Discontinued Operations and Gain on Disposition of Rental Properties (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Summary of operating results of discontinued operations
Revenues	$ 39,000	$ 21,189,000	$ 7,034,000	$ 46,426,000
Expenses
Operating expenses	(1,749,000)	10,171,000	3,026,000	26,096,000
Depreciation and amortization	0	4,162,000	987,000	8,475,000
Total expenses	(1,749,000)	14,333,000	4,013,000	34,571,000
Interest expense	(55,000)	(3,840,000)	(5,538,000)	(7,830,000)
Amortization of mortgage procurement costs	0	(180,000)	(41,000)	(361,000)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	(431,000)	0	(448,000)	(40,000)
Interest and other income	0	112,000	0	226,000
Gain on disposition of rental properties	1,276,000	0	28,100,000	21,471,000
Earnings before income taxes	2,578,000	2,948,000	25,094,000	25,321,000
Income tax expense	1,438,000	1,123,000	12,082,000	7,763,000
Earnings from discontinued operations	1,140,000	1,825,000	13,012,000	17,558,000
Noncontrolling interest
Gain on disposition of rental properties	0	0	58,000	5,835,000
Operating earnings (loss) from rental properties	0	48,000	(8,000)	64,000
Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	48,000	50,000	5,899,000
Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	$ 1,140,000	$ 1,777,000	$ 12,962,000	$ 11,659,000