Founded in 1925 by Max Ratner and later rebranded as Forest City Ratner, this real estate juggernaut is known for its ambitious urban redevelopment schemes that often seem to promise the moon and deliver, well, a new moon-shaped building. A landmark moment came with the development of Atlantic Yards, a project so fraught with controversy and delays it could have its own soap opera title—“As the Concrete Sets.” Their attempt to reshape Brooklyn was marred by accusations of heavy-handed tactics, eminent domain disputes and the occasional questionable political alliance. In its glory days, Forest City Ratner’s portfolio glittered with properties like the Metrotech Center and the Barclays Center, but the firm's value has bobbed up and down like a skyscraper in a hurricane. As for the leadership, the Ratner name looms large, with founder Bruce Ratner orchestrating much of the drama. Despite a legacy that reads like a real estate thriller, Forest City Ratner’s tale is one of towering ambitions and the occasional misstep in its grand urban choreography.
