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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 Grp7aHn8PWOVrkgbrnUpng==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-022841.txt : 20041209
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-022841.hdr.sgml : 20041209
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041209170315
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-022841
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041207
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041209
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041209

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MACK CALI REALTY CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000924901
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				223305147
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11 COMMERCE DR
		STREET 2:		1ST FLOOR
		CITY:			CRANFORD
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07016
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9082728000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11 COMMERCE DRIVE
		STREET 2:		1ST FLOOR
		CITY:			CRANFORD
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07016

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CALI REALTY CORP /NEW/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960730

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CALI REALTY L P
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19941025

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CALI REALTY CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940608

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GRUSS MARTIN D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001051610
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13274
		FILM NUMBER:		041193939

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2126881500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MACK-CALI REALTY CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		II COMMERCE DRIVE
		CITY:			CRANFORD
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07016
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000924901</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MACK CALI REALTY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CLI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001051610</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GRUSS MARTIN D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MACK-CALI REALTY CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>11 COMMERCE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CRANFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07016</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On December 7, 2004, the Reporting Person was granted 1,000 restricted shares of common stock pursuant to the Amended and Restated 2000 Director Stock Option Plan of Mack-Cali Realty Corporation. The shares shall vest on January 1, 2006.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The ownership amounts reported exclude 5,500 shares of common stock indirectly beneficially owned by the reporting person.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Martin D. Gruss</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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