-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001217457-08-000002.txt : 20080409
<SEC-HEADER>0001217457-08-000002.hdr.sgml : 20080409
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080409185522
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001217457-08-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080407
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080409
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080409

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

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:		08748580

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 PUBLIC SQUARE SUITE 1160
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		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>2008-04-07</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.; Sec &amp; Gen Counsel</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-04-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>277</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>37.48</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2250</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8055</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>2003 Stock option Grant (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>15.50</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-03-17</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-03-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1810</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1810</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>2005 Stock Option Grant (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>31.75</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-04-06</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-04-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>2006 Stock Option Grant (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>46.37</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-04-04</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-04-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>2007 Stock Option Grant (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>65.35</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-03-29</value>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-03-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common - Convertible</value>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1988-08-08</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>1988-08-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1250.1948</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1250.1948</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401k Plan</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">2006 Restricted Stock Grant - 25% vest on 4/04/2008;  25% vest on 4/04/2009; and 50% vest on 4/04/2010.   Of the shares that vested 277 were withheld to settle taxes and 473 shares were transferred to brokerage account #3.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">2007 Restricted Stock Grant - 25% vest on 3/29/2009;  25% vest on 3/29/2010; and 50% vest on 3/29/2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares held in street account with Securities America.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">2003 Stock Option Grant - 25% exercisable 3/17/2005; 25% exercisable 3/17/2006; and 50% exercisable 3/17/2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">2005 Stock Option Grant - 25% exercisable 4/06/2007; 25% exercisable 4/06/2008; and 50% exersicable 4/06/2009.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">2006 Stock Option Grant - 25% exercisable 4/04/2008; 25% exercisable 4/04/2009; and 50% exersicable 4/04/2010.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">2007 Stock Option Grant - 25% exercisable 3/29/2009; 25% exercisable 3/29/2010; and 50% exercisable 3/29/2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Stocks are convertible from Class B to Class A on a 1-for-1 basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">Class B Common Stock - 401k account - Held indirect. Adjusted for excess contribution.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Geralyn M. Presti, Sr. Vice President, Secretary &amp; General Counsel</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-04-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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