Note 5 - Investments and Advances in Real Estate Joint Ventures (Detail) - Joint Venture Investments Accounted For Under The Equity Method - Investment Details (Current Period) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011
Number of Properties	688
Gross Investment In Real Estate	$ 13,396,300,000
The Company's Investment	1,366,800,000
The Company's Share of Income/(Loss)	49,810,000
KimPru and KimPru II [Member]
Average Ownership Interest	15.00%	[1],[2]
Number of Properties	63	[1],[2]
Gross Investment In Real Estate	2,791,700,000	[1],[2]
The Company's Investment	153,100,000	[1],[2]
The Company's Share of Income/(Loss)	(1,400,000)	[1],[2]
Kimco Income Opportunity Portfolio (“KIR”) [Member]
Average Ownership Interest	45.00%	[1]
Number of Properties	59	[1]
Gross Investment In Real Estate	1,550,100,000	[1]
The Company's Investment	159,200,000	[1]
The Company's Share of Income/(Loss)	12,700,000	[1]
UBS Programs [Member]
Average Ownership Interest	17.90%	[1],[3]
Number of Properties	43	[1]
Gross Investment In Real Estate	1,357,700,000	[1]
The Company's Investment	62,600,000	[1]
The Company's Share of Income/(Loss)	(400,000)	[1]
BIG Shopping Centers [Member]
Average Ownership Interest	37.70%	[1],[3],[4]
Number of Properties	23	[1],[4]
Gross Investment In Real Estate	556,700,000	[1],[4]
The Company's Investment	43,100,000	[1],[4]
The Company's Share of Income/(Loss)	(2,000,000)	[1],[4]
The Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (“CPP”) [Member]
Average Ownership Interest	55.00%	[1],[5]
Number of Properties	6	[1],[5]
Gross Investment In Real Estate	429,600,000	[1],[5]
The Company's Investment	142,000,000	[1],[5]
The Company's Share of Income/(Loss)	4,000,000	[1],[5]
Kimco Income Fund [Member]
Average Ownership Interest	15.20%	[1]
Number of Properties	12	[1]
Gross Investment In Real Estate	280,900,000	[1]
The Company's Investment	12,200,000	[1]
The Company's Share of Income/(Loss)	800,000	[1]
SEB Immobilien [Member]
Average Ownership Interest	15.00%	[1]
Number of Properties	11	[1]
Gross Investment In Real Estate	298,600,000	[1]
The Company's Investment	700,000	[1]
The Company's Share of Income/(Loss)		[1]
Other Institutional Programs [Member]
Average Ownership Interest		[1]
Number of Properties	68	[1]
Gross Investment In Real Estate	842,800,000	[1]
The Company's Investment	33,400,000	[1]
The Company's Share of Income/(Loss)	1,000,000	[1]
RioCan [Member]
Average Ownership Interest	50.00%
Number of Properties	45
Gross Investment In Real Estate	1,318,000,000
The Company's Investment	60,200,000
The Company's Share of Income/(Loss)	15,000,000
Intown [Member]
Number of Properties	138	[6]
Gross Investment In Real Estate	826,900,000	[6]
The Company's Investment	93,700,000	[6]
The Company's Share of Income/(Loss)	(1,800,000)	[6]
Latin America [Member]
Number of Properties	130
Gross Investment In Real Estate	1,175,900,000
The Company's Investment	331,800,000
The Company's Share of Income/(Loss)	9,900,000
Other Joint Venture Programs [Member]
Average Ownership Interest		[7],[8]
Number of Properties	90	[7],[8]
Gross Investment In Real Estate	1,967,400,000	[7],[8]
The Company's Investment	274,800,000	[7],[8]
The Company's Share of Income/(Loss)	$ 12,000,000	[7],[8]

[1] The Company manages these joint venture investments and, where applicable, earns acquisition fees, leasing commissions, property management fees, assets management fees and construction management fees.

[2] This venture represents four separate joint ventures, with four separate accounts managed by Prudential Real Estate Investors ("PREI"), three of these ventures are collectively referred to as KimPru and the remaining venture is referred to as KimPru II.

[3] Ownership % is a blended rate

[4] BIG Shopping Centers acquired an operating property in Selden, NY for a purchase price of approximately $43.5 million including the assumption of approximately $34.1 million in nonrecourse mortgage debt, during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

[5] CPP acquired an unencumbered operating property in Quakertown, PA for a purchase price of approximately $52.0 million, during the nine months ended September 30, 2011.

[6] The Company's share of this investment is subject to fluctuation and is dependent upon property cash flows.

[7] During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, a joint venture in which the Company held a noncontrolling interest sold an operating property for a sales price of approximately $37.7 million. The Company received a distribution of $11.2 million and recognized a gain of approximately $2.4 million, before income taxes. In connection with this transaction, the Company was relieved of its guarantee of $24.5 million relating to the entity's unsecured credit facility.

[8] During the nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company amended two of its preferred equity investment agreements to restructure the investments as pari passu joint ventures in which the Company holds noncontrolling interests. As a result of these transactions, the Company continues to account for its aggregate net investment in these joint ventures under the equity method of accounting and includes these investments in Investments and advances to real estate joint ventures within the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.