Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $)	11 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2013	Jan. 31, 2012
Revenues from real estate operations	$ 1,020,108,000	$ 1,070,972,000	$ 997,741,000
Expenses
Operating expenses	675,585,000	670,285,000	614,814,000
Depreciation and amortization – Real Estate Groups	279,189,000	218,695,000	198,290,000
Write-offs of abandoned development projects and demolition costs	40,414,000	26,850,000	8,838,000
Impairment of real estate	475,555,000	30,660,000	235,000
Net (gain) loss on land held for divestiture activity	7,382,000	(6,480,000)	115,654,000
Total Expenses	1,478,125,000	940,010,000	937,831,000
Interest expense	(292,324,000)	(261,294,000)	(241,840,000)
Amortization of mortgage procurement costs	(8,561,000)	(11,182,000)	(10,997,000)
Gain on extinguishment of debt	4,549,000	7,096,000	9,590,000
Interest and other income	52,332,000	45,546,000	46,104,000
Net gain on disposition of partial interests in rental properties	496,092,000	0	17,665,000
Loss before income taxes	(205,929,000)	(88,872,000)	(119,568,000)
Income tax expense (benefit)
Current	(326,000)	(61,284,000)	(16,939,000)
Deferred	(9,008,000)	46,559,000	(50,746,000)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	(9,334,000)	(14,725,000)	(67,685,000)
Net gain on change in control of interests	2,762,000	6,766,000	0
Earnings from unconsolidated entities, gross of tax
Equity in earnings	107,825,000	85,798,000	21,147,000
Impairment	0	(390,000)	(40,284,000)
Net gain (loss) on land held for divestiture activity	1,338,000	(40,777,000)	(41,902,000)
Total equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities	109,163,000	44,631,000	(61,039,000)
Loss from continuing operations	(84,670,000)	(22,750,000)	(112,922,000)
Discontinued operations, net of tax:
Operating earnings from rental properties	3,106,000	6,119,000	8,935,000
Impairment of real estate	(13,786,000)	(2,604,000)	(8,382,000)
Gain on disposition of rental properties	24,560,000	55,506,000	111,801,000
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations	13,880,000	59,021,000	112,354,000
Net earnings (loss)	(70,790,000)	36,271,000	(568,000)
Noncontrolling interests
(Earnings) loss from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests, gross of tax	71,510,000	1,539,000	(2,167,000)
Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6,027,000)	(1,385,000)	(83,751,000)
(Earnings) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	65,483,000	154,000	(85,918,000)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	(5,307,000)	36,425,000	(86,486,000)
Preferred dividends and inducements of preferred stock conversions	(185,000)	(32,129,000)	(15,400,000)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ (5,492,000)	$ 4,296,000	$ (101,886,000)
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share
Loss from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ (0.07)	$ (0.31)	$ (0.78)
Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ 0.04	$ 0.32	$ 0.17
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ (0.03)	$ 0.01	$ (0.61)