Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Real Estate Funds [Member]	All Other Except Real Estate Fund [Member]	Preferred Units [Member]	Class A Units Held By Vornado [Member]	Earnings Less Than Distributions	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Non-controlling Interests	Non-controlling Interests Real Estate Funds [Member]	Non-controlling Interests All Other Except Real Estate Fund [Member]
Beginning balance, Value at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 6,649,406			$ 823,686	$ 6,968,225	$ (1,577,591)	$ 28,449	$ 406,637
Beginning balance, Units at Dec. 31, 2009				33,952	181,214
Net income	708,031					703,111		4,920
Net income attributable to redeemable partnership units	(55,228)					(55,228)
Distributions to Vornado	(474,299)					(474,299)
Distributions to preferred unitholders	(55,669)					(55,669)
Redemption of preferred units, Units				(1,600)
Redemption of preferred units, Value	(35,600)			(39,982)		4,382
Class A units issued to Vornado:
Upon redemption of redeemable Class A units, at redemption value, Units					1,548
Upon redemption of redeemable Class A units, at redemption value, Value	126,764				126,764
Under Vornado's Omnibus Share plan, Units					812
Under Vornado's Omnibus Share plan, Value	(261)				25,323	(25,584)
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, Units					22
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, Value	1,657				1,657
Contributions:
Contributions		93,583	8,783						93,583	8,783
Distribution:
Conversion of Series A preferred units to Class A units, Units				(12)	18
Conversion of Series A preferred units to Class A units, Value				(616)	616
Deferred compensation units and options, Units					48
Deferred compensation units and options, Value	9,347				9,347
Change in unrealized net gain on securities available-for-sale	55,891						55,891
Gain on sale of securities available-for-sale	(22,604)						(22,604)
Pro rata share of other comprehensive income of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	11,853						11,853
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	(191,826)				(191,826)
Discount on redemption of preferred units	4,382
Other	577				(61)	2	(136)	772
Ending balance, Value at Dec. 31, 2010	6,830,405			783,088	6,940,045	(1,480,876)	73,453	514,695
Ending balance, Units at Dec. 31, 2010				32,340	183,662
Net income	740,000					718,214		21,786
Net income attributable to redeemable partnership units	(55,912)					(55,912)
Distributions to Vornado	(508,745)					(508,745)
Distributions to preferred unitholders	(65,694)					(65,694)
Issuance of units, Units				9,850
Issuance of units, Value	238,842			238,842
Class A units issued to Vornado:
Upon redemption of redeemable Class A units, at redemption value, Units					798
Upon redemption of redeemable Class A units, at redemption value, Value	64,830				64,830
Under Vornado's Omnibus Share plan, Units					590
Under Vornado's Omnibus Share plan, Value	10,439				23,728	(13,289)
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, Units					21
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, Value	1,772				1,772
Contributions:
Contributions		203,407	778						203,407	778
Distribution:
Distributions		(49,422)	(15,604)						(49,422)	(15,604)
Conversion of Series A preferred units to Class A units, Units				(3)	5
Conversion of Series A preferred units to Class A units, Value	0			(165)	165
Deferred compensation units and options, Units					4
Deferred compensation units and options, Value	10,085				10,608	(523)
Change in unrealized net gain on securities available-for-sale	41,657						41,657
Gain on sale of securities available-for-sale	(5,020)						(5,020)
Pro rata share of other comprehensive income of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	12,859						12,859
Change in value of interest rate swap	(43,704)						(43,704)
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	98,092				98,092
Redeemable noncontrolling interests' share of above adjustments	(271)						(271)
Discount on redemption of preferred units	5,000
Other	(347)			(105)	(4,609)	5,121	(5,245)	4,491
Ending balance, Value at Dec. 31, 2011	7,508,447			1,021,660	7,134,631	(1,401,704)	73,729	680,131
Ending balance, Units at Dec. 31, 2011				42,187	185,080
Net income	694,541					662,523		32,018
Net income attributable to redeemable partnership units	(45,263)					(45,263)
Distributions to Vornado	(699,318)					(699,318)
Distributions to preferred unitholders	(76,937)					(76,937)
Issuance of units, Units				12,000
Issuance of units, Value	290,971			290,971
Redemption of preferred units, Units				(3,000)
Redemption of preferred units, Value	(72,248)			(72,248)
Class A units issued to Vornado:
Upon redemption of redeemable Class A units, at redemption value, Units					1,121
Upon redemption of redeemable Class A units, at redemption value, Value	89,762				89,762
Under Vornado's Omnibus Share plan, Units					434
Under Vornado's Omnibus Share plan, Value	(6,850)				9,539	(16,389)
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, Units					29
Under Vornado's dividend reinvestment plan, Value	2,307				2,307
Upon acquisition of real estate, Units					64
Upon acquisition of real estate, Value	5,124				5,124
Contributions:
Contributions		195,029	18,103						195,029	18,103
Distribution:
Distributions		(48,138)	(59)						(48,138)	(59)
Conversion of Series A preferred units to Class A units, Units				(2)	3
Conversion of Series A preferred units to Class A units, Value	0			(105)	105
Deferred compensation units and options, Units					4
Deferred compensation units and options, Value	13,054				13,527	(473)
Change in unrealized net gain on securities available-for-sale	(283,649)						(283,649)
Non-cash impairment loss on J.C. Penney owned shares	224,937						224,937
Gain on sale of securities available-for-sale	(3,582)						(3,582)
Pro rata share of other comprehensive income of nonconsolidated subsidiaries	(31,758)						(31,758)
Change in value of interest rate swap	(5,659)						(5,659)
Adjustments to carry redeemable Class A units at redemption value	(52,117)				(52,117)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests' share of above adjustments	6,707						6,707
Discount on redemption of preferred units	8,948					8,948
Consolidation of a partially owned entity	176,132							176,132
Other	(4,340)					(4,662)	329	(7)
Ending balance, Value at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 7,904,144			$ 1,240,278	$ 7,202,878	$ (1,573,275)	$ (18,946)	$ 1,053,209
Ending balance, Units at Dec. 31, 2012				51,185	186,735