As of December 31, 2017, the company owned 29 office buildings, 29 shopping centers, and 78 apartment complexes.

In 1920, Forest City was founded as a family-owned lumber and household hardware business by siblings Charles, Leonard, Max and Fannye Ratner, immigrants from Poland.

[2] In 1987, the company sold its retail lumber business to Handy Andy Home Improvement Center.

[13] In June, 2017 Forest City shareholders voted to eliminate the dual share structure that had enabled the founding Ratner family to control the company.

[14] The City of New York also filed a lawsuit against the company in conjunction with the rent due pursuant to a ground lease.