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                                                                    Exhibit 23.5


                  CONSENT OF MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED

                                                                    May 29, 1998

J.C. Nichols Company
310 Ward Parkway
Kansas City, Missouri 64112

Dear Sirs:

     We hereby consent to the inclusion in the Registration Statement of
Highwoods Properties, Inc. (the "Company") on Form S-4, relating to the
proposed merger of J.C. Nichols Company ("J.C. Nichols") with the Company, of
our opinion letter appearing as Appendix B to the Proxy Statement/Prospectus
which is a part of the Registration Statement, and to the references of our
firm name therein. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we come
within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations adopted by the
Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder nor do we admit that we are
experts with respect to any part of such Registration Statement within the
meaning of the term "experts" as used in the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
thereunder.



                                      Very truly yours,




                                      MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED


                                      By: /s/ YIE-HSIN HUNG
                                          ----------------------------------

                                        Yie-Hsin Hung
                                        Principal

