Exhibit 23.2
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                         [LETTERHEAD OF GRANT THORNTON]


Consent of Independent Certified Public Accountants
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We have issued our reports dated February 8, 1999, accompanying the consolidated
statements of operations, shareholder's equity and cash flows for the period
ended December 31, 1998, and schedules incorporated by reference in the Annual
Report of Federal Realty Investment Trust on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2000. We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference of said
reports in the Registration Statements of Federal Realty Investment Trust on
Form S-3 (filed on or about March 8, 2002) and the use of our name as it appears
under the caption "Experts."



                                                 Grant Thornton LLP


Washington, DC
March 8, 2002