Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Real estate, at cost:
Land	$ 4,143,581	$ 4,416,613
Buildings and improvements	11,851,152	12,041,054
Development costs and construction in progress	865,953	119,540
Leasehold improvements and equipment	128,168	126,712
Total	16,988,854	16,703,919
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	(3,034,815)	(2,901,203)
Real estate, net	13,954,039	13,802,716
Cash and cash equivalents	465,884	606,553
Restricted cash	391,794	98,068
Marketable securities	485,001	741,321
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $38,351 and $43,241	181,242	171,798
Real Estate Fund investments	482,442	346,650
Mezzanine loans receivable	131,585	133,948
Receivable arising from the straight-lining of rents, net of allowance of $4,448 and $3,290	755,866	701,827
Deferred leasing and financing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $220,846 and $237,766	389,155	364,855
Identified intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $362,516 and $347,039	252,683	295,432
Assets related to discontinued operations	537,938	1,049,153
Due from officers	0	13,127
Other assets	501,056	380,580
Assets	20,397,816	20,446,487
LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS AND EQUITY
Notes and mortgages payable	7,852,657	8,065,576
Senior unsecured notes	1,357,921	1,357,661
Revolving credit facility debt	600,000	138,000
Exchangeable senior debentures	0	497,898
Convertible senior debentures	0	10,168
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	442,644	423,512
Deferred revenue	465,929	511,959
Deferred compensation plan	103,003	95,457
Deferred tax liabilities	15,432	13,315
Liabilities related to discontinued operations	478,980	518,319
Other liabilities	396,897	145,498
Total liabilities	11,713,463	11,777,363
Commitments and contingencies
Redeemable noncontrolling interests:
Class A units - 11,714,978 and 12,160,771 units outstanding	949,499	934,677
Series D cumulative redeemable preferred units - 1,800,001 and 9,000,001 units outstanding	46,000	226,000
Total redeemable noncontrolling interests	995,499	1,160,677
Vornado shareholders' equity:
Preferred shares of beneficial interest: no par value per share; authorized 110,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 51,184,609 and 42,186,709 shares	1,237,699	1,021,660
Common shares of beneficial interest: $.04 par value per share; authorized 250,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 186,143,105 and 185,080,020 shares	7,415	7,373
Additional capital	7,136,090	7,127,258
Earnings less than distributions	(1,319,118)	(1,401,704)
Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income	(160,107)	73,729
Total Vornado shareholders' equity	6,901,979	6,828,316
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries	786,875	680,131
Total equity	7,688,854	7,508,447
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	20,397,816	20,446,487
Toys R Us [Member]
Real estate, at cost:
Investments in partially owned entities	549,421	506,809
All Equity Method Investees Excluding Toys [Member]
Real estate, at cost:
Investments in partially owned entities	$ 1,319,710	$ 1,233,650