Discontinued Operations and Gain on Disposition of Rental Properties (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2013	Apr. 30, 2012
Summary of operating results of discontinued operations
Revenues from real estate operations	$ 1,068,000	$ 9,681,000
Expenses
Operating expenses	831,000	4,019,000
Depreciation and amortization	118,000	2,359,000
Impairment of real estate	0	1,381,000
Expenses Total	949,000	7,759,000
Interest expense	(87,000)	(2,556,000)
Amortization of mortgage procurement costs	0	(113,000)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(40,000)	0
Interest Income	2,000	10,000
Gain on disposition of rental properties	21,882,000	8,879,000
Earnings before income taxes	21,876,000	8,142,000
Income tax expense	6,316,000	3,255,000
Earnings from discontinued operations	15,560,000	4,887,000
Noncontrolling interest
Gain on disposition of rental properties	5,835,000	965,000
Operating earnings from rental properties	3,000	76,000
Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	5,838,000	1,041,000
Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc	$ 9,722,000	$ 3,846,000