1

                                                                   Exhibit 99.12

Consent of Person About to Become a Director

       (Pursuant to Rule 438 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended)

      In connection with a Form S-4 filed by Corporate Property Investors, Inc.
("CPI") and Corporate Realty Consultants, Inc. ("CRC") with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission (File Nos. 333-      and 333-      ) (the "Registration 
Statement"), I, Pieter S. van den Berg, expect to be elected to the Board of 
Directors of CPI and CRC, as described therein. As of the effective time of the
Registration Statement, I will not be a member of the Board of Directors of CPI
and CRC, and I am not required to sign the Registration Statement.

      I hereby consent to being named in the Registration Statement as a future
member of CPI's Board of Directors and CRC's Board of Directors, and to filing
of the Registration Statement as contemplated by CPI and CRC.


                                          /s/ Pieter S. van den Berg
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Pieter S. van den Berg

August 13, 1998