Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income	$ 643,013	$ 425,887
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization (including amortization of deferred financing costs)	414,992	419,638
Equity in net income of partially owned entities, including ToysRUs	(137,033)	(116,109)
Net (gain) loss on extinguishment of debt	(83,907)	1,796
Mezzanine loans loss (reversal) accrual and net gain on disposition	(82,744)	6,900
Distributions of income from partially owned entities	75,612	36,829
Net gain on sales of real estate	(51,623)	0
Amortization of below-market leases, net	(49,988)	(49,144)
Straight-lining of rental income	(38,262)	(55,581)
Loss (income) from the mark-to-market of J.C. Penney derivative position	27,136	(32,249)
Other non-cash adjustments	20,261	36,058
Unrealized gain on Real Estate Fund assets	(19,209)	0
Net gain on disposition of wholly owned and partially owned assets	(7,975)	(12,759)
Litigation loss accrual and impairment losses	0	15,197
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Real Estate Fund Investments	(97,785)	(62,500)
Accounts receivable, net	11,292	(6,468)
Prepaid assets	(68,558)	(45,104)
Other assets	(43,413)	(59,614)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	32,227	78,153
Other liabilities	22,635	13,791
Net cash provided by operating activities	566,671	594,721
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Investments in partially owned entities	(440,865)	(159,053)
Distributions of capital from partially owned entities	274,283	45,613
Proceeds from sales of real estate and related investments	135,762	48,998
Restricted cash	121,463	125,204
Additions to real estate	(109,963)	(98,789)
Proceeds from sales and repayments of mezzanine loans	100,525	109,594
Development costs and construction in progress	(52,816)	(86,871)
Investments in mezzanine loans receivable and other	(44,215)	(75,697)
Funding of collateral for J.C. Penney derivative	(33,850)	0
Return of derivative collateral	28,700	0
Proceeds from sales of marketable securities	19,301	126,015
Proceeds from maturing short-term investments	0	40,000
Purchases of marketable securities	0	(13,917)
Acquisitions of real estate and other	0	(10,000)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(1,675)	51,097
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Repayments of borrowings	(2,666,610)	(1,462,652)
Proceeds from borrowings	2,184,167	1,603,359
Distributions to Vornado	(381,382)	(354,937)
Proceeds from the issuance of Series J preferred units	239,037	0
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	109,605	39,351
Distributions to redeemable security holders and noncontrolling interests	(77,330)	(41,055)
Distributions to preferred unitholders	(43,675)	(42,100)
Debt issuance and other costs	(28,614)	(14,942)
Purchase of outstanding preferred units	(28,000)	(48,600)
Proceeds received from exercise of employee unit options	22,947	12,192
Repurchase of Class A units related to stock compensation agreements and related tax withholdings	(747)	(25,659)
Net cash used in financing activities	(670,602)	(335,043)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(105,606)	310,775
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	690,789	535,479
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	585,183	846,254
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:
Cash payments for interest (including capitalized interest of $0 and $875)	388,938	409,953
Cash payments for income taxes	10,299	5,348
Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Change in unrealized net gain on securities available-for-sale	(120,334)	34,497
Adjustment to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	114,628	(232,099)
Class A units issued upon redemption of redeemable Class A units, at redemption value	38,220	62,606
Contribution of mezzanine loan receivable to a joint venture	73,750	0
Like-kind exchange of real estate	(45,625)	0
Extinguishment of a liability in connection with the acquisition of real estate	0	20,500
Investment in J.C. Penney, Inc.	0	271,372
Decrease in assets and liabilities resulting from deconsolidation of discontinued operations:
Assets related to discontinued operations	(145,333)	0
Liabilities related to discontinued operations	(232,502)	0
Write-off of fully depreciated assets	(58,279)	(50,785)
Toys R Us [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in net income of partially owned entities, including ToysRUs	(80,794)	(102,309)
All Equity Method Investees Excluding Toys [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in net income of partially owned entities, including ToysRUs	$ (56,239)	$ (13,800)