SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C.  20549
                                       
                                       
                                   FORM 8-K
                                       
                                       
                                CURRENT REPORT
                                       
                                       
                    Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                        Securities Exchange Act of 1934
                                       
                                       
     Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) :  September 3, 1997 
                                                        (August 28, 1997)
                                       
                                       
                          SIMON DeBARTOLO GROUP, L.P.
                                       
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
                                       
                                       
        Delaware                   333-11491                 34-1755769
(State or other jurisdiction      (Commission              (IRS Employer
     of incorporation)            File Number)          Identification No.)



                          115 WEST WASHINGTON STREET
                     INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA        46204
            (Address of principal executive offices)(Zip Code)


       Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  317.636.1600
                                       
                                       
                                Not Applicable
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
                                       
                                       

Item 5.  Other Events


     On  August 28, 1997, Simon DeBartolo Group, L.P. commenced a tender  offer
to  purchase all of the outstanding beneficial interests in The Retail Property
Trust.  A copy of the Offer to Purchase for Cash and the Addendum thereto, both
dated  August 28, 1997, are attached hereto and incorporated herein as Exhibits
99.1  and  99.2, respectively.  A copy of the September 3, 1997  press  release
announcing the tender offer is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.3.



Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

     Financial Statements:

          None


     Exhibits:


Exhibit No.    Description
- -----------    -----------
99.1           Offer  to Purchase for Cash All Outstanding Beneficial Interests
               (the "Shares") in The Retail Property Trust

99.2           Addendum to Offer for Purchase

99.3           Press Release dated September 3, 1997




                                  SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


     Dated:  September 3, 1997


                                 SIMON DeBARTOLO GROUP, L.P.
                                 By: Simon DeBartolo Group, Inc.
                                     General Partner

                                 By: /s/ James M. Barkley
                                 -------------------------
                                 James M. Barkley,
                                 Secretary/General Counsel

                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.1

                          OFFER TO PURCHASE FOR CASH
                                       
            All Outstanding Beneficial Interests (the "Shares") in
                                       
                           THE RETAIL PROPERTY TRUST
                                       
                                  for $17.50
                                       
                                 NET PER SHARE
                                       
                                      by
                                       
                          SIMON DeBARTOLO GROUP, L.P.
                                       
                                       
                                       
 THE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 12:00 MIDNIGHT, NEW YORK CITY
     TIME, ON SEPTEMBER 25, 1997, UNLESS EXTENDED (THE "EXPIRATION DATE").
                                       
                                       
                                       
   THE OFFER IS CONDITIONED UPON, AMONG OTHER THINGS (I) THERE BEING VALIDLY
 TENDERED AND NOT WITHDRAWN PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE THAT NUMBER OF SHARES
 WHICH, TOGETHER WITH SHARES OWNED BY SIMON DEBARTOLO GROUP, L.P. ("SDG") AND
 ITS AFFILIATES, CONSTITUTES AT LEAST A MAJORITY OF THE SHARES OUTSTANDING ON
 THE EXPIRATION DATE, AND (II) SDG HAVING THE EXCLUSIVE POWER AND AUTHORITY TO
 EFFECT A MERGER OF SHOPPING CENTER ASSOCIATES, A NEW YORK GENERAL PARTNERSHIP
("SCA") WITH SDG AND MAKE AND IMPLEMENT ALL "MAJOR DECISIONS" (AS THAT TERM IS
  DEFINED IN THE PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT OF SCA), INCLUDING THE ABILITY TO (A)
    DIRECT THE DISPOSITION OF SCA'S ASSETS, AND (B) TERMINATE ANY EXISTING
 MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS FOR PROPERTIES OWNED IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY SCA AND ITS
                                  AFFILIATES.
                                       
          THE OFFER IS NOT CONDITIONED UPON SDG OBTAINING FINANCING.
                                       
                                       
                                       
                             IMPORTANT INFORMATION
                                       
  Any holder desiring to tender Shares should complete and sign the enclosed
     Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile thereof) in accordance with the
    instructions in the Letter of Transmittal, and deliver it and any other
    required documents to the First Chicago Trust Company of New York (the
"Depositary"), together with such Shares (or tender such Shares pursuant to the
      procedure for book-entry transfer set forth under the caption "THE
 OFFER_Procedure for Tendering Shares"). A holder who has Shares registered in
 the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee
   must contact such broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other
nominee if he desires to tender such Shares and request such nominee to effect
                        the transaction on his behalf.
                                       
 Any holder who desires to tender Shares and whose Shares are not immediately
 available, or who cannot otherwise deliver such Shares and any other required
documents to the Depositary by the Expiration Date, or who cannot timely comply
with the procedure for book-entry transfer, may tender such Shares pursuant to
      the guaranteed delivery procedure set forth under the caption "THE
          OFFER_Procedure for Tendering Shares_Guaranteed Delivery."
                                       
Questions and requests for assistance or for additional copies of this Offer to
   Purchase or the accompanying Letter of Transmittal may be directed to the
 Dealer Manager at the address and telephone number set forth on the last page
                          of this Offer to Purchase.
                                       
                                       
                                       
                     The Dealer Manager for the Offer is:
                                       
                              MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
                                       
                                       
                                       
     NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATION IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER, OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED HEREIN
     OR IN THE ACCOMPANYING LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. IF MADE OR GIVEN, SUCH
  RECOMMENDATION OR ANY SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED
                    UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY SDG.
                                       
            The date of this Offer to Purchase is August 28, 1997.
                                       


                               Table Of Contents
                                                                         Page

SUMMARY                                                                   1
The Offer                                                                 1
SDG                                                                       1
Expiration Date                                                           1
Certain Consequences to Non-Tendering Holders                             1

GENERAL INFORMATION                                                       2
Introduction                                                              2
Background of the Offer                                                   2
Purpose of the Offer                                                      4
SDG                                                                       4
Source of Funds                                                           5
Impact On Shares Outstanding After the Offer                              5

THE OFFER                                                                 5
Terms of the Offer                                                        5
Withdrawal Rights                                                         6
Purchase of Shares; Payment of Purchase Price                             6
Procedure for Tendering Shares                                            7
Conditions of the Offer                                                   9
Extension; Termination; Amendments                                       11

THE DEPOSITARY                                                           11

FEES AND EXPENSES                                                        11

MISCELLANEOUS                                                            12

 i



                                    SUMMARY
                                       
     The following summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
detailed information contained elsewhere in this Offer to Purchase. Capitalized
terms not otherwise defined in this summary have the meanings ascribed to them
elsewhere in this Offer to Purchase.

The Offer

     Simon DeBartolo Group, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("SDG"), is
offering to purchase for cash all of the outstanding beneficial interests (the
"Shares") in The Retail Property Trust, a Massachusetts business trust ("RPT"),
for $17.50 net per Share, in cash, upon the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth in this Offer to Purchase and in the Letter of Transmittal (the
"Offer").

     The Offer is designed to maximize value and liquidity for RPT's
shareholders and is being made as a result of, among other things, a
solicitation by the Board of Trustees of RPT, through the financial advisor of
the unaffiliated Trustees of RPT, of expressions of interest concerning a
possible transaction with RPT and Shopping Center Associates, a New York
general partnership ("SCA"), and the desire recently expressed by several of
RPT's significant shareholders to market their holdings.

     The Offer is conditioned upon, among other things (i) there being validly
tendered and not withdrawn prior to the Expiration Date that number of Shares
which, together with Shares owned by SDG and its affiliates, constitutes at
least a majority of the Shares outstanding on the Expiration Date, and (ii) SDG
having the exclusive power and authority to effect a merger of SCA with SDG and
to make and implement all "Major Decisions" (as that term is defined in the
partnership agreement of SCA), including the ability to (a) direct the
disposition of SCA's assets and (b) terminate any existing management contracts
for properties owned in whole or in part by SCA and its affiliates.

     The Offer is not conditioned upon SDG obtaining financing.

     According to RPT's Quarterly Report to Shareholders for the quarter ended
March 31, 1997, there were 38,376,000 Shares outstanding as of March 31, 1997.
As of the date hereof SDG beneficially owns 2,257,562 Shares, representing
approximately 5.9% of the outstanding Shares, excluding treasury Shares. The
Shares beneficially owned by SDG were recently acquired in open market
purchases. See "GENERAL INFORMATION_Background of the Offer."

     Consummation of the Offer is subject to certain other conditions described
in this Offer to Purchase. See "THE OFFER_Conditions of the Offer."  Subject to
compliance with applicable securities laws and the terms set forth in this
Offer to Purchase, SDG reserves the right (i) to waive any and all conditions
to the Offer, (ii) to extend or to terminate the Offer, and (iii) otherwise to
amend the Offer in any respect. Any such waiver, extension or amendment may be
made by press release or such other means of announcement as SDG deems
appropriate. See "THE OFFER_Terms of the Offer."

SDG

     Information regarding SDG is set forth in the following documents (which
documents are annexed hereto as Appendices A and B):  (i) SDG's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996; and (ii) SDG's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the six months ended June 30, 1997.

     
     
Expiration Date

     The Offer will expire at 12:00 Midnight, New York City time, on September
25, 1997 (the "Expiration Date"), unless and until SDG shall have extended the
period of time during which the Offer is open, in which event the Expiration
Date will be the latest time and date at which the Offer, as so extended by
SDG, expires.

Certain Consequences to Non-Tendering Holders

     There is currently a limited trading market for the Shares. The successful
completion of the Offer could result in the trading market for the Shares
becoming more limited, which could adversely affect the liquidity and increase
the volatility of the trading prices of the Shares. See "GENERAL
INFORMATION_Impact on Shares Outstanding After the Offer."



 1



                              GENERAL INFORMATION




Introduction

     Simon  DeBartolo  Group,  L.P.,  a Delaware limited  partnership  ("SDG"),
hereby  offers to purchase for cash all of the outstanding beneficial interests
(the  "Shares")  in The Retail Property Trust, a Massachusetts  business  trust
("RPT"),  for $17.50 net per Share. The Offer is being made upon the terms  and
subject  to  the  conditions set forth in this Offer to  Purchase  and  in  the
accompanying Letter of Transmittal.

     Tendering holders of Shares will not be obligated to pay brokerage fees or
commissions  or,  except  as  set  forth in Instruction  6  of  the  Letter  of
Transmittal,  transfer taxes on the purchase of Shares pursuant to  the  Offer.
SDG  will pay all fees and expenses of Merrill Lynch & Co., which is acting  as
the  dealer manager (the "Dealer Manager"), and the First Chicago Trust Company
of  New  York,  which  is  acting  as  the depositary  (the  "Depositary"),  in
connection with the Offer.

     Holders  of Shares who are not holders of Shares on the register  therefor
should  (i)  obtain  a  properly  completed  Letter  of  Transmittal  from  the
registered  holder  with signatures guaranteed by an Eligible  Institution  (as
defined in "THE OFFER_Procedure for Tendering Shares"), (ii) obtain and include
with  the  Letter of Transmittal Shares properly endorsed for transfer  by  the
registered  holder or accompanied by a properly completed bond power  from  the
registered  holder, with signatures guaranteed by an Eligible  Institution,  or
(iii)  effect a record transfer of such Shares and comply with the requirements
applicable  to  registered holders for tendering prior to the Expiration  Date.
Any  Shares  validly tendered prior to the Expiration Date,  accompanied  by  a
properly completed Letter of Transmittal and accepted by SDG for purchase, will
be  transferred of record by the transfer agent as of the Expiration Date  upon
the request of SDG.

     
     
Background of the Offer

     SDG  has been extremely interested in acquiring control of, and the entire
beneficial  interest in, RPT for a long period of time. However,  since  April,
1997,  the  Trustees of RPT have rejected SDG's attempts to obtain  information
regarding SCA afforded other interested bidders for SCA's assets.

     On  June 27, 1997, in a letter to the shareholders of RPT, William Dickey,
on  behalf  of the unaffiliated trustees of RPT (the "Special Committee"),  set
forth the status of the strategic alternatives being considered by the Board of
RPT  with a mind to "maximize shareholder value and create liquidity"  for  the
shareholders of RPT.

     The  letter  outlined  the process by which in November,  1996  the  Board
investigated  strategic alternatives for RPT by appointing a Special  Committee
(of which Mr. Dickey is a member) and hiring Lazard Freres & Co. LLC ("Lazard")
to  act as financial advisor. According to the letter, in December, 1996 Lazard
began  to  analyze  the alternatives available to RPT, which included  a  sale,
merger  or  other  combination  with an existing  publicly-traded  real  estate
investment trust (a "REIT") and a liquidation of the assets of SCA. In January,
1997,  a  group  led  by  Jeremiah O'Connor, a trustee of  RPT  (the  "O'Connor
Group"),  notified the Board that it was engaged in negotiations for a proposed
transaction   involving  SCA  assets.  In  March,  1997,   Mr.   O'Connor   and
representatives of Goldman, Sachs & Co. ("Goldman"), presented to the  Board  a
proposal  for  the merger of SCA, The Richard E. Jacobs Group,  NED  Management
Limited  Partnership and Wellspark Group Limited Partnership into  a  new  REIT
("Newco"),  with  a  subsequent  public  offering  of  the  shares   of   Newco
(collectively, "Future IPO Project"). The Special Committee directed Lazard  to
consider  the proposal and negotiate with other Project Future IPO  parties  to
"maximize the potential value to RPT."

     Lazard   then  reported  to  the  Special  Committee  that  it   had   had
conversations  with representatives of public companies which would  be  likely
suitors for SCA assets, including SDG and, based on its conversations with such
potential  acquirers and its investigation and analysis, Lazard concluded  that
Project  Future IPO "appeared to be preferable to RPT shareholders." The  Board
approved  the execution of a non-binding letter of intent with the  parties  to
Project Future IPO. However, the Board thereafter obtained a limited waiver  of
the  exclusivity  provision  of  the letter of  intent  in  order  to  continue
conversations  with third party purchasers, including SDG, that had  previously
expressed  an interest in acquiring the assets of SCA. According  to  the  June
27th  letter,  no specific price or terms were given to Lazard by  SDG  in  the
letters  wherein  SDG  expressed its interest, and thus  Lazard  confirmed  its
initial conclusion that Project Future IPO was preferable. However, no specific
price  or  terms  were  given  because SDG had not  been  permitted  access  to
information  about  SCA sufficient to enable it to make an informed  offer  for
SCA.

 2

     In a letter dated July 8, 1997 from David Simon to Messrs. William Dickey,
in  his capacity as trustee of RPT, and to Matthew Lustig of Lazard, Mr.  Simon
affirmed SDG's interest in pursuing an acquisition of RPT and reiterated  SDG's
position  that  any  such  acquisition  proposal  necessarily  required  a  due
diligence review of RPT by SDG before a definitive proposal could be made.  The
letter  recounted that SDG's requests for more detailed information  concerning
RPT had gone unheeded, resulting in SDG being unable to make a definitive offer
to  RPT  shareholders. Mr. Simon then described the benefits that a transaction
with  SDG  would  provide  to  shareholders of RPT, which  included  liquidity,
certainty  and enhanced opportunities for future growth, and closed the  letter
by  stating  that  a definitive proposal could be provided to RPT  shareholders
within 30 days following SDG's receipt of requested diligence materials.

     On  July 17, 1997, Mr. Dickey, on behalf of the Board of Trustees, sent  a
letter  to  the  shareholders  of RPT in order  to  summarize  the  meeting  of
shareholders  held on July 9, 1997. The primary purpose of the meeting  was  to
detail  Lazard's activities to date and its preliminary analysis of Future  IPO
Project  and  other strategic alternatives. A copy of the detailed presentation
made  to  shareholders by Lazard at the meeting accompanied  the  letter.  This
presentation  included  information about  relative  valuation  of  RPT  Shares
offered  by Future IPO Project and other alternatives as well as an  update  on
the  status of other items of negotiation in Future IPO Project, including  the
payment  of  break  up  fees, lock up arrangements  after  the  initial  public
offering,  and timing of the transaction. The letter stated that  the  Trustees
announced  at  the  meeting an agreement in principal with  Mr.  O'Connor  with
respect to RPT's potential pursuit of an alternative transaction to Future  IPO
Project.  Mr.  Lustig  also  stated  that the  Board  had  received  additional
correspondence from SDG and other parties, but noted that it would be premature
to  commence  negotiations with a third party since neither proposal  contained
terms  or  conditions.  The Board then stated that it believed  that  the  best
strategy for shareholders was to pursue negotiations for Future IPO Project.

     At  the  request  of Mr. Dickey, Matthew Lustig wrote Mr. Simon  a  letter
dated July 22, 1997, in response to Mr. Simon's letter of July 8, 1997, wherein
Mr.  Lustig told Mr. Simon, on behalf of the Board of Trustees of RPT, that the
Board  had  considered SDG's letter at the July 9, 1997 RPT Board meeting.  The
letter  stated  that  while  the  Board appreciated  SDG's  desire  to  make  a
definitive  proposal,  RPT  was a party to an exclusivity  and  confidentiality
agreement  and that the Board was not prepared to terminate those  negotiations
in  order  to  pursue  a transaction with SDG. As a result,  according  to  Mr.
Lustig,  RPT  would  not  respond  to SDG's overtures  or  provide  information
regarding SCA assets to SDG.

     Mr.  Simon  immediately responded to the July 22,  1997  letter  that  Mr.
Lustig sent on behalf of the Board by sending a letter to the Board of Trustees
that  same  day  wherein  he reiterated that SDG was  interested  in  making  a
definitive acquisition proposal for RPT but was precluded from so doing because
of  the  refusal  by  RPT's  Board to make available  customary  due  diligence
information.  In  the letter Mr. Simon went on to express his dismay  that  all
prior  requests for information by SDG had been rebuffed, only to now  be  told
that  RPT  is a party to an exclusivity agreement. The letter then stated  that
the  presence of an exclusivity agreement was particularly shocking given  that
SDG  had been requesting information of RPT for three months. In his letter Mr.
Simon  asked  why  the Board would enter into an exclusivity  arrangement  with
affiliated parties (the O'Connor Group) when the Board knew that another entity
was  willing  to make a bona fide offer for RPT. Mr. Simon then asked  that  in
light of SDG's interest in making an offer that the exclusivity arrangement not
be extended or any break-up fee arrangement be entered into by RPT.

     In  a  letter dated August 8, 1997, William Dickey told RPT's shareholders
that the Board approved Future IPO Project at a Board meeting held on August 7,
1997  and  stated that the Formation Agreement for Future IPO Project  provides
that  information  regarding SCA and its assets may be  made  available  for  a
period  of 30 days to qualified parties to conduct due diligence and submit  an
alternative proposal to RPT. The letter then states that any proposal  received
and  believed to be superior to Future IPO Project would give the Trustees  the
right to terminate Future IPO Project and accept the superior proposal, subject
to RPT shareholder approval.

     On  August  11,  1997,  Lazard, as financial advisor  to  the  independent
trustees  of RPT, sent a letter to third parties, including Mr. Simon,  wherein
it  solicited expressions of interest from third parties regarding  a  possible
transaction involving RPT and SCA on the condition that the third parties  sign
a confidentiality and a standstill agreement.

     On  August  13,  1997,  Mr.  Simon  proposed  that  some  changes  to  the
confidentiality  agreement be made and also forwarded a list  of  material  SDG
wished to review in connection with the operations of RPT, including a copy  of
the Formation Agreement and related documents to which SCA was now a party. Mr.
Simon  indicated  that SDG would not execute the standstill agreement  sent  by
Lazard,  since the confidentiality agreement afforded SCA and the other parties
to the Formation Agreement adequate protection.

 3



     On  August 15, 1997 Paul Taylor, a trustee of RPT, sent Mr. Simon a letter
that  contained the fully executed confidentiality agreement, as well as a copy
of  the  quarterly  report  to  RPT for first  quarter  1997;  letters  to  RPT
shareholders  dated  June  27, July 17 and August  8,  1997;  the  presentation
booklet  of Lazard dated July 17, 1997 sent to RPT shareholders; and the  names
and addresses of RPT shareholders as of June 30, 1997.

     The  letter  stated that a copy of the Formation Agreement would  be  sent
with  a  proxy statement towards the end of the month. The letter  also  stated
that  the additional material requested by SDG in its August 13th letter  would
not  be  provided to SDG until SDG returns an executed copy of  the  standstill
agreement that Lazard forwarded to SDG.

     From  July  25,  1997 through August 14, 1997 SDG has purchased  2,257,562
Shares,  representing  approximately 5.9% of the outstanding  Shares,  in  open
market purchases.



Purpose of the Offer

     As  was stated in its August 8, 1997 letter to shareholders, the Board  of
Trustees  of  RPT  has approved Future IPO Project, will be distributing  proxy
materials and has scheduled a shareholder meeting to vote on the transaction on
September 30, 1997.

     The   Offer  is  designed  to  maximize  value  and  liquidity  for  RPT's
shareholders  and  is  being  made  as a  result  of,  among  other  things,  a
solicitation by the Board of Trustees of RPT, through the financial advisor  of
the  unaffiliated  Trustees of RPT, of expressions  of  interest  concerning  a
possible  transaction  with RPT and SCA, and the desire recently  expressed  by
several  of  RPT's  significant  shareholders to  market  their  holdings.  SDG
believes  that  there are important economic and qualitative  benefits  of  the
Offer that would render it a superior transaction to Future IPO Project for RPT
shareholders.

     Based  on  the information on Future IPO Project provided in the July  17,
1997  presentation  made  by  Lazard to RPT  shareholders,  SDG  believes  that
tendering shares pursuant to the Offer has the following advantages over Future
IPO Project:

     *   Certainty.  Future IPO Project is 100% subject to equity market  risk.
         The  purchase of RPT Shares pursuant to the Offer has no  exposure  to
         capital market volatility and is not subject to financing.
         
     *   Value.  SDG  has reviewed Lazard's RPT Materials for Discussion  dated
         July 9, 1997 describing expectations for the initial pricing execution
         of  Future  IPO  Project. SDG believes that 1998 price multiples  (not
         1997)  should be applied to 1998 funds from operations ("FFO").  After
         making the appropriate adjustment, the Offer is not only in excess  of
         stated  net  asset  value but also in excess of Future  IPO  Project's
         initial  valuation  (based on August 26, 1997 closing  prices  of  the
         public mall company peer group defined by Lazard).
         
     *   Timing. SDG could acquire RPT Shares pursuant to the Offer as soon  as
         September  25, 1997, compared to an optimistic December,  1997  Future
         IPO Project anticipated closing.
         
     *   Liquidity.  The  Offer  provides  immediate  liquidity  to   all   RPT
         shareholders;  as  was mentioned in the Lazard materials,  Future  IPO
         Project  imposes a lock up for shareholders upon successful  execution
         of the initial public offering.
         


SDG

     SDG  is  a  subsidiary  and  the primary operating  partnership  of  Simon
DeBartolo  Group, Inc., a Maryland corporation ("Parent"). Parent  is  a  self-
administered and self-managed REIT. SDG is engaged primarily in the  ownership,
development,  management,  leasing,  acquisition,  and  expansion   of   income
producing properties, primarily regional malls and community shopping  centers.
Through  its  affiliated  management  companies,  SDG  provides  architectural,
design, construction and other services to the properties SDG owns or in  which
it  holds  an  interest, as well as certain other regional malls and  community
shopping centers owned by third parties. As of June 30, 1997, SDG owned or held
an  interest  in  186 income-producing properties, including 114 super-regional
and  regional  malls,  65  community shopping centers, three  specialty  retail
centers  and  four  mixed-use properties located in  33  states.  SDG  and  its
affiliates manage approximately 130 million square feet of gross leasable  area
of retail and mixed-use properties.

     The  general  partners of SDG are Parent and SD Property  Group,  Inc.,  a
99.99%  owned  subsidiary  of Parent ("SDPG"). SDPG  is  the  managing  general
partner of SDG.

     The executive offices of SDG are located at National City Center, 115 West
Washington  Street,  Suite  15  East, Indianapolis,  Indiana   46204,  and  its
telephone number is (317) 636-1600.

 4



     Detailed  information regarding SDG and its financial performance  is  set
forth in the following documents (which are annexed hereto as Appendices A  and
B):   (i)  SDG's  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  for  the  fiscal  year  ended
December  31, 1996; and (ii) SDG's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q  for  the  six
months ended June 30, 1997.

Source of Funds

     SDG  expects to obtain the funds required to purchase all Shares  pursuant
to the Offer, and to pay related fees and expenses, either from funds available
under  existing  credit  facilities  or  under  a  borrowing  facility  to   be
negotiated.

Impact On Shares Outstanding After the Offer

     The  Shares are not currently listed for trading on a securities  exchange
or  reported on a quotation system. To the extent that Shares are tendered  and
purchased  pursuant to the Offer, trading in the Shares that remain outstanding
following the consummation of the Offer may be significantly reduced, which may
adversely affect the liquidity of such Shares. Reduced trading also may tend to
increase the volatility of the trading prices of untendered Shares.



                                   THE OFFER


Terms of the Offer

     Upon  the  terms  and  subject to the conditions of the  Offer,  SDG  will
purchase all outstanding Shares properly tendered on or prior to the Expiration
Date. The Offer will expire at 12:00 Midnight, New York City time, on September
25,  1997 (the "Expiration Date"), unless and until SDG shall have extended the
period  of  time during which the Offer is open, in which event the  Expiration
Date  will  be the latest time and date at which the Offer, as so  extended  by
SDG,  expires.  For a description of SDG's right to extend the period  of  time
during which the Offer is open and to delay, terminate or amend the Offer,  see
"THE OFFER_Extension; Termination; Amendments."

     Consummation of the Offer is subject to certain conditions as described in
this  Offer  to Purchase. See "THE OFFER_Conditions of the Offer."  Subject  to
compliance  with  applicable securities laws and the terms set  forth  in  this
Offer  to  Purchase, SDG reserves the right (i) to waive any and all conditions
to  the Offer, (ii) to extend or to terminate the Offer, and (iii) otherwise to
amend the Offer in any respect. Any such waiver, extension or amendment may  be
made  by  press  release  or  such other means of  announcement  as  SDG  deems
appropriate.

     Subject  to  the  applicable regulations of the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission  (the "Commission"), SDG expressly reserves the right, in  its  sole
discretion, at any time and from time to time, and regardless of whether any of
the events set forth in "THE OFFER_Conditions of the Offer" shall have occurred
or  shall  have been determined by SDG to have occurred, to extend  the  period
during which the Offer is open and thereby delay acceptance for payment of, and
the  payment for, any Shares by giving written notice of such extension to  the
Depositary.  The rights reserved by SDG in this paragraph are  in  addition  to
SDG's  rights to terminate the Offer pursuant to "THE OFFER_Conditions  of  the
Offer."

     There  can  be  no assurance that SDG will exercise its right  to  extend,
terminate  or amend the Offer. Except as otherwise provided herein, during  any
extension and irrespective of any amendment to the Offer, all Shares previously
tendered pursuant to the Offer and not accepted for payment will remain subject
to the Offer and may be accepted thereafter for payment by SDG.

     SDG  reserves  the  right to assign its rights under the  Offer  to  other
persons  such that after the consummation of the Offer the beneficial ownership
of Shares in RPT are held by 100 or more persons (within the meaning of Section
856(a)(5) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code")).

If,  on or after the date hereof, RPT should reclassify, combine, split, divide
or  redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, or otherwise
change the Shares or its capitalization, or disclose that it has taken any such
action,  then  SDG may make such adjustments to the purchase  price  and  other
terms  of  the Offer as its deems appropriate. If on or after the date  hereof,
RPT  should declare or pay any cash or stock dividend or other distribution on,
or   issue  any  rights  with  respect  to,  the  Shares  that  is  payable  or
distributable to shareholders of record on a date prior to the transfer to  the
name of SDG or the nominee or transferee of SDG on RPT's stock transfer records
of such Shares that are purchased pursuant to the Offer, (i) the purchase price
payable  per Share by SDG pursuant to the Offer will be reduced to  the  extent
any  such  divided  or distribution is payable in cash and  (ii)  any  non-cash
dividend, distribution (including additional Shares) or right received and held
by  a  tendering  shareholder shall be required to  be  promptly  remitted  and
transferred by the tendering shareholder to the

 5



 Depositary for the account of SDG, accompanied by appropriate documentation of
transfer.  Pending such remittance or appropriate assurance thereof, SDG  will,
subject to applicable law, be entitled to all rights and privileges as owner of
any  such non-cash dividend, distribution or right and may withhold the  entire
purchase  price or deduct from the purchase price the amount or value  thereof,
as determined by SDG in its sole discretion.



Withdrawal Rights

     Tenders of Shares made pursuant to the Offer are irrevocable, except  that
Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer may be withdrawn at any time on or  prior
to  the Expiration Date. If SDG extends the Offer, is delayed in its acceptance
for payment of Shares or is unable to purchase Shares validly tendered pursuant
to  the Offer for any reason, then without prejudice to SDG's rights under  the
Offer,  the  Depositary  may nevertheless, on behalf of  SDG,  retain  tendered
Shares and such Shares may not be withdrawn, subject to Rule 14e-1(c) under the
Exchange Act, which provides that no person who makes a tender offer shall fail
to  pay the consideration offered or return the securities deposited by  or  on
behalf of security holders promptly after the termination or withdrawal of  the
tender  offer. Any such delay in acceptance for payment will be accompanied  by
an extension of the Offer to the extent required by law.

     For  a  withdrawal  to  be  effective, a written,  telegraphic,  telex  or
facsimile  transmission  notice of withdrawal must be timely  received  by  the
Depositary at one of its addresses set forth on the last page of this Offer  to
Purchase.  Any  notice of withdrawal must specify the name of  the  person  who
tendered  the Shares to be withdrawn, the number of Shares to be withdrawn  and
the  name  of the registered holder, if different from that of the  person  who
tendered such Shares. If Share certificates to be withdrawn have been delivered
or  otherwise identified to the Depositary, then prior to the physical  release
of  such  certificates, the serial numbers shown on such certificates  must  be
submitted to the Depositary and the signatures on the notice of withdrawal must
be  guaranteed by an Eligible Institution unless such Shares have been tendered
for  the  account  of  any Eligible Institution. If Shares have  been  tendered
pursuant  to  the procedure for book-entry transfer, any notice  of  withdrawal
must  specify  the  name and number of the account at the  Book-Entry  Transfer
Facility  to be credited with the withdrawn Shares, in which case a  notice  of
withdrawal  will be effective if delivered to the Depositary by any  method  of
delivery described in the first sentence of this paragraph.

     All  questions as to the form and validity (including time of receipt)  of
any  notice  of  withdrawal will be determined by SDG, in its sole  discretion,
whose determination will be final and binding. None of SDG, the Dealer Manager,
the  Depositary or any other person will be under any duty to give notification
of  any  defects  or irregularities in any notice of withdrawal  or  incur  any
liability for failure to give any such notification.

     Any  Shares properly withdrawn will thereafter be deemed not to have  been
validly tendered for purposes of the Offer. However, withdrawn Shares may be re-
tendered at any time prior to the Expiration Date.



Purchase of Shares; Payment of Purchase Price

     Upon  the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer (including,  if
the  Offer  is  extended  or  amended, the terms and  conditions  of  any  such
extension or amendment) and applicable law, SDG will purchase, by accepting for
payment, and will pay for, all of the outstanding Shares validly tendered prior
to  the  Expiration  Date as soon as practicable after  such  Expiration  Date.
Subject  to  applicable  law, SDG expressly reserves the  right,  in  its  sole
discretion,  to delay acceptance for payment of or payment for  the  Shares  in
order  to  comply, in whole or in part, with any applicable law. In all  cases,
payment  for  Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer will be  made  only  after
timely receipt by the Depositary of (a) such Shares, or timely confirmation  of
a  book-entry  transfer (a "Book-Entry Confirmation") of such Shares  into  the
Depositary's  account  at  a  book-entry  transfer  facility  pursuant  to  the
procedures  set forth in "THE OFFER -- Procedure for Tendering Shares",  (b)  a
properly  completed  and duly executed Letter of Transmittal  (or  a  facsimile
thereof),  and  (c) all necessary signature guarantees and any other  documents
required  by  the Letter of Transmittal. See THE OFFER_Procedure for  Tendering
Shares"  for  a description of the procedures for tendering Shares pursuant  to
the Offer.

If for any reason whatsoever SDG is delayed in its acceptance for payment of or
payment for any Shares tendered pursuant to the Offer (whether before or  after
SDG's  acceptance for payment of such Shares), or SDG extends the Offer  or  is
unable to accept for payment of or pay for the Shares tendered pursuant to  the
Offer, then, without prejudice to SDG's rights hereunder, SDG may instruct  the
Depositary  to  retain tendered Shares, and such Shares may not  be  withdrawn,
subject to Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act, which provides that no  person
who makes a tender offer shall fail to pay the consideration

 6



offered  or  return the securities deposited by or on behalf of the holders  of
such  securities  promptly after the termination or withdrawal  of  the  tender
offer.

     If  the  consideration  offered in the Offer is increased,  all  tendering
holders  of  the Shares subject to the Offer whose securities are accepted  for
payment  pursuant  to the Offer will be given the increased  consideration  for
their  securities  regardless  of whether such  tenders  have  previously  been
accepted for payment or paid for.

     For purposes of the Offer, SDG will be deemed to have accepted for payment
(and therefore purchased) Shares when and if it gives oral or written notice to
the  Depositary  of its acceptance of such Shares for payment pursuant  to  the
Offer.  Payment  for Shares purchased pursuant to the Offer  will  be  made  by
depositing  the  aggregate purchase price therefor with the  Depositary,  which
will  act  as agent for tendering holders for the purpose of receiving  payment
from SDG and transmitting payment to the tendering holders.

     SDG will pay all transfer taxes, if any, payable on the transfer to it  of
Shares  purchased pursuant to the Offer. If, however, payment of  the  purchase
price  is  to be made to, or (in the circumstances permitted by the  Offer)  if
unpurchased Shares are to be registered in the name of, any person  other  than
the  registered holder, or if tendered certificates are registered in the  name
of  any  person  other than the person signing the Letter of  Transmittal,  the
amount  of all transfer taxes, if any (whether imposed on the registered holder
or  such other person), payable on account of the transfer to such person  will
be deducted from the purchase price unless satisfactory evidence of the payment
of  such taxes, or exemption therefrom, is submitted. (See Instruction 6 of the
Letter of Transmittal.)

     
     
Procedure for Tendering Shares



     Proper  Tender of Shares. For Shares to be properly tendered  pursuant  to
the  Offer,  either  (a)  the Letter of Transmittal (or  a  facsimile  thereof)
properly  completed  and  duly  executed, along  with  any  required  signature
guarantees and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal,  must
be  received prior to the Expiration Date by the Depositary at its address  set
forth  on the last page of this Offer to Purchase and (i) such Shares  must  be
received  by  the  Depositary or (ii) Shares must be tendered pursuant  to  the
procedure  for  book-entry transfer described under the caption "--  Book-Entry
Transfer"  below  and  a  Book-Entry  Confirmation  must  be  received  by  the
Depositary,  in  each  case  on or prior to the Expiration  Date,  or  (b)  the
tendering  holder must comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures described
under  the  caption "-- Guaranteed Delivery" below. Holders  whose  Shares  are
registered in the name of a nominee are urged to contact such nominee  promptly
if they wish to accept the Offer.

     Except as provided below under the captions "-- Book- Entry Transfer"  and
"--  Guaranteed Delivery", unless the Shares being tendered are deposited  with
the  Depositary on or prior to the Expiration Date (accompanied by  a  properly
completed  and  duly  executed Letter of Transmittal along  with  any  required
signature  guarantees  and  any  other documents  required  by  the  Letter  of
Transmittal),  SDG may, at its option, reject such tender.  If  less  than  the
entire  number  of  any Shares evidenced by a submitted certificate  is  to  be
tendered, the tendering holder should fill in the number of Shares tendered  in
the  appropriate box on the Letter of Transmittal. The entire number of  Shares
represented  by  the certificates for all Shares deposited with the  Depositary
will be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise indicated.

     In  all cases, notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the payment for
Shares  tendered and accepted for payment pursuant to the Offer  will  be  made
only  after the timely receipt by the Depositary of (i) certificates  for  such
Shares  or  a timely Book-Entry Confirmation with respect to such Shares,  (ii)
the  Letter of Transmittal (or a facsimile thereof) properly completed and duly
executed,  and (iii) any required signature guarantees and any other  documents
required by such Letter of Transmittal. Accordingly, tendering holders  may  be
paid at different times depending upon when certificates for Shares, Letters of
Transmittal  and  Book-Entry  Confirmations  are  actually  received   by   the
Depositary.

     Method  of  Delivery.  All Letters of Transmittal, Notices  of  Guaranteed
Delivery  and  Shares should be delivered only by courier,  or  transmitted  by
mail,  and deliveries should be made only to the Depositary, and not to SDG  or
the  Dealer Managers. The method of delivery of certificates for Shares and all
other required documents is at the option and risk of the tendering holder, and
delivery  will  be  deemed  to  be  made only when  actually  received  by  the
Depositary. If certificates for Shares are sent by mail, registered  mail  with
return receipt requested, properly insured, is recommended.

 7



     Signature Guarantees. No signature guarantee is required on the Letter  of
Transmittal if the Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder  of
the  Shares  tendered  therewith and payment is to be  made  directly  to  such
registered  holder, or if Shares are tendered for the account of a member  firm
of  a  registered  national  securities exchange,  a  member  of  the  National
Association  of Securities Dealers, Inc. or a commercial bank or trust  company
having an office, branch or agency in the United States (each such entity being
hereinafter referred to as an "Eligible Institution"). In all other cases,  all
signatures  on  the  Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed  by  an  Eligible
Institution. (See Instruction 1 of the Letter of Transmittal.) If a certificate
representing Shares is registered in the name of a person other than the signer
of  a  Letter  of  Transmittal, or if payment is to  be  made,  or  Shares  not
purchased  or tendered are to be issued, to a person other than the  registered
holder,  then  the  certificate must be endorsed or accompanied  by  a  written
instrument  or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to SDG,  in  either
case, duly executed by the registered holder with the signatures guaranteed  by
an Eligible Institution.

     
     
     Backup Federal Income Tax Withholding. A holder whose tendered Shares  are
accepted  for  payment  may  be  subject  to  "backup  withholding"  under  the
provisions  of  federal income tax law at the rate of 20% with respect  to  the
cash  payable to such holder as a result of the Offer. Backup withholding  will
not  apply  if  such holder (a) is a corporation or comes within certain  other
exempt  categories, and when required demonstrates this fact, or  (b)  provides
SDG  (as payor) with his correct taxpayer identification number (which, in  the
case  of  a  holder who is an individual, is his social security  number),  and
certifies under penalty of perjury that such number is correct and that (i) the
holder  has not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS")  that
such  holder is subject to backup withholding as a result of failure to  report
all  interest or dividends or (ii) the IRS has notified the holder that  he  no
longer  is  subject  to  backup withholding. If SDG is not  provided  with  the
correct  taxpayer  identification number or adequate basis for  exemption,  the
holder  may  be  subject to a penalty imposed by the IRS. Any  amount  paid  as
backup withholding will be credited against the holder's tax liability.

     Therefore,  unless  an exemption and evidence thereof  is  provided  in  a
satisfactory manner, to prevent backup withholding each tendering  holder  must
complete  and  sign  the  Substitute  Form  W-9  provided  in  the  Letter   of
Transmittal. See Instruction 10 of the Letter of Transmittal.

     
     
     Book-Entry Transfer. The Depositary will establish an account or  accounts
with  respect to the Shares at The Depository Trust Company, Midwest Securities
Trust  Company  and Philadelphia Depository Trust Company (each, a  "Book-Entry
Transfer  Facility") for purposes of the Offer within two business  days  after
the date of the Offer, and any financial institution that is a participant in a
Book-Entry  Transfer  Facility's system may make  book-entry  delivery  of  the
Shares  by  causing such Book-Entry Transfer Facility to transfer  such  Shares
into  the  Depositary's  account  at  such  Book-Entry  Transfer  Facility   in
accordance  with  that  Book-Entry  Transfer  Facility's  procedure  for   such
transfer.  Although  delivery  of  Shares may be  effected  through  book-entry
transfer  at  a  Book-Entry Transfer Facility, a properly  completed  and  duly
executed  Letter  of  Transmittal (or a facsimile thereof)  with  any  required
signature  guarantees, a confirmation of such tender and  any  other  documents
required by the Letter of Transmittal must, in any case, be transmitted to  and
received  by  the Depositary at the appropriate address set forth on  the  last
page  of  this  Offer to Purchase on or prior to the Expiration  Date,  or  the
holder must comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures described below.

     
     
     Guaranteed Delivery. If a holder desires to tender Shares pursuant to  the
Offer and such holder's certificates are not immediately available or time will
not  permit all required documents to reach the Depositary on or prior  to  the
Expiration  Date, or such holder cannot complete the procedures for  book-entry
transfer  on a timely basis, such Shares may nevertheless be tendered  provided
that all of the following conditions are satisfied:

   (a)  The tender is made by or through an Eligible Institution;
         
   (b)  On  or  prior  to  the Expiration Date, the Depositary  receives  from
         such  Eligible  Institution at the address  for  the  Depositary  set
         forth  on the last page hereof a properly completed and duly executed
         Notice   of   Guaranteed  Delivery  (by  telegram,  telex,  facsimile
         transmission, mail or hand delivery) substantially in the  form  made
         available  by SDG, setting forth the name and address of the  holder,
         the  description of the Shares and the number of the Shares tendered,
         stating that the tender is being made thereby and guaranteeing  that,
         within  three New York Stock Exchange trading days after the date  of
         execution  of  such Notice of Guaranteed Delivery,  a  duly  executed
         Letter  of  Transmittal (or a facsimile thereof), together  with  the
         certificates  representing  such Shares  (or  appropriate  Book-Entry
         Confirmation)  and any required signature guarantees  and  any  other
         documents  required by the Letter of Transmittal and the instructions
         thereto  will  be  deposited  by the Eligible  Institution  with  the
         Depositary; and
         
      8



   (c)  The  certificates for the tendered Shares in proper form for  transfer
         (or  appropriate Book-Entry Confirmation), together with  a  properly
         completed  and  duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or  a  facsimile
         thereof),  any required signature guarantees and any other  documents
         required  by the Letter of Transmittal and the instructions  thereto,
         are  received by the Depositary within three New York Stock  Exchange
         trading  days  after  the  date  of  execution  of  such  Notice   of
         Guaranteed Delivery.
         
     In  all  cases,  payment  for Shares tendered  and  accepted  for  payment
pursuant  to the Offer will be made only after timely receipt by the Depositary
of  certificates for such Shares, a properly completed and duly executed Letter
of  Transmittal  (or facsimile thereof), any required signature guarantees  and
any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal.

     
     
     Tender  Constitutes an Agreement. The proper tender of Shares pursuant  to
any  of  the  procedures described above will constitute  a  binding  agreement
between  the  tendering  holder  and SDG upon the  terms  and  subject  to  the
conditions  of  the Offer, and a representation that (i) such holder  owns  the
Shares being tendered and is entitled to tender such Shares as contemplated  by
the  Offer,  all within the meaning of Rule 14e-4 under the Exchange  Act,  and
(ii) the tender of such Shares complies with Rule 14e-4.

     Further,  by  executing a Letter of Transmittal as set  forth  above,  and
subject  to  and effective upon acceptance for payment of and payment  for  the
Shares  tendered therewith, a tendering holder irrevocably sells,  assigns  and
transfers to or upon the order of SDG all right, title and interest in  and  to
all  the  Shares tendered thereby, waives any and all other rights with respect
to  the  Shares, and releases and discharges SDG from any and all  claims  such
holder may have now, or may have in the future, arising out of, or related  to,
the  Shares  and each such holder appoints the Depositary the true  and  lawful
agent  and  attorney-in-fact of such holder with respect to such  Shares,  with
full  power  of  substitution and resubstitution (such power of attorney  being
deemed  to  be  an irrevocable power coupled with an interest) to  (a)  deliver
certificates  for  such  Shares or transfer ownership of  such  Shares  on  the
account  books  maintained  by  any  of  the  Book-Entry  Transfer  Facilities,
together,  in  each  case,  with all accompanying  evidences  of  transfer  and
authenticity, to or upon the order of SDG, (b) present such Shares for transfer
on  the  books  of SDG, and (c) receive all benefits or otherwise exercise  all
rights of beneficial ownership of such Shares (except that the Depositary  will
have no rights to or control over funds from SDG, except as agent for SDG,  for
the  purchase price for any Shares tendered hereby that are purchased by  SDG),
all in accordance with the terms of the Offer.

     
     
     Determination  of  Validity; Rejection of Shares; No  Obligation  to  Give
Notice of Defects. All questions as to the amount of Shares to be accepted  and
the  validity, form, eligibility (including the time of receipt) and acceptance
for payment of any tender of Shares pursuant to the procedures described herein
and  the  form and validity of all documents will be determined by SDG  in  its
sole discretion, which determination shall be final and binding on all parties.
SDG  reserves the absolute right to reject any or all tenders determined by  it
not  to  be  in  proper form or the acceptance of or payment for which  may  be
unlawful.  SDG also reserves the absolute right to waive any of the  conditions
of  the  Offer  and any defect or irregularity in the tender of any  particular
Shares.  SDG's  interpretation  of  the  terms  and  conditions  of  the  Offer
(including  without limitation the instructions in the Letter  of  Transmittal)
shall  be final and binding. No alternative, conditional or contingent  tenders
will  be accepted. Unless waived, any irregularities in connection with tenders
must  be  cured  within  such time as SDG shall determine.  None  of  SDG,  the
Depositary,  the Dealer Manager or any other person will be under any  duty  to
give  notification  of any defects or irregularities in such  tenders  or  will
incur  any liabilities for failure to give such notification. Tenders  of  such
Shares will not be deemed to have been made until such irregularities have been
cured  or  waived. Any Shares received by the Depositary that are not  properly
tendered and as to which the irregularities have not been cured or waived  will
be  returned  by the Depositary to the tendering holders, unless  such  holders
have  otherwise  provided  in  the  Letters  of  Transmittal,  as  promptly  as
practicable following the Expiration Date.



Conditions of the Offer

     The  valid  tender,  not  withdrawn prior to the  Expiration  Date,  of  a
sufficient number of Shares (including those Shares currently owned by SDG)  to
enable  SDG  or  its affiliates to own at least a majority of  the  outstanding
Shares  on the Expiration Date is a condition to the consummation of the  Offer
(the "Minimum Condition").

     In  addition, SDG shall not be required to accept for payment, purchase or
pay  for  any  Shares tendered, and may terminate or amend  the  Offer  or  may
postpone, subject to the provisions of Rule 14e-1 (c) of the Exchange Act,  the
acceptance  for  payment  of,  the purchase of  and  the  payment  for,  Shares
tendered,  if,  at  any time prior to acceptance of the applicable  Shares  for
payment,  any  of the following events shall have occurred or shall  have  been
determined by SDG to have occurred which,

 9

  in  the  sole  judgment  of  SDG  in any such  case  and  regardless  of  the
circumstances (including without limitation any action or omission  to  act  by
SDG),  makes it inadvisable to proceed with the Offer or with any such purchase
or payment:

  (a)   SDG  shall  note have the exclusive power and authority to   effect  a
         merger  of  SCA with SDG and to make all "Major Decisions"  (as  that
         term  is defined in the partnership agreement of SCA), including  the
         ability  to  (i)  direct the disposition of SCA's  assets,  and  (ii)
         terminate any existing management contracts for properties  owned  in
         whole  or  in  part by SCA and its affiliates, or that SDG  concludes
         that  the  definition  of "Major Decisions"  in  the  fully  executed
         partnership agreement of SCA is different from that set forth in  the
         draft partnership agreement which is in SDG's possession on the  date
         of the Offer.
         
  (b)   there  shall  have been threatened, instituted or pending  any  action
         or   proceeding   by  or  before  any  government  or   governmental,
         regulatory  or  administrative  agency  or  authority  or   tribunal,
         domestic  or foreign, which (i) challenges the making of  the  Offer,
         the  acquisition of Shares pursuant to the Offer or otherwise relates
         in  any  manner  to the Offer, or (ii) in the sole judgment  of  SDG,
         could  materially adversely affect the business, financial condition,
         income,  operations  or prospects of SDG and its subsidiaries,  taken
         as  a  whole, or materially impair the contemplated benefits  of  the
         Offer to SDG; or
         
  (c)   there  shall  have been any action threatened, pending  or  taken,  or
         any  statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, decree or injunction
         threatened,   proposed,   sought,  promulgated,   enacted,   entered,
         enforced  or  deemed to be applicable to the Offer, by any  court  or
         any  government or governmental, regulatory or administrative agency,
         authority  or  tribunal,  domestic or foreign,  which,  in  the  sole
         judgment  of SDG, would or might directly or indirectly (i) make  the
         acceptance for payment of, or payment for, some or all of the  Shares
         illegal or otherwise restrict or prohibit consummation of the  Offer,
         (ii)  delay or restrict the ability of SDG, or render SDG unable,  to
         accept  for  payment or pay for some or all of the Shares,  or  (iii)
         materially impair the contemplated benefits of the Offer to SDG; or
         
  (d)   there   shall   have  occurred:   (i)  any  general   suspension   of,
         shortening  of  hours for, or limitation on prices  for,  trading  in
         securities  on the New York Stock Exchange or in the over-the-counter
         market  (whether or not mandatory), (ii) a declaration of  a  banking
         moratorium  or  any  suspension of payments in respect  of  banks  by
         federal  or  state authorities in the United States (whether  or  not
         mandatory),  (iii) a commencement or continuation  of  a  war,  armed
         hostilities  or  other international or national crisis  directly  or
         indirectly involving the United States, (iv) any limitation  (whether
         or  not  mandatory) by any governmental authority on, or other  event
         having  a reasonable likelihood of affecting, the extension of credit
         by  banks or other lending institutions in the United States, (v) any
         significant  change  in United States currency exchange  rates  or  a
         suspension  of,  or limitation on, the markets therefor  (whether  or
         not  mandatory), (vi) any significant adverse change in United States
         securities  or financial markets generally, or (vii) in the  case  of
         any  of the foregoing existing at the time of the commencement of the
         Offer, a material acceleration or worsening thereof; or
         
  (e)   RPT  is not or ceases to be qualified as a REIT within the meaning  of
         Section  856  of the Code, or will not be qualified as a  REIT  after
         the consummation of the Offer; or
         
  (f)   there  shall  have  occurred  any  change  or  development,  including
         without  limitation a change or development involving  a  prospective
         change, in or affecting the business or financial affairs of SDG  and
         its  subsidiaries which, in the sole judgment of SDG, would or  might
         prohibit,  restrict or delay consummation of the Offer or impair  the
         contemplated  benefits of the Offer to SDG or might  be  material  to
         holders in deciding whether to accept the Offer.
         
     The  foregoing  conditions are for the sole benefit  of  SDG  and  may  be
asserted  by  SDG  regardless of the circumstances  giving  rise  to  any  such
condition (including any action or inaction by SDG) and may be waived by SDG in
whole  or  in  part  at any time and from time to time in its sole  discretion.
Shareholders  have to otherwise comply with the terms and conditions  of  their
applicable  purchase agreement. SDG expressly reserves the right to assign  all
or  any of its rights herein to other entities. The failure by SDG at any  time
to  exercise  any of the foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver  of  any
such  right and each such right shall be deemed an ongoing right which  may  be
asserted at any time and from time to time. Any determination by SDG concerning
the  Minimum Condition or the events described in this section shall  be  final
and binding upon all parties.

     If  the  Minimum  Condition is not satisfied  or  if  any  of  the  events
described in the foregoing conditions have occurred, SDG may (i) terminate  the
Offer  and return tendered Shares to the holders who tendered them; (ii) extend
the  Offer  and retain all tendered Shares until the expiration of  the  Offer;
(iii)  amend the Offer in any respect by giving oral or written notice of  such
amendment to the Depositary; or (iv) delay acceptance of Shares tendered  under
the Offer until satisfaction or waiver of such conditions to the Offer, even if
the  Offer  has expired. Any extension, termination or amendment of  the  Offer
will  be  followed  as  promptly as practicable by announcement  thereof,  such
announcement in the case of an extension to be issued no later than

 10

9:00  A.M.,  New  York  City  time,  on the next  business  day  following  the
previously scheduled Expiration Date. Without limiting the manner in which  SDG
may  choose to make such announcement, SDG will not, unless otherwise  required
by  law, have any obligation to publish, advertise or otherwise communicate any
such  announcement other than by making a release to the Dow Jones News Service
or such other means of announcement as SDG deems appropriate.



Extension; Termination; Amendments

     Subject  to compliance with applicable securities laws and the  terms  set
forth herein, SDG expressly reserves the right, in its sole discretion, at  any
time and from time to time, to extend the period of time during which the Offer
is  open  by  giving oral or written notice of such extension to the Depositary
and making a public announcement thereof.

     Subject  to compliance with applicable securities laws and the  terms  set
forth herein, SDG also expressly reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to
(i)  terminate the Offer and not accept for payment or pay for any  Shares  not
theretofore  accepted  for payment or paid for, or (ii)  postpone  payment  for
Shares  upon the occurrence of any of the conditions specified in "_ Conditions
of  the  Offer",  by  giving  oral or written notice  of  such  termination  or
postponement to the Depositary and making a public announcement thereof.

     Subject  to compliance with applicable securities laws and the  terms  set
forth  herein, SDG further reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to amend
the  Offer in any respect. Any amendment to the Offer will apply to all  Shares
tendered pursuant to the Offer, regardless of when or in what order such Shares
are tendered.

     Any  extension, waiver, delay, termination or amendment of the Offer  will
be  followed  as promptly as practicable by public announcement  thereof,  such
announcement in the case of an extension to be issued no later than 9:00  A.M.,
New  York  City  time, on the next business day after the previously  scheduled
Expiration  Date. Without limiting the manner in which SDG may choose  to  make
such  announcement, SDG will not, unless otherwise required by  law,  have  any
obligation to publish, advertise or otherwise communicate any such announcement
other  than  by  making a release to the Dow Jones News Service or  such  other
means of announcement as SDG deems appropriate.



                                THE DEPOSITARY


     The  Depositary  for the Offer is the First Chicago Trust Company  of  New
York.  All  deliveries, correspondence and questions sent or presented  to  the
Depositary relating to the Offer should be directed to one of the addresses  or
telephone numbers set forth on the last page of this Offer to Purchase.

     Directors,  officers  and  regular employees  of  SDG  (who  will  not  be
specifically compensated for such services) and the Dealer Manager may  contact
holders  of Shares by mail, telephone, telex, telegraph and personal interviews
regarding  the  Offer and may request brokers, dealers and  other  nominees  to
forward  this Offer to Purchase and related materials to beneficial  owners  of
Shares.

     Requests  for information or additional copies of this Offer  to  Purchase
and the related Letter of Transmittal should be directed to Dealer Manager.



                               FEES AND EXPENSES


     Merrill  Lynch is acting as Dealer Manager for SDG in connection with  the
Offer and has provided certain financial advisory services to SDG in connection
with  the  Offer.  Pursuant  to  its agreement with  Merrill  Lynch,  SDG  will
compensate  Merrill Lynch for services as a Dealer Manager in  connection  with
the  Offer,  and will reimburse Merrill Lynch for its reasonable  out-of-pocket
expenses. SDG has agreed to indemnify Merrill Lynch against certain liabilities
in  connection  with  its services as a Dealer Manager and financial  advisers,
including liabilities under the federal securities laws.

     Pursuant to its agreement with the Depositary, SDG will pay the Depositary
reasonable and customary compensation for its services in connection  with  the
Offer,  plus  reimbursement  for reasonable out-of-pocket  expenses.  SDG  will
indemnify the Depositary against certain liabilities and expenses in connection
therewith, including liabilities under the federal securities laws.

     Brokers,  dealers (including Merrill Lynch), commercial  banks  and  trust
companies will be reimbursed by SDG for customary mailing and handling expenses
incurred  by them in forwarding material to their customers. SDG will  not  pay
any

 11

fees  or  commissions  to any broker, dealer or other person  (other  than  the
Dealer  Manager  and  the Depositary) in connection with  the  solicitation  of
tenders of Shares pursuant to the Offer.



                                 MISCELLANEOUS


     SDG  is not aware of any jurisdiction where the making of the Offer is not
in  compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction. If SDG becomes aware of  any
jurisdiction where the making of the Offer would not be in compliance with such
laws, SDG will make a good faith effort to comply with any such laws or seek to
have  such  laws declared inapplicable to the Offer. If, after such good  faith
effort, SDG cannot comply with any such applicable laws, the Offer will not  be
made  to  (nor  will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of) the  holders  of
Shares residing in such jurisdiction.



                                                    SIMON DEBARTOLO GROUP, L.P.
                                                                               


August 28, 1997

     
     
 12

Facsimile  copies  of  the Letter of Transmittal will be accepted.  Letters  of
Transmittal, certificates for Shares and any other required documents should be
sent  by  each holder or his broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company  or
other nominee to the Depositary at one of the addresses as set forth below:

                                The Depositary:
                                       
                    FIRST CHICAGO TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK
                                                     
        By Mail:            By Overnight Courier:            By Hand:
   First Chicago Trust       First Chicago Trust       First Chicago Trust
         Company                   Company                   Company
       of New York               of New York               of New York
  Attention: Tenders &       Attention: Tenders &      Attention: Tenders &
        Exchanges                 Exchanges                 Exchanges
  Box 2565, Suite 4660         Suite 4680-CBE:       c/o THE DEPOSITORY TRUST
 Jersey City, NJ 07303-     Wall Street, 8th Floor           COMPANY
          2565                New York, NY 10005      Water Street, DTC TAD
                                                         Vietnam Veterans
                                                          Memorial Plaza
                                                        New York, NY 10041
                                                     
                For Information:  (212) 805-7190 (Call Collect)




     Any  questions  or requests for assistance or additional  copies  of  this
Offer to Purchase, Letter of Transmittal and Notice of Guaranteed Delivery  may
be  directed  to  the Dealer Manager at its telephone number and  location  set
forth  below. You may also contact your broker dealer, commercial bank or trust
company or any other nominee for assistance concerning the Offer.

                              The Dealer Manager:
                                       
                              MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
                            World Financial Center
                                  North Tower
                        New York, New York  10281-1329
                                (212) 449-8209
                                (Call Collect)


     
     
 13

                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.2

                                  ADDENDUM TO
                               OFFER TO PURCHASE

                             DATED AUGUST 28, 1997


     APPOINTMENT AS PROXY.  By executing the Letter of Transmittal, a tendering
shareholder irrevocably appoints SDG or its designees and each of them as  such
shareholder's  attorneys-in-fact and proxies, with full power of  substitution,
to  the  full  extent of such shareholder's rights with respect to  the  Shares
tendered  by such shareholder and accepted for payment by SDG.  All such  power
of  attorney  and proxies shall be considered irrevocable and coupled  with  an
interest in the tendered Shares.  Such appointment will be effective when,  and
only  to  the  extent  that, SDG accepts such Shares for  payment.   Upon  such
acceptance for payment, all prior powers of attorney and proxies given by  such
shareholder with respect to such Shares will be revoked without further action,
and  no  subsequent  powers  of  attorney and proxies  may  be  given  nor  any
subsequent written consents executed.  The designees of SDG will, with  respect
to the Shares for which such appointment is effective, be empowered to exercise
all  voting  and  other  rights  of such shareholder  as  they  in  their  sole
discretion  may deem proper at any annual or special meeting of  the  Company's
shareholders or any adjournment or postponement thereof, by written consent  in
lieu of any such meeting or otherwise.  SDG reserves the right to require that,
in  order  for  Shares  to be deemed validly tendered, immediately  upon  SDG's
payment  for such Shares, SDG must be able to exercise full voting rights  with
respect to such Shares and other securities, including voting at any meeting of
shareholders by written consent or otherwise.

                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.3
                                       
                             SIMON DEBARTOLO GROUP

CONTACTS:

David Simon                                  Stephen E. Sterrett
Chief Executive Officer                  Treasurer
317.263.7161                             317.685.7363

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SIMON DeBARTOLO GROUP ANNOUNCES CASH TENDER OFFER FOR ALL OUTSTANDING SHARES OF
                 RETAIL PROPERTY TRUST AT $17.50 NET PER SHARE

Indianapolis,  Indiana  - September 3, 1997 . . . Simon DeBartolo  Group,  Inc.
(NYSE:SPG)  announced  today  that  its  primary  operating  partnership  Simon
DeBartolo Group, L.P. ("SDG") has commenced a cash tender offer for all of  the
outstanding beneficial interests (the "Shares") of The Retail Property Trust, a
private  Massachusetts business trust ("RPT"), at a net  price  of  $17.50  per
Share.   The  tender  offer  is  designed to  immediately  maximize  value  and
liquidity  for  RPT  and  its  shareholders.   SDG  believes  that  there   are
approximately 38.3 million Shares outstanding; SDG currently owns approximately
2.3  million  Shares,  all of which were purchased in open market  transactions
prior to commencement of the tender offer.

The  tender  offer is not subject to any financing condition.  It  is,  however
conditioned  upon,  among  other things:  (i)  there  being  tendered  and  not
withdrawn a number of Shares, which together with Shares owned by SDG  and  its
affiliates,  constitutes  at least a majority of Shares  outstanding  upon  the
expiration  of SDG's tender offer; and (ii) SDG having authority,  among  other
things,  to  effect a merger of Shopping Center Associates,  a  partnership  in
which  RPT  is  a  partner, with SDG.  The tender offer will  expire  at  12:00
Midnight, New York City time, on September 25, 1997.

Merrill Lynch & Co. is acting as financial advisor to SDG and as Dealer Manager
in connection with the tender offer.

Simon DeBartolo Group, Inc., headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a self-
administered and self-managed real estate investment trust which,  through  its
subsidiary  partnerships, is engaged primarily in the  ownership,  development,
management,  leasing, acquisition and expansion of income-producing properties,
primarily regional malls and community shopping centers.  It currently owns  or
has  an  interest  in 187 properties which consist of existing regional  malls,
community shopping centers and specialty and mixed-use properties containing an
aggregate  of  115  million square feet of gross leasable area  in  33  states.
Simon DeBartolo Group, together with its affiliated management company, manages
approximately  131  million square feet of gross leasable area  in  retail  and
mixed-use properties.

Simon  DeBartolo  Group is the largest publicly traded real estate  company  in
North America as measured by market capitalization, with a current total market
capitalization of approximately $10 billion.

                                     -end-