SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    Form 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT

     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934



Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)        February 1, 1999
                                                --------------------------------



                          Forest City Enterprises, Inc.

             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


          Ohio                         1-4372                  34-0863886

(State or other jurisdiction        (Commission               (IRS Employer
    of incorporation)                File Number)           Identification No.)


1100 Terminal Tower, 50 Public Square      Cleveland, Ohio          44113
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                          (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code          216-621-6060



       (Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)







Item 5.  Other Events.


This Form 8-K is being filed to submit a press release,  dated February 1, 1999,
announcing the appointment of Louis Stokes to the Company's Board of Directors.






                                   SIGNATURES


Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                        Forest City Enterprises, Inc.
                                                (Registrant)



Date     February 3, 1999               By    /s/  Thomas G. Smith
     -----------------------                  -----------------------
                                        Thomas G. Smith, Senior Vice President
                                          and Chief Financial Officer









                                                            Exhibit to Form 8-K

THE COMPANY                                                     ON THE WEB
Thomas G. Smith                                                 www.fceinc.com
www.fceinc.com
Senior Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer

Thomas T. Kmiecik
Assistant Treasurer
216-621-6060


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                        FOREST CITY ENTERPRISES ANNOUNCES
                 LOUIS STOKES APPOINTMENT TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Cleveland, Ohio, February 1, 1999 - Forest City Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE-FCEA and
NYSE-FCEB)  today  announced that at a special meeting of its Board of Directors
held on January 28,  1999,  Forest  City  Enterprises  named  Louis  Stokes as a
Director.

"Louis  Stokes is one of the truly great  champions of urban  America and we are
very  fortunate  to have him as part of our Forest City  team," said  Charles A.
Ratner,  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer  of Forest  City  Enterprises.
"Congressman  Stokes has proven over his entire  career,  including more than 30
years in the U.S. Congress,  that he has an intimate understanding of the issues
of urban  development.  He is committed to improving the quality of life for all
citizens,  especially those who live in our cities.  Our company is committed to
the same agenda and we look forward to working with Congressman Stokes."

Louis Stokes responded to the recent  appointment as Director by stating,  "I am
honored  to  join  the  Forest  City  Enterprises   team.  Their  commitment  to
revitalization  of urban  communities,  including  job  creation  and  community
involvement is consistent with my  congressional  career.  I'm excited about the
opportunity  to continue  being  involved  with  America's  cities  through this
outstanding organization."


Forest City  Enterprises,  Inc. is a $3 billion  NYSE-listed real estate company
headquartered  in  Cleveland,   Ohio  principally   engaged  in  the  ownership,
development,  acquisition  and  management of commercial  and  residential  real
estate  throughout  the United  States.  The company's 191 retail,  residential,
office and hotel  properties  are operated by regional  offices in New York, Los
Angeles, Boston, Tucson, Detroit, Washington, D.C. and San Francisco.