Discontinued Operations and Gain on Disposition of Rental Properties (Details 1) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Apr. 30, 2012	Apr. 30, 2011
Summary of operating results of discontinued operations
Revenues from real estate operations	$ 324	$ 13,994
Expenses
Operating expenses	154	8,246
Depreciation and amortization		2,538
Expenses Total	154	10,784
Interest expense	(108)	(1,859)
Amortization of mortgage procurement costs		(567)
Gain on disposition of rental properties	8,879	10,431
Earnings before income taxes	8,941	11,215
Income tax expense
Current	511	578
Deferred	3,019	3,921
Income tax expense (benefit), Total	3,530	4,499
Earnings from discontinued operations	5,411	6,716
Noncontrolling interest
Gain on disposition of rental properties	965	393
Operating earnings from rental properties	8	1,335
Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	973	1,728
Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc	$ 4,438	$ 4,988

Discontinued operation operating earnings from rental properties net of tax attributable to noncontrolling interest.

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Discontinued operations gain on disposition of rental properties net of tax attributable to noncontrolling interests.

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Disposal group including discontinued operation amortization of mortgage procurement costs.

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Disposal group including discontinued operation depreciation and amortization.

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Disposal group including discontinued operation expenses.

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Pretax gain (loss), not previously recognized and resulting from the sale of a business component, which is recognized at the date of sale. A gain (loss) reflects the amount by which the consideration received exceeds (is exceeded by) the net carrying amount (reflecting previous provisions for loss on disposal, if any) of the disposal group.

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Overall income (loss) from a disposal group that is classified as a component of the entity, before income tax, reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items. Includes the following (before income tax): income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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Tax effect allocated to a disposal group that is classified as a component of the entity reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items. Includes the tax effects of the following: income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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Amount, if any, of interest expense allocated to the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), during the reporting period.

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Amount of operating expenses attributable to the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), during the reporting period.

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Amount of sales or other form of revenues attributable to the disposal group, including a component of the entity (discontinued operation), during the reporting period.

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This element represents the overall income (loss) from a disposal group that is classified as a component of the entity, net of income tax, reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items before deduction or consideration of the amount which may be allocable to noncontrolling interests, if any. Includes the following (net of tax): income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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This element represents the overall income (loss) from a disposal group that is classified as a component of the entity, net of income tax, reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items, which is apportioned to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (noncontrolling interest, minority interest). This item includes the following (net of tax): income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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This element represents the overall income (loss) from a disposal group apportioned to the parent that is classified as a component of the entity, net of income tax, reported as a separate component of income before extraordinary items after deduction or consideration of the amount which may be allocable to noncontrolling interests, if any. Includes the following (net of tax): income (loss) from operations during the phase-out period, gain (loss) on disposal, provision (or any reversals of earlier provisions) for loss on disposal, and adjustments of a prior period gain (loss) on disposal.

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