Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010	Jul. 31, 2011	Jul. 31, 2010
Consolidated Statements of Operations [Abstract]
Revenues from real estate operations	$ 253,205,000	$ 294,221,000	$ 561,629,000	$ 563,003,000
Expenses
Operating expenses	159,771,000	169,516,000	322,679,000	324,644,000
Depreciation and amortization	54,538,000	58,040,000	111,245,000	117,366,000
Impairment of real estate	235,000	1,100,000	5,070,000	1,100,000
Total Expenses	214,544,000	228,656,000	438,994,000	443,110,000
Interest expense	(64,064,000)	(84,795,000)	(130,979,000)	(165,977,000)
Amortization of mortgage procurement costs	(2,727,000)	(2,721,000)	(5,622,000)	(5,333,000)
Gain (loss) on early extinguishment of debt	(5,471,000)	1,896,000	(5,767,000)	8,193,000
Interest and other income	15,315,000	16,231,000	30,822,000	23,045,000
Net gain on disposition of partial interests in rental properties and other investment	0	259,381,000	9,561,000	260,247,000
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(18,286,000)	255,557,000	20,650,000	240,068,000
Income tax expense (benefit)
Current	(1,679,000)	5,478,000	15,134,000	11,570,000
Deferred	(4,492,000)	76,088,000	(3,392,000)	60,626,000
Income tax expense (benefit), total	(6,171,000)	81,566,000	11,742,000	72,196,000
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated entities	2,385,000	1,286,000	22,379,000	(2,939,000)
Impairment of unconsolidated entities	0	(2,282,000)	0	(15,181,000)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(9,730,000)	172,995,000	31,287,000	149,752,000
Discontinued operations, net of tax:
Operating earnings (loss) from rental properties	1,000,000	(152,000)	2,961,000	1,727,000
Impairment of real estate		(27,800,000)		(27,800,000)
Gain on disposition of rental properties	99,087,000	5,310,000	104,806,000	5,310,000
Discontinued operations subtotal	100,087,000	(22,642,000)	107,767,000	(20,763,000)
Net earnings	90,357,000	150,353,000	139,054,000	128,989,000
Noncontrolling interests
(Earnings) loss from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	(193,000)	(23,210,000)	402,000	(16,705,000)
Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	(82,030,000)	(4,297,000)	(83,755,000)	(5,000,000)
Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest	(82,223,000)	(27,507,000)	(83,353,000)	(21,705,000)
Net earnings attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	8,134,000	122,846,000	55,701,000	107,284,000
Preferred dividends	(3,850,000)	(4,107,000)	(7,700,000)	(4,107,000)
Net earnings attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ 4,284,000	$ 118,739,000	$ 48,001,000	$ 103,177,000
Basic earnings (loss) per common share
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ (0.08)	$ 0.91	$ 0.14	$ 0.80
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	$ 0.10	$ (0.17)	$ 0.14	$ (0.16)
Net earnings attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ 0.02	$ 0.74	$ 0.28	$ 0.64
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ (0.08)	$ 0.76	$ 0.14	$ 0.70
Earnings (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	$ 0.10	$ (0.14)	$ 0.15	$ (0.13)
Net earnings attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. common shareholders	$ 0.02	$ 0.62	$ 0.29	$ 0.57