EXHIBIT 31.1


                                 CERTIFICATIONS

I, Scott A. Wolstein, certify that:

1.       I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Developers
         Diversified Realty Corporation ("DDR");

2.       Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue
         statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
         necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances
         under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to
         the period covered by this report;

3.       Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial
         information included in this report, fairly present in all material
         respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows
         of DDR as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.       DDR's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing
         and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
         Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for DDR and have:

         a)       designed such disclosure controls and procedures or caused
                  such disclosure controls to be designed under our supervision,
                  to ensure that material information relating to DDR,
                  including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us
                  by others within those entities, particularly during the
                  period in which this report is being prepared;

         b)       evaluated the effectiveness of DDR's disclosure controls and
                  procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about
                  the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures as
                  at the end of the period concerned by this report based on
                  such evaluation; and

         c)       Disclosed in this report any change in DDR's internal control
                  over financial reporting that occurred during DDR's most
                  recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is
                  reasonably likely to materially affect, DDR's internal control
                  over financial reporting; and

5.       DDR's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most
         recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to
         DDR's auditors and the audit committee of DDR's board of directors:

         a)       all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the
                  design or operation of internal control over financial
                  reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect
                  DDR's ability to record, process, summarize and report
                  financial information; and

         b)       any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management
                  or other employees who have a significant role in DDR's
                  internal control over financial reporting.


                  March 15, 2004
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                  Date

                  /s/ Scott A. Wolstein
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                  Signature

                  Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board
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                  Title