EXHIBIT 10.2

                                                              Loan No. 6 103 651

                        ENVIRONMENTAL INDEMNITY AGREEMENT

         THIS ENVIRONMENTAL INDEMNITY AGREEMENT (this "AGREEMENT") is
made as of  September  27, 1999 by CRIT-NC,  LLC, a Virginia  limited  liability
company,  having an office at 306 East Main  Street,  Richmond,  Virginia  23219
("BORROWER"),  and CORNERSTONE REALTY INCOME TRUST, INC., a Virginia corporation
("PRINCIPAL")  (Borrower and Principal,  individually and  collectively,  as the
context  requires,  shall  be  referred  to as  "INDEMNITOR"),  in  favor of THE
PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY OF AMERICA, a New Jersey corporation ("LENDER").

                                    RECITALS:

A.       Borrower is the sole owner of the premises in Exhibit A attached to the
Security  Instrument  (hereinafter defined) and incorporated herein by reference
thereto ("PROPERTY");

B.       Lender  has  made a loan to Borrower in the principal sum of Twenty-Two
Million Nine Hundred Fifty Thousand and No/100 Dollars ($22,950,000.00) ("LOAN")
evidenced by that certain Promissory Note dated as of the date of this Agreement
("NOTE")  and secured by,  among other  things,  those  certain two (2) Deeds of
Trust and Security Agreements dated as of the date of this Agreement executed by
Borrower  in favor of  Lender  to be  recorded  in the real  estate  records  of
Mecklenburg   County,   North   Carolina   and  Wake  County,   North   Carolina
(collectively,  the  "INSTRUMENT")  (capitalized  terms used without  definition
shall have the meanings  ascribed to them in the  Instrument) and the Documents;
and

C.       Lender was  willing  to  make  the  Loan to Borrower only if Indemnitor
entered into this Agreement; and

D.       Principal is an owner of a legal and/or beneficial interest in Borrower
and thus will derive substantial benefit from the Loan.  Each of the  Indemnitor
enters into this Agreement to induce Lender to make the Loan.

                                    AGREEMENT

IN  CONSIDERATION  of the  principal sum of the Note and other good and valuable
consideration,  the receipt and  sufficiency  of which are hereby  acknowledged,
Indemnitor, jointly and severally, agrees as follows:

1.       Instrument  Incorporated.  The terms and  conditions of the  Instrument
are incorporated into this Agreement as if fully  set  forth in this  Agreement.
Principal acknowledges that it has received and reviewed the Instrument.

2.       Representations  and  Warranties.  Principal  makes and  Borrower makes
and  reaffirms  the   representations  and  warranties  set  forth  in  Sections
2.01(iii),  2.01(iv), 2.02, 2.03, 2.06, 2.07, and 3.12(a) of the Instrument,  as
if set forth herein.




3.       Environmental Covenants. Indemnitor covenants and agrees to comply with
Section  3.12(b) of the Instrument,  and, for the purpose of this covenant,  all
references  in  Section  3.12(a)  to  "Borrower"  shall  be  deemed  to refer to
"Indemnitor."

4.       Lender's Rights, Cooperation and Access.  Lender and any  other  person
("PERSON" in this  Agreement  shall have the same meaning as in the  Instrument)
designated by Lender shall have the rights set forth in Section 3.12(c).

5.       Indemnification. Indemnitor covenants and agrees, at its sole  cost and
expense,  to  indemnify  (as  defined  in  the  Instrument)  any  or  all of the
Indemnified  Parties from and against any and all Losses imposed on, incurred by
or asserted against the Indemnified Parties, directly or indirectly, arising out
of or in connection  with any one or more of the following:  (a) the presence of
any Hazardous Materials affecting the Property ("AFFECTING THE PROPERTY" in this
Agreement  shall  have the same  meaning  as in the  Instrument);  (b) any past,
present,  future or  threatened  Release of Hazardous  Materials  affecting  the
Property;  (c) any  activity  by any  Indemnitor,  person  affiliated  with  any
Indemnitor  ("AFFILIATE"),  Tenant or other user of the  Property in  connection
with any actual,  proposed  or  threatened  use,  treatment,  storage,  holding,
existence, disposition or other Release, generation, production,  manufacturing,
processing,  refining,  control,  management,  abatement,  handling, transfer or
transportation to or from the Property, or removal of any Hazardous Materials at
any time affecting the Property; (d) any activity by any Indemnitor,  Affiliate,
Tenant or other user of the Property in  connection  with any actual or proposed
Remediation  of any  Hazardous  Materials at any time  affecting  the  Property,
whether  or  not  such   Remediation  is  voluntary  or  pursuant  to  court  or
administrative  order,  including  ("INCLUDING" in this Agreement shall have the
same meaning as in the Instrument) any removal,  remedial or corrective  action,
penalties or fines; (e) any past, present,  future or threatened  non-compliance
or  violations  of any  Environmental  Laws (or permits  issued  pursuant to any
Environmental  Law) in  connection  with the  Property  or  operations  thereon,
including any failure by any Indemnitor,  Affiliate, Tenant or other user of the
Property to comply with any order of any  governmental  authority in  connection
with any Environmental Laws; (f) the actual or threatened imposition,  recording
or  filing  of  any  Environmental  Lien  encumbering  the  Property;   (g)  any
administrative  processes  or  proceedings  or judicial  proceedings  in any way
connected with any matter  addressed in this Agreement;  (h) any past,  present,
future or threatened injury to,  destruction of, or loss of natural resources in
any way connected with the Property,  including  costs to investigate and assess
such injury,  destruction  or loss; (i) any acts of any  Indemnitor,  Affiliate,
Tenant or other user of the Property in  arranging  for disposal or treatment of
Hazardous  Materials at any facility or incineration  vessel  containing such or
similar Hazardous Materials,  including  arrangements with any transporter;  (j)
any acts of any Indemnitor,  Affiliate,  Tenant or other user of the Property in
accepting  any  Hazardous  Materials  for  transport  to disposal  or  treatment
facilities,  incineration  vessels or sites from which there is a Release,  or a
threatened  Release of any  Hazardous  Material  which causes the  incurrence of
costs for  Remediation;  (k) any personal  injury,  wrongful death,  property or
other  damage  arising  under  any  statutory,  common  law or tort law  theory,
including damages assessed for trespass or for private or public nuisance or for
operation of an  abnormally  dangerous  activity on or near the  Property,  with
respect to Hazardous  Materials or violations of Environmental Laws; and (l) any
misrepresentation,  inaccurate  representation  or warranty,  material breach or
failure to perform



                                      -2-


under  the  provisions  of  this  Agreement.   Notwithstanding   the  foregoing,
Indemnitor  shall not be obligated to indemnify the  Indemnified  Parties to the
extent that (1) the  contamination of the Property was caused solely by actions,
conditions, or events that occurred after the date Lender (or any purchaser at a
foreclosure   sale)  actually  acquired  title  to  the  Property  and  (2)  the
contamination  of the  Property was not caused,  contributed  to,  enhanced,  or
exacerbated by the direct or indirect,  actions or inactions,  of any Indemnitor
or any partners,  officers, members,  shareholders,  employees, or agents of any
Indemnitor,  or (3) the  contamination  of the Property was caused solely by the
gross negligence or willful  misconduct of Lender or any officers,  employees or
agents of Lender.

6.       Duty to Defend, Attorneys  and  Other  Fees  and  Expenses.  Indemnitor
agrees that the provisions of (a) Section 8.06 of the Instrument  shall apply to
this  Agreement  except all references to "Article VIII" or "this Section" shall
be deemed to include this Agreement,  and, for the purpose of this covenant, all
references  in  Section  8.06  to  "Borrower"   shall  be  deemed  to  refer  to
"Indemnitor,"  and (b) Section 6.03 of the Instrument  shall apply to all Costs,
expenses or other amounts paid or incurred by the Indemnified Parties under this
Agreement.  The  term  "ON  DEMAND"  shall  have  the  same  meaning  as in  the
Instrument.

7.       Recourse  Obligations  and  Survivability. Indemnitor  agrees  that the
provisions  of Section  8.07 of the  Instrument  shall  apply to this  Agreement
except all  references to "Section  8.05" and "Article  VIII" shall be deemed to
include this Agreement, and, for the purpose of this covenant, all references in
Section  8.07 to  "Borrower"  shall  be  deemed  to refer  to  "Indemnitor."  In
addition,  Indemnitor acknowledges and agrees that each Indemnitor,  jointly and
severally,  is fully  and  personally  liable  for the  obligations  under  this
Agreement,  and such  liability  is not  limited to the  original  or  amortized
principal balance of the Loan or the value of the Property.

8.       Unimpaired Liability.  The liability of Indemnitor under this Agreement
shall in no way be limited or impaired by, and Indemnitor consents to and agrees
to be bound by, any amendment or modification of the provisions of the Documents
(other than this  Agreement) by any Indemnitor or  successor-in-interest  to any
Indemnitor.  In addition, the liability of Indemnitor shall in no way be limited
or impaired by (a) any  extension(s) of time for performance  required under the
Documents,  (b) any sale or transfer of all or part of the Property,  (c) except
as provided in this Agreement or in the Documents,  any exculpatory provision in
the  Documents  limiting  Lender's  recourse  to the  Property  or to any  other
security for the Note,  or limiting  Lender's  rights to a  deficiency  judgment
against any  Indemnitor,  (d) the accuracy or inaccuracy of the  representations
and warranties  made by any Indemnitor  under the Documents,  (e) the release of
any  Indemnitor  or  person  from  performance  or  observance  of  any  of  the
agreements,  covenants, terms or conditions contained in any of the Documents by
operation  of law,  Lender's  voluntary  act, or  otherwise,  (f) the release or
substitution  in whole or in part of any security for the Note,  or (g) Lender's
failure  to  record or file (or  improper  filing  or  recording  of) any of the
Documents or Lender's failure to otherwise  perfect,  protect,  secure or insure
any security  interest or lien given as security for the Note;  and, in all such
cases,  whether  with or  without  notice  to  Indemnitor  and  with or  without
consideration.


                                      -3-



9.       Enforcement.  Lender may enforce the  obligations  of Indemnitor  under
this  Agreement  without  first  resorting  to or  exhausting  any  security  or
collateral  or without  first  having  recourse to the  Documents  or any of the
Property, through foreclosure proceedings or otherwise;  provided, however, that
nothing  herein  shall  inhibit  or  prevent  Lender  from  suing on the Note or
exercising any other rights or remedies in the Documents.  This Agreement is not
collateral  or security  for the debt of Borrower  pursuant to the Loan,  unless
Lender expressly elects in writing to make this Agreement additional  collateral
or security for the debt of Borrower  pursuant to the Loan.  It is not necessary
for an Event of  Default  to have  occurred  under the  Documents  for Lender to
exercise its rights under this Agreement.

10.      Waivers  and Delays.  To the fullest extent  Indemnitor may do so under
Laws,  Indemnitor  makes the waivers and agrees to be bound by the provisions of
Section  6.06 and Section 6.07 of the  Instrument,  and, for the purpose of this
covenant, all references in Section 6.06 and Section 6.07 to "Borrower" shall be
deemed to refer to "Indemnitor." In addition, Indemnitor waives and relinquishes
all rights and remedies  under Laws for the benefit of  Indemnitor or guarantors
except  any  rights of  subrogation  which any  Indemnitor  may have;  provided,
however,  that the indemnity in this  Agreement is not (a)  contingent  upon the
existence  of any such  rights of  subrogation  or (b)  subject to any claims or
defenses  which may be  asserted  in  connection  with the  enforcement  of such
subrogation  rights  including any claim that such rights were  abrogated by any
acts of Lender. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Indemnitor agrees to postpone the
exercise of any rights of subrogation with respect to the Property and any other
collateral  securing  the Loan until the Loan  shall have been paid in full.  No
delay by Lender in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Agreement
shall operate as a waiver of any such privilege, power or right.

11.      Subrogation.  Indemnitor shall take all reasonable  actions,  including
institution of legal action  against third parties,  necessary or appropriate to
obtain  reimbursement,  payment or compensation from persons responsible for the
presence  of  any  Hazardous  Materials  affecting  the  Property  or  otherwise
obligated  by Laws to bear  the  cost.  Lender  shall  be  subrogated  to all of
Indemnitor's present and future rights in such claims.

12.      Notice  of  Legal  Actions. Indemnitor  shall, within seven (7) days of
receipt,  give  written  notice to Lender  and to any other  Indemnitor  (a) any
notice, advice or other communication from any governmental entity or any source
with respect to  Hazardous  Materials  affecting  the Property and (b) any legal
action  brought  against such party or related to the Property,  with respect to
which any Indemnitor may have liability under this Agreement.

13.      Notices.  All  notices  or  other  written   communications  under this
Agreement  shall be given in accordance with and governed by Section 9.02 of the
Instrument.  Notices to Borrower  and Lender  shall be sent to the  addresses in
said Section 9.02, and notices to Principal shall be addressed as follows:


                                      -4-






                                                         
If to Principal:                                            With a copy to notices sent to Principal to:

Cornerstone Realty Income Trust, Inc.                       McGuire Woods Battle & Boothe LLP
306 East Main Street                                        901 East Cary Street
Richmond, Virginia  23219                                   Richmond, Virginia  23219-4030
Attn: Stanley J. Olander, Jr.                               Attn: Martin B. Richards



14.      Applicable Law and Submission to Jurisdiction.  Indemnitor  agrees that
the provisions of Section 9.04 of the Instrument  shall apply to this Agreement,
and,  for the  purpose of this  covenant,  all  references  in  Section  9.04 to
"Borrower" shall be deemed to refer to "Indemnitor."

15.      No Third Party Beneficiary. The terms of this  Agreement  are  for  the
sole and exclusive protection and use of the Indemnified Parties. No other party
shall be a third party  beneficiary  under this  Agreement,  and no provision of
this  Agreement  shall operate or inure to the use and benefit of any such third
party. It is agreed that those persons included in the definition of Indemnified
Parties are not excluded third party beneficiaries.

16.      Joint and Several Liability.  If  Indemnitor  consist  of more than one
person or entity,  the obligations and liabilities of each such person hereunder
are joint and several.

17.      WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY.  INDEMNITOR  AND  LENDER  HEREBY WAIVE, TO THE
FULLEST  EXTENT  PERMITTED  BY LAW,  THE  RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY  ACTION,
PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM FILED BY EITHER PARTY,  WHETHER IN CONTRACT,  TORT OR
OTHERWISE,  RELATING  DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY TO THE LOAN, THE DOCUMENTS,  OR ANY
ACTS OR OMISSIONS OF LENDER IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.


                                      -5-


IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  Indemnitor has duly executed this Agreement as of the date
first above written.





                                                   
                                                      BORROWER:

                                                      CRIT-NC, LLC, a Virginia limited liability
                                                      company (SEAL)

                                                      By:  CORNERSTONE REALTY
                                                           INCOME TRUST, INC., a Virginia
                                                           corporation, Managing Member

                                                               By:  Stanley J. Olander, Jr.
                                                                    -----------------------------------
Attest:  /s/  David S. McKenney                                     Name:  Stanley J. Olander, Jr.
         -----------------------------                                     ----------------------------
         Name:   David S. McKenney                                  Title: Chief Financial Officer
               -----------------------                                     ----------------------------
         Title:  Sr. Vice President
               -----------------------

         [CORPORATE SEAL]



                                                      PRINCIPAL:


                                                      CORNERSTONE REALTY INCOME
                                                      TRUST, INC., a Virginia corporation

Attest:  /s/  David S. McKenney                       By:  /s/  Stanley J. Olander, Jr.
         -----------------------------                   ---------------------------------
         Name:   David S. McKenney                         Name:  Stanley J. Olander, Jr.
               -----------------------                           -------------------------
         Title:  Sr. Vice President                        Title: Chief Financial Officer
               -----------------------                           -------------------------

       [CORPORATE SEAL]




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