Discontinued Operations and Gain on Disposition of Rental Properties (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
Summary of operating results of discontinued operations
Revenues from real estate operations	$ 135,000	$ 20,227,000	$ 20,782,000	$ 60,604,000
Expenses
Operating expenses	429,000	10,972,000	12,639,000	31,171,000
Depreciation and amortization	0	2,638,000	2,014,000	9,658,000
Impairment of real estate	0	164,000	0	4,254,000
Total expenses	429,000	13,774,000	14,653,000	45,083,000
Interest expense	(16,000)	(2,715,000)	(2,785,000)	(10,076,000)
Amortization of mortgage procurement costs	0	(54,000)	(50,000)	(546,000)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	(192,000)	(40,000)	(192,000)
Interest income	0	(7,000)	225,000	272,000
Gain on disposition of rental properties	1,239,000	19,299,000	44,342,000	28,178,000
Earnings before income taxes	929,000	22,784,000	47,821,000	33,157,000
Income tax expense	261,000	10,142,000	19,306,000	13,718,000
Earnings from discontinued operations	668,000	12,642,000	28,515,000	19,439,000
Noncontrolling interest
Gain on disposition of rental properties	125,000	0	5,960,000	965,000
Operating earnings (loss) from rental properties	3,000	(207,000)	16,000	393,000
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	128,000	(207,000)	5,976,000	1,358,000
Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	$ 540,000	$ 12,849,000	$ 22,539,000	$ 18,081,000