WORLD PROPERTY CHANNEL ®

(CLEVELAND, OH) -- The nation's banks once again are beginning to work with developers. This time it's for a 1.3-million-square-foot mixed-use project.

Ridge Hill Westchester County, NY

Cleveland, OH-based Forest City Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:FCEA and NYSE:FCEB) today announced  Forest City Ratner Companies, its New York-based subsidiary, has reached  an agreement with a 13-member bank group on a two-year extension and modification of the $557 million construction financing for the retail/mixed-use Ridge Hill project currently under construction in Yonkers, Westchester County, New York.

The financing, which originally matured in August 2010, will now have an initial maturity of August 2012, with two 12-month extensions available.

"We're extremely pleased to announce this important step for our great Ridge Hill project, which is gaining momentum and attracting strong interest from top-tier retailers," said Charles A. Ratner, Forest City Enterprises president and chief executive officer.

"I want to congratulate our New York team on this achievement.

Saks Fifth Ave. entrance

"We deeply appreciate the commitment demonstrated by all of our lenders, and in particular, the agent banks, Bank of America, N.A., KeyBank Real Estate Capital, and ING Real Estate Finance.

"Their support reflects the great location and extraordinary quality of this project, as well as the deep relationships we have built over the years.

"It also highlights our continuing ability as a company to proactively manage our debt maturities in the current economic and financial-market conditions," Ratner added.

Ridge Hill will be a distinctive, upscale destination for Westchester County, offering elegant shopping, entertainment and gracious dining.

Signed tenants include Whole Foods, L.L.Bean, Cinema De Lux, a multiplex cinema by National Amusements, The Cheesecake Factory and Sephora, along with other local and national retailers and restaurants.

 In May, Forest City announced that it had received a non-binding letter of intent from Saks Fifth Avenue to become a major tenant.

Phase I of the project has been increased to more than 1.3 million square feet of retail, entertainment and office space, from the original 1.2 million square feet, primarily to accommodate street-level retail that was originally associated with a residential tower planned for a later phase of development.

Phase II of the project is expected to include future residential and hotel development. Grand opening of the center is expected in 2011.

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