Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2012
Revenues from real estate operations	$ 305,615,000	$ 287,295,000
Expenses
Operating expenses	207,804,000	162,986,000
Depreciation and amortization	69,495,000	50,474,000
Total Expenses	277,299,000	213,460,000
Interest expense	(87,418,000)	(56,068,000)
Amortization of mortgage procurement costs	(2,688,000)	(2,756,000)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(5,238,000)	(719,000)
Interest and other income	11,017,000	10,669,000
Net gain on land held for divestiture activity	452,000	0
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(55,559,000)	24,961,000
Income tax expense (benefit)
Current	(352,000)	276,000
Deferred	(14,870,000)	9,572,000
Total income tax expense (benefit)	(15,222,000)	9,848,000
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	5,850,000	3,773,000
Net loss on land held for divestiture activity of unconsolidated entities	(147,000)	0
Total equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	5,703,000	3,773,000
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(34,634,000)	18,886,000
Discontinued operations, net of tax:
Operating earnings (loss) from rental properties	(2,000)	362,000
Impairment of real estate	0	(845,000)
Gain on disposition of rental properties	15,562,000	5,370,000
Earnings from discontinued operations	15,560,000	4,887,000
Net earnings (loss)	(19,074,000)	23,773,000
Noncontrolling interests
Loss from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	5,544,000	20,000
Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	(5,838,000)	(1,041,000)
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest	(294,000)	(1,021,000)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	(19,368,000)	22,752,000
Preferred dividends	(185,000)	(3,850,000)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ (19,553,000)	$ 18,902,000
Basic earnings (loss) per common share
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ (0.16)	$ 0.09
Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ 0.05	$ 0.02
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ (0.11)	$ 0.11
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ (0.16)	$ 0.09
Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ 0.05	$ 0.02
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ (0.11)	$ 0.11