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                UNITED STATES 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

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                         Commission File Number 1-13102

       Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): November 6, 1998


                       FIRST INDUSTRIAL REALTY TRUST, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its Charter)


            Maryland                                      36-3935116
(State or other jurisdiction of                        (I.R.S. Employer
  incorporation or organization)                       Identification No.)


            311 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 4000, Chicago, Illinois 60606
                    (Address of principal executive offices)


                                 (312) 344-4300
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)




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                              ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS

         Since the filing of, First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. and its
Subsidiaries' (the "Company") Form 8-K/A No. 1 dated April 6, 1998, as filed on
June 16, 1998, the Company acquired 74 industrial properties from unrelated
parties during the period April 7, 1998 through November 6, 1998. The combined
purchase price of the 74 industrial properties acquired totaled approximately
$109.2 million, excluding closing costs incurred in conjunction with the
acquisition of the industrial properties. The 74 industrial properties acquired
are described below and were funded with working capital, the issuance of
limited partnership units in First Industrial, L.P. (the "Units"), the
assumption of secured debt, borrowings under the Company's $300 million
unsecured revolving credit facility and the issuance of other unsecured debt.
The Company will operate the facilities as industrial rental property.

         On September 28, 1998, the Company, through First Industrial, L.P. (the
"Operating Partnership") entered into a joint venture arrangement (the
"September 1998 Joint Venture") with an institutional investor to invest in
industrial properties. The Company, through limited liability companies in which
the Operating Partnership is the sole member, will own a 10% equity interest in
the September 1998 Joint Venture and will provide property and asset management
services to the September 1998 Joint Venture. The September 1998 Joint Venture
acquired 104 industrial properties from unrelated parties and seven industrial
properties from the Operating Partnership during the period October 9, 1998
through November 6, 1998. The combined purchase price of the 111 industrial
properties acquired totaled approximately $199.0 million, excluding closing
costs incurred in conjunction with the acquisition of the industrial properties.
The 111 industrial properties acquired by the September 1998 Joint Venture are
described below and were funded with capital contributions made to the September
1998 Joint Venture and the assumption and issuance of secured debt. The
September 1998 Joint Venture will operate these facilities as industrial rental
property.


PROPERTIES ACQUIRED BY THE COMPANY:

- -    On May 19, 1998, the Company purchased a 56,400 square foot light
     industrial property located in Arlington Heights, Illinois. The purchase
     price for the property was approximately $1.7 million. The property was
     purchased from Dynasty Property Group, an Illinois general partnership.

- -    On May 21, 1998, the Company purchased five light industrial properties and
     four research and development/flex properties totaling 135,662 square feet
     located in St. Petersburg, Florida. The aggregate purchase price for these
     properties was approximately $7.3 million. The properties were purchased
     from Gandy/275 Associates, a Florida general partnership.

- -    On June 10, 1998, the Company purchased an 88,000 square foot regional
     warehouse property located in Des Moines, Iowa for approximately $1.9
     million. The property was purchased from Jared R. Johnson and Elaine E.
     Johnson.

- -    On June 23, 1998, the Company purchased a 292,471 square foot light
     industrial property located in Denver, Colorado. The purchase price for the
     property was approximately $12.2 million which was funded with $8.1 million
     in cash and the issuance of 132,109 Units valued at $4.1 million. The
     property was purchased from Pacifica Bryant Warehouse, LLC, a Colorado
     limited liability company.

- -    On June 30, 1998, the Company purchased an 84,760 square foot light
     industrial property located in Skokie, Illinois. The purchase price for the
     property was approximately $2.6 million. The property was purchased from 3
     Com Corporation.

- -    On July 7, 1998, the Company purchased one light industrial property, one
     bulk warehouse property and one regional warehouse property totaling
     347,056 square feet located in Conyers, Georgia. The aggregate purchase
     price for these properties was approximately $9.9 million. The properties
     were purchased from Robert Pattillo Properties, Inc., a Georgia
     corporation.

- -    On July 16, 1998, the Company purchased a 44,427 square foot research and
     development/flex property located in Tampa, Florida. The purchase price for
     the property was approximately $3.2 million which was funded with $.6
     million in cash, the assumption of $2.6 million of debt and the issuance
     1,190 Units valued at $0.03 million. The property was purchased from TK-SV,
     Ltd.



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- -    On August 14, 1998, the Company purchased two light industrial properties
     totaling 87,462 square feet located in Phoenix, Arizona. The aggregate
     purchase price for these properties was approximately $5.0 million. The
     properties were purchased from Orsett/40th Street and I & 10 Limited
     Partnership.

- -    On August 18, 1998, the Company purchased a 50,338 square foot light
     industrial property located in Port Washington, New York. The purchase
     price for the property was approximately $2.5 million. The property was
     purchased from Seaview Harbor Associates.

- -    On August 31, 1998, the Company purchased 34 light industrial properties
     and two research and development/flex properties totaling 856,516 square
     feet located in Portland, Oregon. The aggregate purchase price for these
     properties was approximately $44.5 million which was funded with $28.5
     million in cash, the assumption of $2.3 million in debt and the issuance of
     455,483 Units valued at $13.7 million. The properties were purchased from
     Sivers Companies.

- -    On September 30, 1998, the Company purchased two light industrial
     properties totaling 50,900 square feet located in Aston, Pennsylvania. The
     aggregate purchase price for these properties was approximately $2.1
     million. The properties were purchased from Richard C. DeSantis and Paul C.
     Steelman, individually and as co-partners t/a Richard DeSantis Developers.

- -    On September 30, 1998, the Company purchased a 121,400 square foot bulk
     warehouse property located in Lavergne, Tennessee. The purchase price for
     the property was approximately $1.5 million. The property was purchased
     from AMTROL, Inc., a Rhode Island corporation.

- -    On October 13, 1998, the Company purchased a 41,800 square foot bulk
     warehouse property located in Romulus, Michigan. The purchase price for the
     property was approximately $1.3 million. The property was purchased from
     Airborne Express Corporation.

- -    On October 21, 1998, the Company purchased a 52,329 square foot light
     industrial property located in Hauppauge, New York. The purchase price for
     the property was approximately $2.3 million which was funded with $2.2
     million in cash and the issuance of 1,650 Units valued at $.1 million. The
     property was purchased from 275 Corpark Associates Company, a New York
     partnership.

- -    On October 30, 1998, the Company purchased a 20,000 square foot light
     industrial property located in Dayton, Ohio. The purchase price for the
     property was approximately $0.7 million which was funded with $.3 million
     in cash and the issuance of 13,704 Units valued at $.4 million. The
     property was purchased from Trottwood Industrial Park, an Ohio general
     partnership.

- -    On November 5, 1998, the Company purchased nine light industrial properties
     and three research and development/flex properties totaling 291,168 square
     feet located in Richland Hills, Texas. The aggregate purchase price for
     these properties was approximately $10.5 million which was funded with $7.7
     million in cash, the assumption of $1.3 million in debt and the issuance of
     60,000 Units valued at $1.5 million. The properties were purchased from
     Priscilla Ann Hodges, Leland A. Hodges, III, Margery Lynn Hodges Berry and
     Four Star Investments, Inc.


PROPERTIES ACQUIRED BY THE SEPTEMBER 1998 JOINT VENTURE:

- -    On October 9, 1998, the September 1998 Joint Venture purchased 61
     industrial properties totaling 2,856,388 square feet. Of the 61 industrial
     properties purchased, 47 properties are located in Houston, Texas; three
     properties are located in McAllen, Texas; two properties are located in
     Indianapolis, Indiana; two properties are located in Irving, Texas; two
     properties are located in Nashville, Tennessee; one property is located in
     Tampa, Florida; one property is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; one
     property is located in Bolingbrook, Illinois; one property is located in
     Des Plaines; and one property is located in Romulus, Michigan. The
     aggregate purchase price for these properties was approximately $100.0
     million. The properties were purchased from Investors Equity Fund,
     Inc./162516 Canada, 


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     Inc.; Investors Equity Fund, Inc./168065 Canada, Inc.; Investors Equity
     Fund, Inc./167098 Canada, Inc.; Investors Equity Fund, Inc.; KIRKWOOD Tech
     Associates, Ltd.; Greenbriar III Associates, Ltd.; Jameel Warehouses, Inc.;
     Rockley Road Properties, Inc.; AXXA, L.L.C.; 34th Street Building, Ltd.;
     Pinemont-Hempstead Associates I, Ltd.; Pinemont-Hempstead Associates II,
     Ltd.; 11421 Todd Road Limited Partnership; East Warehouse, L.L.C.; Houston
     Industrial Warehouses, L.L.C.; Industrial Partners, L.L.C.; TMC Properties,
     L.L.C., a New Jersey limited liability company; First Industrial, L.P.;
     Merit 1995 Industrial Portfolio Limited Partnership, a Texas limited
     partnership; Guion Road Associates, Inc.; Southwest Centre, a Texas general
     partnership; MMC Capital Corp.; BVT Acorn Distribution Center, Ltd., a
     Tennessee limited partnership; APPC Metroplex Investors 1984, Ltd., L.P.;
     and Stair Realty, a Florida joint venture.

- -    On October 23, 1998, the September 1998 Joint Venture acquired six
     industrial properties totaling 859,136 square feet. Of the six industrial
     properties purchased, three properties are located in Wichita, Kansas; one
     property is located in Addison, Illinois; one property is located in Aston,
     Pennsylvania; and one property is located in Louisville, Kentucky. The
     aggregate purchase price for these properties was approximately $37.0
     million. The properties were purchased from Realco Investments; A.S.
     Industrial Properties; Aston Investments; and Starker Services, Inc.

- -    On November 6, 1998, the September 1998 Joint Venture purchased 44
     industrial properties totaling 1,442,842 square feet. Of the 44 properties
     purchased, 26 properties are located in Fort Worth, Texas; ten properties
     are located in McAllen, Texas; five properties are located in Ann Arbor,
     Michigan; one property in Clearwater, Florida; one property is located in
     Deer Park, New York; and one property is located in Cherry Hills, New
     Jersey. The aggregate purchase price for these properties was approximately
     $62.0 million. The properties were purchased by Midway Brazos Partners,
     Ltd., O.P. Leonard. Jr.; Louise Leonard Keffler; Leonard Properties, et al;
     Virginia Leonard Marital Trust; First Industrial, L.P.; BMP Joint Venture,
     a Texas joint venture; 1016 Partnership, a Texas general partnership; Sally
     Elaine Wilson, individually, as Independent Executor of the Estate of
     Darrell L. Wilson (deceased) and as Testamentary Trustee under the Last
     Will and Testament of Darrell L. Wilson (deceased) and Phillip Hunke;
     Corridor Commercial Center Associates, a Florida general partnership;
     Wilson Partnership, a Texas general partnership; Gilbert King and Kenneth
     Katzman, as Executors under the Last Will and Testament of Jerome Krinsky;
     and C.H.O.C.K. Associates, a New Jersey general partnership.





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                    ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

    (a) and (b)    Financial Statements:

                   At this time it is impracticable to file the required
                   financial statements and pro forma financial information. The
                   required financial statements and pro forma financial
                   information will be filed in an amendment to this report on
                   Form 8-K as soon as possible, but no later than sixty (60)
                   days from the date on which this report on Form 8-K is
                   required to be filed.


    (c)            Exhibits.

                   None





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                                    SIGNATURE


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1933,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.


                             FIRST INDUSTRIAL REALTY TRUST, INC.

November 12, 1998                     By: /s/  Michael J. Havala 
                                          ------------------------------------
                                          Michael J. Havala
                                          Chief Financial Officer
                                          (Principal Financial and Accounting 
                                          Officer)



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