As filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
                                                              Reg. No. 333-84210


                 [LETTERHEAD OF FEDERAL REALTY INVESTMENT TRUST]


                                                                  April 24, 2002

Dear Shareholder:

Federal Realty Investment Trust is pleased to announce that effective April 15,
2002, our Dividend Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plan has been modified to
include several new features. We believe that the changes will make the Plan
more useful and accessible to current participants and encourage greater overall
participation. We encourage you to read the enclosed prospectus, which describes
the new Plan in complete detail, and have highlighted the major modifications
below.

..    Interested investors, that are not currently shareholders, will be able to
     make their initial investment in our common shares through the Plan with a
     minimum investment of $250.
..    Limits on optional cash investment have been increased to $10,000 per month
     from $15,000 a quarter.
..    Optional cash purchases will be made on the 1st and 15th of every month,
     rather than only on the 15th.
..    Participants may access their account through the web site operated by the
     Plan administrator, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company (AST), at
     www.investpower.com. At the web site, participants can set up an account,
     -------------------
     make additional purchases, sell shares, change investment options, request
     a certificate for shares held in the plan and terminate participation in
     the Plan.
..    Participants may now also engage in some Plan transactions through AST's
     Interactive Voice Response System, accessible by telephone at (877)
     611-8039.
..    Federal Realty will hereafter have the option to satisfy DRIP demand
     through the issuance of its legally authorized but unissued common shares
     or to direct the administrator to purchase common shares in the open
     market. If we issue new shares, the price of the shares, as in the previous
     plan, will be based on a five-day trailing average formula. If we purchase
     shares in the open market, the price of shares will be the weighted average
     purchase price paid by the administrator. Any brokerage commissions or
     service fees incurred on any purchases under the Plan will be paid by
     Federal Realty.

If you are currently enrolled in Federal Realty Investment Trust's Dividend
Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plan, you need take no action. Your account will
automatically be converted to enable you to take advantage of the new features.

We hope that you will take full advantage of the Plan.

                                             Sincerely,
                                             /s/ Larry E. Finger
                                             Senior Vice-President,
                                             Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer



[LOGO]
Federal Realty Investment Trust


                 DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND SHARE PURCHASE PLAN

                1,500,000 COMMON SHARES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST



   No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representation not contained in this Prospectus. This Prospectus does not
constitute an offer of any securities other than those described on the cover
page or an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy within any
jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or
solicitation within such jurisdiction.

                         QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE PLAN

   Please address all correspondence concerning the Plan to:

      American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
      PO Box 922 Wall Street Station
      New York, NY 10269-0560

   Federal Realty Investment Trust should be mentioned in all correspondence
and Plan participants should give the number of their account. American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company may be telephoned at (718) 921-8283 or (877) 611-8039.

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS



                                                          Page
                                                          ----
                                                       
                 Summary of the Plan.....................   2
                 Risk Factors............................   6
                 About This Prospectus...................   6
                 Where You Can Find More Information.....   7
                 A Warning About Forward Looking
                   Statements............................   9
                 The Trust...............................  10
                 The Plan................................  10
                  Purpose................................  10
                  Participation Options..................  11
                  Benefits and Disadvantages.............  12
                  Eligibility............................  14
                  Administration.........................  16
                  Participation..........................  16
                  Costs..................................  18
                  Purchases and Optional Cash Investments  19
                  Reports................................  23
                  Dividends..............................  23
                  Certificates for Shares................  24
                  Withdrawal From The Plan...............  25
                  Other Information......................  26
                 Use of Proceeds.........................  32
                 Experts.................................  32
                 Legal Matters...........................  32




   The Dividend Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plan of Federal Realty
Investment Trust provides record holders of the Trust's common shares of
beneficial interest, as well as other interested investors, with a convenient
and economical way to acquire common shares.

                                PLAN HIGHLIGHTS

.. You may participate in the plan if you own our common shares. If you do not
  own any common shares, you may make your initial investment in our common
  shares through the plan with a minimum initial investment of $250.

.. Once you are enrolled in the plan, you may buy additional common shares by
  automatically reinvesting all or a portion of the cash dividends paid on your
  common shares.

.. Once you are enrolled in the plan, you may buy additional common shares by
  making optional cash investments from $25 to $10,000 per month.

   Your participation in the plan is entirely voluntary, and you may terminate
your participation at any time. If you do not elect to participate in the plan,
you will receive cash dividends, if and when declared by our board of trustees.

   Our common shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticket
symbol "FRT". The closing price of our common shares on April 23, 2002 was
$26.56.

   Investing in the common shares involves risks. You should read carefully the
risk factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2001, filed on March 22, 2002, and our future SEC filings, all of
which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

   Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or has determined if
this prospectus is adequate or accurate. Any representation to the contrary is
a criminal offense.
                               -----------------

                 The date of this Prospectus is April 24, 2002


                                      1



                              SUMMARY OF THE PLAN

   The following summary of our Dividend Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plan
may omit information that may be important to you. You should carefully read
the entire text of the plan beginning on page 10 before you decide to
participate in the plan.

Enrollment:  Our existing shareholders can participate in the plan by
             submitting a completed authorization form or by completing the
             enrollment procedures specified on the web site of the plan's
             administrator, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, at
             www.investpower.com. Please see Questions 6 and 7 for more
             detailed information.

Initial
Investment:  If you do not own any of our common shares, you may participate in
             the plan by making an initial investment in our common shares
             through the plan with a minimum initial investment of $250. Your
             ability to make your initial investment in our common shares
             through the plan may be limited, however, by laws applicable to
             investors residing outside the United States. Please see Questions
             4 and 6 for more detailed information.


Reinvestment of
Dividends:   You can reinvest your cash dividends on all or a portion of your
             common shares. You will be able to purchase additional common

                                      2



             shares by reinvesting your dividends. Please see Question 2 for
             more detailed information.
Optional
Cash
Investments: After you are enrolled in the plan, you can buy additional common
             shares. You can invest a minimum of $25 to a maximum of $10,000 in
             any one month.
Source
of Shares:   Initially, the administrator of the plan will purchase our common
             shares directly from us as newly issued common shares. We may, at
             our election, also direct the plan administrator to acquire shares
             for use under the plan through open market transactions. Please
             see Question 10 for more detailed information.

Purchase
Price:       Under the plan, with respect to reinvested dividends and optional
             cash investments, the purchase price for our common shares that
             the administrator purchases directly from us will equal 100% of
             the average of the daily high and low sales prices for common
             shares reported by the New York Stock Exchange for the period of
             five trading days ending on the day of purchase. The purchase
             price for common shares purchased by the administrator in the open
             market will equal the price paid for the shares on the relevant
             investment date. Regardless of the source of shares, in no event
             will the purchase price be less than 95% of the sum of the closing
             price of the common shares as reported on the

                                      3



             New York Stock Exchange on the day of purchase plus the per share
             amount of the brokerage commissions or service fees paid by
             Federal Realty, if the shares are purchased on the open market.
             Please see Question 13 for more detailed information.

             Optional cash investments of less than $25 and that portion of any
             optional cash investments that exceed $10,000 in a particular
             month will be returned to the participant without interest.

Administration:American Stock Transfer & Trust Company initially will serve as
             the administrator and registered transfer agent of the plan. You
             should send all correspondence with the administrator to: Federal
             Realty Investment Trust, c/o American Stock Transfer & Trust
             Company, PO Box 922 Wall Street Station, New York, NY 10269-0560.
             You may call the administrator at (718) 921-8283 or (877)
             611-8039. Please see Question 5 for more detailed information.

Tracking
Your
Investments: You will receive periodic statements of the transactions made in
             your plan account. These statements will provide you with details
             of the transactions and will indicate the share balance in your
             plan account. Please see Question 16 for more detailed information.

                                      4



             You may also track your plan account through American Stock
             Transfer's interactive voice response system (IVR) by calling
             (877) 611-8039, or over the Internet through AST's web site at
             www.investpower.com. You will need a password to access your plan
             account information over the Internet. Please see Questions 6 and
             14 for more detailed information.


                                      5



                                 RISK FACTORS

   Investing in our common shares involves risks. You should read carefully the
risk factors described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2001, which we filed on March 22, 2002, and our future SEC
filings, all of which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

                             ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

   This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we
filed with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933. This prospectus does not
contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For
further information, we refer you to the registration statement, including its
exhibits. Statements contained in this prospectus about the provisions or
contents of any agreement or other document are not necessarily complete. If
the SEC's rules and regulations require that an agreement or document be filed
as an exhibit to the registration statement, please see the agreement or
document for a complete description of these matters. You should not assume
that the information in this prospectus is accurate as of any date other than
the date on the front of this prospectus.

   You should read this prospectus together with the additional information
described under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information" below.


                                      6



                      WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

   We file annual, quarterly and current reports and other information with the
SEC. You may read and copy materials that we have filed with the SEC, including
the registration statement, at the following location:

                             Public Reference Room
                            450 Fifth Street, N.W.
                                   Room 1024
                             Washington, DC 20549

   You may obtain information on the operation of the SEC's Public Reference
Room by calling the SEC at (800) SEC-0330.

   The SEC also maintains an Internet web site that contains reports, proxy
statements and other information regarding issuers, including us, who file
electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is www.sec.gov. Reports,
proxy statements and other information concerning Federal Realty Investment
Trust may also be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange,
which are located at 20 Broad Street, New York, NY 10005.

   The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file with
it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring
you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information
incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and
information we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede
this information. We incorporate by reference the filings listed below, which
we have previously filed with the SEC, and any future filings made with the SEC
prior to the termination of this offering under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All of these filings, which
contain important

                                      7



information about us, are considered a part of this prospectus.

   The file number for each of the listed documents is 1-07533.

   (1) Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
       2001.

   (2) Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on the following dates:

      .  February 12, 2002;

      .  March 12, 2002; and

      .  March 28, 2002.

   (3) Description of our common shares included in our Registration Statement
       on Form 8-A/A filed on April 24, 2001.

   (4) Description of our common share purchase rights included in our
       Registration Statement on Form 8-A/A filed on March 11, 1999.

   You may obtain copies of documents incorporated by reference in this
document, without charge, by writing us at the following address or calling us
at the telephone number listed below:

                       ANDREW P. BLOCHER, VICE PRESIDENT
                              INVESTOR RELATIONS
                        FEDERAL REALTY INVESTMENT TRUST
                           1626 E. JEFFERSON STREET
                           ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND 20852
                       (301) 998-8100 or (800) 658-8980

                                      8



                                A WARNING ABOUT
                          FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

   We make forward-looking statements in this document, and in documents that
are incorporated by reference in this document, that are subject to risks and
uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include information concerning our
possible or assumed future results of operation. Also, statements including
words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans,"
"estimates," or similar expressions are forward-looking statements. Many
factors, some of which are discussed elsewhere in this document and in the
documents incorporated by reference in this document, could affect our future
financial results and could cause actual results to differ materially from
those expressed in forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by
reference in this document. Important factors that could cause actual results
to differ materially from current expectations reflected in the forward-looking
statements in this document include, among others, the risk factors discussed
in the filings made by us with the SEC that are identified above and
incorporated in this document by reference.

   Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve
risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Our future results and shareholder values
may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements.
Many of the factors that will determine these results and values are beyond our
ability to control or predict. For those statements, we claim the protection of
the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

                                      9



                                   THE TRUST

   Federal Realty Investment Trust is an equity real estate investment trust
specializing in the ownership, management, development and re-development of
high quality retail and mixed-use properties. Federal Realty owns or has an
interest in 58 community and neighborhood shopping centers comprising over 12
million square feet, primarily located in densely populated and affluent
communities throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic United States. In
addition, Federal Realty owns 61 retail and urban mixed-use properties
comprising over 2 million square feet located in strategic metropolitan markets
across the United States and one apartment complex. Federal Realty has paid
quarterly dividends to its shareholders continuously since its founding in
1962, and has increased its dividend rate for 34 consecutive years. Federal
Realty operates in a manner intended to qualify as a real estate investment
trust pursuant to provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Our offices are
located at 1626 East Jefferson Street, Rockville, Maryland 20852. Our telephone
number is (301) 998-8100 or (800) 658-8980.

                                   THE PLAN

   The Dividend Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plan, as in effect beginning
April 15, 2002, is set forth and explained in the following questions and
answers.

Purpose

1.  What is the purpose of the plan?

   The primary purpose of the plan is to provide shareholders and other
interested investors a convenient and economical way to reinvest all or a
portion of their cash dividends in additional common shares. A secondary
purpose is to provide us with

                                      10



additional funds from our sales of common shares under the optional cash
investment feature of the plan, which we will use to make real estate
investments, make improvements to our existing properties, repay indebtedness,
and for working capital and other general trust purposes.

Participation Options

2.  What are my investment options under the plan?

   By participating in the plan, you may buy common shares through any of the
following investment options:

  .  Full Dividend Reinvestment.  You may reinvest the cash dividends paid on
     all of your certificated common shares in additional common shares. This
     option also permits you to make optional cash investments from $25 to
     $10,000 per month to buy additional common shares.

  .  Partial Dividend Reinvestment.  You may reinvest cash dividends paid on a
     number of your certificated common shares in additional common shares. We
     will continue to pay you cash dividends on any common shares for which you
     do not elect dividend reinvestment, when and if such dividends are
     declared by our board of trustees. This option also permits you to make
     optional cash investments from $25 to $10,000 per month to buy additional
     common shares.

  .  Optional Cash Investment Only.  You may choose not to reinvest any cash
     dividends paid on your common shares, but remain enrolled in the plan in
     order to make optional cash investments from $25 to $10,000 per month to
     buy additional common shares. We will continue to pay you cash dividends,
     when and if declared by our board of trustees, on

                                      11



     the common shares owned by you then or in the future, unless you designate
     the shares for reinvestment pursuant to the plan.

   You must select one of these three investment options when you enroll in the
plan. If you fail to make a selection, the administrator will enroll you in the
"Full Dividend Reinvestment" option and will reinvest all dividends on all
common shares registered in your name.

Benefits and Disadvantages

3.  What are the benefits and disadvantages of the plan?

  Benefits

  .  You will not pay brokerage commissions or service fees to purchase common
     shares through the plan.

  .  You will get the convenience of having all or a portion of your cash
     dividends automatically reinvested in additional common shares. Since the
     administrator will credit fractional common shares to your plan account,
     you will receive full investment of your dividends and optional cash
     investments.

  .  You may join without being a current shareholder.

  .  Your share certificates will be held for safekeeping by the administrator,
     ensuring your protection against loss, theft or destruction of the
     certificates representing your common shares.

  .  You will simplify your record keeping by receiving periodic statements
     which will reflect all current activity in your plan account, including
     purchases, sales and latest balances,

                                      12



     and you may track your plan account by accessing AST's IVR telephone
     system or Internet web site.

  .  You will have the flexibility of making optional cash investments from $25
     to $10,000 in any one month to buy additional common shares. You may make
     these optional cash investments on a regular or occasional basis by check,
     money order or electronic fund transfer.

  .  At any time, you may direct the administrator to sell or transfer all or a
     portion of the common shares held in your plan account.

  Disadvantages

  .  Without giving you prior notice, we may direct the administrator to buy
     common shares under the plan either directly from us or in open market
     transactions.

  .  You will be treated for federal income tax purposes as receiving a
     distribution equal to the fair market value of the common shares credited
     to your account as a result of the reinvestment of cash dividends. In
     addition, Federal Realty will pay all brokerage commissions or service
     fees incurred if the administrator buys shares on the open market for use
     with the plan. In that case, you will be treated for federal income tax
     purposes as receiving an additional distribution equal to your pro rata
     share of these commissions or fees. These distributions will be taxable as
     a dividend to the extent of our earnings and profits. Accordingly, you may
     have a tax liability without a corresponding distribution of cash with
     which to pay the liability when it comes due.

  .  You may not know the actual number of common shares that the administrator
     of the

                                      13



     plan buys for your account until after the applicable "investment date,"
     as described in more detail under Question 11.

  .  The price paid for the shares on any date may be greater than the price at
     which shares are then trading.

  .  Sales of common shares held in your plan account may take up to five
     business days to process.

  .  You will pay brokerage commissions or trading and transaction fees on the
     sale of common shares held in your plan account.

  .  The administrator will not pay interest on funds that it holds pending
     reinvestment or investment.

  .  You may not pledge common shares deposited in your plan account unless you
     withdraw the common shares from the plan.

Eligibility

4.  Who is eligible to participate in the plan?

   All shareholders are eligible to participate in the plan. If you are a
shareholder and your common shares are registered in a name other than your own
(e.g., in the name of a broker, bank or nominee) and you want to participate,
you may either make appropriate arrangements for your broker, bank or nominee
to become a participant or you may become a shareholder of record by having a
part or all of your common shares transferred to your own name. To have common
shares of which you are the beneficial owner re-registered in your name, you
must request your broker, bank or nominee to send you a certificate
representing such common shares. A broker, bank or other nominee who wishes to
participate in the plan may do so but only with respect to all common shares
held by the broker, bank or nominee.

   If you are an interested investor, but not yet a shareholder, you may use
the plan to make

                                      14



your initial purchase of at least $250 of common shares. This initial purchase
would enable you to participate in both the optional cash investment and
dividend reinvestment portions of the plan. Please note that regulations in
certain countries may limit or prohibit participation in services provided
under this type of plan. Therefore, persons residing outside of the United
States are responsible for complying with any such regulations. Federal Realty
and the plan's administrator reserve the right to prohibit or terminate
participation of any shareholder or prospective shareholder if deemed necessary
or advisable under any applicable laws or regulations.

   Exclusion from plan for short-term trading or other practices.  You should
not use the plan to engage in short-term trading activities that could change
the normal trading volume of the common shares. If you do engage in short-term
trading activities, we may prevent you from participating in the plan. We
reserve the right to modify, suspend or terminate participation in the plan, by
otherwise eligible holders of common shares, in order to eliminate practices
which are, in our sole discretion, not consistent with the purpose or operation
of the plan or which adversely affect the price of the common shares. In
addition to short-term trading activities, we reserve the right to prevent you
from participating in the plan for any other reason. It is in our sole
discretion to exclude you from or terminate your participation in the plan.

                                      15



Administration

5.  Who administers the plan for the participants?

   American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, or AST, administers the plan and
acts as agent for the participants. You should send all correspondence
concerning the plan to: Federal Realty Investment Trust, c/o American Stock
Transfer & Trust Company, PO Box 922 Wall Street Station, New York, NY
10269-0560. Should you have any questions regarding the plan or your plan
account, you may call AST at (718) 921-8283 or (877) 611-8039.

Participation

6.  How does a shareholder enroll and participate in the plan?

   If you are not already a participant in the plan, you may enroll by
completing the attached authorization card and mailing it to AST or by
following the enrollment procedures specified on AST's web site at
www.investpower.com. If you have questions, please contact AST at (718)
921-8283 or (877) 611-8039.

   Once enrolled, there are three ways that you can process transactions for
your account. You can:

      1.  Utilize AST's web site at www.investpower.com. You will be able to
   process the following transactions online:


                                  
                 - Set up an account - Sell shares
                 - Make additional   - Request a certificate
                  purchases           for (non-fractional)
                 - Change your        shares held in your
                  investment options  plan account
                                     - Terminate your
                                      participation in the plan


      2.  Utilize AST's Interactive Voice Response System (IVR) by calling AST
   at 1-877-

                                      16



   611-8039. You will be able to process the following transactions through the
   IVR system:

  - Sell shares
  - Request a certificate for (non-fractional) shares held in
         your plan account
  - Terminate participation in the plan

      3.  Utilize the Transaction Request Form attached to the bottom of your
   statement and mail it to:

                     American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
                          PO Box 922 Wall Street Station
                             New York, NY 10269-0560

   By utilizing the Transaction Request form you will be able to do the
   following:

  - Make additional purchases
  - Sell shares
  - Deposit shares for safekeeping
  - Request a certificate for (non-fractional) shares held in
         your plan account
  - Terminate your plan account

   If you are not presently a shareholder, you may enroll and make your initial
investment through the plan. To make this initial investment, include with your
authorization card a check or money order drawn on a U.S. bank for a minimum of
$250, or such greater amount you may specify (up to the maximum monthly amount
of $10,000) made out to American Stock Transfer and Trust Co./FRT. Or, if you
enroll by following the procedures specified on AST's web site, you may make
your initial investment by wire transfer as described more fully in the answer
to Question 14.

                                      17



7.  When may a shareholder join the plan?

   Shareholders may join the plan at any time. If the authorization card or
online enrollment is received by AST on or before the record date for the
payment of the next dividend, reinvestment will begin with that dividend. If
the authorization card or online enrollment is received in the period between
any dividend record date and payment date, that dividend will be paid in cash
and the shareholder's initial dividend reinvestment will begin with the next
dividend.

   Optional cash investments may be made at any time. See Question 14 for a
description of when and how amounts received will be invested in our common
shares.

8.  How may a participant change options under the plan?

   As a participant, you may change investment options or modify the number of
common shares designated under the Partial Dividend Reinvestment option at any
time by completing a new authorization card and returning it to AST at the
address set forth on the authorization card. You may also process these types
of transactions through AST's Internet web site and its IVR system, as
described in Question 6, above. Any such change will become effective as of the
dividend record date following the date the authorization card is received by
AST or the IVR or Internet request has been processed by AST.

Costs

9.  What costs do participants pay for their purchases of shares under the plan?

   None.  There are no brokerage commissions or service fees on purchases.
Federal Realty will pay all costs of administration of the plan, except that
participants may incur certain costs in connection with their withdrawal from
the plan if they direct AST to sell their common shares.

                                      18



Purchases and Optional Cash Investments

10. What is the source of the shares purchased under the plan?

   Initially, common shares purchased under the plan will come from Federal
Realty's legally authorized but unissued common shares. Federal Realty may,
however, at its sole discretion, direct the administrator to obtain common
shares for sale through the plan in open market purchases.

11. When will dividends and optional cash investments be invested in shares?

   If we are using newly issued common shares, dividends will be reinvested on
the same day as we pay our cash dividends to shareholders not participating in
the plan. The record dates for our dividend payments typically have preceded
the dividend payment dates by approximately two weeks. We have historically
paid dividends on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year. We
cannot assure you that we will continue to pay dividends according to this
schedule, and nothing in the plan obligates us to do so. Neither we nor the
administrator will be liable if conditions, including our obligation to comply
with the rules and regulations of the SEC, prevent the administrator from
buying common shares or interfere with the timing of purchases.

   We pay dividends as and when declared by our board of trustees. We cannot
assure you that we will declare or pay a dividend in the future, and nothing
contained in the plan obligates us to do so. The plan does not represent a
guarantee of future dividends.

   Optional cash investments will be invested as of the 1/st and 15th of each
month, or the next business day if the 1st or the 15th is not a business day.
If the administrator is buying common shares for the plan through open market,
the administrator will reinvest dividends or make optional cash investments as
soon as practical on or after the regular investment date. /

                                      19



12. How many shares will be purchased with a participant's dividends and
    optional cash investments?

   The number of full and fractional common shares (calculated to three decimal
places) purchased with a participant's dividends and optional cash investments
will be determined by dividing the aggregate amount of dividends and voluntary
cash payments, if any, by the applicable purchase price of common shares.

13. What will be the price for shares purchased under the plan?

   The price of common shares purchased directly from us with reinvested cash
dividends and with optional cash investments will equal 100% of the average of
the daily high and low sales prices for our common shares (as published in The
Wall Street Journal report of New York Stock Exchange--Composite Transactions)
for the period of five trading days ending on the applicable investment date
or, if the New York Stock Exchange is closed on the investment date, the five
trading days immediately preceding the investment date.

   If the administrator purchases common shares in the open market, then the
purchase price for common shares will be the weighted average purchase price
paid by the administrator for the shares on the applicable investment date. In
that case, Federal Realty will pay any brokerage commissions or service fees
incurred by the administrator in making the open market purchases. The
administrator will purchase the shares as soon as is practical on or after an
investment date.

   Regardless of the source of shares, in no event will the purchase price be
less than 95% of the sum of the closing price of the common shares as reported
on the New York Stock Exchange on the day of purchase plus, if the shares are
acquired through open market

                                      20



purchases, the per share amount of brokerage commissions or fees paid by
Federal Realty. While this is not expected to be the case, if the amount of
brokerage commissions or service fees paid by Federal Realty on open market
purchases caused this 95% limitation not to be met, you effectively would pay
the proportionate share of such brokerage commissions or service fees equal to
the amount that will cause the 95% limitation to be met.

14. How does a participant make optional cash investments?

   Existing shareholders and interested investors can make an optional cash
investment when joining the plan by enclosing a check or money order with your
authorization card. Thereafter, optional cash payments should be mailed with
the tear-off portion of your account statement or your purchase transaction
advice mailed to you after a purchase is completed by the plan administrator.
Optional cash payments may also be transacted online by logging on to
www.investpower.com and choosing "InvestPower Account Holders". Enter your ten
digit account number (provided to you in your account statement) and the last
four digits of your social security number. You may then complete your optional
cash investment confirmation in two simple steps. For first-time investors
(non-registered holders) the minimum initial investment is $250.00. For
existing investors who have shares already registered in their names, the
minimum investment is $25.00. The maximum investment for existing or new
investors is $10,000.00 in any given month.

   To make your initial payment, you should mail a check, money order or
automatic funds transfer election with an executed authorization card to the
agent at the address set forth below. After an authorization card has been
received by the agent, optional cash investments may be made by mailing a
check, money order or by automatic funds transfer together with a properly
executed copy of the form for such purpose which will accompany the account
statement sent to

                                      21



participants. All checks and money orders must be payable to "American Stock
Transfer and Trust Co.,/FRT." Do not send cash. Optional cash investments must
be received five business days prior to a particular investment date, and
checks or other drafts must clear prior to such investment date, for an
optional cash investment to be invested on such investment date. If a check
submitted is returned to the plan administrator as "unpaid", the plan
administrator will resell the shares just purchased and liquidate additional
shares, if necessary, to reimburse itself for any fees or loss incurred when
reselling from your account.

   You are also allowed to make automatic monthly purchases for a constant
dollar value by instructing the plan administrator to electronically debit and
transfer funds from your bank. You may also purchase additional shares online
by logging onto www.investpower.com, selecting the Federal Realty logo and
choosing "invest now". Please enter your bank account number and the bank's ABA
number for an investment of not less than $250.00 if you are a new investor or
$25.00 if you already have an account with AST. The maximum amount of each of
your investments in a given month may not exceed $10,000.00.

   Common shares purchased with optional cash investments will be held by the
administrator and credited to your account under the plan. Thereafter,
dividends on such common shares will automatically be fully or partially
reinvested in additional common shares or paid in cash, depending upon the
investment option selected, unless such common shares are withdrawn from the
plan.

   Payments should be mailed to American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, PO Box
922 Wall Street Station, New York, NY 10269-0560. Optional cash investments
which are received by the agent after the investment date will be applied to
the purchase of

                                      22



common shares on the next following investment date. On written request from a
participant, the administrator will return any uninvested voluntary cash
payments if the administrator receives the request at least 72 hours prior to
the investment date. Funds held by the administrator will not earn interest
pending investment or return.

15. Are there any limitations on optional cash investments?

   Yes.  A participant may not make optional cash investments of less than $25
or more than $10,000 per month. Any amounts less than $25 or in excess of
$10,000 received by the administrator in any given month from a participant
will be returned to the participant, without interest.

Reports

16. What reports will participants receive?

   Following each purchase of common shares for a participant under the plan,
the administrator will mail a statement of account showing the amounts
invested, the number of common shares purchased, and the purchase price on the
investment date. These statements should be retained for income tax purposes.
During the year participants will receive copies of the same materials sent to
all shareholders, including Federal Realty's annual reports, proxy statements
and other information concerning annual shareholder meetings.

Dividends

17. Will dividends be paid on shares held in participants' accounts under the
    plan?

   Yes.  Dividends for all full and fractional plan common shares will be paid
to participants. You can reinvest all, a portion or none of the dividends in
additional common shares depending on the investment option you elect. See
Question 2 for more details regarding your investment options.

                                      23



Certificates for Shares

18. Do participants receive certificates for shares purchased under the plan?

   No. A certificate will be issued by Federal Realty to the administrator's
nominee account to be held for the accounts of participants. The administrator
holds all shares for participants in book-entry form. Instead of certificates
for your shares, you will receive a quarterly dividend reinvestment statement
which reflects all activity in your account.

   This complimentary custodial service provides protection against loss, theft
or destruction of stock certificates.

19. What are the consequences if a participant requests certificates?

   You may at any time request the administrator to send certificates for any
full common shares credited to your account. A request for a certificate for
whole common shares does not terminate participation in the plan as long as you
remain in the plan and own, either directly or under your plan account, one
full common share. Any fractional common share balance will continue to be
maintained to the credit of the participant's account.

20. In whose name will certificates be registered when issued?

   When issued, certificates for full common shares will be registered in the
name in which your plan account is maintained. For holders of record, this
generally will be the name in which common share certificates are registered at
the time you enroll in the plan.

21. May shares in a plan account be pledged?

   No.  If you want to pledge common shares credited to your plan account, you
must withdraw those common shares from your plan account.

                                      24



Withdrawal from the Plan

22. When may a participant withdraw from the plan?

   A participant may withdraw from the plan at any time by accessing AST's
Internet web site at www.investpower.com, by using AST's IVR telephone system
or by written request to American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, PO Box 922
Wall Street Station, New York, NY 10269-0560. Any voluntary cash payments sent
to the administrator prior to a withdrawal request will be invested in common
shares. Whenever a participant no longer owns common shares directly and owns
less than one full common share under the plan, the administrator is authorized
to withdraw the participant from the plan.

23. What happens after a participant withdraws from the plan?

   When a participant withdraws from the plan, or upon termination of the plan
by the Trust, a certificate for the full common shares held in the
participant's plan account and cash for any fractional common share held in
that account will be mailed to the participant.

   Upon withdrawal from the plan, you may request the administrator to sell all
of your common shares in the plan account. In that case, the sale will be made
as promptly as possible after processing the withdrawal request, and the
administrator will pay you the proceeds of the sale, less any applicable
brokerage commission or charge.

   After withdrawal from the plan has become effective, you will receive all
dividends in cash unless and until you rejoin the plan.

24. What happens to a participant's fractional share upon withdrawal from the
    plan or if the plan is terminated?

   When a participant withdraws from the plan, or if the plan is terminated by
Federal Realty, a cash

                                      25



adjustment representing any fraction of a common share then credited to the
participant's plan account will be paid. The cash payment will be based upon
the closing price of the common shares, on the day the withdrawal request is
received or on the day the plan is terminated.

25.  When may a shareholder rejoin the plan?

   Generally, a shareholder may again become a participant at any time.
However, Federal Realty may, in its sole discretion, prevent a shareholder from
participating in the plan, as described in more detail under Question 4.

Other Information

26.  What happens when a participant sells or transfers some or all of the
          shares registered in his or her name?

   If you dispose of all or a portion of the common shares for which you hold
certificates, the administrator will continue to reinvest dividends on common
shares credited to your plan account in additional common shares unless and
until a request to withdraw such common shares from your plan account is
received by the administrator in writing or through AST's web site or IVR
system.

   If you dispose of a portion of your common shares and you have directed the
administrator to reinvest dividends on some of your common shares (e.g.,
Partial Dividend Reinvestment), you should provide new instructions to the
administrator in writing or through AST's web site or IVR system on how to
handle your account. If the administrator does not receive new instructions, it
may, in its discretion, pay cash dividends on all of your remaining common
shares.

27.  What effect does the disposal of all shares held directly by a participant
          have on a participant's plan account?

   None, as long as you have at least one full common share in your plan
account. Dividends on

                                      26



your plan common shares and any optional cash investments would continue to be
invested under the plan in additional common shares.

28.  What happens if Federal Realty issues a stock dividend, declares a stock
          split, has a rights offering or proposes to engage in an
          extraordinary transaction?

   Any stock dividends or split common shares distributed by Federal Realty on
common shares held in the plan will be credited to the participants' accounts.
Transaction processing may be curtailed or suspended until the completion of
any stock dividend, stock split, rights offering or extraordinary transaction.

29.  How will a participant's plan shares be voted at annual or special
         meetings of shareholders?

   You will receive a proxy to vote the number of full common shares held in
your plan account. Fractional common shares in plan accounts will not be voted.
The common shares in the plan account may only be voted by proxy and not in
person at the meeting.

   If no instructions are indicated on a properly signed and returned proxy
card, a participant's common shares in the plan account will be voted in
accordance with the recommendations of Federal Realty management. If the proxy
card is not returned or is returned unsigned, the participant's common shares
will not be voted. Common shares held by you outside of the plan may be voted
by proxy or in person at the meeting.

30.  What are the federal income tax consequences of participation in the plan?

   The following is a description of the material federal income tax
consequences of participation in

                                      27



the plan. The following discussion is for general information only and does not
constitute tax advice. This discussion does not reflect every possible tax
outcome or consequence that could result from participation in the plan and
does not discuss your tax consequences if you are a non-U.S. person or are
otherwise subject to special tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code. You
should consult your own tax advisor to determine the tax consequences
particular to your situation, including any applicable state, local or foreign
tax consequences.

   Amounts Treated as a Distribution.   Generally, a plan participant will be
treated as having received a distribution with respect to its Federal Realty
common shares for federal income tax purposes in an amount determined as
described below.

  .  If the administrator uses cash dividends that the participant has elected
     to have reinvested to purchase common shares directly from Federal Realty,
     the participant will be treated as receiving a distribution from Federal
     Realty equal to the fair market value on the date of distribution of the
     common shares purchased on behalf of the participant.

  .  If the administrator uses cash dividends that the participant has elected
     to have reinvested to purchase common shares on the open market, the
     participant will be treated for federal income tax purposes as having
     received a distribution from Federal Realty equal to the price paid for
     the common shares, including all brokerage commissions or service fees
     paid by Federal Realty.

  .  A participant who makes an optional cash investment through the plan will
     not be treated as receiving a distribution from Federal Realty except for
     a pro rata amount of brokerage commissions or service fees paid by Federal
     Realty if shares are purchased on the open market.

                                      28



  .  Newly-enrolled participants who are making their initial investment in
     Federal Realty shares through the plan's optional cash investment feature
     and therefore are not currently shareholders of Federal Realty should not
     be treated as receiving a distribution from Federal Realty.

   In the situations described above, a shareholder will be treated as
receiving a distribution from Federal Realty even though no cash distribution
is actually received. These distributions will be taxable in the same manner as
all other distributions by Federal Realty, as described in our Current Report
on Form 8-K filed on March 28, 2002 under "FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES --
Taxation of Domestic Holders of Common Shares -- Distributions," "-- Taxation
of Tax-Exempt Shareholders," or "-- Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders --
Distributions by Federal Realty," as applicable.

   Basis and Holding Period in Shares Acquired Pursuant to the Plan.  The tax
basis for common shares acquired by reinvesting cash distributions through the
plan generally will equal the fair market value of the common shares on the
date of distribution plus any brokerage commissions or service fees paid by
Federal Realty if the shares are purchased on the open market. The holding
period for shares acquired by reinvesting cash distributions will begin on the
day following the date of distribution.

   The tax basis in common shares acquired through an optional cash investment
generally will equal the cost paid by the participant in acquiring the common
shares plus any brokerage commissions or service fees paid by Federal Realty if
the shares are purchased on the open market. The holding period for the shares
purchased through the optional cash investment feature of the plan generally
will begin on the day the shares are purchased for the participant's account.

                                      29



   Withdrawal or Disposition of Shares from the Plan.  When participants
withdraw shares from the plan and receive whole shares, they will not realize
any taxable income. However, if they receive cash for a fraction of a share,
they will be required to recognize gain or loss with respect to that fraction
of a share. Participants also will be required to recognize gain or loss
whenever shares are sold either pursuant to a request to the administrator or
by the participant after the shares are withdrawn from the plan. Generally, the
amount of gain or loss that a participant will be required to recognize will be
the difference between the amount received for the shares and the participant's
tax basis in those shares.

   Effect of Withholding Requirements.  Withholding requirements generally
applicable to distributions from Federal Realty will apply to all amounts
treated as distributions pursuant to the plan. See the discussion in our
Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 28, 2002 under "FEDERAL INCOME TAX
CONSEQUENCES -- Backup Withholding Tax And Information Reporting." All
withholding amounts will be withheld from distributions before the
distributions are reinvested under the plan. Therefore, if a U.S. shareholder
is subject to withholding, distributions which would otherwise be available for
reinvestment under the plan will be reduced by the withholding amount.

31.  May the plan be changed or discontinued?

   While Federal Realty hopes to continue the plan indefinitely, Federal Realty
reserves the right to suspend or terminate the plan at any time. It also
reserves the right to make modifications to the plan. Participating
shareholders will be informed of any such suspension, termination or
modification.

32.  What is the responsibility of the administrator and Federal Realty under
          the plan?

   The administrator receives the participants' dividends and optional
payments, reinvests such receipts

                                      30



in additional common shares, maintains records of each participant's account,
holds in a nominee name all common shares purchased for participants, and
advises participants as to all transactions in and the status of their accounts.

   Neither Federal Realty nor the administrator nor its nominees shall have any
liability for any act done in good faith or for any good faith omission to act
in connection with the plan for sales or purchases, including without
limitation, any claim or liability arising out of failure to terminate a
participant's account upon his death prior to receipt of written notice of
death, nor shall they have any duties, responsibilities or liabilities except
such as are expressly set forth in the plan.

33. Who bears the risk of market price fluctuations in the common shares?

   Your investment in common shares held in a plan account is no different than
an investment in directly held common shares in this regard. You bear the risk
of loss and the benefits of gain from market price changes for all of your
common shares.

   Neither Federal Realty nor the administrator can guarantee that common
shares purchased under the plan will, at any particular time, be worth more or
less than their purchase price.

                                      31



                                USE OF PROCEEDS

   We will use the net proceeds from the sale of common shares pursuant to the
plan, when and as received, to make real estate investments, to make
improvements to our existing properties, to repay indebtedness, and for working
capital and general trust purposes. We have not yet determined the amount of
the proceeds which will be devoted to any one of these purposes. We have no
basis for estimating precisely either the number of common shares that
ultimately may be sold pursuant to the plan, or the prices at which such common
shares will be sold.

                                    EXPERTS

   The consolidated financial statements and schedule appearing in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the periods indicated in their reports, incorporated by
reference into this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement,
have been audited by Arthur Andersen, LLP, independent public accountants, as
indicated in their report with respect thereto, and are incorporated by
reference herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in
giving said report.

                                 LEGAL MATTERS

   The legality of the common shares offered hereby has been passed upon for
Federal Realty by Hogan & Hartson L.L.P., Washington, DC. Certain tax matters
will be passed upon by Hogan & Hartson L.L.P., Washington, DC, special tax
counsel for Federal Realty.

                                      32



                 DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT AND SHARE PURCHASE PLAN
                                      OF
                        FEDERAL REALTY INVESTMENT TRUST
                            ENROLLMENT APPLICATION


  
     -----------------------------------------------------------------------
   =   Please enroll this account as follows:
       Check one box only ([X]).
       If you do not check any box, then FULL DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT will
       be assumed.
     [_] FULL DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT
        Reinvest all dividends for this account.
     [_] PARTIAL DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT
        Reinvest dividends on __________ shares held by me in certificate
        form and on all shares held by you as Agent and pay dividends in
        cash on all remaining shares held by me in certificate form.
     [_] CASH INVESTMENT ONLY (NO DIVIDEND REINVESTMENT)
        All dividends will be paid in cash.
     -----------------------------------------------------------------------

I (We) hereby appoint American Stock Transfer & Trust Company as my (our) Agent
under the terms and conditions of the Plan, as described in the Brochure of the
Plan which accompanied this form, to receive cash payments and apply them to
the purchase of common shares of beneficial interest of Federal Realty
Investment Trust as indicated below.
        NO INTEREST WILL BE PAID ON THE FUNDS HELD PENDING INVESTMENT.
ACCOUNT INFORMATION
1. SINGLE/JOINT: Joint account will be presumed to be joint tenants with right
   of survivorship unless restricted by applicable state law or otherwise
   indicated. The Social Security Number of the first-named tenant is required.
2. CUSTODIAL:     A minor is the beneficial owner of the account with an adult
   custodian managing the account until the minor becomes of age, as specified
   in the Uniform Gift to Minors Act in the minor's state of residence. The
   minor's Social Security Number is required.
3. TRUST:         Account is established in accordance with the provisions of a
   trust agreement.
This form, when completed and signed, should be mailed with your check to the
Agent:
                                    Federal Realty Investment Trust
                                    c/o American Stock Transfer & Trust Company
                                    P.O. Box 922, Wall Street Station, New
                                    York, New York 10269-0560
                                    Attn: Dividend Reinvestment and Share
                                    Purchase Plan
   If your name is preprinted above, it is for mailing purposes only. Please
     complete one of the boxes below for the exact account registrations.


                   ACCOUNT LEGAL REGISTRATION (CHOOSE ONE):


                                                        -----------------
      SOCIAL SECURITY OR TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
                                                        -----------------

hereby warrant, under penalty of perjury, that the number above is correct.

                                                
[_]  SINGLE/JOINT ACCOUNT  [_]  CUSTODIAL ACCOUNT      [_]  TRUST ACCOUNT
------------------------- --------------------------  -------------------------
Name                      Custodian's Name            Trustee Name
------------------------- --------------------------  -------------------------
Joint Owner (if any)      Minor's Name                Trust Name or Beneficiary
------------------------- --------------------------  -------------------------
Joint Owner (if any)      Minor's State of Residence  Date of Trust


ACCOUNT ADDRESS _______________________________________________________________
 STREET                        CITY                        STATE      ZIP CODE
SIGNATURE(s) __________________________________________________________________
                          All Joint Owners Must Sign

                          
                             MINIMUM INITIAL INVESTMENT IS $250 FOR NEW INVESTORS
                           --
ATTACHED IS A CHECK FOR  $   MINIMUM INVESTMENT IS $25 FOR SHAREHOLDERS OF
                             RECORD AND CURRENT PLAN PARTICIPANTS
                             MAXIMUM INVESTMENT IS $10,000 IN ANY GIVEN MONTH
                           --

                 FOR AUTOMATIC MONTHLY DEDUCTIONS, SEE REVERSE



I (We) hereby authorize American Stock Transfer & Trust Company to make monthly
automatic transfers of funds from the checking or savings account in the amount
stated below. This monthly deduction will be used to purchase common shares of
beneficial interest of Federal Realty Investment Trust for deposit into my
(our) Federal Realty Investment Trust account.



                                      
          Signature(s)


                                         Daytime
          Daytime                        Phone Number

1. Indicate the Type of Account: Checking or Savings

2. Print the complete Bank Account Number.

3. Print the name on Bank Account as it appears on your bank statement.

4. Print the complete name of your financial institution,
  including the branch name and address.

5. Print the ABA Number (Bank Number) from your
   check or savings deposit slip.

6. Amount of automatic monthly deduction: Indicate the monthly amount
  authorized to be transferred from your account. The minimum is $25 per
  month and the maximum is $10,000 per month from your checking or savings
  account to purchase common shares of beneficial interest of Federal
  Realty Investment Trust.

   Please enclose a copy of a VOIDED check or savings deposit slip to
   verify banking information.

       COMPLETE THIS PART ONLY IF YOU WANT AUTOMATIC MONTHLY DEDUCTIONS


                    FILL IN THE INFORMATION BELOW FOR STOCK
                 PURCHASES USING AUTOMATIC MONTHLY DEDUCTIONS.

Please Print All items
1. Type of Account    [_] Checking    [_] Savings

                            -----------------------

2.
 Bank Account Number

                       ---------------------------------

3.
 Name of Bank Account

                       ---------------------------------

4.
 Financial Institution

                       ---------------------------------

 Branch Name

                       ---------------------------------

 Branch Street Address

                       ---------------------------------

 Branch City, State and Zip Code

                                    --------

5.
                                            6.  $ ______________________________
 ABA Number                                                     Amount
of automatic deduction

                  PLEASE CONFIRM ITEMS 2 AND 5 WITH YOUR BANK
                     PRIOR TO SUBMITTING THIS APPLICATION.
                           Name on
                           Bank Account
                                 -
                           Financial
                           Institution and Branch

                           Information
                                 -
                                                            ABA Number     Bank
Account Number

        JOHN A. DOE                        ____________20____
        MARY B. DOE
      123 YOUR STREET
    ANYWHERE, U.S.A. 12345

      PAY TO THE
      ORDER OF__________________________________________________________
                                                                       $

      _______________________________________________________________DOLLARS
      First National Bank
        of Anywhere
      123 Main Street
     Anywhere, U.S.A. 12345

  FOR______________________________________________        ____ SAMPLE
(NON-NEGOTIABLE)____
   .:071000013   123456789:.









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