EXHIBIT 23.1 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement File No. 333-19113-01 of our report dated December 18, 1996 included in HRE Properties' Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 1996 and to all references to our Firm in this Registration Statement. /s/ Arthur Anderson LLP Arthur Andersen LLP New York, New York January 22, 1997