<PAGE>



                                                                    EXHIBIT 31.1
                                                                    ------------


            WINTHROP RESIDENTIAL ASSOCIATES I, A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
            --------------------------------------------------------
                         FORM 10-QSB SEPTEMBER 30, 2003
                         ------------------------------



                                 CERTIFICATIONS

     I, Michael L. Ashner, certify that:

1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-QSB of Winthrop
     Residential Associates I, A Limited Partnership;

2.   Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue
     statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to
     make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such
     statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by
     this quarterly report;

3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
     information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all
     material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash
     flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this
     quarterly report;

4.   The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for
     establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined
     in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) for the registrant and have:

     a)   designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such
          disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our
          supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the
          registrant is made known to us, particularly during the period in
          which this quarterly report is being prepared;

     b)   evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls
          and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the
          effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end
          of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation;

     c)   disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal
          control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's
          most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is
          reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal
          control over financial reporting;



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<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 31.1
                                                                    ------------


            WINTHROP RESIDENTIAL ASSOCIATES I, A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
            --------------------------------------------------------
                         FORM 10-QSB SEPTEMBER 30, 2003
                         ------------------------------



5.   The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on
     our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to
     the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of registrant's board of
     directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

     a)   all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or
          operation of internal control over financial reporting which are
          reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to
          record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

     b)   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
          employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal
          control over financial reporting.





Date: November 12, 2003                   /s/ Michael L. Ashner
                                          ---------------------------------
                                          Michael L. Ashner
                                          Chief Executive Officer











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