Cliff Ratkovich - Developer - "The Edison" Project Long Beach 10/4/13
Thursday, September 26, 2013 at 06:43PM 
Cliff Ratkovich Discusses "The Edison" Project
President - Ratkovich Properties
Ratkovich Properties is breathing new life into the idle, mid-century modern City Hall East office building, built in 1959. The Edison will now serve as a new western gateway to the East Village Arts District in downtown Long Beach, and feature 150 urban loft apartments, rooftop amenities, a ground floor restaurant, and retail space.
BIOGRAPHY
Clifford L. Ratkovich has thirty years of development experience in the real estate industry. Mr. Ratkovich formed Ratkovich Properties, LLC (“RP”) in August 2004 to develop urban housing and mixed-use developments in targeted cities throughout southern California. RP’s mission “to transform under-appreciated properties into highly desirable residential and mixed-use communities” embraces the company’s commitment to providing vision for urban living.
Prior to forming Ratkovich Properties, Mr. Ratkovich was President of The Olson Company’s In-Town Communities Division. In 2000, The Olson Company was selected by Professional Builder Magazine as the Home Builder of the Year, and in 2003, the same publication recognized the company as the fastest growing home builder in the country. As President, Mr. Ratkovich was responsible for southern California home building operations in which he oversaw the production and sale of over 700 homes with gross revenues of $300 million.
For five years preceding The Olson Company, Mr. Ratkovich was Executive Vice President and Managing Director of Post Properties, Inc.’s West Coast development operations. Post Properties is a New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: “PPS”) real estate investment trust based in Atlanta, Georgia, and one of the largest developers, owners and managers of multi-family apartment communities in the country.
Mr. Ratkovich led Post’s acquisition and development of Paseo Colorado in Pasadena, California. Paseo Colorado is recognized as one of the country’s most successful “Urban Villages” and includes Post’s development of 400 apartment homes and lofts on top of 600,000 square feet of street retail, entertainment and restaurant uses developed by TrizecHahn.
Prior to joining Post, Mr. Ratkovich served for fourteen years as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of The Ratkovich Company (“TRC”), a Los Angeles-based real estate development firm of urban mixed-use and historic rehabilitation projects. As a principal of the firm, Mr. Ratkovich’s responsibilities included the development management of 4.3 million square feet of developed and planned office, retail, residential and historic restoration, and the co-management of company operations.
Preceding TRC, Mr. Ratkovich served for seven years as Vice President and Principal of Edward C. Ellis Associates, a Los Angeles-based commercial and industrial real estate development company of over four million square feet of office, retail and industrial projects throughout southern California and the Pacific Northwest.
Mr. Ratkovich graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Southern California in 1976 where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Finance. Mr. Ratkovich is founder of “HopeBuilders”, an international and non-profit, faith-based ministry which improves the living conditions of families and individuals in need. He is a former Trustee of the Long Beach Museum of Art. Mr. Ratkovich was a founding Board Member of the Greater Los Angeles Partnership for the Homeless and a Board Member of the Pershing Square Management Association. Mr. Ratkovich is an Elder of Mariners Church in Irvine, California. He and his wife reside in Long Beach.
