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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

                              __________________

                        Commission File Number 1-13102

       Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): APRIL 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 January 1, 1998, First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. and its
Subsidiaries (the "Company") acquired 163 industrial properties and seven land  
parcels for future development from unrelated parties and four industrial
properties from a related party during the period January 1, 1998 through April
17, 1998.  The combined purchase price of the 167 industrial properties and
seven land parcels acquired totaled approximately $363.9 million, excluding
development costs incurred subsequent to the acquisition of the land parcels
and closing costs incurred in conjunction with the acquisition of the
industrial properties and land parcels. The 167 industrial properties and seven
land parcels acquired are described below and were funded with working capital, 
the issuance of limited partnership units in First Industrial, L.P. (the
"Units"), the issuance of $.01 par value preferred stock, 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.  With respect to the land
parcels purchased, the Company intends to develop the land parcels and operate
the facilities as industrial rental property.




- -    On January 9, 1998, the Company purchased a 53,500 square foot light
     industrial property located in Franklin Park, Illinois.  The purchase
     price for the property was approximately $1.2 million.  The property was
     purchased from Chicago Trust Company, successor Trustee to Chicago Title
     and Trust Company, as trustee u/t/a dated November 18, 1982, Trust No.
     10-82791, The Sam Cohn Testamentary Trust, Jerrold V. Cohen and Leslie S.
     Cohn.

- -    On January 12, 1998, the Company purchased five light industrial
     properties and one bulk warehouse property totaling 353,048 square feet
     located in West Chicago, Illinois.  The aggregate purchase price for these
     properties was approximately $12.0 million.  The properties were purchased
     from Westech Business Centers, Inc. and Wegner Land and Development
     Corporation.

- -    On January 15, 1998, the Company purchased four light industrial
     properties totaling 318,013 square feet in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The
     aggregate purchase price for these properties was approximately $11.2
     million.  The properties were purchased from Advent Realty Limited
     Partnership II.

- -    On January 16, 1998, the Company purchased a 288,000 square foot bulk
     warehouse property located in Bolingbrook, Illinois for approximately
     $10.4 million.  The property was purchased from Bardale Company.

- -    On January 27, 1998, the Company purchased nine light industrial
     properties totaling 183,772 square feet and a land parcel located in West
     Valley City, Utah.  The aggregate purchase price for these properties and
     land parcel was approximately $15.2 million.  The properties and land
     parcel were purchased from Stancop Associates Joint Venture, a Utah joint
     venture.

- -    On January 30, 1998, the Company purchased three light industrial
     properties and one bulk warehouse property totaling 309,386 square feet
     located in Chicago, Illinois.  The aggregate purchase price for these
     properties was approximately $7.9 million which was funded with $7.7
     million in cash and the issuance of 5,772 Units valued at $.2 million.
     The properties were purchased from Western Suburban Industrial Investments
     Limited Partnership ("Western").  The sole general partner of Western,
     having a 5% interest, was Tomasz/Shidler Investment Corporation, the sole
     shareholders of which were a Director and a Director/Officer of the        
     Company who also had a 53% and 32% limited partnership interest in
     Western, respectively. Further, an additional Director/Officer of the
     Company was a limited partner in Western having an interest of 2%.

- -    On January 30, 1998, the Company purchased ten light industrial properties
     totaling 448,186 square feet located in Denver, Colorado.  The aggregate
     purchase price for these properties was approximately $16.9 million which
     was funded with $16.5 million in cash and the issuance of 10,961 Units
     valued at $.4 million.  The properties were purchased from RPM
     Investments, Inc. as accommodator for the Denver Gardens Company, L.L.C.
     and Myrna R. Debilak, 3150 Corporation as qualified intermediary for Stan
     Lucas, 3811 Joliet, L.L.P., a Colorado limited liability partnership,
     Lewis-Joliet, L.L.P. and Pacifica Joliet Industrial, L.L.C., a Colorado
     limited liability corporation, Equity Industrial, L.P., a Nevada limited
     partnership and Equity Industrial- California, L.P., a Colorado limited
     partnership. This acquisition was the final phase of the Pacifica
     Acquisition Properties transaction which was audited in Form 8-K/A No. 2 
     dated December 11, 1997, as filed on February 26, 1998.



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- -    On February 2, 1998, the Company purchased a land parcel located in
     Taylor, Michigan for approximately $.8 million.  The land parcel was
     purchased from Virginia Holding Corporation, a Virginia corporation.

- -    On February 5, 1998, the Company purchased a land parcel located in Orion,
     Michigan for approximately $1.3 million.  The land parcel was purchased
     from Ms. Beverly J. Ohngren.

- -    On February 11, 1998, the Company purchased a 69,220 square foot light
     industrial property located in Springboro, Ohio.  The purchase price for
     the property was approximately $2.0 million.  The property was purchased
     from Alcoa Building Products, Inc.

- -    On March 3, 1998, the Company purchased a 42,700 square foot light
     industrial property located in Garden City, New York.  The purchase price
     for the property was approximately $2.0 million.  The property was
     purchased from Klinger Scientific Corporation.

- -    On March 4, 1998, the Company purchased a light industrial property
     totaling 181,950 square feet and a land parcel located in Noblesville,
     Indiana.  The aggregate purchase price for the property and land parcel
     was approximately $2.9 million.  The property and land parcel were
     purchased from Alliant Foodservice, Inc.  The Property was owner occupied
     prior to purchase.

- -    On March 10, 1998, the Company purchased a land parcel located in Conyers,
     Georgia for approximately $.7 million.  The land parcel was purchased from
     Atlanta East (Delaware), L.L.C.

- -    On March 12, 1998, the Company purchased two light industrial properties
     totaling 75,200 square feet located in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  The
     aggregate purchase price for these properties was approximately $2.5
     million which was funded with $1.1 million in cash and the issuance of
     37,674 Units valued at $1.4 million.  The properties were purchased from
     Robert J. Powers.

- -    On March 12, 1998, the Company purchased 16 light industrial properties
     totaling 534,360 square feet and a land parcel located in Exton,
     Pennsylvania.  The aggregate purchase price for these properties and land
     parcel was approximately $22.7 million.  The properties and land parcel
     were purchased from Pickering Acquisitions Associates, a Pennsylvania
     general partnership.

- -    On March 17, 1998, the Company purchased a 200,000 square foot bulk
     warehouse property located in Chicago, Illinois for approximately $4.9
     million.  The property was purchased from Lake Moor Investments, Inc.

- -    On March 18, 1998, the Company purchased two light industrial properties
     totaling 217,612 square feet located in Columbus, Ohio.  The aggregate
     purchase price for these properties was approximately $5.1 million.  The
     properties were purchased from Northwest Equity Partners, a Texas general
     partnership.

- -    On March 23, 1998, the Company purchased a 60,000 square foot light
     industrial property located in Farmingdale, New York.  The purchase price
     for the property was approximately $2.2 million.  The property was
     purchased from Mr. Jerry Williams.  The property was owner occupied prior
     to purchase.

- -    On March 24, 1998, the Company purchased a 66,132 square foot light
     industrial property located in Sterling Heights, Michigan.  The purchase
     price for the property was approximately $3.1 million.  The property was
     purchased from Jado V L.L.C.  The property was owner occupied prior to
     purchase.

- -    On March 25, 1998, the Company purchased seven light industrial properties
     totaling 382,063 square feet located in Detroit, Michigan.  The aggregate
     purchase price for these properties was approximately $17.2 million.  The
     properties were purchased from Pioneer Acquisition Realty Trust, Dynamic
     Associates, L.P, a Michigan limited partnership, Stephenson Highway Realty
     Trust, Pioneer Acquisition Realty Trust and Aero-Mand Limited Partnership.



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- -    On March 27, 1998, the Company purchased a 123,808 square foot bulk
     warehouse property located in Smyrna, Georgia for approximately $5.0
     million.  The property was purchased from Highlands Summit Business
     Center, L.L.C.  The property was owner occupied prior to purchase.

- -    On March 27, 1998, the Company purchased a land parcel located in
     Minneapolis, Minnesota for approximately $1.9 million.  The land parcel
     was purchased from Valley Green Business Park Limited Partnership.

- -    On March 31, 1998, the Company purchased a 423,230 square foot bulk
     warehouse property located in Coloma, Michigan for approximately $9.1
     million.  The property was purchased from Agrilink Foods, Inc.  The
     property was owner occupied prior to purchase.

- -    On April 1, 1998, the Company purchased three light industrial properties
     totaling 75,350 square feet located in Des Moines, Iowa. The aggregate
     purchase price for these properties was approximately $2.3 million. The
     properties were purchased from Mr. Jeffrey N. Downing, Mr. Dale K.
     Humiston and Mr. Leon R. Shearer.

- -    On April 1, 1998, the Company purchased a 99,600 square foot light
     industrial property located in Hauppauge, New York.  The purchase price
     for the property was approximately $6.2 million which was funded with $4.0
     million in cash and the issuance of 61,604 Units valued at $2.2 million.
     The property was purchased from Mall Drive Associates, a New York limited
     partnership.

- -    On April 1, 1998, the Company purchased a 325,000 square foot bulk
     warehouse property located in Garden City, New York for approximately
     $14.5 million.  The property was purchased from Di Giorgio Corporation.

- -    On April 1, 1998, the Company purchased 11 light industrial properties
     totaling 525,800 square feet located in Hartford, Connecticut.  The
     aggregate purchase price for these properties was approximately $15.5
     million.  The properties were purchased from the Illinois Teachers
     Retirement Pension Fund.

- -    On April 3, 1998, the Company purchased 39 light industrial properties
     totaling 857,108 square feet located in Detroit, Michigan.  The aggregate
     purchase price for these properties was approximately $64.1 million which
     was funded with $40.1 million in cash and the issuance of 691,060 Units
     valued at $24.0 million.  The properties were purchased from
     Shamie-Pomeroy.

- -    On April 6, 1998, the Company purchased 25 light industrial properties and
     three bulk warehouse properties totaling 1,531,338 square feet located in
     Cherry Hill, New Jersey.  The aggregate purchase price for these 
     properties was approximately $51.0 million.  The properties were purchased
     from Cherry Hill Industrial Sites, Inc.

- -    On April 9, 1998, the Company purchased a 284,135 square foot bulk
     warehouse property located in Chicago, Illinois for approximately $4.1 
     million. The property was purchased from United Warehousing Company.

- -    On April 14, 1998, the Company purchased a 103,257 square foot bulk
     warehouse property located in Englewood, Colorado for approximately $6.1
     million. The property was purchased from Spiral Inc.

- -    On April 16, 1998, the Company purchased a 300,300 square foot bulk
     warehouse property located in Columbus, Ohio for approximately $4.5 
     million. The property was purchased from Lockbourne Fidelco Partnership, 
     an Ohio general partnership.

- -    On April 16, 1998, the Company purchased ten light industrial properties 
     and one bulk warehouse property totaling 840,229 square feet located in
     Baltimore, Maryland. The aggregate purchase price for these properties was
     approximately $37.4 million which was funded with $33.3 million in cash,
     the assumption of $2.5 million of debt and the issuance of 44,776 Units
     valued at $1.6 million. The properties were purchased from P.F. Obrecht
     and Son.










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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.



April 20, 1998                  By: /s/  Michael J. Havala 
                                    ----------------------------------
                                    Michael J. Havala
                                    Chief Financial Officer
                                    (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)













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