Investments In Unconsolidated Joint Ventures (12 Vreeland Associates, L.L.C.) (Narrative) (Details) (12 Vreeland Associates, L.L.C. [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014 sqft	Dec. 31, 2013
12 Vreeland Associates, L.L.C. [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of interest in venture	50.00%
Area of property (in square feet)	139,750
Distribution of loan proceeds		$ 14.8
Share of distribution of loan proceeds		7.4
Mortgage loans, carrying amount	$ 15.1
Interest rate	2.87%
Mortgage loan, maturity date	July 2023

Distribution Of Loan Proceeds

No definition available.

Name:	cli_DistributionOfLoanProceeds
Namespace Prefix:	cli_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Mortgage Loan Maturity Date

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cli_MortgageLoanMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix:	cli_
Data Type:	invest:dateStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Share Of Distribution Of Loan Proceeds

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cli_ShareOfDistributionOfLoanProceeds
Namespace Prefix:	cli_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Area of a real estate property.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:areaItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The percentage of ownership of common stock or equity participation in the investee accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6382943&loc=d3e33918-111571

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentOwnershipPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying amount of the outstanding balance due under the mortgage loan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-04.(c) Schedule IV)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27047687&loc=d3e5864-122674

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 29

-Article 12

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Paragraph c

-Subparagraph Schedule IV

-Article 5

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 948

-SubTopic 310

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-29)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6589523&loc=d3e617274-123014

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCarryingAmountOfMortgages
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ScheduleOfEquityMethodInvestmentsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration