First Industrial reports increase in market activity. (New Jersey).

Hayden Tiger, regional director of First Industrial Realty Trust, Inc., reports continued leasing activity throughout the company's New Jersey portfolio in the first quarter in 2003.

Hayden Tiger commented, "We are experiencing a surge in new deal activity throughout the New Jersey marketplace in the industrial sector, as evidenced by First Industrial's continued excellent results in the first quarter of this year. We attribute this to a rebounding economy, solid industrial product expectations for the 3rd and 4th quarters, as well as our aggressive approach to aligning tenant requirements with our portfolio. Our focus on quality development, tenant services, and flexible project design enables First Industrial to continue to fulfill a myriad of requirements in the marketplace."

Highlights of the first quarter of 2003 for First Industrial in New Jersey include:

Hemophila of American, Inc. signed a new lease for 16,400 SF at 45 Route 46 East at Montville Business Center in Pine Brook.

Iden Industries, Inc. renewed its lease for 16,307 SF at 400 Apgar Drive in Somerset.

Princeton Video Image, Inc. renewed its lease for 12,375 SF at 15 Princess Road at Princeton South at Lawrenceville in Lawrenceville. Buzz Woodworth, of Keller, Dodds & Woodworth, was the broker.

INO Therapeutics signed a new lease for 10,000 SF at 22JK World's Fair Drive in Somerset. Jack Peterson, of Weichert Commercial, was the broker.

Zepter International renewed its lease for 10,000 SF at 22 West Forest Ave. at Van Bount Industrial Park in Englewood.

Free Ware Fashion, Inc. renewed its lease for 9,800 SF at 60 Ethel Road in Piscataway. John Glick, of Sheldon Gross Realty, was the broker.

American Title & Settlement Services signed a new lease for 9,100 SF / at Route 46 at Montville Business Center in Pine Brook. Tom Alter, of Alter & Associates, was the broker.

Rhyne Communications renewed its lease for 9,078 SF at 45 Route 46 at Montville Business Center in Pine Brook. Tom Alter, of Alter & Associates, was the broker.

Paramount Flooring, Inc. signed a new lease for 8,000 SF at 30 Chapin Road in Montville Business Center in Pine Brook. Lori Zuck, of GVA Williams, was the broker.

Conteck International, Inc. signed a new lease for 7,700 SF at 201 Circle Drive in Piscataway. Chris Galiano, of DiLeo Realty, was the broker.

MCI Worldcom renewed its lease for 7,620 SF at 20 Chapin Road in Montville Business Center in Pine Brook. Jeff Heller, of Cushman & Wakefield of NJ, Inc., was the broker.

Volkswagen of America renewed its lease for 7,500 SF and Werner Corp signed a new lease at 7 Pearl Court at Allendale Business Center in Allendale.

Rentfusion Corporation signed a new lease for 7,000 SF at 20 Chapin Road in Montville Business Center in Pine Brook. Greg Sabato, of American Properties, was the broker.

Ricoh Document Management Corp. renewed its lease for 6,340 SF at 30 Chapin Road in Montville Business Center in Pine Brook. Jim Dougherty, of Julian Studley, was the broker.

VTV Enterprises renewed its lease for 5,000 SF at 613 Montrose Ave. in South Plainfield.

Nissel America, Inc. renewed its lease for 5,000 SF at 26 World's Fair Drive at World's Fair Corporate Center in Somerset.

McIntire/ADK renewed its lease for 5,000 SF at 14D World's Fair Drive in Somerset. Lawrence Dickstein, of ITRA Realty Group, was the broker.

Laserspeed, Inc. signed a new lease for its 3,750 SF at 15 Princess Road at Princeton South at awrenceville in Lawrenceville. Peter Dodds, of Keller, Dodds & Woodworth, was the broker.

Geo-Technology Associates, Inc. signed a new lease for 3,500 SF at 24 World's Fair Drive at World's Fair Corporate Center in Somerset. Mike McDonough, of the Garibaldi Group/CORFAC International, was the broker.