EXHIBIT 5.1


                        Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP
                            500 Newport Center Drive

                                    Suite 700
                         Newport Beach, California 92660
                             (949) {719} [823]-6000
                          (949) {719} [823]-6100 (Fax)




                                   {__________________, 1999} [January 31, 2000]



Cornerstone [Realty Fund] {Industrial  Properties Income and Growth Fund I}, LLC
4590 MacArthur Blvd.
Suite 610
Newport Beach, CA  92660

         Re:      Cornerstone {Industrial Properties Income and Growth Fund I}
                  [Realty Fund], LLC Legality of the Securities Being Registered


Gentlemen:

         In  connection  with the  registration  of Units of  limited  liability
company  interests  of  Cornerstone  Realty  Fund,  LLC,  a  California  limited
liability company (the "Fund") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, you
have requested our opinion as to whether the Units of limited  liability company
interests,  when  issued,  will be lawfully and validly  issued,  fully paid and
non-assessable.

         For purposes of rendering this opinion,  we have examined  originals or
copies of the documents  listed below. In conducting such  examination,  we have
assumed the genuineness of all signatures and the  authenticity of all documents
submitted  to us as  originals  and  conformity  to  original  documents  of all
documents submitted to us as copies. The documents we have examined are:

         1.       The Form S-11 Registration Statement which was initially filed
by the Fund with the Securities and Exchange Commission on {March __}[April 20],
1999, as amended, (the "Registration Statement");

         2.       The   Articles   of   Organization   of   the   Fund  filed on
October 28, 1998;


         3[.      The Limited Liability Company Certificate of  Amendment  filed
 on August 18, 1999;

         4.       The Limited Liability Company Certificate of  Amendment  filed
 on January 26, 2000; and

         5].      The    Operating    Agreement    of   the   Fund   dated as of
January, 2000;





         {4. The form or Certificate of Limited Liability Company Units which is
to be issued to Members of the Fund.

         }In  addition,  in  rendering  this  opinion,  we have relied upon your
representation  that the Units of limited  liability  company  interests will be
offered to the public in the manner and on the terms  identified  or referred to
in the Registration Statement.


         Based upon and subject to the forgoing  and the effect,  if any, of the
matters discussed below,  after having given due regard to such issues of law as
we deemed relevant, and assuming that (i) the Registration Statement becomes and
remains effective,  and the prospectus which is part thereof, and the prospectus
delivery  requirements with respect thereto,  fulfill all of the requirements of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,  throughout all periods relevant to this
opinion,  (ii) all offers and sales of the Units of  limited  liability  company
interest  are made in a manner  complying  with  the  terms of the  Registration
Statement,  and (iii) all  offers  and sales of the Units of  limited  liability
company  interests  are in  compliance  with the  securities  laws of the states
having  jurisdiction  thereto,  we are of the opinion  that the Units of limited
liability company interests,  when issued,  will be lawfully and validly issued,
fully paid and non-assessable.

         This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the registration of
Units of limited  liability  company  interests in the Fund,  is solely for your
benefit,  and may not be relied on by, nor copies delivered to, any other person
or entity  without our prior  written  consent by anyone  other than you and the
investors in the Fund.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence we hereby consent
to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.

                                 Very truly yours,


                                 /S/ OPPENHEIMER WOLFF & DONNELLY LLP
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