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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): DECEMBER 29, 2000



                       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

      First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc. and its subsidiaries' (the "Company")
acquired 81 industrial properties from unrelated parties during the period
January 1, 2000 through December 29, 2000. The combined purchase price of the 81
industrial properties acquired totaled approximately $262.0 million, excluding
closing costs incurred in conjunction with the acquisition of the industrial
properties. The 81 industrial properties acquired are described below and were
funded with proceeds from property sales, borrowings under the Company's $300
million unsecured revolving credit facility or working capital. The Company will
operate the facilities as industrial rental property.


PROPERTIES ACQUIRED BY THE COMPANY:

- -    On January 12, 2000, the Company purchased two research and
     development/flex properties and one light industrial property totaling
     144,514 square feet, in the aggregate, located in the metropolitan area of
     Houston, Texas. The aggregate purchase price for these properties was
     approximately $6.6 million. The properties were purchased from Fidelity
     National 1031 Exchange Services, Inc., a California corporation,
     Intermediary under exchange, No. Ex-02-5254 for Carson Dominguez.

- -    On January 27, 2000, the Company purchased three bulk warehouse properties
     totaling 339,050 square feet, in the aggregate, located in the metropolitan
     area of Nashville, Tennessee. The aggregate purchase price for these
     properties was approximately $6.8 million. The properties were purchased
     from Ozburn-Hessey Co., a Tennessee corporation.

- -    On January 27, 2000, the Company purchased a 79,329 square foot regional
     warehouse property located in the metropolitan area of Moorestown, New
     Jersey. The purchase price for the property was approximately $3.4 million.
     The property was purchased from Michael Cassano & Sons, a New Jersey
     general partnership.

- -    On February 25, 2000, the Company purchased a 214,320 square foot bulk
     warehouse property located in the metropolitan area of Philadelphia,
     Pennsylvania. The purchase price for the property was approximately $6.3
     million. The property was purchased from Madonna Management Company, Inc, a
     Delaware Corporation.

- -    On March 31, 2000, the Company purchased a 130,949 square foot bulk
     warehouse property located in the metropolitan area of Dallas, Texas. The
     purchase price for the property was approximately $3.1 million. The
     property was purchased from ProLogis Trust.

- -    On April 18, 2000, the Company purchased a 38,668 square foot light
     industrial property located in the metropolitan area of Harrisburg,
     Pennsylvania. The purchase price for the property was approximately $1.0
     million. The property was purchased from Penn Appliance Distributors, Inc.

- -    On April 25, 2000, the Company purchased a 251,850 square foot bulk
     warehouse property located in the metropolitan area of Dallas, Texas. The
     purchase price for the property was approximately $5.5 million. The
     property was purchased from TriNet Corporate Partners II, L.P.

- -    On June 30, 2000, the Company purchased eight regional warehouse
     properties, five research and development/flex properties and five bulk
     warehouse properties totaling 1,303,317 square feet, in the aggregate,
     located in the metropolitan area of Dallas, Texas. The aggregate purchase
     price for these properties was approximately $44.3 million. The properties
     were purchased from Kancro, L.P, a Delaware limited partnership.

- -    On September 6, 2000, the Company purchased three light industrial
     properties totaling 69,592 square feet, in the aggregate, located in the
     metropolitan area of Los Angeles, California. The aggregate purchase price
     for these properties was approximately $4.3 million. The properties were
     purchased from Voit Cal Ptrs I & III, LLC, a California limited liability
     company.

- -    On September 20, 2000, the Company purchased two light industrial
     properties totaling 30,157 square feet, in the aggregate, located in the
     metropolitan area of Los Angeles, California. The aggregate purchase price
     for these properties was approximately $1.7 million. The properties were
     purchased from Bixby Land Company.



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- -    On September 28, 2000, the Company purchased five light industrial
     properties, four research and development/flex properties and three bulk
     warehouse properties totaling 1,257,143 square feet, in the aggregate,
     located in the metropolitan area of Pine Brook, New Jersey. The aggregate
     purchase price for these properties was approximately $82.0 million. The
     properties were purchased from CalEast Industrial Investors, LLC, a
     California limited liability company, its duly authorized agent, and
     LaSalle Investment Management, Inc., a Maryland Corporation, its member.

- -    On December 5, 2000, the Company purchased three light industrial
     properties totaling 125,298 square feet, in the aggregate, located in the
     metropolitan area of Baltimore, Maryland. The aggregate purchase price for
     these properties was approximately $6.7 million. The properties were
     purchased from Alcalde Realty Partners, LLC.

- -    On December 14, 2000, the Company purchased six research and
     development/flex properties totaling 179,494 square feet, in the aggregate,
     located in the metropolitan area of Tampa, Florida. The aggregate purchase
     price for these properties was approximately $10.9 million. The properties
     were purchased from Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, a
     specifically chartered Connecticut corporation.

- -    On December 18, 2000, the Company purchased 13 light industrial properties,
     two regional warehouse properties, two research and development/flex
     properties and one bulk warehouse property totaling 1,218,800 square feet,
     in the aggregate, located in the metropolitan area of Chicago, Illinois.
     The aggregate purchase price for these properties was approximately $52.6
     million. The properties were purchased from OTR, an Ohio general
     partnership.

- -    On December 29, 2000, the Company purchased one light industrial property
     and one research and development/flex property totaling 234,683 square
     feet, in the aggregate, located in the metropolitan area of Denver,
     Colorado. The aggregate purchase price for these properties was
     approximately $16.8 million. The properties were purchased from Principal
     Life Insurance Company.

- -    On December 29, 2000, the Company purchased four light industrial
     properties and two regional warehouse properties totaling 208,197 square
     feet, in the aggregate, located in the metropolitan area of Detroit,
     Michigan. The aggregate purchase price for these properties was
     approximately $10.0 million. The properties were purchased from the
     Prudential Insurance Company of America, a New Jersey corporation.






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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.



January 12, 2001              By:  /s/  Michael J. Havala
                                   ------------------------------------
                                   Michael J. Havala
                                   Chief Financial Officer
                                   (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)










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