EXHIBIT 5.1





                        [MILES & STOCKBRIDGE LETTERHEAD]


                                                                  March 12, 1997



HRE Properties, Inc.
321 Railroad Avenue
Greenwich, Connecticut 06830

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     In connection with the  registration  under the Securities Act of 1933 (the
"Act") of 400,000 shares of common stock (the "Common Stock") of HRE Properties,
Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Corporation"),  on its Registration Statement
on Form S-8 (No. 33-41408) (the "Registration Statement"), we have examined such
corporate  records,  certificates  and documents as we deemed  necessary for the
purpose of this opinion.  Based on that  examination,  we advise you that in our
opinion the Common Stock has been duly and validly  authorized  and, when issued
upon the terms set forth in the Registration Statement,  will be legally issued,
fully paid and non-assessable.

     We hereby  consent  to the  filing of this  opinion  as an  exhibit  to the
Registration  Statement.  In giving our consent, we do not thereby admit that we
are in the category of persons whose consent is required  under Section 7 of the
Act or the rules and  regulations  of the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission
thereunder.


                                          Very truly yours,



                                          Miles & Stockbridge,
                                            a Professional Corporation



                                          By:      /s/ J.W. Thompson Webb
                                                   -----------------------------
                                                   J.W. Thompson Webb
                                                   Principal