
<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 3.1


                            ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

                                       OF

                            AMB PROPERTY CORPORATION,

                             A MARYLAND CORPORATION



      The undersigned, Charles R. Moran, Esq., whose address is c/o Ballard,
Spahr, Andrews & Ingersoll, 300 E. Lombard Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202,
being at least 18 years of age, does hereby form a corporation under the general
laws of the State of Maryland.

                                   ARTICLE I
                             NAME OF THE CORPORATION

      The name of the corporation (hereinafter the "Corporation") is:

                            AMB Property Corporation

                                   ARTICLE II
                   REGISTERED AGENT: PRINCIPAL OFFICE IN STATE

      The address of the Corporation's principal office in the State of Maryland
is c/o Ballard, Spahr, Andrews & Ingersoll, 300 E. Lombard Street, Baltimore,
Maryland 21202. The name of the Corporation's registered agent is Charles R.
Moran, Esq., whose address is c/o Ballard, Spahr, Andrews & Ingersoll, 300 E.
Lombard Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, said resident agent being a citizen
of the state of Maryland residing therein.

                                  ARTICLE III
                           PURPOSE OF THE CORPORATION

      The purpose for which the Corporation is formed is to engage in any lawful
act or activity (including, without limitation or obligation, engaging in
business as a real estate investment trust (a "REIT") under Sections 856 to 860
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor statute of
similar import (the "Code")) for which corporations may be organized under the
Maryland General Corporation Law, as amended from time to time, and any
successor statute hereafter enacted (the "MGCL").


<PAGE>   2
                                   ARTICLE IV
                            AUTHORIZED CAPITAL STOCK

      The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock which the
Corporation shall have authority to issue is 600,000,000, consisting of
500,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common
Stock"), and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share
(the "Preferred Stock") which may be issued in one or more classes as described
in Paragraph C of this Article IV. The aggregate par value of all of the
Corporation's authorized shares having par value is $6,000,000. The Common Stock
and each class of the Preferred Stock shall each constitute a separate class of
capital stock of the Corporation.

      The following is a description of each of the classes of stock of the
Corporation and a statement of the powers, preferences and rights of such stock,
and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof:

      A.    Voting Rights.

            1.    Common Stock. Except as may otherwise be required by law, and
subject to the provisions of such resolution or resolutions as may be adopted by
the Board of Directors pursuant to Paragraph C of this Article IV granting the
holders of one or more classes of Preferred Stock exclusive voting powers with
respect to any matter, each holder of Common Stock shall have one vote in
respect of each share of Common Stock held on all matters voted upon by the
stockholders.

            2.    Preferred Stock. Except as may otherwise be required by law,
and subject to the provisions of such resolution or resolutions as may be
adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to Paragraph C of this Article IV
granting the holders of one or more classes of Preferred Stock voting powers
with respect to any matter, the Preferred Stock shall have no voting rights and
shall have no rights to receive notice of any meetings except as expressly
provided in the resolution establishing any class thereof.

      B.    Terms of Common Stock. The Common Stock shall be subject to the
express terms of the Preferred Stock or any classes thereof.

            1.    Dividend Rights. After the provisions with respect to
preferential dividends on any class of Preferred Stock (fixed in accordance with
the provisions of Paragraph C of this Article IV), if any, shall have been
satisfied and after the Corporation shall have complied with all the
requirements, if any, with respect to redemption of, or the setting aside of
sums as sinking funds or redemption or purchase accounts with respect to, any
class of Preferred Stock (fixed in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph C
of this Article IV), and subject further to any other conditions that may be
fixed in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph C of this Article IV, then,
and not otherwise, the holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such
dividends as may be authorized and declared from time to time by the Board of
Directors out of funds legally available therefor. All distributions paid with
respect to the Common Stock shall be paid pro rata, with no preference to any
share of Common Stock as compared with other shares of Common Stock.


                                       2
<PAGE>   3
            2.    Rights Upon Liquidation. In the event of the voluntary or
involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, after
distribution in full of the preferential amounts, if any (fixed in accordance
with the provisions of Paragraph C of this Article IV), to be distributed to the
holders of Preferred Stock by reason thereof, the holders of Common Stock shall,
subject to the additional rights, if any (fixed in accordance with the
provisions of Paragraph C of this Article IV), of the holders of any outstanding
shares of Preferred Stock, be entitled to receive all of the remaining assets of
the Corporation, tangible and intangible, of whatever kind available for
distribution to stockholders ratably in proportion to the number of shares of
Common Stock held by them.

      C.    Issuance and Terms of Preferred Stock. The Preferred Stock may be
issued, from time to time, in one or more classes, and each class shall be known
and designated by such designations, as may be stated and expressed in a
resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation
and as shall have been set forth in articles supplementary made, executed,
acknowledged, filed and recorded in the manner required by the MGCL in order to
make the same effective. Each class shall consist of such number of shares as
shall be stated and expressed in such resolution or resolutions providing for
the issue of Preferred Stock of such class together with such additional number
of shares as the Board of Directors by resolution or resolutions may from time
to time determine to issue as a part of such class. All shares of any one class
of such Preferred Stock shall be alike in every particular except that shares
issued at different times may accumulate dividends from different dates. The
Board of Directors shall have power and authority to state and determine in the
resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of each class of Preferred
Stock the number of shares of each such class authorized to be issued, the
voting powers (if any) and the designations, preferences and relative,
participating, optional, conversion or other rights appertaining to each such
class, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof (including,
but not by way of limitation, full power and authority to determine as to the
Preferred Stock of each such class, the rate or rates of dividends payable
thereon, the times of payment of such dividends, the prices and manner upon
which the Preferred Stock may be redeemed, the amount or amounts payable thereon
in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation or in
the event of any merger or consolidation of or sale of assets by the
Corporation, the rights (if any) to convert the Preferred Stock into, and/or to
purchase, stock of any other class or series, the terms of any sinking fund or
redemption or purchase account (if any) to be provided for shares of such class
of Preferred Stock, restrictions on ownership and transfer to preserve tax
benefits, and the voting powers (if any) of the holders of any class of
Preferred Stock generally or with respect to any particular matter, which may be
less than, equal to or greater than one vote per share, and which may, without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, include the right, voting as a class
by itself or together with the holders of any other class of Preferred Stock or
all classes of Preferred Stock as a single class, to elect one or more directors
of the Corporation generally or under such specific circumstances and on such
conditions, as shall be provided in the resolution or resolutions of the Board
of Directors adopted pursuant hereto, including, without limitation, in the
event there shall have been a default in the payment of dividends on or
redemption of any one or more classes of Preferred Stock). The Board of
Directors may from time to time decrease the number of shares of any class of
Preferred Stock (but not below the number thereof then outstanding) by providing
that any unissued shares previously assigned to such class shall no longer
constitute part thereof 


                                       3
<PAGE>   4
and may assign such unissued shares to an existing or newly created class. The
foregoing provisions of this Paragraph C with respect to the creation or
issuance of classes of Preferred Stock shall be subject to any additional
conditions with respect thereto which may be contained in any resolutions then
in effect which shall have theretofore been adopted in accordance with the
foregoing provisions of this Paragraph C with respect to any then outstanding
class of Preferred Stock.

      D.    Authorization of Capital Stock; Issuance and Reclassification of
Shares. The Board of Directors may authorize the issuance from time to time of
shares of its capital stock of any class or series whether now or hereafter
authorized, or securities convertible into shares of its capital stock of any
class or series, whether now or hereafter authorized, for such consideration as
the Board of Directors may deem advisable, subject to such restrictions or
limitations, if any, as may be set forth in the Charter of the Corporation or
the Bylaws of the Corporation, or in the MGCL. In addition, the Board of
Directors shall have the power, in its sole discretion without limitation, to
classify or reclassify any unissued shares of capital stock of the Corporation,
whether now or hereafter authorized, by setting, altering or eliminating, in any
one or more respects, from time to time, before the issuance of such shares of
capital stock of the Corporation, any feature of such shares including, but not
limited to, the designation, par value, preferences or conversion or other
rights, voting powers, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption,
limitations as to dividends and other distributions, restrictions on ownership
and transfer to preserve tax benefits and any other restrictions on such shares.

      E.    Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer to Preserve Tax Benefits.

            1.    Definitions. For the purposes of Paragraph E of this Article
IV, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

                        "Beneficial Ownership" shall mean ownership of Common
            Stock by a Person who is or would be treated as an owner of such
            Common Stock either actually or constructively through the
            application of Section 544 of the Code, as modified by Section
            856(h)(1)(B) of the Code. The terms "Beneficial Owner,"
            "Beneficially Own," "Beneficially Owns" and "Beneficially Owned"
            shall have the correlative meanings.

                        "Charitable Beneficiary" shall mean one or more
            beneficiaries of a Trust, as determined pursuant to Subparagraph
            E(3)(f) of this Article IV.

                        "Code" shall have the meaning set forth in Article III
            hereof. All section references to the Code shall include any
            successor provisions thereof as may be adopted from time to time.

                        "Common Stock" shall have the meaning set forth in the
            preamble to Article IV hereof.


                                       4
<PAGE>   5
                        "Constructive Ownership" shall mean ownership of Common
            Stock by a Person who is or would be treated as an owner of such
            Common Stock either actually or constructively through the
            application of Section 318 of the Code, as modified by Section
            856(d)(5) of the Code. The terms "Constructive Owner,"
            "Constructively Own," "Constructively Owns" and "Constructively
            Owned" shall have the correlative meanings.

                        "Corporation" shall have the meaning set forth in the
            preamble to these Articles of Incorporation.

                        "Initial Public Offering" shall mean the sale of Common
            Stock pursuant to the Corporation's first effective registration
            statement for such Common Stock filed under the Securities Act of
            1933, as amended.

                        "IRS" means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

                        "Market Price" shall mean the last reported sales price
            reported on the New York Stock Exchange of the Common Stock on the
            trading day immediately preceding the relevant date, or if the
            Common Stock is not then traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the
            last reported sales price of the Common Stock on the trading day
            immediately preceding the relevant date as reported on any exchange
            or quotation system over which the Common Stock may be traded, or if
            the Common Stock is not then traded over any exchange or quotation
            system, then the market price of the Common Stock on the relevant
            date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the
            Corporation.

                        "Operating Partnership" shall mean AMB Property, L.P., a
            Delaware limited partnership.

                        "OP Units" shall have the meaning set forth in paragraph
            H of Article IV hereof.

                        "Ownership Limit" shall mean 9.8% (by value or by number
            of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the outstanding Common
            Stock of the Corporation.

                        "Partnership Agreement" shall mean the Agreement of
            Limited Partnership of AMB Property, L.P., as such agreement may be
            amended from time to time.

                        "Person" shall mean an individual, corporation,
            partnership, limited liability company, estate, trust (including a
            trust qualified under Section 401(a) or 501(c)(17) of the Code), a
            portion of a trust permanently set aside for or to be used
            exclusively for the purposes described in Section 642(c) of the
            Code, association, private foundation within the meaning of Section
            509(a) of the Code, joint stock company or other entity; but does
            not include an underwriter acting in a capacity as such in a public
            offering of shares of Common Stock provided that the ownership of
            such shares of Common Stock by such underwriter would not result in
            the Corporation being "closely held" within the meaning of Section


                                       5
<PAGE>   6
            856(h) of the Code, or otherwise result in the Corporation failing
            to qualify as a REIT.

                        "Purported Beneficial Transferee" shall mean, with
            respect to any purported Transfer (or other event) which results in
            a transfer to a Trust, as provided in Subparagraph E(2)(b) of this
            Article IV, the Purported Record Transferee, unless the Purported
            Record Transferee would have acquired or owned shares of Common
            Stock for another Person who is the beneficial transferee or owner
            of such shares, in which case the Purported Beneficial Transferee
            shall be such person.

                        "Purported Record Transferee" shall mean, with respect
            to any purported Transfer (or other event) which results in a
            transfer to a Trust, as provided in Subparagraph E(2)(b) of this
            Article IV, the record holder of the shares of Common Stock if such
            Transfer had been valid under Subparagraph E(2)(a) of this Article
            IV.

                        "REIT" shall mean a real estate investment trust under
            Sections 856 through 860 of the Code.

                        "Restriction Termination Date" shall mean the first day
            after the date of the Initial Public Offering on which (1) the Board
            of Directors of the Corporation determines that it is no longer in
            the best interests of the Corporation to attempt to, or continue to,
            qualify as a REIT and (2) such determination is approved by the
            affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds of the
            shares of the Corporation's capital stock outstanding and entitled
            to vote thereon.

                        "Transfer" shall mean any sale, transfer, gift,
            assignment, devise or other disposition of Common Stock, including
            (i) the granting of any option or entering into any agreement for
            the sale, transfer or other disposition of Common Stock or (ii) the
            sale, transfer, assignment or other disposition of any securities
            (or rights convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock),
            whether voluntary or involuntary, whether such transfer has occurred
            of record or beneficially or Beneficially or Constructively
            (including but not limited to transfers of interests in other
            entities which result in changes in Beneficial or Constructive
            Ownership of Common Stock), and whether such transfer has occurred
            by operation of law or otherwise.

                        "Trust" shall mean each of the trusts provided for in
            Subparagraph E(3) of this Article IV.

                        "Trustee" shall mean any Person unaffiliated with the
            Corporation, or a Purported Beneficial Transferee, or a Purported
            Record Transferee, that is appointed by the Corporation to serve as
            trustee of a Trust.


                                       6
<PAGE>   7
            2.    Restriction on Ownership and Transfers.

                  (a)   From the date of the Initial Public Offering and prior
to the Restriction Termination Date:

                        (i)   except as provided in Subparagraph E(9) of this
Article IV, no Person shall Beneficially Own Common Stock in excess of the
Ownership Limit;

                        (ii)  except as provided in Subparagraph E(9) of this
Article IV, no Person shall Constructively Own in excess of 9.8% by value or
number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock of the Corporation; and

                        (iii) no Person shall Beneficially or Constructively Own
Common Stock to the extent that such Beneficial or Constructive Ownership would
result in the Corporation being "closely held" within the meaning of Section
856(h) of the Code, or otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT (including but not
limited to ownership that would result in the Corporation owning (actually or
Constructively) an interest in a tenant that is described in Section
856(d)(2)(B) of the Code if the income derived by the Corporation (either
directly or indirectly through one or more partnerships) from such tenant would
cause the Corporation to fail to satisfy any of the gross income requirements of
Section 856(c) of the Code).

                  (b)   If, during the period commencing on the date of the
Initial Public Offering and prior to the Restriction Termination Date, any
Transfer or other event occurs that, if effective, would result in any Person
Beneficially or Constructively Owning Common Stock in violation of Subparagraph
E(2)(a) of this Article IV, (i) then that number of shares of Common Stock that
otherwise would cause such Person to violate Subparagraph E(2)(a) of this
Article IV (rounded up to the nearest whole share) shall be automatically
transferred to a Trust for the benefit of a Charitable Beneficiary, as described
in Subparagraph E(3), effective as of the close of business on the business day
prior to the date of such Transfer or other event, and such Purported Beneficial
Transferee shall thereafter have no rights in such shares or (ii) if, for any
reason, the transfer to the Trust described in clause (i) of this sentence is
not automatically effective as provided therein to prevent any Person from
Beneficially or Constructively Owning Common Stock in violation of Subparagraph
E(2)(a) of this Article IV, then the Transfer of that number of shares of Common
Stock that otherwise would cause any Person to violate Subparagraph E(2)(a)
shall be void ab initio, and the Purported Beneficial Transferee shall have no
rights in such shares.

                  (c)   Subject to Section K of this Article IV and
notwithstanding any other provisions contained herein, during the period
commencing on the date of the Initial Public Offering and prior to the
Restriction Termination Date, any Transfer of Common Stock that, if effective, 
would result in the capital stock of the Corporation being beneficially owned 
by less than 100 Persons (determined without reference to any rules of 
attribution) shall be void ab initio, and the intended transferee shall 
acquire no rights in such Common Stock.


                                       7
<PAGE>   8
                  (d)   It is expressly intended that the restrictions on
ownership and Transfer described in this Subparagraph E(2) of Article IV shall
apply to the redemption/exchange rights provided in Section 8.6 of the
Partnership Agreement. Notwithstanding any of the provisions of the Partnership
Agreement to the contrary, a partner of the Operating Partnership shall not be
entitled to effect an exchange of an interest in the Operating Partnership for
Common Stock if the actual or beneficial or Beneficial or Constructive ownership
of Common Stock would be prohibited under the provisions of this Article IV.

            3.    Transfers of Common Stock in Trust.

                  (a)   Upon any purported Transfer or other event described in
Subparagraph E(2)(b) of this Article IV, such Common Stock shall be deemed to
have been transferred to the Trustee in his capacity as trustee of a Trust for
the exclusive benefit of one or more Charitable Beneficiaries. Such transfer to
the Trustee shall be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the
business day prior to the purported Transfer or other event that results in a
transfer to the Trust pursuant to Subparagraph E(2)(b). The Trustee shall be
appointed by the Corporation and shall be a Person unaffiliated with the
Corporation, any Purported Beneficial Transferee, and any Purported Record
Transferee. Each Charitable Beneficiary shall be designated by the Corporation
as provided in Subparagraph E(3)(f) of this Article IV.

                  (b)   Common Stock held by the Trustee shall be issued and
outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation. The Purported Beneficial Transferee
or Purported Record Transferee shall have no rights in the shares of Common
Stock held by the Trustee. The Purported Beneficial Transferee or Purported
Record Transferee shall not benefit economically from ownership of any shares
held in trust by the Trustee, shall have no rights to dividends and shall not
possess any rights to vote or other rights attributable to the shares of Common
Stock held in the Trust.

                  (c)   The Trustee shall have all voting rights and rights to
dividends with respect to Common Stock held in the Trust, which rights shall be
exercised for the exclusive benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. Any dividend
or distribution paid prior to the discovery by the Corporation that shares of
Common Stock have been transferred to the Trustee shall be paid to the Trustee
upon demand, and any dividend or distribution declared but unpaid shall be paid
when due to the Trustee with respect to such Common Stock. Any dividends or
distributions so paid over to the Trustee shall be held in trust for the
Charitable Beneficiary. The Purported Record Transferee and Purported Beneficial
Transferee shall have no voting rights with respect to the Common Stock held in
the Trust and, subject to Maryland law, effective as of the date the Common
Stock has been transferred to the Trustee, the Trustee shall have the authority
(at the Trustee's sole discretion) (i) to rescind as void any vote cast by a
Purported Record Transferee with respect to such Common Stock prior to the
discovery by the Corporation that the Common Stock has been transferred to the
Trustee and (ii) to recast such vote in accordance with the desires of the
Trustee acting for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary; provided, however,
that if the Corporation has already taken irreversible corporate action, then
the Trustee shall not have the authority to rescind and recast such vote.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article IV, 


                                       8
<PAGE>   9
until the Corporation has received notification that the Common Stock has been
transferred into a Trust, the Corporation shall be entitled to rely on its share
transfer and other stockholder records for purposes of preparing lists of
stockholders entitled to vote at meetings, determining the validity and
authority of proxies and otherwise conducting votes of stockholders.

                  (d)   Within 20 days of receiving notice from the Corporation
that shares of Common Stock have been transferred to the Trust, the Trustee of
the Trust shall sell the shares of Common Stock held in the Trust to a person,
designated by the Trustee, whose ownership of the shares of Common Stock will
not violate the ownership limitations set forth in Subparagraph E(2)(a). Upon
such sale, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary in the shares of Common
Stock sold shall terminate and the Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of
the sale to the Purported Record Transferee and to the Charitable Beneficiary as
provided in this Subparagraph E(3)(d). The Purported Record Transferee shall
receive the lesser of (i) the price paid by the Purported Record Transferee for
the shares of Common Stock in the transaction that resulted in such transfer to
the Trust (or, if the event which resulted in the transfer to the Trust did not
involve a purchase of such shares of Common Stock at Market Price, the Market
Price of such shares of Common Stock on the day of the event which resulted in
the transfer of such shares of Common Stock to the Trust) and (ii) the price per
share received by the Trustee (net of any commissions and other expenses of
sale) from the sale or other disposition of the shares of Common Stock held in
the Trust. Any net sales proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the
Purported Record Transferee shall be immediately paid to the Charitable
Beneficiary together with any dividends or other distributions thereon. If,
prior to the discovery by the Corporation that shares of such Common Stock have
been transferred to the Trustee, such shares of Common Stock are sold by a
Purported Record Transferee then (x) such shares of Common Stock shall be deemed
to have been sold on behalf of the Trust and (y) to the extent that the
Purported Record Transferee received an amount for such shares of Common Stock
that exceeds the amount that such Purported Record Transferee was entitled to
receive pursuant to this Subparagraph E(3)(d), such excess shall be paid to the
Trustee upon demand.

                  (e)   Common Stock transferred to the Trustee shall be deemed
to have been offered for sale to the Corporation, or its designee, at a price
per share equal to the lesser of (i) the price paid by the Purported Record
Transferee for the shares of Common Stock in the transaction that resulted in
such transfer to the Trust (or, if the event which resulted in the transfer to
the Trust did not involve a purchase of such shares of Common Stock at Market
Price, the Market Price of such shares of Common Stock on the day of the event
which resulted in the transfer of such shares of Common Stock to the Trust) and
(ii) the Market Price on the date the Corporation, or its designee, accepts such
offer. The Corporation shall have the right to accept such offer until the
Trustee has sold the shares of Common Stock held in the Trust pursuant to
Subparagraph E(3)(d). Upon such a sale to the Corporation, the interest of the
Charitable Beneficiary in the shares of Common Stock sold shall terminate and
the Trustee shall distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the Purported
Record Transferee and any dividends or other distributions held by the Trustee
with respect to such Common Stock shall thereupon be paid to the Charitable
Beneficiary.


                                       9
<PAGE>   10
                  (f)   By written notice to the Trustee, the Corporation shall
designate one or more nonprofit organizations to be the Charitable Beneficiary
of the interest in the Trust such that (i) the shares of Common Stock held in
the Trust would not violate the restrictions set forth in Subparagraph E(2)(a)
in the hands of such Charitable Beneficiary and (ii) each Charitable Beneficiary
is an organization described in Sections 170(b)(1)(A), 170(c)(2) or 501(c)(3) of
the Code.

            4.    Remedies For Breach. If the Board of Directors or a committee
thereof or other designees if permitted by the MGCL shall at any time determine
in good faith that a Transfer or other event has taken place in violation of
Subparagraph E(2) of this Article IV or that a Person intends to acquire, has
attempted to acquire or may acquire beneficial ownership (determined without
reference to any rules of attribution), Beneficial Ownership or Constructive
Ownership of any shares of the Corporation in violation of Subparagraph E(2) of
this Article IV, the Board of Directors or a committee thereof or other
designees if permitted by the MGCL shall take such action as it deems advisable
to refuse to give effect or to prevent such Transfer, including, but not limited
to, causing the Corporation to redeem shares of Common Stock, refusing to give
effect to such Transfer on the books of the Corporation or instituting
proceedings to enjoin such Transfer; provided, however, that any Transfers (or,
in the case of events other than a Transfer, ownership or Constructive Ownership
or Beneficial Ownership) in violation of Subparagraph E(2)(a) of this Article
IV, shall automatically result in the transfer to a Trust as described in
Subparagraph E(2)(b) and any Transfer in violation of Subparagraph E(2)(c) shall
automatically be void ab initio irrespective of any action (or non-action) by
the Board of Directors.

            5.    Notice of Restricted Transfer. Any Person who acquires or
attempts to acquire shares in violation of Subparagraph E(2) of this Article IV,
or any Person who is a Purported Beneficial Transferee such that an automatic
transfer to a Trust results under Subparagraph E(2)(b) of this Article IV, shall
immediately give written notice to the Corporation of such event and shall
provide to the Corporation such other information as the Corporation may request
in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Transfer or attempted Transfer
on the Corporation's status as a REIT.

            6.    Owners Required to Provide Information. From the date of the
Initial Public Offering and prior to the Restriction Termination Date each
Person who is a beneficial owner or Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner of
shares of Common Stock and each Person (including the stockholder of record) who
is holding shares of Common Stock for a beneficial owner or Beneficial Owner or
Constructive Owner shall, on demand, provide to the Corporation a completed
questionnaire containing the information regarding their ownership of such
shares, as set forth in the regulations (as in effect from time to time) of the
U.S. Department of Treasury under the Code. In addition, each Person who is a
beneficial owner or Beneficial Owner or Constructive Owner of shares of Common
Stock and each Person (including the stockholder of record) who is holding
shares of Common Stock for a beneficial owner or Beneficial Owner or
Constructive Owner shall, on demand, be required to disclose to the Corporation
in writing such information as the Corporation may request in order to determine
the effect, if any, of such stockholder's actual and constructive ownership of
shares of Common Stock on the 


                                       10
<PAGE>   11
Corporation's status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the Ownership
Limit, or as otherwise permitted by the Board of Directors.

            7.    Remedies Not Limited. Nothing contained in this Article IV
(but subject to Paragraph K of this Article IV) shall limit the authority of the
Board of Directors to take such other action as it deems necessary or advisable
to protect the Corporation and the interests of its stockholders by preservation
of the Corporation's status as a REIT.

            8.    Ambiguity. In the case of an ambiguity in the application of
any of the provisions of this Paragraph E of this Article IV, including any
definition contained in Subparagraph E(1), the Board of Directors shall have the
power to determine the application of the provisions of this Paragraph E with
respect to any situation based on the facts known to it (subject, however, to
the provisions of Paragraph K of this Article IV). In the event Paragraph E
requires an action by the Board of Directors and these Articles of Incorporation
fail to provide specific guidance with respect to such action, the Board of
Directors shall have the power to determine the action to be taken so long as
such action is not contrary to the provisions of Paragraph E. Absent a decision
to the contrary by the Board of Directors (which the Board may make in its sole
and absolute discretion), if a Person would have (but for the remedies set forth
in Subparagraph E(2)(b)) acquired Beneficial or Constructive Ownership of Common
Stock in violation of Subparagraph E(2)(a), such remedies (as applicable) shall
apply first to the shares of Common Stock which, but for such remedies, would
have been actually owned by such Person, and second to shares of Common Stock
which, but for such remedies, would have been Beneficially Owned or
Constructively Owned (but not actually owned) by such Person, pro rata among the
Persons who actually own such shares of Common Stock based upon the relative
number of the shares of Common Stock held by each such Person.

            9.    Exceptions.

                  (a)   Subject to Subparagraph E(2)(a)(iii) of this Article IV,
the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may exempt a Person from the
limitation on a Person Beneficially Owning shares of Common Stock in excess of
the Ownership Limit if the Board determines that no individual's Beneficial
Ownership of such shares of Common Stock will violate the Ownership Limit or
that any such violation will not cause the Corporation to fail to qualify as a
REIT under the Code; in granting such exemption, the Board of Directors may
require such Person to make certain representations or undertakings or to agree
that any violation of such representations or undertakings (or other action
which is contrary to the restrictions contained in Subparagraph E(2) of this
Article IV) or attempted violation will result in such Common Stock being
transferred to a Trust in accordance with Subparagraph E(2)(b) of this Article
IV.

                  (b)   Subject to Subparagraph E(2)(a)(iii) of this Article IV,
the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may exempt a Person from the
limitation on a Person Constructively Owning Common Stock in excess of 9.8% (by
value or by number of shares of Common Stock, whichever is more restrictive) of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Corporation, if such Person does
not and represents that it will not own, actually or 


                                       11

<PAGE>   12
Constructively, an interest in a tenant of the Corporation (or a tenant of any
entity owned in whole or in part by the Corporation) that would cause the
Corporation to own, actually or Constructively more than a 9.8% interest (as set
forth in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code) in such tenant and the Corporation
obtains such representations and undertakings from such Person as are reasonably
necessary to ascertain this fact and agrees that any violation or attempted
violation will result in such Common Stock being transferred to a Trust in
accordance with Subparagraph E(2)(b) of this Article IV. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the inability of a Person to make the representations or undertakings
described in this Subparagraph E(9)(b) shall not prevent the Board of Directors,
in its sole discretion, from exempting such Person from the limitation on a
Person Constructively Owning Common Stock in excess of 9.8% of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock if the Board of Directors determines that the resulting
application of Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code would not adversely affect the
characterization of the Corporation as a REIT in any taxable year.

                  (c)   Prior to granting any exception pursuant to Subparagraph
E(9)(a) or (b) of this Article IV, the Board of Directors may require a ruling
from the IRS, or an opinion of counsel, in either case in form and substance
satisfactory to the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, as it may deem
necessary or advisable in order to determine or ensure the Corporation's status
as a REIT.

      F.    Preemptive Rights. No holder of shares of stock of any class shall
have any preemptive or preferential right to subscribe or to purchase any
additional shares of any class, or any bonds or convertible securities of any
nature; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may, in authorizing the
issuance of shares of stock of any class or series, confer any preemptive or
preferential right that the Board of Directors may deem advisable in connection
with such issuance.

      G.    Legends. Each certificate for Common Stock and Preferred Stock shall
bear the following legends:

                                Classes of Stock

   "THE CORPORATION IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE CAPITAL STOCK OF MORE THAN ONE CLASS,
   CONSISTING OF COMMON STOCK AND ONE OR MORE CLASSES OF PREFERRED STOCK. THE
   BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS AUTHORIZED TO DETERMINE THE PREFERENCES, LIMITATIONS
   AND RELATIVE RIGHTS OF ANY CLASS OF PREFERRED STOCK BEFORE THE ISSUANCE
   OF SHARES OF SUCH CLASS OF PREFERRED STOCK. THE CORPORATION WILL FURNISH,
   WITHOUT CHARGE, TO ANY STOCKHOLDER MAKING A WRITTEN REQUEST THEREFOR, A COPY
   OF THE CORPORATION'S CHARTER AND A WRITTEN STATEMENT OF THE DESIGNATIONS,
   RELATIVE RIGHTS, PREFERENCES, CONVERSION OR OTHER RIGHTS, VOTING POWERS,
   RESTRICTIONS, LIMITATIONS AS TO 


                                       12


<PAGE>   13
   DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS, QUALIFICATIONS AND TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF
   REDEMPTION OF THE STOCK OF EACH CLASS WHICH THE CORPORATION HAS THE AUTHORITY
   TO ISSUE AND, IF THE CORPORATION IS AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE ANY PREFERRED OR
   SPECIAL CLASS IN SERIES, (i) THE DIFFERENCES IN THE RELATIVE RIGHTS AND
   PREFERENCES BETWEEN THE SHARES OF EACH SERIES TO THE EXTENT SET, AND (ii) THE
   AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO SET SUCH RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES OF
   SUBSEQUENT SERIES. REQUESTS FOR SUCH WRITTEN STATEMENT MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE
   SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION AT ITS PRINCIPAL OFFICE."

                      RESTRICTION ON OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER

"THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE ARE SUBJECT TO
RESTRICTIONS ON BENEFICIAL AND CONSTRUCTIVE OWNERSHIP AND TRANSFER FOR THE
PURPOSE OF THE CORPORATION'S MAINTENANCE OF ITS STATUS AS A REAL ESTATE
INVESTMENT TRUST UNDER THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986, AS AMENDED (THE
"CODE"). SUBJECT TO CERTAIN FURTHER RESTRICTIONS AND EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY
PROVIDED IN THE CORPORATION'S CHARTER, (i) NO PERSON MAY BENEFICIALLY OR
CONSTRUCTIVELY OWN SHARES OF THE CORPORATION'S COMMON STOCK IN EXCESS OF 9.8%
(BY VALUE OR BY NUMBER OF SHARES, WHICHEVER IS MORE RESTRICTIVE) OF THE
OUTSTANDING COMMON STOCK OF THE CORPORATION; (ii) NO PERSON MAY BENEFICIALLY OR
CONSTRUCTIVELY OWN SHARES OF COMMON STOCK THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE CORPORATION
BEING "CLOSELY HELD" UNDER SECTION 856(h) OF THE CODE OR OTHERWISE CAUSE THE
CORPORATION TO FAIL TO QUALIFY AS A REIT; AND (iii) NO PERSON MAY TRANSFER
SHARES OF COMMON STOCK IF SUCH TRANSFER WOULD RESULT IN THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE
CORPORATION BEING OWNED BY FEWER THAN 100 PERSONS. ANY PERSON WHO BENEFICIALLY
OR CONSTRUCTIVELY OWNS OR ATTEMPTS TO BENEFICIALLY OR CONSTRUCTIVELY OWN SHARES
OF COMMON STOCK IN VIOLATION OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS MUST IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY
THE CORPORATION. IF ANY OF THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OR OWNERSHIP ARE
VIOLATED, THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK REPRESENTED HEREBY WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY
TRANSFERRED TO THE TRUSTEE OF A TRUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF ONE OR MORE CHARITABLE
BENEFICIARIES. IN ADDITION, THE CORPORATION MAY REDEEM SHARES UPON THE TERMS AND
CONDITIONS SPECIFIED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN ITS SOLE 


                                       13
<PAGE>   14
   DISCRETION IF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS DETERMINES THAT OWNERSHIP OR A TRANSFER
   OR OTHER EVENT MAY VIOLATE THE RESTRICTIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE. FURTHERMORE,
   UPON THE OCCURRENCE OF CERTAIN EVENTS, ATTEMPTED TRANSFERS IN VIOLATION OF
   THE RESTRICTIONS DESCRIBED ABOVE MAY BE VOID AB INITIO. ALL TERMS IN THIS
   LEGEND THAT ARE DEFINED IN THE CHARTER OF THE CORPORATION SHALL HAVE THE
   MEANINGS ASCRIBED TO THEM IN THE CHARTER OF THE CORPORATION, AS THE SAME MAY
   BE AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME, A COPY OF WHICH, INCLUDING THE RESTRICTIONS ON
   TRANSFER AND OWNERSHIP, WILL BE FURNISHED TO EACH HOLDER OF SHARES OF COMMON
   STOCK ON REQUEST AND WITHOUT CHARGE. REQUESTS FOR SUCH A COPY MAY BE DIRECTED
   TO THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION AT ITS PRINCIPAL OFFICE."

      H.    Exchange of OP Units. So long as the Corporation remains the general
partner of the Operating Partnership, the Board of Directors of the Corporation
is hereby expressly vested with authority (subject to the restrictions on
ownership, transfer and redemption of Common Stock set forth in this Article IV)
to issue, and shall issue to the extent provided in the Partnership Agreement,
Common Stock in exchange for the units into which partnership interests of the
Operating Partnership are divided (the "OP Units"), and as the same may be
adjusted, as provided in the Partnership Agreement, subject to the limits on
the Transfer and Ownership of Common Stock set forth in paragraph E. of this
Article IV.

      I.    Reservation of Shares. Pursuant to the obligations of the
Corporation under the Partnership Agreement to issue Common Stock in exchange
for OP Units, the Board of Directors is hereby required to reserve and authorize
for issuance a sufficient number of authorized but unissued shares of Common
Stock to permit the Corporation to issue Common Stock in exchange for OP Units
that may be exchanged for Common Stock as provided in the Partnership Agreement.

      J.    Severability. If any provision of this Article IV or any application
of any such provision is determined to be invalid by any federal or state court
having jurisdiction over the issues, the validity of the remaining provisions
shall not be affected and other applications of such provision shall be affected
only to the extent necessary to comply with the determination of such court.

      K.    New York Stock Exchange. Nothing in this Article IV shall preclude
the settlement of any transaction entered into through the facilities of the New
York Stock Exchange. The shares of Common Stock that are the subject of such
transaction shall continue to be subject to the provisions of this Article IV
after such settlement.

                                   ARTICLE V
                               CORPORATE EXISTENCE

      A.    The Corporation is to have perpetual existence.


                                       14
<PAGE>   15
                                   ARTICLE VI
                                      BOARD

               The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by
the Board of Directors. The Corporation shall have a board of three (3)
directors until that number is increased or decreased in accordance with the
Bylaws of the Corporation, provided that, immediately following the consummation
of the Initial Public Offering (as defined in Article IV hereof), the
Corporation shall have a board of ten (10) directors until that number is
increased or decreased in accordance with the Bylaws of the Corporation.
However, the number of directors shall never be less than the minimum number
required by the MGCL. The following persons shall be the initial directors of
the Corporation until the expiration of their terms as set forth in Paragraph B
of this Article VI:

                                Douglas D. Abbey
                                 T. Robert Burke
                                Hamid R. Moghadam

      A.    In the event of any increase or decrease in the authorized number of
directors, each director then serving shall nevertheless continue as a director
until the expiration of his term or his prior death, retirement, resignation or
removal.

      B.    Each director (other than any director who may be elected by holders
of Preferred Stock as provided for pursuant to Article IV hereof), shall serve
until his successor is elected and qualified or until his earlier death,
retirement, resignation or removal.

      C.    Except as may otherwise be provided pursuant to Article IV hereof
with respect to any rights of holders of Preferred Stock to elect additional
directors or any agreement relating to the right to designate nominees for
election to the Board of Directors, should a vacancy in the Board of Directors
occur or be created (whether arising through death, retirement or resignation),
such vacancy shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
remaining directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors
or, in the case of a vacancy resulting from an increase in the number of
directors, by a majority of the Board of Directors. In the case of a vacancy
created by the removal of a director, the vacancy shall be filled by the
stockholders at the next annual meeting of the stockholders or at a special
meeting of the stockholders called for such purpose, provided, however, that
such vacancy may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
remaining directors (subject to approval by the stockholders at the next annual
meeting of the stockholders or at a special meeting of the stockholders called
for such purpose). A director so elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the
remainder of the term. If the stockholders of any class or series of Preferred
Stock are entitled separately to elect one or more directors, the stockholders
of that class or series shall fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors which
results from the removal of a director elected by that class or series.

      D.    During any period when the holders of any class of Preferred Stock
have the right to elect additional directors as provided for or fixed pursuant
to the provisions of Article 


                                       15
<PAGE>   16
IV hereof, then upon commencement and for the duration of the period during
which such right continues (i) the then otherwise total and authorized number of
directors of the Corporation shall automatically be increased by that number of
such additional directors, and the holders of such Preferred Stock shall be
entitled to elect the additional directors so provided for or fixed pursuant to
said provisions, and (ii) each such additional director shall serve until such
director's successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, or until such
director's right to hold such office terminates pursuant to said provisions,
whichever occurs earlier, subject to his earlier death, disqualification,
resignation or removal. Except as otherwise provided by the Board of Directors
in the resolution or resolutions establishing such class, whenever the holders
of any class of Preferred Stock having such right to elect additional directors
are divested of such right pursuant to the provisions of such stock, the term of
office of all such additional directors elected by the holders of such stock, or
elected to fill any vacancies resulting from the death, resignation,
disqualification or removal of such additional directors, shall forthwith
terminate and the total and authorized number of directors of the Corporation
shall be reduced accordingly.

                                  ARTICLE VII
                           RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

      A.    Without limiting any other procedures available by law or otherwise
to the Corporation, the Board of Directors may authorize any agreement or other
transaction with any person, corporation, association, company, trust, limited
liability company, partnership (limited or general) or other organization,
although one or more of the directors or officers of the Corporation may be a
party to any such agreement or an officer, director, stockholder, member or
partner (general or limited) of such other party (an "Interested
Officer/Director"), and no such agreement or transaction shall be invalidated or
rendered void or voidable solely by reason of the existence of any such
relationship if: (i) the existence is disclosed or known to the Board of
Directors, and the contract or transaction is authorized, approved or ratified
by the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the disinterested
directors, even if they constitute less than a quorum of the Board of Directors;
(ii) the existence is disclosed to the stockholders entitled to vote, and the
contract or transaction is authorized, approved or ratified by a majority of the
votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote, other than the votes of the
shares held of record by the Interested Officers/Directors or by any
corporation, association, company, trust, limited liability company, partnership
(limited or general) or other organization in which any Interested
Officer/Director is a director or has a material financial interest; or (iii)
the contract or transaction is fair and reasonable to the Corporation. Any
Interested Officer/Director, or the stock owned by them or by a corporation,
association, company, trust, limited liability company, partnership (limited or
general) or other organization in which an Interested Officer/Director may have
an interest, may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting
of the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors or at a
meeting of the stockholders, as the case may be, at which the contract or
transaction is authorized, approved or ratified.


                                       16
<PAGE>   17
                                  ARTICLE VIII
                 DIRECTOR AND OFFICER LIABILITY; INDEMNIFICATION

      A.    To the maximum extent that Maryland law in effect from time to time
permits limitation of the liability of directors and officers, no director or
officer of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its
stockholders for money damages. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this
Article, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Charter of
the Corporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation inconsistent with this Article,
shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding
sentence with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such
amendment, repeal or adoption.

      B.    The Corporation shall indemnify, in the manner and to the maximum
extent permitted by law, any person (or the estate of any person) who is or was
a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether or not by or in the right of the
Corporation, and whether civil, criminal, administrative, investigative, or
otherwise, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or
officer of the Corporation or that such person while a director or officer of
the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a
director, officer, trustee, partner, member, agent or employee of another
corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the
indemnification provided herein shall include expenses (including attorneys'
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement, and any such expenses
may be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such
action, suit or proceeding. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article,
nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Charter of the
Corporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation inconsistent with this Article,
shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of this Paragraph B of
Article VIII with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to
such amendment, repeal or adoption.

      The indemnification and reimbursement of expenses provided herein shall
not be deemed to limit the right of the Corporation to indemnify any other
person against any liability and expenses to the fullest extent permitted by
law, nor shall it be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which any person
seeking indemnification from the Corporation may be entitled under any
agreement, the Charter of the Corporation or the Bylaws of the Corporation, a
vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action
in such person's official capacity as an officer or director and as to action in
another capacity, at the request of the Corporation, while acting as an officer
or director of the Corporation.

                                   ARTICLE IX
                              ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

      Elections of directors need not be by written ballot unless the Bylaws of
the Corporation shall so provide.


                                       17
<PAGE>   18
                                   ARTICLE X
                         CERTAIN POWERS OF THE DIRECTORS

      A.    Determinations by Board. The determination as to any of the
following matters, made in good faith by or pursuant to the direction of the
Board of Directors consistent with the Charter of the Corporation and in the
absence of actual receipt of an improper benefit in money, property or services
or active and deliberate dishonesty established by a court, shall be final and
conclusive and shall be binding upon the Corporation and every holder of shares
of its stock: the amount of the net income of the Corporation for any period and
the amount of assets at any time legally available for the payment of dividends,
redemption of its stock or the payment of other distributions on its stock; the
amount of paid-in surplus, net assets, other surplus, annual or other net
profit, net assets in excess of capital, undivided profits or excess of profits
over losses on sales of assets; the amount, purpose, time of creation, increase
or decrease, alteration or cancellation of any reserves or charges and the
propriety thereof (whether or not any obligation or liability for which such
reserves or charges shall have been created shall have been paid or discharged);
the fair value, or any sale, bid or asked price to be applied in determining the
fair value, of any asset owned or held by the Corporation; and any matters
relating to the acquisition, holding and disposition of any assets by the
Corporation.

      B.    REIT Qualification. Subject to paragraph (K) of Article IV hereof,
the Board of Directors shall use its reasonable best efforts to take such
actions as are necessary or appropriate to preserve the status of the
Corporation as a REIT; however, if the Board of Directors determines that it is
no longer in the best interests of the Corporation to qualify or continue to be
qualified as a REIT and such determination is approved by the affirmative vote
of holders of at least two-thirds of the shares of the Corporation's capital
stock outstanding and entitled to vote thereon, the Board of Directors may
revoke or otherwise terminate the Corporation's REIT election pursuant to
Section 856(g) of the Code. The Board of Directors also may determine that
compliance with any restriction or limitation on stock ownership and transfers
set forth in Article IV is no longer required for REIT qualification.

      C.    Advisor Agreements. Subject to such approval of stockholders and
other conditions, if any, as may be required by any applicable statute, rule or
regulation, the Board of Directors may authorize the execution and performance
by the Corporation of one or more agreements with any person, corporation,
association, company, trust, partnership (limited or general) or other
organization whereby, subject to the supervision and control of the Board of
Directors, any such other person, corporation, association, company, trust,
partnership (limited or general) or other organization shall render or make
available to the Corporation managerial, investment, advisory and/or related
services, office space and other services and facilities (including, if deemed
advisable by the Board of Directors, the management or supervision of the
investments of the Corporation) upon such terms and conditions as may be
provided in such agreement or agreements (including, if deemed fair and
equitable by the Board of Directors, the compensation payable thereunder by the
Corporation).

      D.    Irrevocable Resolutions. The Board of Directors may designate any of
its resolutions to be "irrevocable." Resolutions so designated may not be
revoked, altered or 


                                       18
<PAGE>   19
amended subsequently by the Board of Directors without the approval of the
holders of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Corporation
by the affirmative vote of a majority of all votes entitled to be cast in
respect of such shares of Common Stock.

                                   ARTICLE XI
                              REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS

      Subject to the rights of one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock
to elect one or more directors, any director, or the entire Board of Directors,
may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and then only by the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least two thirds of the votes entitled to
be cast in the election of directors.

                                   ARTICLE XII
                                   AMENDMENTS

      Subject to the provisions hereof, the Corporation reserves the right at
any time, and from time to time, to amend, alter, repeal, or rescind any
provision of its Charter, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by law,
including without limitation any amendment altering the terms or contract
rights, as expressly set forth in the Charter of the Corporation, of any
outstanding shares of stock; and other provisions authorized or permitted by the
laws of the State of Maryland at the time in force may be added or inserted, in
the manner now or hereafter prescribed by law; and all rights, preferences and
privileges of whatsoever nature conferred upon stockholders, directors, or any
other persons whomsoever by and pursuant to the Charter of the Corporation in
its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to this
reservation.


                    [Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank.]


                                       19
<PAGE>   20
      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, AMB Property Corporation has caused these Articles of
Incorporation to be executed in its name and on its behalf by its President and
its corporate seal to be affixed and attested to by its Secretary on this ____
day of November, 1997 and its said President acknowledges that these Articles of
Incorporation are the corporate act of the said Corporation and further
certifies, under penalties of perjury, that to the best of his knowledge,
information and belief, matters and facts set forth herein are true in all
material respects.



      ATTEST                           AMB PROPERTY CORPORATION



      ---------------------------      -------------------------------
      S. Davis Carniglia               Hamid R. Moghadam
      Secretary                        President
