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                                                                   Exhibit (10I)

                                  ASSIGNMENT


      THIS ASSIGNMENT is made this 27th day of March, 1997 by and between First
Union Real Estate Equity and Mortgage Investments, an Ohio business trust
("FUR"), and First Union Management, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("FUMI").

      WHEREAS, FUR is party to that certain Share Purchase Agreement dated as of
February 18, 1997 among FUR, Impark Investments Inc., the persons listed on
Schedule 1 thereto and certain others (as amended through the date hereof, the
"Share Purchase Agreement"); and

      WHEREAS, FUR desires to assign its rights and obligations under the Share
Purchase Agreement to FUMI and FUMI desires to accept such assignment;

      NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged by each party, the parties hereby
agree as follows:

1.    Terms used herein commencing with initial capital letters and not
      otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in
      the Share Purchase Agreement.

2.    In consideration of a Promissory Note issued by FUMI in the amount of (a)
      U.S. $1,459,125.08, representing the U.S. dollar equivalent as of the date
      hereof of Can. $2,004,691.95 being the Escrowed Funds (as defined in the
      Escrow Agreement), plus (b) U.S. $3,200,000, representing the additional
      fees, costs and expenses incurred by FUR in connection with the Share
      Purchase Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, FUR hereby
      assigns to FUMI all rights, title, benefits, interest, liabilities and
      obligations under the Share Purchase Agreement and any other documents
      related thereto to which any of the Vendors and FUR are parties or which
      have been executed by any of them for the benefit of FUR (collectively,
      the "Documents").

3.    FUMI hereby accepts the within assignment to it of the rights, title,
      benefits and interest of FUR (the "Rights") and hereby covenants and
      agrees with FUR that it shall and will, from time to time, and at all
      times hereafter be bound by, observe, perform and fulfil each and every
      covenant, proviso, obligation, term and condition on the part of FUR in
      the Documents relating to the acquisition of the Purchased Shares and the
      payment of the Purchase Price therefor to the same extent as if FUMI had
      been originally named as a party to the Documents in the place and stead
      of


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      FUR in so far as the Documents relate to the acquisition of the Purchased
      Shares.

4.    FUMI shall be entitled to hold and enforce all of the Rights in, to and
      under the Documents (including, without limitation, under the Escrow
      Agreement).

5.    All references to "Purchaser" in the Documents shall be deemed to include
      FUMI insofar as is necessary to give effect to the assignment of the
      Rights in, to and under the Documents effected hereby and, for grater
      certainty, any Loss suffered by FUMI shall be deemed to be a Loss suffered
      by FUR for purposes of Article 11 of the Purchase Agreement.

6.    FUR further covenants to do all such acts and execute all such documents
      as may be reasonably necessary or desirable to secure the vesting in FUMI
      of all rights assigned to FUMI hereunder.

7.    This Assignment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
      laws of the State of Ohio.

8.    This Assignment is for the benefit of FUMI and its subsidiaries and may be
      assigned by FUMI to any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries.

9.    This Assignment constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with
      respect to the subject matter hereof. No amendment or waiver of any
      provision of this Assignment shall be binding on any party unless
      consented to in writing by such party.


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      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Assignment has been duly executed by the
authorized officers of the parties hereto.


                                        FIRST UNION REAL ESTATE EQUITY
                                          AND MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS


                                        By:    /s/ Authorized Signer
                                               ______________________________
                                        Name:  ______________________________
                                        Title: ______________________________



                                        FIRST UNION MANAGEMENT, INC.


                                        By:    /s/ Authorized Signer 
                                               ______________________________
                                        Name:  ______________________________
                                        Title: ______________________________