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First Potomac Realty Trust Signs CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield to a 204,000 Square-Foot Lease Renewal at 840 First Street, NE

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  Published in Business and Finance on Wednesday, July 27th 2011 at 13:13 GMT by Market Wire
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BETHESDA, Md.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--First Potomac Realty Trust (NYSE: FPO), a leading owner of office and industrial properties in the greater Washington, D.C. region, today announced that CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) has signed a 10-year lease extension on 204,000 square-feet at 840 First Street, NE to keep its D.C. Headquarters at the building through 2023. The 12-story office tower, which First Potomac acquired earlier this year, is located adjacent to Union Station in the citya™s burgeoning NoMa submarket.

"We are very pleased that CareFirst has made the decision to renew its lease early at our building, 840 First Street"

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield is the largest health care insurer in the Mid-Atlantic region, serving nearly 3.4 million members. It is the holding company for the operating affiliate Group Hospitalization and Medical Services, Inc., an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

aWe are very pleased that CareFirst has made the decision to renew its lease early at our building, 840 First Street,a stated Douglas J. Donatelli, Chairman and CEO of First Potomac Realty Trust. aNoMa is a highly desired business location and a rapidly improving neighborhood in D.C. CareFirsta™s long term commitment is a big plus to the neighborhood and a big plus for our growing D.C. portfolio.a

About First Potomac Realty Trust

First Potomac Realty Trust is a self-administered, self-managed real estate investment trust that focuses on owning, operating, developing and redeveloping office and industrial properties in the greater Washington, D.C. region. As of March 31, 2011, the Company's portfolio totaled over 14 million square feet. Its portfolio consists of 40% business parks, 36% office and office parks, and 24% industrial properties. FPO shares are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:FPO). For more information, please visit [ www.first-potomac.com ].