Discontinued Operations and Gain on Disposition of Rental Properties (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Summary of operating results of discontinued operations
Revenues	$ 0	$ 11,997,000	$ 7,034,000	$ 58,423,000
Expenses
Operating expenses	0	6,593,000	3,026,000	32,689,000
Depreciation and amortization	0	3,048,000	987,000	11,523,000
Impairment of real estate	0	6,870,000	0	6,870,000
Total expenses	0	16,511,000	4,013,000	51,082,000
Interest expense	0	(3,436,000)	(5,538,000)	(11,266,000)
Amortization of mortgage procurement costs	0	(122,000)	(41,000)	(483,000)
Loss on extinguishment of debt	0	0	(448,000)	(40,000)
Interest and other income	0	37,000	0	263,000
Gain on disposition of rental properties	0	22,460,000	28,100,000	43,931,000
Earnings before income taxes	0	14,425,000	25,094,000	39,746,000
Income tax expense	0	8,754,000	12,082,000	16,517,000
Earnings from discontinued operations	0	5,671,000	13,012,000	23,229,000
Noncontrolling interest
Gain on disposition of rental properties	0	125,000	58,000	5,960,000
Operating earnings (loss) from rental properties	0	10,000	(8,000)	74,000
Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	135,000	50,000	6,034,000
Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	$ 0	$ 5,536,000	$ 12,962,000	$ 17,195,000