Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2012	Jan. 31, 2011
Revenues from real estate operations	$ 1,134,687	$ 1,051,618	$ 1,078,448
Expenses
Operating expenses	732,275	654,346	632,822
Depreciation and amortization	229,661	208,801	225,082
Impairment of real estate	30,660	235	4,763
Net (gain) loss on land held for divestiture activity	(6,480)	115,654	0
Total Expenses	986,116	979,036	862,667
Interest expense	(269,229)	(249,799)	(298,201)
Amortization of mortgage procurement costs	(12,112)	(11,317)	(11,000)
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt	7,096	9,590	(21,035)
Interest and other income	45,915	52,094	52,792
Net gain on disposition of partial interests in rental properties and other investment	0	17,665	257,990
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(79,759)	(109,185)	196,327
Income tax expense (benefit)
Current	(58,794)	(9,916)	703
Deferred	47,590	(53,770)	68,162
Total income tax expense (benefit)	(11,204)	(63,686)	68,865
Net gain on change in control of interests	6,766	0	0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	85,798	21,147	42,265
Impairment of unconsolidated entities	(390)	(40,284)	(72,459)
Net loss on land held for divestiture activity of unconsolidated entities	(40,777)	(41,902)	0
Total equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	44,631	(61,039)	(30,194)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(17,158)	(106,538)	97,268
Discontinued operations, net of tax:
Operating earnings from rental properties	527	2,551	5,901
Impairment of real estate	(2,604)	(8,382)	(49,980)
Gain on disposition of rental properties	55,506	111,801	32,209
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	53,429	105,970	(11,870)
Net earnings (loss)	36,271	(568)	85,398
Noncontrolling interests
(Earnings) loss from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,506	(2,240)	(19,320)
Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	(1,352)	(83,678)	(8,030)
(Earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	154	(85,918)	(27,350)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	36,425	(86,486)	58,048
Preferred dividends and inducements of preferred stock converstion	(32,129)	(15,400)	(11,807)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ 4,296	$ (101,886)	$ 46,241
Basic earnings (loss) per common share
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ (0.28)	$ (0.74)	$ 0.41
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ 0.30	$ 0.13	$ (0.12)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ 0.02	$ (0.61)	$ 0.29
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ (0.28)	$ (0.74)	$ 0.42
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ 0.30	$ 0.13	$ (0.12)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ 0.02	$ (0.61)	$ 0.30