-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Sh74tToG40+PqNcy6dIn/QdAujOgdC6NrrxOb7bBxdu69rTfyE6WAiKATGxQhxcb
 ljASbB4rh8wJdl7dklLAng==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001217457-05-000001.txt : 20050408
<SEC-HEADER>0001217457-05-000001.hdr.sgml : 20050408
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050408200215
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001217457-05-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050406
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050408
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050408

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PRESTI GERALYN M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001217457

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04372
		FILM NUMBER:		05742659

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 PUBLIC SQUARE SUITE 1160
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44113

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FOREST CITY ENTERPRISES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000038067
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	OPERATORS OF NONRESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS [6512]
		IRS NUMBER:				340863886
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1100 TERMINAL TOWER
		STREET 2:		50 PUBLIC SQ
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44113
		BUSINESS PHONE:		216-621-6060

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1100 TERMINAL TOWER
		STREET 2:		50 PUBLIC SQUARE
		CITY:			CLEVLAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44113
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-04-06</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000038067</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FOREST CITY ENTERPRISES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FCEA/FCEB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001217457</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PRESTI GERALYN M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>50 PUBLIC SQUARE, SUITE 1100</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CLEVELAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44113</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. V.P.; General Counsel</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>640</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401k Plan</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>2001 Stock Option grant (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>28.533</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-03-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-03-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4050</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2700</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>2003 Stock option Grant (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>31.00</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-03-17</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-03-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>16200</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16200</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>2005 Stock Option Grant (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>60.50</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-04-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-04-06</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-04-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">401k Plan - change in value due to plan conversion.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">2001 Stock Option Grant - 25% exercisable 3/08/2003; 25% exercisable 3/08/2004; and 50% exercisable 3/08/2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">2003 Stock Option Grant - 25% exercisable 3/17/2005; 25% exercisable 3/17/2006; and 50% exercisable 3/17/2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">2005 Stock Option Grant - 25% exercisable 4/06/2007; 25% exercisable 4/06/2008; and 50% exersicable 4/06/2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Geralyn M. Presti, Sr. Vice President, General Counsel</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-04-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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