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                                                                     Exhibit 5.1

                               ALSTON & BIRD LLP
                         3605 Glenwood Ave., Suite 310
                         Raleigh, North Carolina 27612

                                 June 1, 1998



Highwoods Properties, Inc.
3100 Smoketree Court
Suite 600
Raleigh, North Carolina 27604

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This opinion is furnished in connection with the registration pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), of 9,860,496 shares
(the "Shares") of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Highwoods
Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the "Company").

We have reviewed such documents and considered such matters of law and fact as
we, in our professional judgment, have deemed appropriate to render the
opinions contained herein. Where we have considered it appropriate, as to
certain facts we have relied, without investigation or analysis of any
underlying data contained therein, upon certificates of officers or other
appropriate representatives of the Company.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the further limitations and
qualifications hereinafter expressed, we are of the opinion that when the
Shares have been issued in accordance with the terms of the Prospectus, the
Shares will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares.

The foregoing assumes that all requisite steps will be taken to comply with the
requirements of the Securities Act and applicable requirements of state laws
regulating the offer and sale of securities.

Our opinions expressed herein are as of the date hereof, and we undertake no
obligation to advise you of any changes in applicable law or any other matters
that may come to our attention after the date hereof that may affect our
opinions expressed herein.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an Exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption "Legal
Matters" in the Prospectus.


                                      Very truly yours,

                                      ALSTON & BIRD LLP


                                      /s/  BRAD S. MARKOFF
                                      -----------------------------------------
                                      Brad S. Markoff, Partner
