by Senior Housing Properties
Trust(11) ...........................................
Guarantees of Debt Securities of Senior Housing
Properties Trust by Co-Registrants(11) ..............
Total                                                  $500,000,000(1)                           $500,000,000(1)         $125,000
====================================================================================================================================
                                                                                                          (Footnotes on next page)

    The Registrants hereby amend this Registration  Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective
date until the Registrants shall file a further  amendment which  specifically  states that this Registration  Statement shall
thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement
shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

<FN>
(1)  In no event will the aggregate  initial  offering price of the securities  issued from time to time under
     this  Registration  Statement  exceed  $500,000,000  or the  equivalent  thereof  in one or more  foreign
     currencies or currency  units or composite  currencies.  The aggregate  amount of common shares of Senior
     Housing  Properties  Trust  registered  hereunder  is  limited to that  which is  permissible  under Rule
     415(a)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  The securities  registered hereunder may be sold
     separately,  together  or as units  with  other  securities  registered  hereunder.  There are also being
     registered  hereunder contracts that may be issued by the Registrants under which the counterparty may be
     required to purchase or sell the other securities  registered  hereunder.  Such contracts would be issued
     together with securities registered hereunder. There are also being registered hereunder an indeterminate
     principal amount of each class of securities registered hereunder (the "underlying securities") as may be
     issuable, without separate consideration, (i) upon conversion, exercise or exchange of any other class of
     securities  registered  hereunder,  to the extent such securities are by their terms  convertible into or
     exercisable or exchangeable for the underlying securities, or (ii) pursuant to antidilution provisions of
     any other class of securities registered hereunder.

(2)  Not specified for each class pursuant to General Instruction II.D. to Form S-3.

(3)  The proposed  maximum  offering price per unit will be determined from time to time by the Registrants in
     connection with the issuance by the Registrants of the securities registered hereunder.

(4)  Estimated  solely for the purpose of  calculating  the  registration  fee  pursuant to Rule 457 under the
     Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(5)  Subject to note (1) above, there is being registered hereunder an indeterminate amount of debt securities
     of Senior Housing Properties Trust as may be sold from time to time. If any debt securities are issued at
     an original issue discount,  then the offering price shall be in such greater  principal  amount as shall
     not result in an aggregate initial offering price exceeding $500,000,000 or the equivalent thereof in one
     or more foreign currencies or currency units or composite currencies.

(6)  Subject to note (1) above,  there is being  registered  hereunder  an  indeterminate  amount of preferred
     shares of Senior Housing Properties Trust as may be sold from time to time.

(7)  Subject to note (1) above,  there is being  registered  hereunder an  indeterminate  amount of depositary
     shares representing preferred shares of Senior Housing Properties Trust as may be sold from time to time.

(8)  Subject to note (1) above, there is being registered  hereunder an indeterminate  amount of common shares
     of Senior Housing Properties Trust as may be sold from time to time.

(9)  Subject to note (1) above,  there is being registered  hereunder an  indeterminate  amount of warrants of
     Senior Housing Properties Trust to acquire other classes of securities of Senior Housing Properties Trust
     registered hereunder as may be sold from time to time.

(10) Subject to note (1) above, there is being registered hereunder an indeterminate amount of trust preferred
     securities of the SNH Capital Trusts as may be sold from time to time.

(11) No separate  consideration  will be received for the guarantees by  Co-Registrants  of debt securities or
     guarantees of Senior Housing  Properties Trust or by Senior Housing Properties Trust or Co-Registrants of
     trust preferred securities. The guarantees will include the right of the holders of guaranteed securities
     under the guarantees and certain back-up undertakings, as described in this Registration Statement.
</FN>







                             TABLE OF CO-REGISTRANTS




                                                                IRS Employer
Name                            State of Formation         Identification Number

HRES1 Properties Trust              Maryland                    04-3461940
HRES2 Properties Trust              Maryland                    04-3461943
SPTGEN Properties Trust             Maryland                    04-3452343
SPTIHS Properties Trust             Maryland                    04-3450160
SPTMISC Properties Trust            Maryland                    04-3450894
SPTMNR Properties Trust             Maryland                    04-3450161
SPTMRT Properties Trust             Maryland                    04-3450155
SPTSUN Properties Trust             Maryland                    04-3450156
SPTSUN II Properties Trust          Maryland                    04-3474405
SHOPCO Holdings, Inc.               Delaware                    04-3516029
SHOPCO-AZ, LLC                      Delaware                    04-3494867
SHOPCO-CA, LLC                      Delaware                    04-3494871
SHOPCO-COLORADO, LLC                Delaware                    06-1566457
SHOPCO-CT, LLC                      Delaware                    04-3497353
SHOPCO-GA, LLC                      Delaware                    04-3494872
SHOPCO-IA, LLC                      Delaware                    04-3494873
SHOPCO-KS, LLC                      Delaware                    04-3497355
SHOPCO-MI, LLC                      Delaware                    06-1566459
SHOPCO-MO, LLC                      Delaware                    04-3497358
SHOPCO-NC, LLC                      Delaware                    06-1566460
SHOPCO-NE, LLC                      Delaware                    06-1566461
SHOPCO-SD, LLC                      Delaware                    04-3497366
SHOPCO-WI, LLC                      Delaware                    04-3497368
SHOPCO-WY, LLC                      Delaware                    06-1566462
SNH-CALIFORNIA, INC.                Delaware                    04-3548089
SNH Holding Co., Inc.               Delaware                    04-3499670
SNH-IOWA, INC.                      Delaware                    04-3499669
SNH-MICHIGAN, INC.                  Delaware                    04-3499673
SNH-NEBRASKA, INC.                  Delaware                    04-3499676
SNH Capital Trust I                 Maryland                    04-6943320
SNH Capital Trust II                Maryland                    04-6943324
SNH Capital Trust III               Maryland                    04-6943325
SNH Capital Trust Holdings          Maryland                    04-3559836



Information   contained  herein  is  subject  to  completion  or  amendment.   A
registration  statement  relating  to these  securities  has been filed with the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission.  These  securities may not be sold nor may
offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration  statement  becomes
effective.  This  prospectus  shall  not  constitute  an  offer  to  sell or the
solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there by any sale of these  securities
in any State in which such offer,  solicitation  or sale would be unlawful prior
to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such State.


                              Subject to Completion
                    Preliminary Prospectus Dated May 7, 2001
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
                                  $500,000,000
                         Senior Housing Properties Trust
 Debt Securities, Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest, Depositary Shares,
               Common Shares of Beneficial Interest and Warrants
                               SNH Capital Trusts
         Trust Preferred Securities Fully and Unconditionally Guaranteed
                             ----------------------

     We may offer and sell, from time to time, in one or more offerings:

          o    common shares
          o    preferred shares
          o    debt securities
          o    warrants

These  securities  may be offered and sold  separately or together in units with
other securities described in this prospectus. Our debt securities may be senior
or subordinated.

    SNH Capital  Trust I, II and III may offer and sell,  from time to time,  in
one or more  offerings,  trust  preferred  securities  which  will be fully  and
unconditionally  guaranteed by us. Our guarantees may be senior or subordinated.
The trust preferred securities may be offered and sold separately or together in
units with other securities described in this prospectus.

    Our debt  securities  and guarantees may be guaranteed by one or more of our
subsidiaries.   Those  subsidiary   guarantees  may  be  senior  or  subordinate
obligations of the applicable subsidiaries.

    The securities  described in this prospectus offered by us or by SNH Capital
Trust I, II and III may be issued in one or more series or issuances.  The total
offering  price  of  these  securities,   in  the  aggregate,  will  not  exceed
$500,000,000.  We will provide the specific  terms of any securities we actually
offer  in  supplements  to this  prospectus.  You  should  carefully  read  this
prospectus  and the  supplements  before  you  decide  to invest in any of these
securities.

    Risks  associated  with an investment in the securities will be described in
the applicable prospectus supplement,  as described under "Risk Factors" on page
2.

    The applicable  prospectus  supplement will also contain information,  where
applicable,  about  United  States  federal  income tax  considerations  and any
listing on a securities  exchange.  Our common shares are listed on the New York
Stock Exchange under the symbol "SNH."

    Neither the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  nor any state  securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this
prospectus is truthful and  complete.  Any  representation  to the contrary is a
criminal offense.

                  The date of this prospectus is May 7, 2001.







                                                 TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                   Page                                                     Page

                                                                                                    
Senior Housing Properties Trust..............       1       Description of Warrants....................      19

SNH Capital Trusts...........................       1       Description of Trust Preferred Securities
                                                            and Trust Guarantee........................      20

Risk Factors.................................       2       Description of Certain Provisions of
                                                            Maryland Law and our Declaration of Trust
                                                            and Bylaws.................................      23

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges...........       2       Plan of Distribution.......................      30

Use of Proceeds..............................       2       Validity of the Offered Securities.........      31

Description of Debt Securities...............       2       Experts....................................      31

Description of Common Shares.................      10       Where You Can Find More Information........      32

Description of Preferred Shares..............      11       Documents Incorporated By Reference........      32

Description of Depositary Shares.............      15


                                ----------------

                              ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

    This  prospectus  is part of a  registration  statement  we, the SNH Capital
Trusts  and  other   co-registrants  filed  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission using a "shelf"  registration  process.  Under this shelf process, we
may sell any  combination of the securities  described in this  prospectus  from
time to time in one of more  offerings  up to a  total  amount  of  proceeds  of
$500,000,000.

    This  prospectus  provides  you  only  with  a  general  description  of the
securities  we may  offer.  Each  time we sell  securities,  we will  provide  a
prospectus  supplement  containing specific  information about the terms of that
offering.   The  prospectus  supplement  may  also  add  to,  update  or  change
information  contained in this prospectus.  You should read both this prospectus
and any prospectus  supplement  together with additional  information  described
under  the  heading  "Where  You  Can  Find  More  Information"  and  "Documents
Incorporated By Reference."

    No  separate  financial  statements  of the SNH  Capital  Trusts  have  been
included or  incorporated  by reference.  Neither we nor the SNH Capital  Trusts
consider  financial  statements of the SNH Capital Trusts material to holders of
the trust preferred securities because:

o   all of the  voting  securities  of the SNH  Capital  Trusts  will be  owned,
    directly or  indirectly,  by us, a reporting  company  under the  Securities
    Exchange Act of 1934, as amended;

o   each SNH  Capital  Trust has no  independent  operations  and exists for the
    purpose of issuing securities representing undivided beneficial interests in
    the assets of the SNH Capital  Trust and  investing the proceeds in the debt
    securities issued by us; and

o   the  obligations  of each  SNH  Capital  Trust  under  the  trust  preferred
    securities issued by it will be fully and  unconditionally  guaranteed by us
    to the extent described in this prospectus.

                                      (ii)


    You  should  rely  only on the  information  incorporated  by  reference  or
provided in this  document.  We have not  authorized  anyone to provide you with
different  information.  If anyone  provides you with different or  inconsistent
information,  you  should  not  rely on it.  We will  not make an offer of these
securities in any jurisdiction where it is unlawful.  You should assume that the
information in this  prospectus,  as well as the  information we have previously
filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference in this prospectus, is accurate
only as of the date of the documents containing the information.

    References  in this  prospectus  to "we,"  "us,"  "our" or "SNH" mean Senior
Housing  Properties  Trust.  References  in this  prospectus to the "SNH Capital
Trusts"  mean SNH Capital  Trust I, SNH Capital  Trust II and SNH Capital  Trust
III.  References  in  this  prospectus  to  "Subsidiaries"   means  all  of  our
subsidiaries.

              CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

    We have made and incorporated by reference  statements in this document that
constitute  "forward-looking  statements" as that term is defined in the federal
securities laws. These forward-looking statements concern:

o   our  ability  successfully  to  operate  properties  which we took back from
    financially troubled tenants;
o   the possible expansion of our portfolio;
o   the performance of our tenants and properties;
o   our ability to make distributions;
o   our policies and plans regarding investments, financings and other matters;
o   our tax status as a real estate investment trust;
o   our ability to appropriately balance the use of debt and equity; and
o   our ability to access capital markets or other sources of funds.

When we use words such as "believes," "expects,"  "anticipates,"  "estimates" or
similar expressions, we are making forward-looking statements.

    Forward-looking  statements  are not  guarantees of future  performance  and
involve risks and uncertainties.  Our expected results may not be achieved,  and
actual results may differ materially from our expectations. This may be a result
of various factors, including:

o   the status of the economy;
o   the status of capital markets (including prevailing interest rates);
o   compliance with and changes to regulations and payment  policies within  the
    health care industry;
o   changes in financing terms;
o   competition within the health care and senior housing industries; and
o   changes in federal, state and local legislation.

    Other  important  factors are  identified  in our Annual Report on Form 10-K
which is in  incorporated  into this  prospectus,  including  under the headings
"Business" and "Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results  of  Operations."  We assume  no  obligation  to  update  or revise  any
forward-looking  statements  or to update the reasons why actual  results  could
differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements.


                                     (iii)


                         SENIOR HOUSING PROPERTIES TRUST

    We are a real  estate  investment  trust,  and our  primary  business  is to
acquire, own and lease senior apartments,  congregate care communities, assisted
living  properties and nursing homes. We were organized on December 16, 1998, as
a 100% owned subsidiary of HRPT Properties Trust, a real estate investment trust
which now invests  principally in office  buildings.  On October 12, 1999,  HRPT
Properties Trust distributed a majority of our common shares to its shareholders
to establish us as a separately  traded real estate  investment trust. As of May
1, 2001, we had  25,916,100  shares  outstanding,  12,809,238 of which  remained
owned by HRPT Properties Trust.

    As of March 31, 2001, we owned 86 properties  located in 23 states.  On that
date our  undepreciated  carrying  value of these  properties,  net of  previous
impairment losses, was approximately $598 million.

    We are  organized  as a Maryland  real  estate  investment  trust  under the
Maryland REIT Law. Our principal place of business is 400 Centre Street, Newton,
Massachusetts 02458, and our telephone number is (617) 796-8350.

                               SNH CAPITAL TRUSTS

    Each SNH Capital Trust is a statutory  business  trust formed under Maryland
law pursuant to:

o   a declaration  of trust executed by us, as sponsor for the SNH Capital Trust
    and the trustees of the SNH Capital Trust; and

o   the  filing  of  a  certificate  of  trust  with  the  State  Department  of
    Assessments and Taxation of Maryland.

    Unless an accompanying  prospectus  supplement provides otherwise,  each SNH
Capital Trust exists for the sole purposes of:

o   selling trust preferred  securities and investing the proceeds in a specific
    series of our debt securities;

o   selling trust common  securities to us or our  Subsidiaries  in exchange for
    cash and investing the proceeds in additional debt securities  issued by us;
    or

o   engaging in other activities that are necessary, convenient or incidental to
    the sale of trust  preferred  and common  securities  or the purchase of our
    debt securities.

    No SNH Capital  Trust will  borrow  money,  issue debt or reinvest  proceeds
derived from investments,  pledge any of its assets, or otherwise undertake,  or
permit to be  undertaken,  any activity  that would cause that SNH Capital Trust
not to be classified  for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor
trust.  We will own directly or  indirectly  all of the trust common  securities
issued by each SNH  Capital  Trust.  The trust  common  securities  will rank on
parity,  and payments  will be made thereon pro rata,  with the trust  preferred
securities,  except that upon the occurrence and during  continuance of an event
of default under the declaration of trust of a SNH Capital Trust,  the rights of
the  holders  of  the  trust  common   securities   to  payment  in  respect  of
distributions  and payments upon  liquidation,  redemption and otherwise will be
subordinated to the rights of the holders of the trust preferred securities.  In
connection  with the  issuance of trust  preferred  securities  by a SNH Capital
Trust, we or our Subsidiaries  will acquire trust common  securities of such SNH
Capital Trust having an aggregate liquidation amount equal to a minimum of 3% of
the total capital of such SNH Capital Trust.  Each SNH Capital Trust will have a
term of at least 20 but no more  than 50 years,  but may  terminate  earlier  as
provided in its declaration of trust.

    Each SNH Capital  Trust's  business  and affairs  will be  conducted  by its
trustees.  The  holders  of the trust  common  securities  will be  entitled  to
appoint,  remove or  replace  any of, or  increase  or reduce the number of, the
trustees of each SNH Capital Trust.  The duties and  obligations of the trustees
will be governed by the SNH Capital  Trust's  declaration of trust. At least one
of the  trustees  of each SNH  Capital  Trust will be a person who is one of our
officers or trustees or who is  affiliated  with us (a "Regular  Trustee").  One
trustee of each SNH Capital  Trust




will be a financial  institution  that is not affiliated  with us (the "Property
Trustee"),  which will act as property trustee and as indenture  trustee for the
purposes of the Trust  Indenture Act of 1939, as amended,  pursuant to the terms
set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

    We will pay all fees and expenses  related to each SNH Capital Trust and any
offering of the trust preferred  securities.  The principal place of business of
each SNH  Capital  Trust is c/o Senior  Housing  Properties  Trust at 400 Centre
Street, Newton, Massachusetts 02458 (telephone: (617) 796-8350).

                                  RISK FACTORS

    Certain of the securities to be offered hereby themselves may involve a high
degree  of risk.  Such  risks  will be set  forth in the  prospectus  supplement
relating to such offered securities.

                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

    Unless otherwise described in a prospectus supplement,  we intend to use the
net proceeds from the sale of any securities  under this  prospectus for general
business  purposes,  which may include  acquiring  and  investing in  additional
properties  and the repayment of borrowings  under our credit  facility or other
debt. Unless otherwise  described in a prospectus  supplement,  each SNH Capital
Trust  will use the net  proceeds  from the sale of any  securities  under  this
prospectus  to purchase our debt  securities.  Until the proceeds from a sale of
securities  by us or any  SNH  Capital  Trust  are  applied  to  their  intended
purposes, they will be invested in short-term investments,  including repurchase
agreements, some or all of which may not be investment grade.

                       RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

    The following table sets forth our consolidated  ratios of earnings to fixed
charges for the periods indicated:

                                              Fiscal Year Ended December 31,
                                        2000    1999     1998     1997    1996
                                        ----    ----     ----     ----    ----

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges....  3.0x    1.8x     3.4x     3.6x     3.5x

    Prior  to  October  12,  1999,  we and our  properties  were  owned  by HRPT
Properties  Trust. This computation of earnings to fixed charges is presented as
if we were a separate  legal  entity  from HRPT  Properties  Trust prior to that
date,  although  we did not exist as a  separate  entity  until  then.  Interest
expense was  allocated  based on HRPT  Properties  Trust's  historical  interest
expense  as a  percentage  of  its  average  historical  costs  of  real  estate
investments.

    The ratios of earnings to fixed  charges  presented  above were  computed by
dividing our earnings by fixed  charges.  For this  purpose,  earnings have been
calculated by adding fixed charges to income before income taxes,  extraordinary
items  and  gain or loss on the  disposition  of real  property.  Fixed  charges
consist of interest costs,  whether  expensed or  capitalized,  and any interest
component of  capitalized  lease  expense,  amortization  of debt  discounts and
deferred financing costs, whether expensed or capitalized.  To date, we have not
issued any  preferred  shares,  and so the ratio of earnings  to combined  fixed
charges  and  preferred  shares  distributions  are the  same as the  ratios  of
earnings to fixed charges presented above.

                         DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

    The  debt   securities  sold  under  this  prospectus  will  be  our  direct
obligations,  which  may be  secured  or  unsecured,  and which may be senior or
subordinated indebtedness. The debt securities may be guaranteed on a secured or
unsecured, senior or subordinated basis, by one or more of our Subsidiaries. The
debt  securities  will be issued under one or more  indentures  between us and a
trustee.  Any indenture  will be subject to and governed by the Trust  Indenture
Act of 1939, as amended.  The statements made in this prospectus relating to any
indentures  and the debt

                                       2


securities  to  be  issued  under  the   indentures  are  summaries  of  certain
anticipated provisions of the indentures and are not complete.

    The  following  is a summary of the material  terms of our debt  securities.
Because it is a summary,  it does not contain all of the information that may be
important  to you.  If you want more  information,  you should read the forms of
indentures  which we have filed as exhibits  to the  registration  statement  of
which  this  prospectus  is  part.  We  will  file  any  final   indentures  and
supplemental  indentures  if we issue debt  securities.  See "Where You Can Find
More Information." This summary is also subject to and qualified by reference to
the  descriptions of the particular  terms of your  securities  described in the
applicable prospectus supplement.

General

    We may issue debt securities that rank "senior,"  "senior  subordinated"  or
"junior  subordinated." The debt securities that we refer to as "senior" will be
our direct  obligations  and will rank  equally  and ratably in right of payment
with our other indebtedness not subordinated.  We may issue debt securities that
will be  subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of senior
debt, as defined in the applicable prospectus  supplement,  and may rank equally
and ratably with the other senior subordinated  indebtedness.  We refer to these
as "senior subordinated"  securities. We may also issue debt securities that may
be subordinated in right of payment to the senior subordinated securities. These
would be "junior subordinated"  securities.  We have filed with the registration
statement of which this  prospectus is part three  separate  forms of indenture,
one for the senior securities,  one for the senior  subordinated and one for the
junior  subordinated  securities.  We refer to senior  subordinated  and  junior
subordinated securities as "subordinated."

    We may issue the debt  securities  without  limit as to aggregate  principal
amount,  in one or more  series,  in each  case as we  establish  in one or more
supplemental indentures.  We need not issue all debt securities of one series at
the same time. Unless we otherwise provide, we may reopen a series,  without the
consent of the holders of the series, for issuances of additional  securities of
that series.

    We  anticipate  that any  indenture  will provide that we may, but need not,
designate more than one trustee under an indenture,  each with respect to one or
more series of debt securities. Any trustee under any indenture may resign or be
removed  with  respect  to one or more  series  of debt  securities,  and we may
appoint a successor trustee to act with respect to that series.

    The  applicable  prospectus  supplement  will  describe the  specific  terms
relating  to the  series of debt  securities  we will  offer,  including,  where
applicable, the following:

o   the title and series  designation  and whether  they are senior  securities,
    senior subordinated securities or subordinated securities;

o   the aggregate principal amount of the securities;

o   the  percentage  of the  principal  amount  at which we will  issue the debt
    securities and, if other than the principal  amount of the debt  securities,
    the portion of the  principal  amount of the debt  securities  payable  upon
    maturity of the debt securities;

o   if convertible,  the initial conversion price, the conversion period and any
    other terms governing such conversion;

o   the stated maturity date;

o   any fixed or variable interest rate or rates per annum;



                                       3


o   the place where principal, premium, if any, and interest will be payable and
    where the debt  securities  can be  surrendered  for  transfer,  exchange or
    conversion;

o   the date from which interest may accrue and any interest payment dates;

o   any sinking fund requirements;

o   any  provisions  for  redemption,  including  the  redemption  price and any
    remarketing arrangements;

o   whether the securities  are  denominated or payable in United States dollars
    or a foreign currency or units of two or more foreign currencies;

o   the  events of  default  and  covenants  of such  securities,  to the extent
    different from or in addition to those described in this prospectus;

o   whether we will issue the debt  securities  in  certificated  or  book-entry
    form;

o   whether the debt  securities will be in registered or bearer form and, if in
    registered form, the denominations if other than in even multiples of $1,000
    and, if in bearer form, the denominations and terms and conditions  relating
    thereto;

o   whether we will issue any of the debt  securities  in permanent  global form
    and, if so, the terms and  conditions,  if any, upon which  interests in the
    global  security may be exchanged,  in whole or in part,  for the individual
    debt securities represented by the global security;

o   the  applicability,  if  any,  of the  defeasance  and  covenant  defeasance
    provisions described in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement;

o   whether we will pay  additional  amounts on the securities in respect of any
    tax,  assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether we will have the
    option to redeem the debt securities instead of making this payment;

o   the subordination provisions, if any, relating to the debt securities;

o   if the debt  securities are to be issued upon the exercise of debt warrants,
    the time, manner and place for them to be authenticated and delivered;

o   whether any of our Subsidiaries will be bound by the terms of the indenture,
    in particular any restrictive covenants;

o   the provisions  relating to any security  provided for the debt  securities;
    and

o   the provisions relating to any guarantee of the debt securities.

    We may issue debt  securities at less than the principal  amount  payable at
maturity.  We refer to these securities as "original issue discount" securities.
If  material  or  applicable,  we will  describe  in the  applicable  prospectus
supplement special U.S. federal income tax, accounting and other  considerations
applicable to original issue discount securities.

    Except as may be described in any prospectus  supplement,  an indenture will
not  contain  any  other  provisions  that  would  limit  our  ability  to incur
indebtedness or that would afford holders of the debt  securities  protection in
the event of a highly  leveraged or similar  transaction  involving us or in the
event of a change  of  control.  You  should  review  carefully  the  applicable
prospectus  supplement  for  information  with  respect to events of default and
covenants applicable to the securities being offered.



                                       4


Denominations, Interest, Registration and Transfer

    Unless otherwise described in the applicable prospectus supplement,  we will
issue the debt  securities  of any  series  that are  registered  securities  in
denominations  that are even multiples of $1,000,  other than global securities,
which may be of any denomination.

    Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement,  we will
pay the interest, principal and any premium at the corporate trust office of the
trustee. At our option, however, we may make payment of interest by check mailed
to the  address  of the  person  entitled  to the  payment  as it appears in the
applicable  register  or by wire  transfer of funds to that person at an account
maintained within the United States.

    If we do not  punctually  pay  or  otherwise  provide  for  interest  on any
interest payment date, the defaulted interest will be paid either:

o   to the person in whose name the debt  security is registered at the close of
    business on a special record date the trustee will fix; or

o   in any other lawful manner, all as the applicable indenture describes.

    You may have your debt  securities  divided  into  more debt  securities  of
smaller   denominations  or  combined  into  fewer  debt  securities  of  larger
denominations,  as long as the total  principal  amount is not changed.  We call
this an "exchange."

    You may exchange or transfer debt securities at the office of the applicable
trustee.  The trustee acts as our agent for  registering  debt securities in the
names  of  holders  and  transferring  debt  securities.   We  may  change  this
appointment to another entity or perform it ourselves. The entity performing the
role of maintaining the list of registered holders is called the "registrar." It
will also perform transfers.

    You will not be  required  to pay a service  charge to  transfer or exchange
debt  securities,  but  you  may  be  required  to pay  for  any  tax  or  other
governmental  charge  associated  with the  exchange or  transfer.  The security
registrar  will make the transfer or exchange only if it is satisfied  with your
proof of ownership.

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

    Under any indenture, we are generally permitted to consolidate or merge with
another company.  We are also permitted to sell  substantially all of our assets
to  another  company,  or to buy  substantially  all of the  assets  of  another
company.  However,  we may not take any of these  actions  unless the  following
conditions are met:

o   If we merge out of existence or sell our assets,  the other  company must be
    an entity organized under the laws of a State or the District of Columbia or
    under  federal  law and must  agree to be legally  responsible  for our debt
    securities; and

o   Immediately after the merger,  sale of assets or other  transaction,  we may
    not be in default on the debt  securities.  A default for this purpose would
    include any event that would be an event of default if the  requirements for
    giving us  default  notice  or our  default  having to exist for a  specific
    period of time were disregarded.

Certain Covenants

    Existence.   Except  as  permitted  as  described  above  under   "--Merger,
Consolidation  or Sale of Assets," we will agree to do all things  necessary  to
preserve and keep our trust existence, rights and franchises provided that it is
in our best interests for the conduct of business.



                                       5


    Provisions of Financial Information. Whether or not we remain required to do
so  under  the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as  amended,  to the  extent
permitted by law, we will agree to file all annual,  quarterly and other reports
and financial  statements with the SEC and an indenture trustee on or before the
applicable SEC filing dates as if we were required to do so.

    Additional Covenants. Any additional or different covenants or modifications
to the foregoing  covenants with respect to any series of debt securities,  will
be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Events of Default and Related Matters

    Events of  Default.  The term  "event  of  default"  for any  series of debt
securities means any of the following:

o   We do not pay the principal or any premium on a debt security of that series
    within 30 days after its maturity date;

o   We do not pay  interest on a debt  security  of that  series  within 30 days
    after its due date;

o   We do not deposit any sinking  fund  payment for that series  within 30 days
    after its due date;

o   We remain in breach of any other  term of the  applicable  indenture  (other
    than a term added to the  indenture  solely for the benefit of other series)
    for 60 days after we  receive a notice of default  stating we are in breach.
    Either the trustee or holders of more than 50% in  principal  amount of debt
    securities of the affected series may send the notice;

o   We default  under any of our other  indebtedness  in an aggregate  principal
    amount  exceeding  $25,000,000  after the expiration of any applicable grace
    period,  which default  results in the  acceleration of the maturity of such
    indebtedness.  Such  default  is not  an  event  of  default  if  the  other
    indebtedness  is discharged,  or the  acceleration is rescinded or annulled,
    within a period of 10 days after we receive  notice  specifying  the default
    and  requiring  that we  discharge  the  other  indebtedness  or  cause  the
    acceleration to be rescinded or annulled.  Either the trustee or the holders
    of more than 50% in  principal  amount of debt  securities  of the  affected
    series may send the notice;

o   We or one of our "significant subsidiaries," if any, files for bankruptcy or
    certain other events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur; or

o   Any other event of default described in the applicable prospectus supplement
    occurs.

    The  term   "significant   subsidiary"   means   each  of  our   significant
subsidiaries,  if any, as defined in Regulation  S-X under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended.

    Remedies if an Event of Default Occurs.  If an event of default has occurred
and has not been  cured,  the  trustee or the  holders of at least a majority in
principal  amount of the debt  securities of the affected series may declare the
entire  principal amount of all the debt securities of that series to be due and
immediately  payable. If an event of default occurs because of certain events in
bankruptcy,  insolvency or reorganization,  the principal amount of all the debt
securities of that series will be automatically accelerated,  without any action
by the trustee or any holder.  At any time after the trustee or the holders have
accelerated any series of debt  securities,  but before a judgment or decree for
payment of the money due has been  obtained,  the holders of at least a majority
in principal  amount of the debt  securities of the affected  series may,  under
certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration.

    The  trustee  will  be  required  to  give  notice  to the  holders  of debt
securities within 90 days after a default under the applicable  indenture unless
the default has been cured or waived.  The  trustee may  withhold  notice to the
holders of any series of debt  securities  of any default  with  respect to that
series,  except a default in the payment of the



                                       6

principal  of or interest  on any debt  security of that  series,  if  specified
responsible officers of the trustee in good faith determine that withholding the
notice is in the interest of the holders.

    Except in cases of default,  where the trustee has some special duties,  the
trustee is not required to take any action under the applicable indenture at the
request  of  any  holders  unless  the  holders  offer  the  trustee  reasonable
protection  from expenses and liability.  We refer to this as an "indemnity." If
reasonable indemnity is provided,  the holders of a majority in principal amount
of the outstanding securities of the relevant series may direct the time, method
and place of  conducting  any lawsuit or other formal  legal action  seeking any
remedy  available to the  trustee.  These  majority  holders may also direct the
trustee in performing any other action under the applicable  indenture,  subject
to certain limitations.

    Before you bypass the  trustee  and bring your own  lawsuit or other  formal
legal  action  or take  other  steps to  enforce  your  rights or  protect  your
interests relating to the debt securities, the following must occur:

o   You must  give the  trustee  written  notice  that an event of  default  has
    occurred and remains uncured;

o   The holders of at least a majority in  principal  amount of all  outstanding
    securities  of the  relevant  series  must make a written  request  that the
    trustee  take  action  because of the  default,  and must  offer  reasonable
    indemnity to the trustee  against the cost and other  liabilities  of taking
    that action; and

o   The  trustee  must have not taken  action for 60 days  after  receipt of the
    notice and offer of indemnity.

However,  you are  entitled  at any time to bring a lawsuit  for the  payment of
money due on your security after its due date.

    Every year we will furnish to the trustee a written  statement by certain of
our officers  certifying  that to their  knowledge we are in compliance with the
applicable indenture and the debt securities, or else specifying any default.

Modification of an Indenture

    There are three types of changes we can make to the  indentures and the debt
securities:

    Changes Requiring Your Approval.  First, there are changes we cannot make to
your debt securities without your specific approval.  The following is a list of
those types of changes:

o   change the stated maturity of the principal or interest on a debt security;

o   reduce any amounts due on a debt security;

o   reduce the amount of principal  payable upon acceleration of the maturity of
    a debt security following a default;

o   change the currency of payment on a debt security;

o   impair your right to sue for payment;

o   modify the subordination  provisions, if any, in a manner that is adverse to
    you;

o   reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities  whose consent is needed
    to  modify  or  amend  an  indenture  or to waive  compliance  with  certain
    provisions of an indenture;

o   reduce the percentage of holders of debt securities  whose consent is needed
    to waive  past  defaults  or  change  certain  provisions  of the  indenture
    relating to waivers of default;


                                       7


o   waive a default  or event of  default  in the  payment  of  principal  of or
    premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities; or

o   modify any of the foregoing provisions.

    Changes Requiring a Majority Vote. The second type of change to an indenture
and the debt  securities is the kind that requires a vote in favor by holders of
debt  securities  owning a majority of the  principal  amount of the  particular
series  affected.  Most changes fall into this  category,  except for clarifying
changes and certain other  changes that would not  materially  adversely  affect
holders of the debt securities. We require the same vote to obtain a waiver of a
past default.  However,  we cannot  obtain a waiver of a payment  default or any
other aspect of an indenture or the debt securities listed in the first category
described above under "--Changes  Requiring Your Approval" unless we obtain your
individual consent to the waiver.

    Changes Not  Requiring  Approval.  The third type of change does not require
any vote by holders of debt securities.  This type is limited to  clarifications
and certain other changes that would not materially  adversely affect holders of
the debt securities.

    Further  Details  Concerning  Voting.  Debt  securities  are not  considered
outstanding,  and therefore  the holders  thereof are not eligible to vote if we
have  deposited  or set  aside in trust  for you  money  for  their  payment  or
redemption  or if we or one of our  affiliates  own them.  The  holders  of debt
securities  are also not  eligible  to vote if they have been fully  defeased as
described   immediately  below  under  "--Discharge,   Defeasance  and  Covenant
Defeasance--Full  Defeasance." For original issue discount  securities,  we will
use the principal amount that would be due and payable on the voting date if the
maturity  of the debt  securities  were  accelerated  to that date  because of a
default.

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

    Discharge.  We may discharge  some  obligations  to holders of any series of
debt  securities  that either have become due and payable or will become due and
payable  within one year,  or  scheduled  for  redemption  within  one year,  by
irrevocably  depositing  with the  trustee,  in trust,  funds in the  applicable
currency  in an amount  sufficient  to pay the debt  securities,  including  any
premium and interest.

    Full  Defeasance.  We can,  under  particular  circumstances,  effect a full
defeasance  of your  series of debt  securities.  By this we mean we can legally
release  ourselves from any payment or other  obligations on the debt securities
if, among other  things,  we put in place the  arrangements  described  below to
repay you and deliver certain certificates and opinions to the trustee:

o   We must  deposit  in trust for your  benefit  and the  benefit  of all other
    direct  holders  of the  debt  securities  a  combination  of  money or U.S.
    government  or  U.S.   government   agency  notes  or  bonds  (or,  in  some
    circumstances,  depositary receipts  representing these notes or bonds) that
    will generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other payments
    on the debt securities on their various due dates;

o   The current  federal tax law must be changed or an IRS ruling must be issued
    permitting  the above  deposit  without  causing you to be taxed on the debt
    securities  any  differently  than if we did not make the  deposit  and just
    repaid the debt securities ourselves.  Under current federal income tax law,
    the deposit and our legal release from the debt securities  would be treated
    as though we took back your debt  securities  and gave you your share of the
    cash and  notes or bonds  deposited  in  trust.  In that  event,  you  could
    recognize gain or loss on the debt securities you give back to us; and

o   We must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion confirming the tax law change
    described above.

    If we did accomplish full  defeasance,  you would have to rely solely on the
trust deposit for repayment on the debt securities. You could not look to us for
repayment in the unlikely event of any shortfall.  Conversely, the trust


                                       8

deposit  would most  likely be  protected  from  claims of our lenders and other
creditors if we ever became  bankrupt or  insolvent.  You would also be released
from any subordination provisions.

    Covenant  Defeasance.  Under current federal income tax law, we can make the
same  type  of  deposit  described  above  and  be  released  from  some  of the
restrictive  covenants  in  the  debt  securities.   This  is  called  "covenant
defeasance." In that event,  you would lose the protection of those  restrictive
covenants but would gain the protection of having money and securities set aside
in  trust  to  repay  the   securities  and  you  would  be  released  from  any
subordination provisions.

    If  we  accomplish  covenant  defeasance,  the  following  provisions  of an
indenture and the debt securities would no longer apply:

o   any covenants  applicable to the series of debt  securities and described in
    the applicable prospectus supplement;

o   any subordination provisions; and

o   certain events of default  relating to breach of covenants and  acceleration
    of the maturity of other debt set forth in any prospectus supplement.

    If we accomplish covenant defeasance, you can still look to us for repayment
of the debt securities if a shortfall in the trust deposit  occurred.  If one of
the remaining  events of default occurs,  for example,  our bankruptcy,  and the
debt securities  become  immediately due and payable,  there may be a shortfall.
Depending  on the  event  causing  the  default,  you may not be able to  obtain
payment of the shortfall.

Subordination

    We will  describe  in the  applicable  prospectus  supplement  the terms and
conditions,  if any, upon which any series of senior subordinated  securities or
subordinated  securities is subordinated to debt securities of another series or
to our other indebtedness. The terms will include a description of:

o   the indebtedness ranking senior to the debt securities being offered;

o   the restrictions,  if any, on payments to the holders of the debt securities
    being  offered  while a default with respect to the senior  indebtedness  is
    continuing;

o   the restrictions,  if any, on payments to the holders of the debt securities
    being offered following an event of default; and

o   provisions  requiring  holders of the debt securities being offered to remit
    some payments to holders of senior indebtedness.

Guarantees

    Our  payment  obligations  under any  series of our debt  securities  may be
guaranteed by some or all of our Subsidiaries.  The guarantees may be secured or
unsecured and may be senior or subordinated obligations.  The guarantors will be
identified and the terms of the  guarantees  will be described in the applicable
prospectus supplement.

Global Securities

    If so set forth in the applicable  prospectus  supplement,  we may issue the
debt  securities  of a  series  in  whole  or in part in the form of one or more
global  securities  that will be deposited  with a depositary  identified in the
prospectus  supplement.  We may issue global  securities in either registered or
bearer form and in either temporary or

                                       9

permanent form. The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to
any series of debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement.


                          DESCRIPTION OF COMMON SHARES

    Our  declaration  of trust  authorizes  us to issue  up to an  aggregate  of
50,000,000  shares  of  beneficial  interest,  all of  which  we have  initially
designated as common shares of  beneficial  interest.  As of May 1, 2001, we had
25,916,100 common shares issued and outstanding.

    The following is a summary  description  of the material terms of our common
shares of beneficial interest.  Because it is a summary, it does not contain all
of the information  that may be important to you. If you want more  information,
you should read our  declaration of trust and bylaws,  copies of which have been
filed with the SEC. See "Where You Can Find More  Information."  This summary is
also subject to and qualified by reference to the  description of the particular
terms of your securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

    As permitted by the Maryland REIT Law, our  declaration  of trust contains a
provision  permitting  our  board  of  trustees,   without  any  action  by  our
shareholders,  to amend the  declaration  of trust to increase  or decrease  the
total  number of  shares  of  beneficial  interest,  to issue new and  different
classes of shares in any amount or to reclassify any unissued  shares into other
classes or series of classes that we choose. We believe that giving these powers
to our  board  of  trustees  will  provide  us  with  increased  flexibility  in
structuring  possible future  financings and  acquisitions  and in meeting other
business  needs  which  might  arise.  Although  our  board of  trustees  has no
intention  at the  present  time of doing so, it could  authorize  us to issue a
class or series  that  could,  depending  upon the terms of the class or series,
delay or prevent a change in control.

    Except as otherwise described in the applicable prospectus  supplement,  all
of our common shares are entitled to the following,  subject to the preferential
rights of any other  class or  series of shares  which may be issued  and to the
provisions  of  our  declaration  of  trust  regarding  the  restriction  of the
ownership of shares of beneficial interest:

    o   to receive  distributions on their shares if, as and when authorized and
        declared by our board of trustees out of assets  legally  available  for
        distribution; and

    o   to share ratably in our assets legally available for distribution to our
        shareholders in the event of our liquidation,  dissolution or winding up
        after  payment of or adequate  provision  for all of our known debts and
        liabilities.

    Subject  to the  provisions  of  our  declaration  of  trust  regarding  the
restriction on the transfer of shares of beneficial  interest,  each outstanding
common share entitles the holder to one vote on all matters  submitted to a vote
of shareholders, including the election of trustees.

    Holders of common shares have no preference,  conversion,  exchange, sinking
fund, redemption or appraisal rights.

    Shareholders  will have no  preemptive  rights to  subscribe  for any of our
securities.  Subject to the provisions of our declaration of trust regarding the
restriction  on ownership of shares of beneficial  interest,  common shares will
have equal distribution, liquidation and other rights.

    For other  information  with respect to our shares,  including  effects that
provisions  in our  declaration  of trust and  bylaws  may have in  delaying  or
deterring a change in our control,  see  "Description  of Certain  Provisions of
Maryland Law and Our Declaration of Trust and Bylaws" below.


                                       10


                         DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED SHARES

Preferred Shares

    The  following  is a  summary  description  of  the  material  terms  of our
preferred shares of beneficial  interest.  Because it is a summary,  it does not
contain all of the  information  that may be  important to you. If you want more
information,  you should read our  declaration  of trust and  bylaws,  copies of
which have been filed with the SEC.  See "Where You Can Find More  Information."
This summary is also subject to and qualified by reference to the description of
the particular terms of your securities  described in the applicable  prospectus
supplement.

    General. Our board of trustees will determine the designations, preferences,
limitations and relative rights of our authorized and unissued preferred shares.
These may include:

o   the  distinctive  designation  of each  series and the number of shares that
    will constitute the series;

o   the voting rights, if any, of shares of the series;

o   the  distribution  rate  on the  shares  of  the  series,  any  restriction,
    limitation  or  condition  upon the  payment  of the  distribution,  whether
    distributions will be cumulative,  and the dates on which  distributions are
    payable;

o   the prices at which,  and the terms and  conditions on which,  the shares of
    the series may be redeemed, if the shares are redeemable;

o   the  purchase  or sinking  fund  provisions,  if any,  for the  purchase  or
    redemption of shares of the series;

o   any  preferential  amount  payable  upon  shares  of  the  series  upon  our
    liquidation or the distribution of our assets;

o   if the shares are  convertible,  the price or rates of  conversion at which,
    and the terms and  conditions  on which,  the  shares of the  series  may be
    converted into other securities; and

o   whether the series can be exchanged,  at our option,  into debt  securities,
    and the terms and conditions of any permitted exchange.

    The  issuance of  preferred  shares,  or the  issuance of rights to purchase
preferred  shares,  could  discourage an unsolicited  acquisition  proposal.  In
addition,  the rights of holders of common shares will be subject to, and may be
adversely affected by, the rights of holders of any preferred shares that we may
issue in the future.

    The following  describes  some general terms and provisions of the preferred
shares  to which a  prospectus  supplement  may  relate.  The  statements  below
describing the preferred  shares are in all respects subject to and qualified in
their entirety by reference to the applicable  provisions of our  declaration of
trust, including any applicable articles supplementary, and our bylaws.

    The  prospectus  supplement  will  describe  the  specific  terms as to each
issuance of preferred shares, including:

o   the description of the preferred shares;

o   the number of the preferred shares offered;

o   the voting rights, if any, of the holders of the preferred shares;

o   the offering price of the preferred shares;


                                       11


o   the  distribution  rate, when  distributions  will be paid, or the method of
    determining  the  distribution  rate  if it is  based  on a  formula  or not
    otherwise fixed;

o   the date from which distributions on the preferred shares shall accumulate;

o   the provisions for any auctioning or  remarketing,  if any, of the preferred
    shares;

o   the provision, if any, for redemption or a sinking fund;

o   the liquidation preference per share;

o   any listing of the preferred shares on a securities exchange;

o   whether the preferred  shares will be  convertible  and, if so, the security
    into which they are  convertible and the terms and conditions of conversion,
    including the conversion price or the manner of determining it;

o   whether  interests in the preferred shares will be represented by depositary
    shares as more  fully  described  below  under  "Description  of  Depositary
    Shares;"

o   a discussion of federal income tax considerations;

o   the  relative  ranking  and  preferences  of  the  preferred  shares  as  to
    distribution and liquidation rights;

o   any limitations on issuance of any preferred  shares ranking senior to or on
    a  parity  with  the  series  of  preferred   shares  being  offered  as  to
    distribution and liquidation rights;

o   any  limitations  on direct or  beneficial  ownership  and  restrictions  on
    transfer,  in each case as may be  appropriate  to preserve  our status as a
    real estate investment trust; and

o   any other specific terms, preferences,  rights,  limitations or restrictions
    of the preferred shares.

    As  described  under  "Description  of  Depositary  Shares,"  we may, at our
option, elect to offer depositary shares evidenced by depositary receipts. If we
elect to do this, each depositary  receipt will represent a fractional  interest
in a share of the particular series of the preferred shares issued and deposited
with a  depositary.  The  applicable  prospectus  supplement  will  specify that
fractional interest.

Rank

    Unless our board of trustees  otherwise  determines and we so specify in the
applicable prospectus supplement, we expect that the preferred shares will, with
respect to distribution rights and rights upon liquidation or dissolution,  rank
senior to all our common shares.

Distributions

    Holders of preferred  shares of each series will be entitled to receive cash
and/or share distributions at the rates and on the dates shown in the applicable
prospectus supplement. Even though the preferred shares may specify a fixed rate
of  distribution,  our  board of  trustees  must  authorize  and  declare  those
distributions  and they may be paid only out of  assets  legally  available  for
payment.  We will pay each  distribution  to holders of record as they appear on
our share transfer books on the record dates fixed by our board of trustees.  In
the case of preferred shares represented by depositary receipts,  the records of
the  depositary  referred  to under  "Description  of  Depositary  Shares"  will
determine the persons to whom distributions are payable.


                                       12


    Distributions  on any  series  of  preferred  shares  may be  cumulative  or
noncumulative,  as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. We refer to
each  particular  series,  for  ease of  reference,  as the  applicable  series.
Cumulative distributions will be cumulative from and after the date shown in the
applicable prospectus supplement.  If our board of trustees fails to authorize a
distribution on any applicable  series that is  noncumulative,  the holders will
have no right to receive,  and we will have no obligation to pay, a distribution
in respect of the applicable  distribution period,  whether or not distributions
on that series are declared payable in the future.

    If the applicable  series is entitled to a cumulative  distribution,  we may
not declare,  or pay or set aside for  payment,  any full  distributions  on any
other series of preferred shares ranking, as to distributions,  on a parity with
or junior to the  applicable  series,  unless we declare,  and either pay or set
aside for payment,  full cumulative  distributions on the applicable  series for
all past distribution  periods and the then current  distribution period. If the
applicable series does not have a cumulative distribution,  we must declare, and
pay  or  set  aside  for  payment,  full  distributions  for  the  then  current
distribution  period only.  When  distributions  are not paid,  or set aside for
payment,  in full upon any applicable  series and the shares of any other series
ranking on a parity as to  distributions  with the  applicable  series,  we must
declare, and pay or set aside for payment, all distributions upon the applicable
series and any other parity series  proportionately,  in accordance with accrued
and unpaid distributions of the several series. For these purposes,  accrued and
unpaid distributions do not include unpaid distribution periods on noncumulative
preferred  shares.  No interest  will be payable in respect of any  distribution
payment that may be in arrears.

    Except  as  provided  in the  immediately  preceding  paragraph,  unless  we
declare,  and pay or set  aside  for  payment,  full  cumulative  distributions,
including for the then current period, on any cumulative  applicable  series, we
may not declare, or pay or set aside for payment,  any distributions upon common
shares or any other equity securities  ranking junior to or on a parity with the
applicable  series  as to  distributions  or  upon  liquidation.  The  foregoing
restriction  does not  apply to  distributions  paid in  common  shares or other
equity  securities  ranking junior to the applicable  series as to distributions
and upon liquidation.  If the applicable  series is noncumulative,  we need only
declare, and pay or set aside for payment, the distribution for the then current
period,  before  declaring  distributions  on common  shares or junior or parity
securities.  In addition,  under the  circumstances  that we could not declare a
distribution,  we  may  not  redeem,  purchase  or  otherwise  acquire  for  any
consideration  any common  shares or other parity or junior  equity  securities,
except upon conversion into or exchange for common shares or other junior equity
securities. We may, however, make purchases and redemptions otherwise prohibited
pursuant to certain  redemptions or pro rata offers to purchase the  outstanding
shares of the applicable series and any other parity series of preferred shares.

    We will credit any distribution  payment made on an applicable  series first
against the  earliest  accrued but unpaid  distribution  due with respect to the
series.

Redemption

    We may have the right or may be  required  to redeem  one or more  series of
preferred  shares,  as a whole or in part, in each case upon the terms,  if any,
and at the times and at the redemption prices shown in the applicable prospectus
supplement.

    If a series of preferred shares is subject to mandatory redemption,  we will
specify  in the  applicable  prospectus  supplement  the number of shares we are
required to redeem,  when those redemptions start, the redemption price, and any
other terms and conditions  affecting the redemption.  The redemption price will
include  all  accrued   and  unpaid   distributions,   except  in  the  case  of
noncumulative  preferred shares.  The redemption price may be payable in cash or
other property,  as specified in the applicable  prospectus  supplement.  If the
redemption price for preferred shares of any series is payable only from the net
proceeds of our  issuance  of shares of  beneficial  interest,  the terms of the
preferred  shares may provide that, if no shares of  beneficial  interest  shall
have  been  issued or to the  extent  the net  proceeds  from any  issuance  are
insufficient  to pay in full  the  aggregate  redemption  price  then  due,  the
preferred shares will  automatically and mandatorily be converted into shares of
beneficial  interest  pursuant  to  conversion   provisions   specified  in  the
applicable prospectus supplement.


                                       13


Liquidation Preference

    The applicable prospectus supplement will show the liquidation preference of
the applicable series. Upon our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, before any
distribution may be made to the holders of our common shares or any other shares
of beneficial  interest  ranking junior in the  distribution  of assets upon any
liquidation  to the  applicable  series,  the  holders  of that  series  will be
entitled to receive,  out of our assets legally  available for  distribution  to
shareholders,  liquidating  distributions  in  the  amount  of  the  liquidation
preference, plus an amount equal to all distributions accrued and unpaid. In the
case of a  noncumulative  applicable  series,  accrued and unpaid  distributions
include only the then current  distribution  period.  After  payment of the full
amount of the liquidating  distributions to which they are entitled, the holders
of preferred shares will have no right or claim to any of our remaining  assets.
If  liquidating  distributions  shall  have been made in full to all  holders of
preferred shares,  our remaining assets will be distributed among the holders of
any other shares of beneficial  interest  ranking junior to the preferred shares
upon  liquidation,  according to their rights and  preferences  and in each case
according to their number of shares.

    If, upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation,  our available assets are
insufficient  to  pay  the  amount  of  the  liquidating  distributions  on  all
outstanding  shares of that series and the corresponding  amounts payable on all
shares of beneficial  interest ranking on a parity in the distribution of assets
with that series,  then the holders of that series and all other equally ranking
shares of  beneficial  interest  shall  share  ratably  in the  distribution  in
proportion to the full  liquidating  distributions to which they would otherwise
be entitled.

    For these purposes, our consolidation or merger with or into any other trust
or  corporation  or other  entity,  or the sale,  lease or  conveyance of all or
substantially all of our property or business, will not be a liquidation.

Voting Rights

    Holders of the preferred  shares will not have any voting rights,  except as
shown below or as otherwise from time to time required by law or as specified in
the applicable prospectus supplement.

    Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement,  holders
of our preferred shares will be entitled to elect two additional trustees to our
board of  trustees  at our  next  annual  meeting  of  shareholders  and at each
subsequent annual meeting if at any time  distributions on the applicable series
are in arrears for six consecutive  quarterly periods.  If the applicable series
has a cumulative distribution,  the right to elect additional trustees described
in the preceding sentence shall remain in effect until we declare or pay and set
aside for payment all distributions accrued and unpaid on the applicable series.
If the applicable series does not have a cumulative  distribution,  the right to
elect  additional  trustees  described  above  shall  remain in effect  until we
declare or pay and set aside for  payment  distributions  accrued  and unpaid on
four consecutive quarterly periods on the applicable series.

    Unless  otherwise  provided  for in an  applicable  series,  so  long as any
preferred  shares are  outstanding,  we may not, without the affirmative vote or
consent  of a  majority  of the  shares  of  each  series  of  preferred  shares
outstanding at that time:

o   authorize,  create or increase the  authorized or issued amount of any class
    or series of shares of beneficial  interest ranking senior to that series of
    preferred shares with respect to distribution and liquidation rights;

o   reclassify  any  authorized  shares of beneficial  interest into a series of
    shares of  beneficial  interest  ranking  senior to that series of preferred
    shares with respect to distribution and liquidation rights;

o   create,  authorize or issue any security or obligation  convertible  into or
    evidencing the right to purchase any shares of beneficial  interest  ranking
    senior to that series of preferred  shares with respect to distribution  and
    liquidation rights; and


                                       14


o   amend,  alter or repeal the  provisions of our  declaration  of trust or any
    articles  supplementary  relating  to that series of  preferred  shares that
    materially and adversely affects the series of preferred shares.

    The  authorization,  creation or increase of the authorized or issued amount
of any class or series of shares of  beneficial  interest  ranking  on parity or
junior  to a series  of  preferred  shares  with  respect  to  distribution  and
liquidation  rights will not be deemed to materially  and adversely  affect that
series.

    As more fully described under  "Description of Depositary  Shares" below, if
we elect to issue depositary shares,  each representing a fraction of a share of
a series, each depositary will in effect be entitled to a fraction of a vote per
depositary share.

Conversion Rights

    We will  describe  in the  applicable  prospectus  supplement  the terms and
conditions, if any, upon which you may, or we may require you to, convert shares
of any series of  preferred  shares  into  common  shares or any other  class or
series of shares of  beneficial  interest.  The terms will include the number of
common  shares  or  other   securities  into  which  the  preferred  shares  are
convertible,  the  conversion  price (or the  manner  of  determining  it),  the
conversion period,  provisions as to whether conversion will be at the option of
the holders of the series or at our option,  the events  requiring an adjustment
of the conversion price, and provisions affecting conversion upon the redemption
of shares of the series.

Our Exchange Rights

    We will  describe  in the  applicable  prospectus  supplement  the terms and
conditions,  if any,  upon which we can require  you to  exchange  shares of any
series of preferred shares for debt securities.  If an exchange is required, you
will receive debt  securities  with a principal  amount equal to the liquidation
preference of the  applicable  series of preferred  shares.  The other terms and
provisions of the debt  securities  will not be materially less favorable to you
than those of the series of preferred shares being exchanged.

                        DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

General

    The  following  is a  summary  of the  material  provisions  of any  deposit
agreement and of the  depositary  shares and  depositary  receipts  representing
depositary  shares.  Because it is a  summary,  it does not  contain  all of the
information  that may be  important  to you. If you want more  information,  you
should read the form of deposit agreement and depositary  receipts which we will
filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is part
prior to an  offering  of  depositary  shares.  See  "Where  You Can  Find  More
Information."  This summary is also subject to and qualified by reference to the
descriptions  of the  particular  terms  of  your  securities  described  in the
applicable prospectus supplement.

    We may,  at our option,  elect to offer  fractional  interests  in shares of
preferred  shares,  rather than shares of preferred  shares. If we exercise this
option, we will appoint a depositary to issue depositary  receipts  representing
those  fractional  interests.  Preferred  shares of each series  represented  by
depositary  shares will be deposited under a separate deposit  agreement between
us and the  depositary.  The  prospectus  supplement  relating  to a  series  of
depositary  shares will show the name and address of the depositary.  Subject to
the terms of the applicable deposit  agreement,  each owner of depositary shares
will be entitled to all of the  distribution,  voting,  conversion,  redemption,
liquidation and other rights and preferences of the preferred shares represented
by those depositary shares.

    Depositary receipts issued pursuant to the applicable deposit agreement will
evidence ownership of depositary shares.  Upon surrender of depositary  receipts
at the office of the depositary, and upon payment of the charges

                                       15

provided  in and  subject  to the terms of the  deposit  agreement,  a holder of
depositary  shares will be entitled to receive the preferred  shares  underlying
the surrendered depositary receipts.

Distributions

    A depositary will be required to distribute all cash distributions  received
in  respect  of the  applicable  preferred  shares  to  the  record  holders  of
depositary  receipts  evidencing the related  depositary shares in proportion to
the  number of  depositary  receipts  owned by the  holders.  Fractions  will be
rounded down to the nearest whole cent.

    If the  distribution is other than in cash, a depositary will be required to
distribute  property received by it to the record holders of depositary receipts
entitled  thereto,  unless the depositary  determines that it is not feasible to
make the distribution. In that case, the depositary may, with our approval, sell
the property and distribute the net proceeds from the sale to the holders.

    Depositary  shares that represent  preferred  shares  converted or exchanged
will not be entitled to  distributions.  The deposit agreement will also contain
provisions relating to the manner in which any subscription or similar rights we
offer to holders of the  preferred  shares will be made  available to holders of
depositary  shares.  All distributions will be subject to obligations of holders
to file proofs,  certificates  and other  information and to pay certain charges
and expenses to the depositary.

Withdrawal of Preferred Shares

    You may  receive  the  number of whole  shares of your  series of  preferred
shares and any money or other property  represented by those depositary receipts
after surrendering the depositary  receipts at the corporate trust office of the
depositary.  Partial  shares of  preferred  shares  will not be  issued.  If the
depositary shares that you surrender exceed the number of depositary shares that
represent the number of whole  preferred  shares you wish to withdraw,  then the
depositary  will  deliver  to you  at the  same  time a new  depositary  receipt
evidencing the excess number of depositary shares.  Once you have withdrawn your
preferred shares,  you will not be entitled to re-deposit those preferred shares
under the deposit  agreement in order to receive  depositary  shares.  We do not
expect  that there will be any public  trading  market for  withdrawn  preferred
shares.

Redemption of Depositary Shares

    If we redeem a series of the  preferred  shares  underlying  the  depositary
shares,  the depositary  will redeem those shares from the proceeds  received by
it. The depositary  will mail notice of redemption not less than 30 and not more
than 60 days before the date fixed for  redemption to the record  holders of the
depositary  receipts  evidencing the depositary shares we are redeeming at their
addresses  appearing  in  the  depositary's  books.  The  redemption  price  per
depositary  share will be equal to the  applicable  fraction  of the  redemption
price per share payable with respect to the series of the preferred shares.  The
redemption date for depositary  shares will be the same as that of the preferred
shares.  If we  are  redeeming  less  than  all of the  depositary  shares,  the
depositary will select the depositary shares we are redeeming by lot or pro rata
as the depositary may determine.

    After the date  fixed for  redemption,  the  depositary  shares  called  for
redemption  will no longer be deemed  outstanding.  All rights of the holders of
the  depositary  shares and the related  depositary  receipts will cease at that
time,  except  the right to  receive  the money or other  property  to which the
holders of depositary shares were entitled upon redemption. Receipt of the money
or other  property is subject to surrender to the  depositary of the  depositary
receipts evidencing the redeemed depositary shares.

Voting of the Preferred Shares

    Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the applicable
preferred shares are entitled to vote, a depositary will be required to mail the
information  contained  in the notice of  meeting  to the record  holders of the
applicable depositary receipts. Each record holder of depositary receipts on the
record date, which will be the same

                                       16

date as the record date,  will be entitled to instruct the  depositary as to the
exercise  of the voting  rights  pertaining  to the amount of  preferred  shares
represented  by the holder's  depositary  shares.  The  depositary  will try, as
practical,  to vote  the  shares  as you  instruct.  We will  agree  to take all
reasonable  action that the depositary  deems necessary in order to enable it to
do so.  If you do not  instruct  the  depositary  how to vote your  shares,  the
depositary will abstain from voting those shares.

Liquidation Preference

    Upon our  liquidation,  whether  voluntary  or  involuntary,  each holder of
depositary shares will be entitled to the fraction of the liquidation preference
accorded each preferred share represented by the depositary  shares, as shown in
the applicable prospectus supplement.

Conversion or Exchange of Preferred Shares

    The  depositary   shares  will  not   themselves  be  convertible   into  or
exchangeable for common shares,  preferred shares or any of our other securities
or  property.  Nevertheless,  if  so  specified  in  the  applicable  prospectus
supplement,  the  depositary  receipts  may be  surrendered  by  holders  to the
applicable  depositary  with written  instructions to it to instruct us to cause
conversion  of  the  preferred  shares  represented  by the  depositary  shares.
Similarly,  if so  specified in the  applicable  prospectus  supplement,  we may
require you to  surrender  all of your  depositary  receipts  to the  applicable
depositary upon our requiring the conversion or exchange of the preferred shares
represented by the  depositary  shares into our debt  securities.  We will agree
that, upon receipt of the instruction and any amounts payable in connection with
the  conversion or exchange,  we will cause the conversion or exchange using the
same procedures as those provided for delivery of preferred shares to effect the
conversion  or exchange.  If you are  converting  only a part of the  depositary
shares,  the  depositary  will  issue  you  a new  depositary  receipt  for  any
unconverted depositary shares.

Taxation

    As owner of depositary  shares,  you will be treated for U.S. federal income
tax  purposes  as if you  were  an  owner  of the  series  of  preferred  shares
represented by the depositary  shares.  Therefore,  you will be required to take
into account for U.S. federal income tax purposes income and deductions to which
you would be entitled if you were a holder of the underlying series of preferred
shares. In addition:

o   no gain or loss will be recognized for U.S. federal income tax purposes upon
    the  withdrawal  of  preferred  shares in  exchange  for  depositary  shares
    provided in the deposit agreement;

o   the  tax  basis  of each  preferred  share  to you as  exchanging  owner  of
    depositary  shares will,  upon  exchange,  be the same as the  aggregate tax
    basis of the depositary shares exchanged for the preferred shares; and

o   if you held the  depositary  shares  as a  capital  asset at the time of the
    exchange for preferred  shares,  the holding period for the preferred shares
    will include the period during which you owned the depositary shares.

Amendment and Termination of a Deposit Agreement

    We and the  applicable  depositary  are permitted to amend the provisions of
the depositary  receipts and the deposit agreement.  However,  the holders of at
least a majority  of the  applicable  depositary  shares then  outstanding  must
approve any  amendment  that adds or increases  fees or charges or prejudices an
important right of holders. Every holder of an outstanding depositary receipt at
the time any  amendment  becomes  effective,  by continuing to hold the receipt,
will be bound by the applicable deposit agreement, as amended.

    Any deposit  agreement  may be  terminated by us upon not less than 30 days'
prior written  notice to the  applicable  depositary if (1) the  termination  is
necessary to preserve our status as a Maryland real estate  investment  trust or
(2) a majority of each series of preferred  shares  affected by the  termination
consents to the  termination.

                                       17

When either event  occurs,  the  depositary  will be required to deliver or make
available  to  each  holder  of  depositary  receipts,  upon  surrender  of  the
depositary receipts held by the holder, the number of whole or fractional shares
of preferred shares as are represented by the depositary shares evidenced by the
depositary  receipts,  together with any other  property held by the  depositary
with respect to the depositary  receipts.  In addition, a deposit agreement will
automatically terminate if:

o   all depositary shares have been redeemed;

o   there  shall  have  been a final  distribution  in  respect  of the  related
    preferred shares in connection with our liquidation and the distribution has
    been made to the holders of depositary  receipts  evidencing  the depositary
    shares underlying the preferred shares; or

o   each related  preferred  share shall have been  converted or exchanged  into
    securities not represented by depositary shares.

Charges of a Depositary

    We will pay all transfer and other taxes and  governmental  charges  arising
solely from the existence of a deposit agreement.  In addition,  we will pay the
fees and expenses of a depositary in connection  with the initial deposit of the
preferred  shares and any redemption of preferred  shares.  However,  holders of
depositary receipts will pay any transfer or other governmental  charges and the
fees and  expenses  of a  depositary  for any duties the  holders  request to be
performed  that are outside of those  expressly  provided for in the  applicable
deposit agreement.

Resignation and Removal of Depositary

    A  depositary  may  resign  at any time by  delivering  to us  notice of its
election  to do so. In  addition,  we may at any time remove a  depositary.  Any
resignation  or removal will take effect when we appoint a successor  depositary
and it accepts the appointment. We must appoint a successor depositary within 60
days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal.  A depositary  must
be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States that
has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million.

Miscellaneous

    A depositary  will be required to forward to holders of depositary  receipts
any reports and  communications  from us that it  receives  with  respect to the
related preferred shares. Holders of depository receipts will be able to inspect
the transfer  books of the  depository  and the list of holders of receipts upon
reasonable notice.

    Neither a depositary  nor our company will be liable if it is prevented from
or delayed in performing its obligations under a deposit agreement by law or any
circumstances  beyond its control.  Our  obligations and those of the depositary
under a deposit agreement will be limited to performing duties in good faith and
without gross  negligence or willful  misconduct.  Neither we nor any depositary
will be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal  proceeding in respect of any
depositary  receipts,  depositary  shares or  related  preferred  shares  unless
satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and each depositary will be permitted to
rely on written advice of counsel or  accountants,  on  information  provided by
persons  presenting  preferred  shares for  deposit,  by  holders of  depositary
receipts, or by other persons believed in good faith to be competent to give the
information, and on documents believed in good faith to be genuine and signed by
a proper party.

    If a depositary receives  conflicting claims,  requests or instructions from
any holders of depositary receipts,  on the one hand, and us, on the other hand,
the depositary shall be entitled to act on the claims,  requests or instructions
received from us.

                                       18


                             DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

    We  may  issue,   together  with  any  other  securities  being  offered  or
separately,  warrants entitling the holder to purchase from or sell to us, or to
receive  from  us the  cash  value  of the  right  to  purchase  or  sell,  debt
securities,   preferred  shares,  depositary  shares,  common  shares  or  trust
preferred shares. We and a warrant agent will enter a warrant agreement pursuant
to which the warrants  will be issued.  The warrant agent will act solely as our
agent in  connection  with the  warrants and will not assume any  obligation  or
relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial  owners of
warrants. We will file a copy of the warrants and the warrant agreement with the
SEC at or before the time of the offering of the applicable series of warrants.

    The  following  is a summary of the  material  terms of our warrants and the
warrant  agreement.  Because it is a  summary,  it does not  contain  all of the
information  that may be  important  to you. If you want more  information,  you
should read the forms of copy of the warrants and the warrant agreement which we
will file as exhibits to the registration  statement of which this prospectus is
part. See "Where You Can Find More Information." This summary is also subject to
and qualified by reference to the  descriptions of the particular  terms of your
securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

    In the case of each series of warrants, the applicable prospectus supplement
will describe the terms of the warrants being offered thereby. These include the
following, if applicable:

o   the offering price;

o   the number of warrants offered;

o   the securities underlying the warrants;

o   the  exercise  price,  the  procedures  for exercise of the warrants and the
    circumstances,  if any,  that will cause the  warrants  to be  automatically
    exercised;

o   the date on which the warrants will expire;

o   federal income tax consequences;

o   the rights, if any, we have to redeem the warrant;

o   the name of the warrant agent; and

o   the other terms of the warrants.

    Warrants may be exercised at the appropriate  office of the warrant agent or
any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus  supplement.  Before the
exercise of warrants,  holders will not have any of the rights of holders of the
securities  purchasable  upon exercise and will not be entitled to payments made
to holders of those securities.

    The warrant agreements may be amended or supplemented without the consent of
the holders of the  warrants to which the  amendment  or  supplement  applies to
effect changes that are not inconsistent with the provisions of the warrants and
that do not  adversely  affect the  interests  of the  holders of the  warrants.
However,  any amendment that  materially and adversely  alters the rights of the
holders of  warrants  will not be  effective  unless  the  holders of at least a
majority of the  applicable  warrants then  outstanding  approve the  amendment.
Every  holder  of an  outstanding  warrant  at the  time any  amendment  becomes
effective,  by continuing to hold the warrant,  will be bound by the  applicable
warrant agreement as amended thereby. The prospectus  supplement applicable to a
particular  series of  warrants  may  provide  that  certain  provisions  of the
warrants,  including  the  securities  for which  they may be

                                       19

exercisable,  the exercise  price,  and the  expiration  date may not be altered
without the consent of the holder of each warrant.

          DESCRIPTION OF TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES AND TRUST GUARANTEE

Trust Preferred Securities

    If and when trust  preferred  securities  are issued by a SNH Capital Trust,
its  declaration  of trust will be  replaced by an amended  and  restated  trust
agreement  which  will  authorize  its  trustees  to issue  one  series of trust
preferred  securities  and one series of trust  common  securities.  The form of
amended and restated trust  agreement is filed with the SEC as an exhibit to the
registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

    The  following  is a summary of the  material  terms of the trust  preferred
securities and the trust  agreement of each SNH Capital  Trust.  Because it is a
summary,  it does not contain all of the  information  that may be  important to
you.  If you want more  information,  you should  read the form of  amended  and
restated trust agreement  which we have filed as an exhibit to the  registration
statement of which this prospectus is part. Each SNH Capital Trust will file any
final  amended  and  restated  trust  agreement  if it  issues  trust  preferred
securities.  See "Where  You Can Find More  Information."  This  summary is also
subject to and  qualified  by reference to the  descriptions  of the  particular
terms of your securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

    The trust  agreement  of each SNH  Capital  Trust  will be  subject  to, and
governed by, the Trust  Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.  The trust  preferred
securities  will be issued to the public  under the  registration  statement  of
which this  prospectus  is a part.  The trust common  securities  will be issued
directly or indirectly to us.

    The trust preferred securities will have the terms, including distributions,
redemption,  voting,  conversion,  liquidation  rights and such other preferred,
deferred or other special rights or such  restrictions as set forth in the trust
agreement  or made part of the trust  agreement  by the Trust  Indenture  Act of
1939, as amended.  A prospectus  supplement  will describe the specific terms of
the trust preferred securities that a SNH Capital Trust is offering, including:

o   the distinctive designation of trust preferred securities;

o   the number of trust preferred securities issued by the SNH Capital Trust;

o   the annual  distribution  rate, or method of determining the rate, for trust
    preferred  securities  and the  date(s)  upon  which  distributions  will be
    payable;

o   whether distributions on trust preferred securities will be cumulative, and,
    in the case of trust preferred  securities  having  cumulative  distribution
    rights,  the date or dates or method of  determining  the date(s) from which
    distributions on trust preferred securities will be cumulative;

o   the amount or amounts that will be paid out of the assets of the SNH Capital
    Trust to the  holders  of  trust  preferred  securities  upon  voluntary  or
    involuntary  dissolution,  winding  up or  termination  of that SNH  Capital
    Trust;

o   any terms and  conditions  under which  trust  preferred  securities  may be
    converted into our shares of beneficial  interest,  including the conversion
    price per share and any circumstances  under which the conversion right will
    expire;

o   any  terms  and  conditions  upon  which  the  related  series  of our  debt
    securities may be distributed to holders of trust preferred securities;


                                       20


o   any  obligation  of the SNH  Capital  Trust  to  purchase  or  redeem  trust
    preferred  securities and the price(s) at which,  the period(s) within which
    and the terms and conditions upon which trust  preferred  securities will be
    purchased or redeemed, in whole or in part, under that obligation;

o   any  voting  rights  of trust  preferred  securities  in  addition  to those
    required by law,  including the number of votes per trust preferred security
    and any  requirement  for the  approval  by the  holders of trust  preferred
    securities,  as a condition to specified  action or  amendments to the trust
    agreement; and

o   any  other  relevant  rights,   preferences,   privileges,   limitations  or
    restrictions  of  trust  preferred  securities  consistent  with  the  trust
    agreement or with applicable law.

    Under the trust  agreement,  the  Property  Trustee will own a series of our
debt  securities  purchased  by the SNH  Capital  Trust for the  benefit  of the
holders of its trust preferred  securities and the trust common securities.  The
payment  of  distributions  out of money  held by the SNH  Capital  Trusts,  and
payments upon redemption of trust preferred securities or liquidation of the SNH
Capital  Trusts,  will be guaranteed by us to the extent  described under "Trust
Guarantee." The debt  securities  purchased by a SNH Capital Trust may be senior
or  subordinated  and  may  be  convertible,  as  described  in  the  applicable
prospectus supplement.

    Certain  United States federal  income tax  considerations  applicable to an
investment in trust  preferred  securities  will be described in the  applicable
prospectus supplement.

    In  connection  with the issuance of trust  preferred  securities,  each SNH
Capital Trust will also issue one series of trust common  securities.  The trust
agreement will authorize the trustees,  other than the Property Trustee,  of the
SNH  Capital  Trust to issue on behalf of the SNH  Capital  Trust one  series of
trust  common  securities  having  such  terms as will be set forth in the trust
agreement.  These  terms will  include  distributions,  conversion,  redemption,
voting, liquidation rights and any restrictions as may be contained in the trust
agreement.

    Except as otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement,  the terms of the
trust  common  securities  will be  substantially  identical to the terms of the
trust  preferred  securities.  The trust common  securities  will rank on parity
with, and payments will be made on the trust common securities pro rata with the
trust  preferred  securities,  except that,  upon an event of default  under the
trust  agreement,  the rights of the holders of the trust common  securities  to
payment in respect of distributions  and payments upon  liquidation,  redemption
and  otherwise  will be  subordinated  to the rights of the holders of the trust
preferred securities. Except in limited circumstances,  the holders of the trust
common  securities  will  also  have the  right to vote and  appoint,  remove or
replace any of the  trustees of the SNH Capital  Trust.  All of the trust common
securities of each SNH Capital Trust will be directly or indirectly owned by us.

Trust Guarantee

    We will  execute and deliver a guarantee  concurrently  with the issuance by
each SNH Capital Trust of its trust preferred securities, for the benefit of the
holders  from time to time of the trust  preferred  securities.  The  applicable
prospectus  supplement  will describe any  significant  differences  between the
actual terms of our guarantee and the summary  below.  The following  summary of
our guarantee is not  complete.  For more  information,  you should refer to the
full text of our guarantee,  including the definitions of the terms used and not
defined in this prospectus or the related prospectus  supplement and those terms
made a part of the guarantee by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The
form of trust guarantee is filed as an exhibit to this registration statement of
which this prospectus is a part.

    General.  We will irrevocably and  unconditionally  agree, to the extent set
forth in the trust  guarantee,  to pay in full to the holders of trust preferred
securities the guaranteed payments, except to the extent paid by the SNH Capital
Trust,  as and  when  due,  regardless  of any  defense,  right  of  set-off  or
counterclaim  that the SNH  Capital  Trust  may have or  assert.  The  following
payments,  to the extent not paid by the SNH Capital  Trust,  will be subject to
our guarantee:


                                       21


o   any accrued  and unpaid  distributions  that are  required to be paid on the
    trust  preferred  securities,  to the extent the SNH Capital Trust has funds
    legally available therefor;

o   the  redemption  price,  including  all  accrued  and unpaid  distributions,
    payable out of funds legally available  therefor,  with respect to any trust
    preferred securities called for redemption by the SNH Capital Trust; and

o   upon a liquidation of a SNH Capital Trust, other than in connection with the
    distribution of our subordinated debt securities to the holders of the trust
    preferred  securities  or the  redemption  of all  of  the  trust  preferred
    securities issued by that SNH Capital Trust, the lesser of:

(1) the  aggregate  of  the  liquidation  amount  and  all  accrued  and  unpaid
    distributions on the trust preferred securities to the date of payment; and

(2) the  amount of assets  of the SNH  Capital  Trust  remaining  available  for
    distribution to holders of trust preferred securities in liquidation of that
    SNH Capital Trust.

Our  obligation to make a guarantee  payment may be satisfied by the SNH Capital
Trust's direct payment of the required amounts to the holders of trust preferred
securities or by causing the SNH Capital Trust to pay the amount to the holders.

    Amendment  and  Assignment.  Except with  respect to any changes that do not
adversely affect the rights of holders of trust preferred  securities,  in which
case no vote will be required,  a trust  guarantee  may be amended only with the
prior approval of the holders of not less than a majority in liquidation  amount
of the outstanding affected trust preferred securities.  The manner of obtaining
any approval of the holders will be described in our prospectus supplement.  All
guarantees  and  agreements  contained in our guarantee will bind our successors
and assigns  and will inure to the  benefit of the holders of the related  trust
preferred securities then outstanding.

    Termination.  Our guarantee will terminate:

o   upon full payment of the  redemption  price of all related  trust  preferred
    securities;

o   upon  distribution  of our debt  securities held by the SNH Capital Trust to
    the holders of the trust preferred securities; or

o   upon full  payment  of the  amounts  payable  in  accordance  with the trust
    agreement upon liquidation of the SNH Capital Trust.

Our guarantee will continue to be effective or will be  reinstated,  as the case
may be, if at any time any holder of trust  preferred  securities  must  restore
payment  of  any  sums  paid  under  those  trust  preferred  securities  or the
guarantee.  If the debt  securities  purchased  by the SNH Capital  Trust or our
guarantee are subordinated, the applicable subordination provisions will provide
that in the event  payment is made on the  subordinated  debt  securities or the
subordinated  guarantee in contravention of the subordination  provisions,  such
payments will be paid over to the holders of our senior debt securities.

    Ranking of Our  Guarantee.  Each  guarantee  may be our secured or unsecured
obligation  and may be senior or  subordinated,  as described in the  applicable
prospectus  supplement.  The trust  agreement  will  provide that each holder of
trust  preferred  securities  by acceptance  of those  securities  agrees to the
subordination provisions, if any, and other terms of the guarantee.

    Our guarantee will  constitute a guarantee of payment and not of collection.
The  guarantee  will be deposited  with the Property  Trustee to be held for the
benefit of the trust preferred  securities.  The Property  Trustee will have the
right to enforce our  guarantee on behalf of the holders of the trust  preferred
securities.  The  holders of not less than a majority in  aggregate  liquidation
amount of the affected trust preferred  securities will have the right to direct

                                       22

the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available
in respect of our guarantee,  including the giving of directions to the Property
Trustee.  Any  holder  of  trust  preferred  securities  may  institute  a legal
proceeding  directly  against us to  enforce  its  rights  under our  guarantee,
without  first  instituting a legal  proceeding  against the related SNH Capital
Trust,  or any other  person or entity.  Our  guarantee  will not be  discharged
except by payment of the  guarantee  payments  in full to the extent not paid by
the SNH Capital Trust, and by complete  performance of all obligations under the
guarantee.

    Governing Law. Our guarantee will be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York.


            DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF MARYLAND LAW AND OF
                       OUR DECLARATION OF TRUST AND BYLAWS

    We are organized as a Maryland real estate  investment  trust. The following
is a summary of our  declaration  of trust and bylaws and several  provisions of
Maryland law.  Because it is a summary,  it does not contain all the information
that may be important to you. If you want more information,  you should read our
entire declaration of trust and bylaws, copies of which we have previously filed
with the SEC, or refer to the provisions of Maryland law.

Trustees

    Our  declaration of trust and bylaws provide that our board of trustees will
establish the number of trustees. The number of trustees constituting our entire
board of trustees may be increased or decreased from time to time only by a vote
of the  trustees,  provided  however that the tenure of office of a trustee will
not be affected by any  decrease in the number of  trustees.  Any vacancy on the
board of trustees  may be filled only by a majority of the  remaining  trustees,
even if the remaining  trustees do not constitute a quorum.  Any trustee elected
to fill a vacancy  will hold  office for the  remainder  of the full term of the
class of trustees in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is elected
and qualifies. Our bylaws require that a majority of our trustees be independent
trustees except for temporary periods due to vacancies.

    Our  declaration  of trust divides our board of trustees into three classes.
Shareholders  elect our  trustees  of each class for  three-year  terms upon the
expiration of their current terms. Shareholders elect only one class of trustees
each  year.  We believe  that  classification  of our board  helps to assure the
continuity  of our business  strategies  and  policies.  There is no  cumulative
voting in the  election of  trustees.  Consequently,  at each annual  meeting of
shareholders,  the  holders of a majority of our shares are able to elect all of
the successors of the class of trustees whose terms expire at that meeting.

    The  classified  board  provision  could  have  the  effect  of  making  the
replacement  of our incumbent  trustees more time  consuming and  difficult.  At
least two annual  meetings of  shareholders  are generally  required to effect a
change in a majority of our board of trustees.

    Our  declaration  of trust  provides  that a trustee may be removed  with or
without  cause by the  affirmative  vote of at least  two-thirds  of our  shares
entitled  to be cast in the  election  of  trustees.  This  provision  precludes
shareholders  from  removing  our  incumbent  trustees  unless they can obtain a
substantial affirmative vote of shares.

Advance Notice of Trustee Nominations and New Business

    Our bylaws provide that  nominations of persons for election to our board of
trustees and business to be transacted at  shareholder  meetings may be properly
brought pursuant to our notice of the meeting, by our board of trustees, or by a
shareholder who is (i) a shareholder of record at the time of giving the advance
notice and at the time of the meeting,  (ii) entitled to vote at the meeting and
(iii) has  complied  with the  advance  notice  and other  applicable  terms and
provisions set forth in our bylaws.

                                       23


    Under our  bylaws,  a  shareholder's  notice of  nominations  for trustee or
    business  to be  transacted  at an annual  meeting of  shareholders  must be
delivered to our secretary at our  principal  office not later than the close of
business on the 90th day and not earlier than the close of business on the 120th
day prior to the first  anniversary of the date of mailing of our notice for the
preceding  year's annual  meeting.  In the event that the date of mailing of our
notice of the annual  meeting is  advanced  or delayed by more than 30 days from
the  anniversary  date of the  mailing of our notice  for the  preceding  year's
annual meeting, a shareholder's  notice must be delivered to us not earlier than
the close of  business  on the 120th day prior to the  mailing of notice of such
annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of: (i) the
90th day prior to the date of mailing of the notice for such annual meeting,  or
(ii) the 10th day following the day on which we first make a public announcement
of the date of mailing of our notice for such meeting.  The public  announcement
of a postponement  of the mailing of the notice for such annual meeting or of an
adjournment  or  postponement  of an annual meeting to a later date or time will
not commence a new time period for the giving of a shareholder's  notice. If the
number of trustees to be elected to our board of  trustees is  increased  and we
make no public  announcement  of such  action or do not  specify the size of the
increased  board of trustees at least one hundred  (100) days prior to the first
anniversary  of the date of mailing of notice for our  preceding  year's  annual
meeting,  a shareholder's  notice also will be considered  timely, but only with
respect to  nominees  for any new  positions  created by such  increase,  if the
notice is delivered to our secretary at our principal  office not later than the
close of business on the 10th day  immediately  following  the day on which such
public announcement is made.

    For special meetings of  shareholders,  our bylaws require a shareholder who
is  nominating  a person  for  election  to our board of  trustees  at a special
meeting at which trustees are to be elected to give notice of such nomination to
our secretary at our principal  office not earlier than the close of business on
the 120th  day prior to such  special  meeting  and not later  than the close of
business on the later of: (1) the 90th day prior to such special  meeting or (2)
the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the
date of the special  meeting and of the nominees  proposed by the trustees to be
elected  at  such  meeting.   The  public  announcement  of  a  postponement  or
adjournment of a special meeting to a later date or time will not commence a new
time period for the giving of a shareholder's notice as described above.

    Any notice from a shareholder of  nominations  for trustee or business to be
transacted  at a  shareholder  meeting  must  be  in  writing  and  include  the
following:

o   as to each person nominated for election or reelection as a trustee, (i) the
    nominee's name, age,  business and residence  addresses,  (ii) the class and
    number of shares  beneficially  owned or owned of record by the  nominee and
    (iii)  all  information  relating  to the  person  that  is  required  to be
    disclosed in  solicitations of proxies for election of trustees or otherwise
    required by  Regulation  14A under the  Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, as
    amended,  together with the nominee's  written consent to being named in the
    proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a trustee if elected;

o   as to other  business  that the  shareholder  proposes  to bring  before the
    meeting, a brief description of the business, the reasons for conducting the
    business and any material interest in the business of the shareholder and of
    the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and

o   as to the shareholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on
    whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, the name and address of the
    shareholder and beneficial owner and the number of our shares which (s)he or
    they own beneficially and of record.

Meetings of Shareholders

    Under our bylaws,  our annual meeting of shareholders will take place within
six months after the end of each fiscal year,  unless a different date is set by
the board of trustees.  Meetings of shareholders may be called only by our board
of trustees.

                                       24


Liability and Indemnification of Trustees and Officers

    To the maximum  extent  permitted by Maryland Law, our  declaration of trust
and bylaws include  provisions  limiting the liability of our present and former
trustees,  officers and  shareholders for damages and obligating us to indemnify
them against any claim or  liability to which they may become  subject by reason
of their  status or  actions  as our  present or former  trustees,  officers  or
shareholders.  Our  bylaws  also  obligate  us to pay or  reimburse  the  people
described  above for  reasonable  expenses in advance of final  disposition of a
proceeding.

    The Maryland  REIT Law permits a real estate  investment  trust to indemnify
and advance expenses to its trustees, officers, employees and agents to the same
extent  permitted by the Maryland  General  Corporation  Law for  directors  and
officers of Maryland  corporations.  The Maryland  corporation statute permits a
corporation to indemnify its present and former  directors and officers  against
judgments,  penalties,  fines,  settlements and reasonable  expenses incurred in
connection  with any  proceeding  to which they may be made a party by reason of
their  service  in those  capacities.  However,  a Maryland  corporation  is not
permitted  to  provide  this  type  of   indemnification  if  the  following  is
established:

o   the act or  omission of the  director or officer was  material to the matter
    giving  rise to the  proceeding  and was  committed  in bad faith or was the
    result of active and deliberate dishonesty;

o   the director or officer  actually  received an improper  personal benefit in
    money, property or services; or

o   in the  case  of any  criminal  proceeding,  the  director  or  officer  had
    reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.

The Maryland  corporation  statute  permits a corporation to advance  reasonable
expenses  to a  director  or  officer  upon  the  corporation's  receipt  of the
following:

o   a written  affirmation  by the  director or officer of his good faith belief
    that he has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the
    corporation; and

o   a written  undertaking  by him or on his behalf to repay the amount  paid or
    reimbursed  by the  corporation  if it is  ultimately  determined  that this
    standard of conduct was not met.

    The SEC has expressed the opinion that indemnification of trustees, officers
or persons  otherwise  controlling a company for  liabilities  arising under the
Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  is against  public policy and is therefore
unenforceable.

Shareholder Liability

    Under the Maryland REIT Law, a shareholder is not personally  liable for the
obligations of a real estate  investment  trust solely as a result of his status
as a shareholder.  Our declaration of trust provides that no shareholder will be
liable for any debt,  claim,  demand,  judgment  or  obligation  of any kind of,
against or with respect to us by reason of being a  shareholder.  Despite  these
facts,  our  legal  counsel  has  advised  us  that in  some  jurisdictions  the
possibility  exists that shareholders of a trust entity such as ours may be held
liable  for acts or  obligations  of the trust.  While we intend to conduct  our
business in a manner designed to minimize potential  shareholder  liability,  we
can give no  assurance  that you can avoid  liability  in all  instances  in all
jurisdictions.  Our trustees  have not provided in the past and do not intend to
provide insurance covering these risks to our shareholders.

Transactions with Affiliates

    Our declaration of trust allows us to enter into contracts and  transactions
of any kind with any person, including any of our trustees,  officers, employees
or  agents  or any  person  affiliated  with  them.  Other  than  general  legal

                                       25

principles applicable to self-dealing by fiduciaries,  there are no prohibitions
in our declaration of trust or bylaws which would prohibit  dealings  between us
and our affiliates.

Voting by Shareholders

    Whenever  shareholders  are  required or  permitted  to take any action by a
vote,  the action may only be taken by a vote at a shareholders  meeting.  Under
our  declaration of trust and bylaws  shareholders do not have the right to take
any action by written consents instead of a vote.

Restrictions on Transfer of Shares

    Our  declaration  of trust  restricts  the amount of shares that  individual
shareholders  may own.  These  restrictions  are  intended  to assist  with REIT
compliance under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and otherwise to
promote  our  orderly  governance.  These  restrictions  do not  apply  to  HRPT
Properties  Trust,  REIT Management & Research,  Inc. or their  affiliates.  All
certificates  evidencing  our  shares  will  bear a  legend  referring  to these
restrictions.

    Our  declaration  of trust  provides that no person may own, or be deemed to
own by virtue of the  attribution  provisions  of the  Internal  Revenue Code of
1986,  as  amended,  more  than 9.8% of the  number or value of our  outstanding
shares.  Our declaration of trust also prohibits any person from beneficially or
constructively  owning shares if that ownership would result in us being closely
held under Section 856(h) of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,  or
would otherwise cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT.

    Our board of trustees,  in its discretion,  may exempt a proposed transferee
from the share ownership limitation. So long as our board of trustees determines
that it is in our best interest to qualify as a REIT, the board may not grant an
exemption if the  exemption  would result in us failing to qualify as a REIT. In
determining  whether to grant an exemption,  our board of trustees may consider,
among other factors, the following:

o   the general  reputation  and moral  character  of the person  requesting  an
    exemption;

o   whether  the  person's  ownership  of  shares  would be  direct  or  through
    ownership attribution;

o   whether the person's  ownership of shares would adversely affect our ability
    to acquire additional properties; and

o   whether  granting an exemption  would  adversely  affect any of our existing
    contractual arrangements or business policies.

In addition, our board of trustees may require rulings from the Internal Revenue
Service,  opinions of counsel,  affidavits,  undertakings or agreements it deems
advisable in order to make the foregoing decisions.

    If a person  attempts a transfer of our shares in violation of the ownership
limitations  described  above,  then that number of shares which would cause the
violation will be automatically transferred to a trust for the exclusive benefit
of one or more charitable  beneficiaries  designated by us. The prohibited owner
will  not  acquire  any  rights  in  these  excess  shares,   will  not  benefit
economically  from  ownership  of any  excess  shares,  will  have no  rights to
distributions  and will not possess any rights to vote. This automatic  transfer
will be deemed to be  effective  as of the close of business on the business day
prior to the date of the violative transfer.

    Within 20 days after  receiving  notice  from us that its  shares  have been
transferred  to an excess  share trust,  the excess share  trustee will sell the
shares held in the excess share trust to a person designated by the excess share
trustee whose ownership of the shares will not violate the ownership limitations
set forth in our  declaration  of trust.  Upon this sale,  the  interest  of the
charitable  beneficiary  in the shares sold will  terminate and the excess share
trustee will distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the prohibited owner and
to the charitable beneficiary as follows:


                                       26


o   The prohibited owner will receive the lesser of:

        (1) the price  paid by the  prohibited  owner for the  shares or, if the
            prohibited  owner did not give  value for the  shares in  connection
            with the event  causing  the shares to be held in the  excess  share
            trust, e.g., a gift, devise or other similar transaction, the market
            price of the shares on the day of the event causing the shares to be
            transferred to the excess share trust; and

        (2) the net price  received by the excess share trustee from the sale of
            the shares held in the excess share trust.

o   Any net sale  proceeds  in excess of the amount  payable  to the  prohibited
    owner shall be paid to the charitable beneficiary.

    If, prior to our  discovery  that shares of  beneficial  interest  have been
transferred  to the excess share trust,  a prohibited  owner sells those shares,
then:

        (1) those  shares  will be  deemed  to have  been  sold on behalf of the
            excess share trust; and

        (2) to the extent that the prohibited owner received an amount for those
            shares  that  exceeds  the  amount  that the  prohibited  owner  was
            entitled  to receive  from a sale by an excess  share  trustee,  the
            prohibited  owner must pay the excess to the  excess  share  trustee
            upon demand.

    Also,  shares of beneficial  interest held in the excess share trust will be
offered  for sale to us, or our  designee,  at a price  per  share  equal to the
lesser of:

        (1) the price per share in the transaction that resulted in the transfer
            to the excess  share trust or, in the case of a devise or gift,  the
            market price at the time of the devise or gift; and

        (2) the market price on the date we or our designee accepts the offer.

    We will have the right to accept the offer  until the excess  share  trustee
has sold the shares held in the excess share trust. The net proceeds of the sale
to us will be distributed similar to any other sale by an excess share trustee.

    Every owner of 5% or more of all classes or series of our shares is required
to give  written  notice to us within 30 days after the end of each taxable year
stating  the name and  address of the owner,  the number of shares of each class
and series of our shares which the owner beneficially owns, and a description of
the manner in which those shares are held. If the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended,  or applicable tax  regulations  specify a threshold  below 5%, this
notice  provision  will apply to those  persons who own our shares of beneficial
interest at the lower percentage.  In addition,  each shareholder is required to
provide us upon demand with any  additional  information  that we may request in
order to determine our status as a REIT, to determine  our  compliance  with the
requirements  of any taxing  authority or government and to determine and ensure
compliance with the foregoing share ownership limitations.

    The  restrictions  described  above will not preclude the  settlement of any
transaction  entered  into  through  the  facilities  of the  NYSE or any  other
national  securities  exchange or automated  inter-dealer  quotation system. Our
declaration of trust provides, however, that the fact that the settlement of any
transaction  occurs  will  not  negate  the  effect  of  any  of  the  foregoing
limitations  and any transferee in this kind of  transaction  will be subject to
all of the provisions and limitations described above.

Business Combinations

    The  Maryland  corporation  statute  contains a  provision  which  regulates
business  combinations with interested  shareholders.  This provision applies to
Maryland real estate investment  trusts like us. Under the Maryland

                                       27

corporation  statute,  business  combinations  such as mergers,  consolidations,
share exchanges and the like between a Maryland real estate investment trust and
an interested  shareholder  are  prohibited for five years after the most recent
date on which the  shareholder  becomes  an  interested  shareholder.  Under the
statute the following persons are deemed to be interested shareholders:

o   any person  who  beneficially  owns 10% or more of the  voting  power of the
    trust's shares;

o   an  affiliate or associate of the trust who, at any time within the two-year
    period prior to the date in  question,  was the  beneficial  owner of 10% or
    more of the voting power of the then outstanding voting shares of the trust;
    or

o   an affiliate of an interested shareholder.

    After the five-year  prohibition  period has ended,  a business  combination
between a trust and an interested  shareholder  must be recommended by the board
of trustees of the trust and must receive the following shareholder approvals:

o   the affirmative vote of at least 80% of the votes entitled to be cast; and

o   the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast
    by holders of shares  other than shares held by the  interested  shareholder
    with whom or with whose  affiliate or associate the business  combination is
    to be effected.

The second  shareholder  approval is not  required  if the trust's  shareholders
receive  the minimum  price set forth in the  Maryland  corporation  statute for
their  shares and the  consideration  is received in cash or in the same form as
previously paid by the interested shareholder for its shares.

    The foregoing  provisions of the Maryland  corporation statute do not apply,
however, to business  combinations that are approved or exempted by the board of
trustees of the trust prior to the time that the interested  shareholder becomes
an interested  shareholder.  A person is not an interested shareholder under the
statute if the board of trustees  approved in advance the  transaction  by which
the person otherwise would have become an interested  shareholder.  The board of
trustees may provide that its approval is subject to  compliance  with any terms
and  conditions  determined  by the board.  Our board of trustees  has adopted a
resolution  that any  business  combination  between us and any other  person is
exempted from the provisions of the Maryland  corporation  statute  described in
the  preceding  paragraphs,  provided  that the  business  combination  is first
approved by the board of trustees,  including  the approval of a majority of the
members of the board of trustees who are not  affiliates  or  associates  of the
acquiring person. This resolution,  however, may be altered or repealed in whole
or in part at any time.

Control Share Acquisitions

    The  Maryland  corporation  statute  contains a  provision  which  regulates
control share acquisitions.  This provision also applies to Maryland real estate
investment trusts. The Maryland corporation statute provides that control shares
of  a  Maryland  real  estate  investment  trust  acquired  in a  control  share
acquisition  have no voting rights except to the extent that the  acquisition is
approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter,
excluding shares of beneficial interest owned by the acquiror, by officers or by
trustees who are  employees of the trust.  Control  shares are voting  shares of
beneficial  interest  which,  if aggregated  with all other shares of beneficial
interest  previously  acquired  by the  acquiror,  or in  respect  of which  the
acquiror  is able to  exercise or direct the  exercise  of voting  power,  would
entitle the acquiror to exercise voting power in electing trustees within one of
the following ranges of voting power:

o   one-tenth or more but less than one-third;

o   one-third or more but less than a majority; or

                                       28


o   a majority or more of all voting power.

An acquiror must obtain the necessary shareholder approval each time he acquires
control  shares in an amount  sufficient  to cross one of the  thresholds  noted
above.

    Control shares do not include shares which the acquiring  person is entitled
to vote as a result of having previously obtained shareholder approval by virtue
of a  revocable  proxy.  The  Maryland  corporation  statute  provides a list of
exceptions from the definition of control share acquisition.

    A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition,  upon
satisfaction  of  the  conditions  set  forth  in  the  statute,   including  an
undertaking  to pay  expenses,  may compel the board of trustees of the trust to
call a special meeting of shareholders to be held within 50 days after demand to
consider the voting  rights of the shares.  If no request for a meeting is made,
the trust may itself present the matter at any shareholders meeting.

    If voting rights are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring  person
does not deliver an acquiring person statement as required by the statute,  then
the trust may redeem any or all of the control shares for fair value  determined
as of the date of the last control share  acquisition  by the acquiror or of any
meeting  of  shareholders  at  which  the  voting  rights  of those  shares  are
considered and not approved.  The right of the trust to redeem any or all of the
control shares is subject to conditions and  limitations  listed in the statute.
The trust may not redeem  shares for which voting  rights have  previously  been
approved.  Fair  value is  determined  without  regard to the  absence of voting
rights for the control shares.  If voting rights for control shares are approved
at a shareholders  meeting and the acquiror  becomes entitled to vote a majority
of the shares entitled to vote, all other  shareholders  may exercise  appraisal
rights.  The fair  value of the  shares  as  determined  for  purposes  of these
appraisal  rights may not be less than the  highest  price per share paid by the
acquiror in the control share acquisition.

    The control share acquisition statute does not apply to the following:

o   shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the trust is
    a party to the transaction; or

o   acquisitions approved or exempted by a provision in the declaration of trust
    or bylaws of the trust adopted before the acquisition of shares.

    Our bylaws  contain a provision  exempting any and all  acquisitions  by any
person of our shares of beneficial  interest from the control share  acquisition
statute. This provision may be amended or eliminated at any time in the future.

Amendment to our Declaration of Trust, Dissolution and Mergers

    Under the Maryland REIT Law, a real estate investment trust generally cannot
dissolve,  amend its  declaration  of trust or merge,  unless these  actions are
approved by at least two-thirds of all shares entitled to be cast on the matter.
The statute allows a trust's declaration of trust to set a lower percentage,  so
long as the  percentage is not less than a majority.  Our  declaration  of trust
provides  for approval of any of the  foregoing  actions by a majority of shares
entitled  to vote on these  actions  provided  the action in  question  has been
approved by our board of trustees.  Our  declaration  of trust further  provides
that if  permitted  in the future by  Maryland  law,  the  majority  required to
approve any of the foregoing actions will be the majority of shares voted. Under
the  Maryland  REIT Law, a  declaration  of trust may permit the  trustees  by a
two-thirds  vote to amend the  declaration of trust from time to time to qualify
as a real estate  investment  trust under the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended,  or the  Maryland  REIT Law  without  the  affirmative  vote or written
consent of the  shareholders.  Our  declaration  of trust  permits  this type of
action by our board of trustees. Our declaration of trust also permits our board
of trustees to effect  changes in our unissued  shares,  as described more fully
above, and to change our name without shareholder  approval,  and provides that,
to the extent permitted in the future by Maryland law, our board of trustees may
amend  any other  provision  of our  declaration  of trust  without  shareholder
approval.  The Maryland REIT Law provides that a majority of our entire board of
trustees, without action by the shareholders, may amend our declaration of trust
to change our name

                                       29

or to  change  the name or other  designation  or the par  value of any class or
series of our shares and the aggregate par value of our shares.

Anti-Takeover Effect of Maryland Law and of our Declaration of Trust and Bylaws

    The  following  provisions  in our  declaration  of trust and  bylaws and in
Maryland law could delay or prevent a change in our control:

o   the limitation on ownership and acquisition of more than 9.8% of our shares;

o   the classification of our board of trustees into classes and the election of
    each class for three-year staggered terms;

o   the requirement of a two-thirds majority vote of shareholders for removal of
    our trustees;

o   the facts that the number of our  trustees  may be fixed only by vote of our
    board of  trustees,  that a vacancy on our board of  trustees  may be filled
    only by the  affirmative  vote of a majority of our  remaining  trustees and
    that our shareholders are not entitled to act without a meeting;

o   the  provision  that  only  our  board of  trustees  may  call  meetings  of
    shareholders;

o   the advance notice requirements for shareholder nominations for trustees and
    other proposals;

o   the control share acquisitions provisions of Maryland law, if the applicable
    provisions in our bylaws are rescinded;

o   the  business  combination  provisions  of Maryland  law, if the  applicable
    resolution  of our  board  of  trustees  is  rescinded  or if our  board  of
    trustees' approval of a combination is not obtained; and

o   the  ability of our board of  trustees  to  authorize  and issue  additional
    shares,  including  additional  classes of shares with rights defined at the
    time of issuance, without shareholder approval.

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

    We and/or the SNH Capital  Trusts may sell the  securities in one or more of
the following ways:

o   to underwriters for public offering and sale by them;
o   through agents;
o   through dealers; or
o   through a combination of these methods of sale.

    Offers to purchase  securities may be solicited directly by us or by the SNH
Capital Trusts or by agents  designated by us and/or the SNH Capital Trusts from
time to time. Any agent,  who will be deemed to be an underwriter,  as that term
is defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  involved in the offer and
sale of the securities will be named,  and any commissions  payable by us and/or
by the SNH  Capital  Trusts to that agent  will be  provided,  in an  applicable
prospectus supplement.  We and/or the SNH Capital Trusts and the agents may sell
the securities:

o   at fixed price or prices, which may be changed;
o   market prices prevailing at the time of sale;
o   prices related to prevailing market prices; or
o   negotiated prices.

                                       30

    Underwriters,  dealers and agents  participating  in the distribution of the
securities may be deemed to be  underwriters,  and any discounts and commissions
received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the securities may
be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.
Underwriters,  dealers  and agents may be  entitled,  under  agreements  with us
and/or the SNH Capital  Trusts,  to  indemnification  against  and  contribution
toward certain civil  liabilities,  including  liabilities  under the Securities
Act,  and to  reimbursement  by us and/or the SNH  Capital  Trusts  for  certain
expenses.

    If an  underwriter  or  underwriters  are  used  in the  offer  or  sale  of
securities,  us and/or the SNH  Capital  Trusts  will  execute  an  underwriting
agreement  with the  underwriters  at the time of sale of the  securities to the
underwriters,  and the names of the  underwriters and the principal terms of our
and/or the SNH Capital Trust's agreements with the underwriters will be provided
in the applicable prospectus supplement.

    If  indicated  in an  applicable  prospectus  supplement,  we and/or the SNH
Capital  Trusts will  authorize  dealers  acting as agents for us and/or the SNH
Capital Trusts to solicit offers by certain  institutions to purchase securities
from us and/or the SNH Capital Trusts at the public  offering price set forth in
the prospectus supplement under delayed delivery contracts providing for payment
and delivery on the date or dates stated in the prospectus supplement. The terms
of  such  delayed  delivery  contracts  will  be set  forth  in  the  applicable
prospectus supplement.

    Each underwriter,  dealer and agent participating in the distribution of any
of the  securities  that are issuable in bearer form will agree that it will not
offer, sell or deliver, directly or indirectly, securities in bearer form in the
United  States or to United  States  persons,  other than  qualifying  financial
institutions, during the restricted period, as defined in United States Treasury
Regulations Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(7).

    All of the securities  will be a new issue of securities with no established
trading  market.  Any  underwriters to whom the securities are sold by us and/or
the SNH  Capital  Trusts for public  offering  and sale may make a market in the
securities,  but  such  underwriters  will  not be  obligated  to do so and  may
discontinue  any market making at any time without  notice.  No assurance can be
given as to the liquidity of the secondary market for any of the securities.

                       VALIDITY OF THE OFFERED SECURITIES

    Sullivan & Worcester LLP, as to certain matters of New York law, and Ballard
Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll LLP, as to certain  matters of Maryland law, will pass
upon the validity of the offered  securities for us. Barry M. Portnoy,  a former
partner  of the  firm  of  Sullivan  &  Worcester  LLP,  is one of our  managing
trustees,  and he is a managing trustee of HRPT Properties Trust and Hospitality
Properties  Trust. Mr. Portnoy is also an owner of Five Star Quality Care, Inc.,
a director  and 50%  shareholder  of REIT  Management  &  Research,  Inc.  and a
director of certain  Subsidiaries  of ours.  Sullivan & Worcester LLP represents
HRPT Properties  Trust,  Hospitality  Properties  Trust, Five Star Quality Care,
Inc., REIT Management & Research, Inc. and certain of their affiliates.

                                     EXPERTS

    Ernst & Young LLP,  independent  auditors,  have  audited  our  consolidated
financial  statements  and schedules  included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended  December 31, 2000,  as set forth in their  report,  which is
incorporated by reference in this  prospectus and elsewhere in the  registration
statement.  Ernst & Young  LLP,  independent  auditors,  have also  audited  the
combined  financial  statements of Certain Mariner Post-Acute Network Facilities
(Operated  by  AMS  Properties,   Inc.  and  GCI  Health  Care  Centers,   Inc.,
wholly-owned  subsidiaries of Mariner Post-Acute Network,  Inc.) included in our
Current  Report on Form 8-K dated January 30, 2001, as amended,  as set forth in
their  report,  which  is  incorporated  by  reference  in this  prospectus  and
elsewhere in the registration statement.  Our financial statements and schedules
and the combined  financial  statements of Certain  Mariner  Post-Acute  Network
Facilities (Operated by AMS Properties,  Inc. and GCI Health Care Centers, Inc.,
wholly-owned subsidiaries of Mariner Post-Acute Network, Inc.), are incorporated
by  reference  in  reliance  on  Ernst & Young  LLP's  reports,  given  on their
authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

    KPMG  LLP,  independent  auditors,   have  audited  the  combined  financial
statements  of  forty-two  facilities  acquired  by us  from  Integrated  Health
Services,  Inc. included in our Form 8-K dated January 30, 2001, as amended,  as
set forth in their report, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus
and elsewhere in the registration statement. These combined financial statements
are  incorporated by reference in reliance on KPMG LLP's report,  given on their
authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

                                       31


                       WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

    We file annual,  quarterly and current  reports,  proxy statements and other
information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports, statements or other
information  on file at the SEC's  public  reference  room at 450 Fifth  Street,
N.W.,  Washington,  D.C.  20549.  You can request copies of those documents upon
payment  of a  duplicating  fee  to  the  SEC.  This  prospectus  is  part  of a
registration  statement and does not contain all of the information set forth in
the  registration  statement.  You may also  review  a copy of the  registration
statement at the SEC's regional  offices in Chicago,  Illinois and New York, New
York.  Please  call the SEC at  1-800-SEC-0330  for further  information  on the
operation of the public  reference rooms. You can review our SEC filings and the
registration    statement   by   accessing   the   SEC's    Internet   site   at
http://www.sec.gov.

    Our common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol
"SNH," and you can review similar information concerning us at the office of the
NYSE at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

                       DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

    The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file with
them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring
you to those documents.  The information incorporated by reference is considered
to be part of this  prospectus.  Statements  in this  prospectus  regarding  the
contents of any contract or other document may not be complete. You should refer
to the  copy of the  contract  or other  document  filed  as an  exhibit  to the
registration  statement.  Later  information  filed with the SEC will update and
supersede  information  we have  included or  incorporated  by reference in this
prospectus.

    We incorporate by reference the documents  listed below and any filings made
after the date of the initial filing of the  registration  statement,  including
filings made prior to the effectiveness of the registration  statement, of which
this prospectus is a part made with the SEC under Sections  13(a),  13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,  until the offering of
the securities made by this prospectus is completed or terminated:

o   our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000;

o   our  Current  Report on Form 8-K dated  January 30,  2001,  as  amended; and

o   the description of our common shares contained in our registration statement
    on Form 8-A (File No. 001-15319), filed on September 22, 1999.

    We will provide you with a copy of the  information we have  incorporated by
reference, excluding exhibits other than those which we specifically incorporate
by reference in this  prospectus.  You may obtain this information at no cost by
writing or telephoning us at: 400 Centre Street, Newton,  Massachusetts,  02458,
(617) 796-8350, Attention: Investor Relations.

                                -----------------

    THE  ARTICLES OF  AMENDMENT  AND  RESTATEMENT  ESTABLISHING  SENIOR  HOUSING
PROPERTIES TRUST,  DATED SEPTEMBER 20, 1999, A COPY OF WHICH,  TOGETHER WITH ALL
AMENDMENTS  THERETO,  IS DULY  FILED IN THE  OFFICE OF THE STATE  DEPARTMENT  OF
ASSESSMENTS  AND TAXATION OF MARYLAND,  PROVIDES  THAT THE NAME "SENIOR

                                       32

HOUSING  PROPERTIES TRUST" REFERS TO THE TRUSTEES UNDER THE DECLARATION OF TRUST
AS TRUSTEES, BUT NOT INDIVIDUALLY OR PERSONALLY,  AND THAT NO TRUSTEE,  OFFICER,
SHAREHOLDER,  EMPLOYEE OR AGENT OF SENIOR HOUSING PROPERTIES TRUST SHALL BE HELD
TO ANY  PERSONAL  LIABILITY  FOR ANY  OBLIGATION  OF, OR CLAIM  AGAINST,  SENIOR
HOUSING  PROPERTIES  TRUST.  ALL PERSONS DEALING WITH SENIOR HOUSING  PROPERTIES
TRUST SHALL LOOK ONLY TO THE ASSETS OF SENIOR HOUSING  PROPERTIES  TRUST FOR THE
PAYMENT OF ANY SUM OR THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY OBLIGATION.

    THE DECLARATION OF TRUST  ESTABLISHING OUR  SUBSIDIARIES  WHICH ARE MARYLAND
REAL ESTATE  INVESTMENT  TRUSTS,  A COPY OF WHICH,  TOGETHER WITH ALL AMENDMENTS
THERETO,  IS DULY FILED IN THE OFFICE OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENTS AND
TAXATION OF MARYLAND,  PROVIDES THAT THE NAME OF SUCH  SUBSIDIARY  REFERS TO THE
TRUSTEES UNDER ITS  DECLARATION OF TRUST AS TRUSTEES,  BUT NOT  INDIVIDUALLY  OR
PERSONALLY, AND THAT NO TRUSTEE, OFFICER, SHAREHOLDER, EMPLOYEE OR AGENT OF SUCH
SUBSIDIARY  SHALL BE HELD TO ANY PERSONAL  LIABILITY FOR ANY  OBLIGATION  OF, OR
CLAIM AGAINST,  SUCH  SUBSIDIARY.  ALL PERSONS DEALING WITH EACH SUCH SUBSIDIARY
SHALL LOOK ONLY TO THE ASSETS OF SUCH  SUBSIDIARY  FOR THE PAYMENT OF ANY SUM OR
THE PERFORMANCE OF ANY OBLIGATION.


                                       33



                                     PART II

                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14.  Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

    Set forth below is an estimate (except in the case of the registration  fee)
of the  amount  of fees and  expenses  to be  incurred  in  connection  with the
issuance and  distribution of the offered  securities,  other than  underwriting
discounts and commissions.


         Registration Fee Under Securities Act of 1933.....         $125,000
         Blue Sky Fees and Expenses........................           15,000
         Legal Fees and Expenses...........................          500,000
         Accounting Fees and Expenses......................          300,000
         Printing and Engraving............................          250,000
         Rating Agencies Fees..............................          200,000
         Trustee Fees (including counsel fees).............           75,000
         Miscellaneous Fees and Expenses...................           35,000
                                                                  ----------
                           Total:                                 $1,500,000

Item 15.          Indemnification of Directors and Officers

    To the maximum  extent  permitted by Maryland Law, our  declaration of trust
and bylaws include  provisions  limiting the liability of our present and former
trustees,  officers and  shareholders for damages and obligating us to indemnify
them against any claim or  liability to which they may become  subject by reason
of their  status or  actions  as our  present or former  trustees,  officers  or
shareholders.  Our  bylaws  also  obligate  us to pay or  reimburse  the  people
described  above for  reasonable  expenses in advance of final  disposition of a
proceeding.

    The Maryland  REIT Law permits a real estate  investment  trust to indemnify
and advance expenses to its trustees, officers, employees and agents to the same
extent  permitted by the Maryland  General  Corporation  Law for  directors  and
officers of Maryland  corporations.  The Maryland  corporation statute permits a
corporation to indemnify its present and former  directors and officers  against
judgments,  penalties,  fines,  settlements and reasonable  expenses incurred in
connection  with any  proceeding  to which they may be made a party by reason of
their  service  in those  capacities.  However,  a Maryland  corporation  is not
permitted  to  provide  this  type  of   indemnification  if  the  following  is
established:

o   the act or  omission of the  director or officer was  material to the matter
    giving  rise to the  proceeding  and was  committed  in bad faith or was the
    result of active and deliberate dishonesty;

o   the director or officer  actually  received an improper  personal benefit in
    money, property or services; or

o   in the  case  of any  criminal  proceeding,  the  director  or  officer  had
    reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.

The Maryland  corporation  statute  permits a corporation to advance  reasonable
expenses  to a  director  or  officer  upon  the  corporation's  receipt  of the
following:



                                       II-1


o   a written  affirmation  by the  director or officer of his good faith belief
    that he has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the
    corporation; and

o   a written  undertaking  by him or on his behalf to repay the amount  paid or
    reimbursed  by the  corporation  if it is  ultimately  determined  that this
    standard of conduct was not met.

    The SEC has expressed the opinion that indemnification of trustees, officers
or persons  otherwise  controlling a company for  liabilities  arising under the
Securities  Act of 1933, as amended,  is against  public policy and is therefore
unenforceable.

    Reference is made to our bylaws filed as Exhibit 3.2 to our Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2000. Reference is also made to our
declaration  of trust filed as Exhibit 3.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1999.

    Reference is made to the underwriting  agreements (Exhibits 1.1 through 1.6)
which may be filed by amendment or incorporated by reference. These underwriting
agreements  may  contain   certain   provisions  for   indemnification   by  the
underwriters of our officers, trustees and controlling persons.

    The charter documents of the  Co-Registrants  contain  provisions similar to
those detailed above.

Item 16.  Exhibits



    Exhibit No.                     Description

                                 
    1.1                             Form of Underwriting Agreement (for Debt Securities)*
    1.2                             Form of Underwriting Agreement (for Preferred Shares)*
    1.3                             Form of Underwriting Agreement (for Depositary Shares)*
    1.4                             Form of Underwriting Agreement (for Common Shares)*
    1.5                             Form of Underwriting Agreement (for Warrants)*
    1.6                             Form of Underwriting Agreement (for Trust Preferred Securities)*
    4.1                             Form of Senior Indenture**
    4.2                             Form of Senior Subordinated Indenture**
    4.3                             Form of Junior Subordinated Indenture**
    4.4                             Form of Senior Debt Security*
    4.5                             Form of Senior Subordinated Debt Security*
    4.6                             Form of Junior Subordinated Debt Security*
    4.7                             Form of Articles Supplementary for Preferred Shares*
    4.8                             Form of Deposit Agreement, including form of Depositary Receipt for
                                    Depositary Shares*
    4.9                             Form of Preferred Shares Certificate*
    4.10                            Form of Common Shares Certificate***
    4.11                            Form of Warrant Agreement, including form of Warrant *
    4.12                            Certificate of Trust of SNH Capital Trust I**
    4.13                            Declaration of Trust of SNH Capital Trust I**
    4.14                            Certificate of Trust of SNH Capital Trust II**
    4.15                            Declaration of Trust of SNH Capital Trust II**
    4.16                            Certificate of Trust of SNH Capital Trust III**
    4.17                            Declaration of Trust of SNH Capital Trust III**
    4.18                            Form of Amended and Restated Trust Agreement of the SNH Capital Trusts**
    4.19                            Form of Guarantee Agreement**
    5.1                             Opinion of Sullivan & Worcester LLP**
    5.2                             Opinion of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP**
    8.1                             Opinion of Sullivan & Worcester LLP re: tax matters*
    12.1                            Statement Regarding Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges**
    23.1                            Consent of Ernst & Young LLP**



                                      II-2


    23.2                            Consent of KPMG LLP**
    23.3                            Consent of Sullivan & Worcester LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
    23.4                            Consent of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2)
    24.1                            Powers of Attorney of certain officers, trustees and directors (included on
                                    signature pages)
    25.1                            Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act
                                    of 1939, as amended, of the trustee under the Senior Indenture*
    25.2                            Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act
                                    of 1939, as amended, of the trustee under the Senior Subordinated Indenture*
    25.3                            Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act
                                    of 1939, as amended, of the trustee under the Junior Subordinated Indenture*
    25.4                            Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of
                                    1939, as amended, of the trustee under the Amended and Restated
                                    Declaration of Trust of the SNH Capital Trust I*
    25.5                            Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of
                                    1939, as amended, of the trustee under the Amended and Restated
                                    Declaration of Trust of the SNH Capital Trust II*
    25.6                            Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of
                                    1939, as amended, of the trustee under the Amended and Restated
                                    Declaration of Trust of the SNH Capital Trust III*
    25.7                            Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of
                                    1939, as amended, of the trustee under the Guarantee Agreement for SNH Capital
                                    Trust I*
    25.8                            Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of
                                    1939, as amended, of the trustee under the Guarantee Agreement for SNH Capital
                                    Trust II*
    25.9                            Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of
                                    1939, as amended, of the trustee under the Guarantee Agreement for SNH Capital
                                    Trust III*
<FN>
- -------------
*    To be filed by amendment or  incorporated  by reference in connection  with
     the offering of any securities, as appropriate.
**   Filed herewith.
***  Incorporated by reference to Senior Housing Property  Trust's  Registration
     Statement on Form S-11, File No. 333-69703.
</FN>


Item 17.  Undertakings

    (a)  The undersigned Registrants hereby undertake:

            (1) To file,  during any  period in which  offers or sales are being
        made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

                (i) To include any  prospectus  required by section  10(a)(3) of
            the Securities Act of 1933;

                (ii) To reflect in the  prospectus  any facts or events  arising
            after the effective date of the registration  statement (or the most
            recent post-effective  amendment thereof) which,  individually or in
            the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set
            forth in this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
            any  increase or decrease  in volume of  securities  offered (if the
            total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which
            was  registered)  and any deviation  from the low or high end of the
            estimated  maximum  offering  range may be  reflected in the


                                      II-3

            form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)
            if, in the aggregate,  the changes in volume and price  represent no
            more than a 20  percent  change in the  maximum  aggregate  offering
            price set forth in the  "Calculation of  Registration  Fee" table in
            the effective registration statement; and

                (iii) To include any  material  information  with respect to the
            plan of distribution not previously  disclosed in this  registration
            statement  or any  material  change  to  such  information  in  this
            registration statement;

provided,  however,  that  subparagraphs  (i)  and  (ii)  do  not  apply  if the
information  required  to be  included in a  post-effective  amendment  by those
paragraphs is contained in the periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant
to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the  Securities  and Exchange Act of 1934 that
are incorporated by reference in this registration statement.

            (2) That,  for the purpose of  determining  any liability  under the
        Securities  Act of 1933,  each such  post-effective  amendment  shall be
        deemed to be a new  registration  statement  relating to the  securities
        offered  herein,  and the offering of such securities at that time shall
        be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

            (3)  To  remove  from  registration  by  means  of a  post-effective
        amendment any of the securities  being registered which remain unsold at
        the termination of the offering.

    (b) The  undersigned  Registrants  hereby  further  undertake  that, for the
purposes of determining  any liability  under the  Securities Act of 1933,  each
filing of the annual  reports of Senior  Housing  Properties  Trust  pursuant to
Section  13(a) or  Section  15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  of 1934 that are
incorporated  by  reference in this  registration  statement,  if any,  shall be
deemed to be a new  registration  statement  relating to the securities  offered
herein,  and the offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.

    (c) Insofar as indemnification  for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to trustees,  directors,  officers and  controlling
persons of the Registrants pursuant to the provisions described under Item 15 of
this  registration   statement,   or  otherwise  (other  than  insurance),   the
Registrants have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission  such  indemnification  is against  public policy as expressed in the
Securities  Act of 1933 and is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the event that a
claim for  indemnification  against such liabilities  (other than the payment by
the Registrants of expenses incurred or paid by a trustee,  director, officer or
controlling  person of the Registrants in the successful  defense of any action,
suit  or  proceeding)  is  asserted  by  such  trustee,   director,  officer  or
controlling  person in connection  with the  securities  being  registered,  the
Registrants  will,  unless in the  opinion  of its  counsel  the matter has been
settled by controlling precedent,  submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction
the question whether such indemnification by it or them is against public policy
as  expressed  in such the  Securities  Act of 1933 and will be  governed by the
final adjudication of such issue.

    (d) The undersigned Registrants hereby undertake that:

            (1) For purposes of determining  any liability  under the Securities
        Act of 1933, the information  omitted from the form of prospectus  filed
        as part of this  registration  statement in reliance  upon Rule 430A and
        contained in a form of prospectus  filed by the Registrants  pursuant to
        Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed
        to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared
        effective; and

            (2) For purposes of determining  any liability  under the Securities
        Act of 1933,  each  post-effective  amendment  that  contains  a form of
        prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration  statement  relating
        to the securities  offered therein,  and the offering of such securities
        at that  time  shall be  deemed to be the  initial  bona  fide  offering
        thereof.


                                      II-4


    (e) The undersigned  Registrants hereby undertake to file an application for
the  purpose  of  determining  the  eligibility  of the  trustee  to  act  under
subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust  Indenture Act in accordance with the
rules and regulations  prescribed by the Commission  under Section  305(b)(2) of
the Trust Indenture Act.

                                      II-5


                                   SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies  that it has  reasonable  grounds to believe  that it meets all of the
requirements  for  filing  on Form S-3 and has  duly  caused  this  registration
statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  in the City of Newton,  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  on May 7,
2001.

                                     SENIOR HOUSING PROPERTIES TRUST


                                     By: /s/ David J. Hegarty
                                          David J. Hegarty
                                          President and Chief Operating Officer

    Pursuant  to  the   requirements   of  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
registration  statement  on Form S-3 has  been  signed  below  by the  following
persons  in  the  capacities  and  on  the  dates  indicated;  and  each  of the
undersigned  officers and trustees of Senior Housing  Properties  Trust,  hereby
severally constitute and appoint David J. Hegarty, Gerard M. Martin and Barry M.
Portnoy to sign for him, and in his name in the capacity  indicated below,  this
registration  statement for the purpose of registering such securities under the
Securities  Act of  1933,  and any and all  amendments  thereto,  and any  other
registration statement filed by Senior Housing Properties Trust pursuant to Rule
462(b) which registers additional amounts of such securities for the offering or
offerings  contemplated by this registration  statement (a "462(b)  Registration
Statement") hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed
by our  attorneys  to  this  registration  statement,  any  462(b)  Registration
Statement and any and all amendments to either thereof.


    Signature                          Title                            Date
    ---------                          -----                            ----

/s/ David J. Hegarty                President and Chief             May 7, 2001
David J. Hegarty                    Operating Officer

/s/ John R. Hoadley                 Controller and Chief            May 7, 2001
John R. Hoadley                     Accounting Officer

/s/ Bruce M. Gans, M.D.             Trustee                         May 7, 2001
Bruce M. Gans, M.D.

/s/ Arthur G. Koumantzelis          Trustee                         May 7, 2001
Arthur G. Koumantzelis

/s/ John L. Harrington              Trustee                         May 7, 2001
John L. Harrington

/s/ Gerard M. Martin                Trustee                         May 7, 2001
Gerard M. Martin

/s/ Barry M. Portnoy                Trustee                         May 7, 2001
Barry M. Portnoy



                                      II-6



    Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrants
certify that they have  reasonable  grounds to believe that they meet all of the
requirements  for  filing on Form S-3 and have  duly  caused  this  registration
statement  to be  signed  on their  behalf by the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  in the City of Newton,  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  on May 7,
2001.



                                  HRES1 PROPERTIES TRUST
                                  HRES2 PROPERTIES TRUST

                                  By: /s/ David J. Hegarty
                                       David J. Hegarty
                                       President and Chief Operating Officer


    Pursuant  to  the   requirements   of  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
registration  statement  on Form S-3 has  been  signed  below  by the  following
persons  in  the  capacities  and  on  the  dates  indicated;  and  each  of the
undersigned officers and trustees of HRES1 Properties Trust and HRES2 Properties
Trust,  hereby  severally  constitute  and appoint David J.  Hegarty,  Gerard M.
Martin  and Barry M.  Portnoy to sign for him,  and in his name in the  capacity
indicated below, this registration statement for the purpose of registering such
securities under the Securities Act of 1933, and any and all amendments thereto,
and any  other  registration  statement  filed  pursuant  to Rule  462(b)  which
registers  additional  amounts of such  securities for the offering or offerings
contemplated by this registration statement (a "462(b) Registration  Statement")
hereby  ratifying  and  confirming  our  signatures as they may be signed by our
attorneys to this registration statement,  any 462(b) Registration Statement and
any and all amendments to either thereof.


    Signature                          Title                            Date
    ---------                          -----                            ----

/s/ David J. Hegarty                President and Chief             May 7, 2001
David J. Hegarty                    Operating Officer

/s/ John R. Hoadley                 Controller                      May 7, 2001
John R. Hoadley

/s/ Gerard M. Martin                Trustee                         May 7, 2001
Gerard M. Martin

/s/ Barry M. Portnoy                Trustee                         May 7, 2001
Barry M. Portnoy


                                      II-7


    Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrants
certify that they have  reasonable  grounds to believe that they meet all of the
requirements  for  filing on Form S-3 and have  duly  caused  this  registration
statement  to be  signed  on their  behalf by the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  in the City of Newton,  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  on May 7,
2001.

                                      SPTGEN PROPERTIES TRUST
                                      SPTIHS PROPERTIES TRUST
                                      SPTMISC PROPERTIES TRUST
                                      SPTMNR PROPERTIES TRUST
                                      SPTMRT PROPERTIES TRUST
                                      SPTSUN PROPERTIES TRUST
                                      SPTSUN II PROPERTIES TRUST


                                      By: /s/ David J. Hegarty
                                           David J. Hegarty
                                           President and Chief Operating Officer


    Pursuant  to  the   requirements   of  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
registration  statement  on Form S-3 has  been  signed  below  by the  following
persons  in  the  capacities  and  on  the  dates  indicated;  and  each  of the
undersigned  officers and trustees of SPTGEN Properties Trust, SPTIHS Properties
Trust,  SPTMISC  Properties Trust,  SPTMNR  Properties Trust,  SPTMRT Properties
Trust, SPTSUN Properties Trust, and SPTSUN II Properties Trust, hereby severally
constitute  and appoint David J. Hegarty,  Gerard M. Martin and Barry M. Portnoy
to  sign  for  him,  and in his  name  in the  capacity  indicated  below,  this
registration  statement for the purpose of registering such securities under the
Securities  Act of  1933,  and any and all  amendments  thereto,  and any  other
registration  statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) which registers additional
amounts of such  securities for the offering or offerings  contemplated  by this
registration statement (a "462(b) Registration  Statement") hereby ratifying and
confirming  our  signatures  as they  may be  signed  by our  attorneys  to this
registration  statement,  any  462(b)  Registration  Statement  and  any and all
amendments to either thereof.

    Signature                          Title                            Date
    ---------                          -----                            ----

/s/ David J. Hegarty                President and Chief             May 7, 2001
David J. Hegarty                    Operating Officer

/s/ John R. Hoadley                 Controller                      May 7, 2001
John R. Hoadley

/s/ Gerard M. Martin                Trustee                         May 7, 2001
Gerard M. Martin

/s/ Barry M. Portnoy                Trustee                         May 7, 2001
Barry M. Portnoy



                                      II-8


    Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies  that it has  reasonable  grounds to believe  that it meets all of the
requirements  for  filing  on Form S-3 and has  duly  caused  this  registration
statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf  by  the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  in the City of Newton,  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  on May 7,
2001.

                                     SHOPCO HOLDINGS, INC.


                                     By: /s/ Evrett W. Benton
                                          Evrett W. Benton
                                          President and Chief Operating Officer

    Pursuant  to  the   requirements   of  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
registration  statement  on Form S-3 has  been  signed  below  by the  following
persons  in  the  capacities  and  on  the  dates  indicated;  and  each  of the
undersigned  officers and director of SHOPCO  Holdings,  Inc.,  hereby severally
constitute  and appoint David J. Hegarty,  Gerard M. Martin and Barry M. Portnoy
to  sign  for  him,  and in his  name  in the  capacity  indicated  below,  this
registration  statement for the purpose of registering such securities under the
Securities  Act of  1933,  and any and all  amendments  thereto,  and any  other
registration  statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) which registers additional
amounts of such  securities for the offering or offerings  contemplated  by this
registration statement (a "462(b) Registration  Statement") hereby ratifying and
confirming  our  signatures  as they  may be  signed  by our  attorneys  to this
registration  statement,  any  462(b)  Registration  Statement  and  any and all
amendments to either thereof.

    Signature                          Title                            Date
    ---------                          -----                            ----

/s/ Evrett W. Benton                President and Chief             May 7, 2001
Evrett W. Benton                    Operating Officer

/s/ John R. Hoadley                 Controller                      May 7, 2001
John R. Hoadley

/s/ David J. Hegarty                Director                        May 7, 2001
David J. Hegarty



                                      II-9


    Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrants
certify that they have  reasonable  grounds to believe that they meet all of the
requirements  for  filing on Form S-3 and have  duly  caused  this  registration
statement  to be  signed  on their  behalf by the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  in the City of Newton,  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  on May 7,
2001.

                                      SHOPCO-AZ, LLC
                                      SHOPCO-CA, LLC
                                      SHOPCO-COLORADO, LLC
                                      SHOPCO-CT, LLC
                                      SHOPCO-GA, LLC
                                      SHOPCO-IA, LLC
                                      SHOPCO-KS, LLC
                                      SHOPCO-MI, LLC
                                      SHOPCO-MO, LLC
                                      SHOPCO-NE, LLC
                                      SHOPCO-SD, LLC
                                      SHOPCO-WI, LLC
                                      SHOPCO-WY, LLC

                                      By:  SHOPCO HOLDINGS, INC.,
                                           Managing Member

                                           By: /s/ Evrett W. Benton
                                           Evrett W. Benton
                                           President and Chief Operating Officer

    Pursuant  to  the   requirements   of  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
registration  statement  on Form S-3 has  been  signed  below  by the  following
persons  in  the  capacities  and  on  the  dates  indicated;  and  each  of the
undersigned   officers  and  director  of  SHOPCO-AZ,   LLC,   SHOPCO-CA,   LLC,
SHOPCO-COLORADO, LLC, SHOPCO-CT, LLC, SHOPCO-GA, LLC, SHOPCO-IA, LLC, SHOPCO-KS,
LLC, SHOPCO-MI,  LLC, SHOPCO-MO, LLC, SHOPCO-NE, LLC, SHOPCO-SD, LLC, SHOPCO-WI,
LLC, AND  SHOPCO-WY,  LLC,  hereby  severally  constitute  and appoint  David J.
Hegarty,  Gerard M. Martin and Barry M. Portnoy to sign for him, and in his name
in the capacity indicated below, this registration  statement for the purpose of
registering  such  securities  under the Securities Act of 1933, and any and all
amendments thereto, and any other registration  statement filed pursuant to Rule
462(b) which registers additional amounts of such securities for the offering or
offerings  contemplated by this registration  statement (a "462(b)  Registration
Statement") hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed
by our  attorneys  to  this  registration  statement,  any  462(b)  Registration
Statement and any and all amendments to either thereof.

    Signature                          Title                            Date
    ---------                          -----                            ----

/s/ Evrett W. Benton                President and Chief             May 7, 2001
Evrett W. Benton                    Operating Officer

/s/ John R. Hoadley                 Controller                      May 7, 2001
John R. Hoadley

/s/ David J. Hegarty                Director                        May 7, 2001
David J. Hegarty


                                      II-10


    Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrants
certify that they have  reasonable  grounds to believe that they meet all of the
requirements  for  filing on Form S-3 and have  duly  caused  this  registration
statement  to be  signed  on their  behalf by the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  in the City of Newton,  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  on May 7,
2001.

                                      SNH-CALIFORNIA, INC.
                                      SNH-IOWA, INC.
                                      SNH HOLDING CO., INC.
                                      SNH-MICHIGAN, INC.
                                      SNH-NEBRASKA, INC.


                                     By: /s/ Evrett W. Benton
                                          Evrett W. Benton
                                          President and Chief Operating Officer

    Pursuant  to  the   requirements   of  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
registration  statement  on Form S-3 has  been  signed  below  by the  following
persons  in  the  capacities  and  on  the  dates  indicated;  and  each  of the
undersigned officers and director of SNH-CALIFORNIA,  INC., SNH-IOWA,  INC., SNH
Holding Co., Inc.,  SNH-MICHIGAN,  INC.,  SNH-NEBRASKA,  INC.,  hereby severally
constitute  and appoint David J. Hegarty,  Gerard M. Martin and Barry M. Portnoy
to  sign  for  him,  and in his  name  in the  capacity  indicated  below,  this
registration  statement for the purpose of registering such securities under the
Securities  Act of  1933,  and any and all  amendments  thereto,  and any  other
registration  statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) which registers additional
amounts of such  securities for the offering or offerings  contemplated  by this
registration statement (a "462(b) Registration  Statement") hereby ratifying and
confirming  our  signatures  as they  may be  signed  by our  attorneys  to this
registration  statement,  any  462(b)  Registration  Statement  and  any and all
amendments to either thereof.

    Signature                          Title                            Date
    ---------                          -----                            ----

/s/ Evrett W. Benton                President and Chief             May 7, 2001
Evrett W. Benton                    Operating Officer

/s/ John R. Hoadley                 Controller                      May 7, 2001
John R. Hoadley

/s/ David J. Hegarty                Director                        May 7, 2001
David J. Hegarty


                                     II-11



    Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrants
certify that they have  reasonable  grounds to believe that they meet all of the
requirements  for  filing on Form S-3 and have  duly  caused  this  registration
statement  to be  signed  on their  behalf by the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly
authorized,  in the City of Newton,  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  on May 7,
2001.

                         SNH CAPITAL TRUST I
                         SNH CAPITAL TRUST II
                         SNH CAPITAL TRUST III
                         SNH CAPITAL TRUST HOLDINGS


                         By: /s/ Barry M. Portnoy
                              Barry M. Portnoy, as trustee and not individually

    Pursuant  to  the   requirements   of  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
registration  statement  on Form S-3 has  been  signed  below  by the  following
persons  in  the  capacities  and  on  the  dates  indicated;  and  each  of the
undersigned  trustees  of SNH  Capital  Trust  I, SNH  Capital  Trust II and SNH
Capital Trust III,  hereby  severally  constitute  and appoint David J. Hegarty,
Gerard M.  Martin and Barry M.  Portnoy to sign for him,  and in his name in the
capacity  indicated  below,  this  registration  statement  for the  purpose  of
registering  such  securities  under the Securities Act of 1933, and any and all
amendments thereto, and any other registration  statement filed pursuant to Rule
462(b) which registers additional amounts of such securities for the offering or
offerings  contemplated by this registration  statement (a "462(b)  Registration
Statement") hereby ratifying and confirming our signatures as they may be signed
by our  attorneys  to  this  registration  statement,  any  462(b)  Registration
Statement and any and all amendments to either thereof.

    Signature                          Title                            Date
    ---------                          -----                            ----

/s/ Gerard M. Martin                Trustee                         May 7, 2001
Gerard M. Martin

/s/ Barry M. Portnoy                Trustee                         May 7, 2001
Barry M. Portnoy


                                     II-12