Forest City Enterprises (FCEPP) Inactive 10-Q6 Aug 142014 Q2 Quarterly reportFinancial data

Company Profile

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jul. 31, 2014	Jul. 31, 2014
	Jun. 30, 2014	Common stock Class A	Common stock Class B
Entity Registrant Name	'FOREST CITY ENTERPRISES INC	'	'
Entity Central Index Key	'0000038067	'	'
Document Type	'10-Q	'	'
Document Period End Date	30-Jun-14	'	'
Amendment Flag	'false	'	'
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014	'	'
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q2	'	'
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31	'	'
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer	'	'
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	'	181,732,668	19,225,259

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Un

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Real Estate	'	'
Completed rental properties	$7,124,322,000	$7,307,233,000
Projects under construction and development	604,468,000	535,479,000
Land inventory	116,262,000	128,688,000
Total Real Estate	7,845,052,000	7,971,400,000
Less accumulated depreciation	-1,524,740,000	-1,469,328,000
Real Estate, net b (variable interest entities $510.0 million and $656.8 million, respectively)	6,320,312,000	6,502,072,000
Cash and equivalents b (variable interest entities $13.0 million and $18.8 million, respectively)	456,924,000	280,206,000
Restricted cash b (variable interest entities $50.7 million and $154.5 million, respectively)	239,342,000	347,534,000
Notes and accounts receivable, net	507,570,000	455,561,000
Investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	619,671,000	447,165,000
Other assets b (variable interest entities $26.0 million and $55.5 million, respectively)	407,702,000	415,316,000
Development project held for sale b (variable interest entities of $0 and $504.2 million, respectively)	0	504,171,000
Total Assets	8,551,521,000	8,952,025,000
Liabilities	'	'
Mortgage debt and notes payable, nonrecourse b (variable interest entities $294.0 million and $323.7 million, respectively)	4,036,103,000	4,351,506,000
Revolving credit facility	308,000,000	0
Convertible senior debt	700,000,000	700,000,000
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities b (variable interest entities $70.0 million and $89.0 million, respectively)	823,903,000	831,920,000
Cash distributions and losses in excess of investments in unconsolidated entities	264,618,000	256,843,000
Deferred income taxes	451,089,000	485,894,000
Mortgage debt, nonrecourse, of development project held for sale b (variable interest entities of $0 and $228.0 million, respectively)	0	228,000,000
Total Liabilities	6,583,713,000	6,854,163,000
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest	192,942,000	171,743,000
Commitments and Contingencies	0	0
Common stock - $.33 1/3 par value	'	'
Common stock	66,670,000	66,225,000
Additional paid-in capital	1,057,833,000	1,095,748,000
Retained earnings	493,321,000	570,793,000
Less treasury stock, at cost; 1,121,279 and 941,853 Class A shares, respectively	-19,332,000	-15,978,000
Shareholders' equity before accumulated other comprehensive loss	1,598,492,000	1,716,788,000
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	-68,446,000	-76,582,000
Total Shareholders' Equity	1,530,046,000	1,640,206,000
Noncontrolling interest	244,820,000	285,913,000
Total Equity	1,774,866,000	1,926,119,000
Total Liabilities and Equity	8,551,521,000	8,952,025,000
Preferred stock	'	'
Shareholders' Equity	'	'
Preferred stock	0	0
Common stock Class A	'	'
Common stock - $.33 1/3 par value	'	'
Common stock	60,261,000	59,500,000
Total Equity	60,261,000	59,500,000
Common stock Class B	'	'
Common stock - $.33 1/3 par value	'	'
Common stock	6,409,000	6,725,000
Total Equity	$6,409,000	$6,725,000

Consolidated_Balance_Sheets_Pa

Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (Unaudited) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Real Estate, net	$6,320,312,000	$6,502,072,000
Cash and equivalents	456,924,000	280,206,000
Restricted cash	239,342,000	347,534,000
Other assets	407,702,000	415,316,000
Development project held for sale	0	504,171,000
Mortgage debt and notes payable, nonrecourse	4,036,103,000	4,351,506,000
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	823,903,000	831,920,000
Mortgage debt, nonrecourse, of development project held for sale	0	228,000,000
Variable interest entities	'	'
Real Estate, net	510,000,000	656,800,000
Cash and equivalents	13,000,000	18,800,000
Restricted cash	50,700,000	154,500,000
Other assets	26,000,000	55,500,000
Development project held for sale	0	504,200,000
Mortgage debt and notes payable, nonrecourse	294,000,000	323,700,000
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	70,000,000	89,000,000
Mortgage debt, nonrecourse, of development project held for sale	$0	$228,000,000
Preferred stock	'	'
Preferred stock, without par value	$0	$0
Preferred stock, shares authorized	13,600,000	13,600,000
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Common stock Class A	'	'
Common stock, par value per share	$0.33	$0.33
Common stock, shares authorized	371,000,000	371,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	180,783,914	178,498,770
Common stock, shares outstanding	179,662,635	177,556,917
Treasury stock, Class A shares	1,121,279	941,853
Common stock Class B	'	'
Common stock, par value per share	$0.33	$0.33
Common stock, shares authorized	56,000,000	56,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	19,227,650	20,173,558
Common stock, shares outstanding	19,227,650	20,173,558
Common stock, shares issuable	26,257,961	26,257,961

Consolidated_Statements_of_Ope

Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Revenues	'	'	'	'
Rental	$130,562,000	$149,781,000	$258,483,000	$297,728,000
Tenant recoveries	25,542,000	35,080,000	59,064,000	83,991,000
Service and management fees	10,916,000	15,629,000	23,903,000	28,408,000
Parking and other	12,520,000	13,381,000	24,668,000	26,833,000
Arena	24,572,000	26,853,000	59,929,000	50,993,000
Land sales	18,537,000	26,681,000	35,244,000	34,469,000
Military Housing	6,988,000	10,510,000	17,883,000	25,459,000
Total revenues	229,637,000	277,915,000	479,174,000	547,881,000
Expenses	'	'	'	'
Property operating and management	89,637,000	107,554,000	190,728,000	225,358,000
Real estate taxes	19,548,000	22,384,000	39,754,000	44,609,000
Ground rent	2,174,000	1,904,000	4,054,000	4,003,000
Arena operating	14,818,000	21,898,000	38,294,000	40,310,000
Cost of land sales	7,837,000	13,428,000	14,202,000	17,532,000
Military Housing operating	1,734,000	6,360,000	8,258,000	14,924,000
Corporate general and administrative	10,059,000	13,478,000	21,620,000	24,537,000
Total operating expenses	145,807,000	187,006,000	316,910,000	371,273,000
Depreciation and amortization	59,318,000	80,452,000	114,327,000	148,256,000
Write-offs of abandoned development projects and demolition costs	933,000	657,000	933,000	13,553,000
Impairment of real estate	129,829,000	1,175,000	129,829,000	1,175,000
Net gain on land held for divestiture activity	0	-1,121,000	0	-12,308,000
Total expenses	335,887,000	268,169,000	561,999,000	521,949,000
Operating income (loss)	-106,250,000	9,746,000	-82,825,000	25,932,000
Interest expense	-57,153,000	-83,096,000	-119,605,000	-164,579,000
Amortization of mortgage procurement costs	-1,768,000	-2,526,000	-3,893,000	-5,267,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt	-714,000	-4,975,000	-878,000	-4,948,000
Interest and other income	12,375,000	11,775,000	23,878,000	22,425,000
Net loss on disposition of partial interest in development project	-19,590,000	0	-19,590,000	0
Net loss on disposition of partial interest in rental properties	0	0	-467,000	0
Loss before income taxes	-173,100,000	-69,076,000	-203,380,000	-126,437,000
Income tax expense (benefit)	'	'	'	'
Current	-30,435,000	-5,858,000	5,499,000	-40,130,000
Deferred	-16,512,000	-12,612,000	-48,515,000	12,995,000
Total income tax expense (benefit)	-46,947,000	-18,470,000	-43,016,000	-27,135,000
Net gain on change in control of interests	0	2,762,000	2,759,000	2,762,000
Earnings from unconsolidated entities, gross of tax	'	'	'	'
Equity in earnings	27,168,000	4,445,000	61,197,000	12,756,000
Net gain on land held for divestiture activity	0	682,000	0	2,511,000
Total equity in earnings from unconsolidated entities	27,168,000	5,127,000	61,197,000	15,267,000
Loss from continuing operations	-98,985,000	-42,717,000	-96,408,000	-81,273,000
Discontinued operations, net of tax:	'	'	'	'
Operating earnings (loss) from rental properties	797,000	1,825,000	-1,844,000	2,380,000
Gain on disposition of rental properties	343,000	0	14,856,000	15,178,000
Earnings from discontinued operations	1,140,000	1,825,000	13,012,000	17,558,000
Net loss	-97,845,000	-40,892,000	-83,396,000	-63,715,000
Noncontrolling interests	'	'	'	'
Loss from continuing operations attributable to noncontrolling interests, gross of tax	4,853,000	6,000,000	5,974,000	15,083,000
Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	-48,000	-50,000	-5,899,000
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	4,853,000	5,952,000	5,924,000	9,184,000
Net loss attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	-92,992,000	-34,940,000	-77,472,000	-54,531,000
Preferred dividends	0	0	0	-185,000
Net loss attributable to common shareholders	($92,992,000)	($34,940,000)	($77,472,000)	($54,716,000)
Basic and Diluted earnings (loss) per common share	'	'	'	'
Loss from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders b Basic and Diluted	($0.47)	($0.19)	($0.46)	($0.35)
Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to common shareholders - Basic and Diluted	$0	$0.01	$0.07	$0.06
Loss attributable to common shareholders b Basic and Diluted	($0.47)	($0.18)	($0.39)	($0.29)

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Net loss	($97,845,000)	($40,892,000)	($83,396,000)	($63,715,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:	'	'	'	'
Unrealized net gains on investment securities, net of tax	0	95,000	0	210,000
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax	150,000	0	150,000	-116,000
Unrealized net gains on interest rate derivative contracts, net of tax	1,978,000	14,942,000	8,007,000	20,633,000
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	2,128,000	15,037,000	8,157,000	20,727,000
Comprehensive loss	-95,717,000	-25,855,000	-75,239,000	-42,988,000
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	4,841,000	5,941,000	5,903,000	9,163,000
Total comprehensive loss attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	($90,876,000)	($19,914,000)	($69,336,000)	($33,825,000)

Consolidated_Statements_of_Com1

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Parenthetical) (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Tax amount related to unrealized net gains on investment securities	$0	($60,000)	$0	($133,000)
Tax amount related to foreign currency translation adjustments	-94,000	0	-94,000	73,000
Tax amount related to unrealized net gains on interest rate derivative contracts	($1,246,000)	($9,460,000)	($5,060,000)	($13,059,000)

Consolidated_Statements_of_Equ

Consolidated Statements of Equity (Unaudited) (USD $)	Total	Additional Paid-In Capital	Retained Earnings	Treasury Stock	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	Noncontrolling Interest	Series A Preferred Stock	Common stock Class A	Common Stock Class B
Balance at Jan. 31, 2013	$1,738,571,000	$932,045,000	$576,285,000	($108,000)	($103,203,000)	$261,679,000	$10,552,000	$54,576,000	$6,745,000
Balance, Shares at Jan. 31, 2013	'	'	'	7,000	'	'	211,000	163,729,000	20,235,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net earnings (loss), net of $7,191 and $16,847 attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	-53,943,000	'	-5,307,000	'	'	-48,636,000	'	'	'
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	26,655,000	'	'	'	26,621,000	34,000	'	'	'
Purchase of treasury stock	-3,167,000	'	'	-3,167,000	'	'	'	'	'
Purchase of treasury stock, Shares	'	'	'	180,000	'	'	'	'	'
Conversion of Class B to Class A shares	0	'	'	'	'	'	'	20,000	-20,000
Conversion of Class B to Class A shares, Shares	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	62,000	-62,000
Issuance of Class A shares in exchange for Series A preferred stock	0	5,368,000	'	'	'	'	-5,489,000	121,000	'
Issuance of Class A shares in exchange for Series A preferred stock, Shares	'	'	'	'	'	'	-110,000	363,000	'
Redemption of Series A preferred stock	-5,063,000	'	'	'	'	'	-5,063,000	'	'
Redemption of Series A preferred stock, Shares	'	'	'	'	'	'	-101,000	'	'
Proceeds from settlement of equity call hedge related to issuance of preferred stock	10,231,000	23,099,000	'	-12,868,000	'	'	'	'	'
Proceeds from settlement of equity call hedge related to issuance of preferred stock, Shares	'	'	'	765,000	'	'	'	'	'
Issuance of Class A shares in exchange for Puttable Equity-Linked Senior Notes due 2014	194,345,000	189,786,000	'	'	'	'	'	4,559,000	'
Issuance of Class A shares in exchange for Puttable Equity-Linked Senior Notes due 2014, Shares	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	13,679,000	'
Restricted stock vested	0	-202,000	'	'	'	'	'	202,000	'
Restricted stock vested, Shares	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	600,000	'
Exercise of stock options	1,153,000	966,000	'	165,000	'	'	'	22,000	'
Exercise of stock options, Shares	'	'	'	-10,000	'	'	'	66,000	'
Preferred stock dividends	-185,000	'	-185,000	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation	16,197,000	16,197,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Excess income tax deficiency from stock-based compensation	-133,000	-133,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Redeemble noncontrolling interest adjustment	50,546,000	50,546,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Acquisition of partners' noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	-98,687,000	-95,924,000	'	'	'	-2,763,000	'	'	'
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	80,339,000	'	'	'	'	80,339,000	'	'	'
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	-36,400,000	'	'	'	'	-36,400,000	'	'	'
Change to equity method of accounting for subsidiaries	5,660,000	'	'	'	'	5,660,000	'	'	'
Adjustment due to change in ownership of consolidated subsidiaries	0	-26,000,000	'	'	'	26,000,000	'	'	'
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	1,926,119,000	1,095,748,000	570,793,000	-15,978,000	-76,582,000	285,913,000	0	59,500,000	6,725,000
Balance, Shares at Dec. 31, 2013	'	'	'	942,000	'	'	0	178,499,000	20,173,000
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Net earnings (loss), net of $7,191 and $16,847 attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	-76,205,000	'	-77,472,000	'	'	1,267,000	'	'	'
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	8,157,000	'	'	'	8,136,000	21,000	'	'	'
Purchase of treasury stock	-3,781,000	'	'	-3,781,000	'	'	'	'	'
Purchase of treasury stock, Shares	204,574	'	'	204,000	'	'	'	'	'
Conversion of Class B to Class A shares	0	'	'	'	'	'	'	316,000	-316,000
Conversion of Class B to Class A shares, Shares	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	946,000	-946,000
Restricted stock vested	0	-221,000	'	'	'	'	'	221,000	'
Restricted stock vested, Shares	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	666,000	'
Exercise of stock options	267,000	-160,000	'	427,000	'	'	'	'	'
Exercise of stock options, Shares	'	'	'	-25,000	'	'	'	'	'
Preferred stock dividends	0	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Stock-based compensation	10,222,000	10,222,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Excess income tax deficiency from stock-based compensation	-149,000	-149,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Exchange of Class A Common Units for Class A Shares	0	34,134,000	'	'	'	-34,358,000	'	224,000	'
Exchange of Class A Common Units for Class A Shares, Shares	'	'	'	'	'	'	'	673,000	'
Redeemble noncontrolling interest adjustment	-28,390,000	-28,390,000	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Acquisition of partners' noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries	-56,073,000	-53,351,000	'	'	'	-2,722,000	'	'	'
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	1,839,000	'	'	'	'	1,839,000	'	'	'
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	-7,140,000	'	'	'	'	-7,140,000	'	'	'
Balance at Jun. 30, 2014	$1,774,866,000	$1,057,833,000	$493,321,000	($19,332,000)	($68,446,000)	$244,820,000	$0	$60,261,000	$6,409,000
Balance, Shares at Jun. 30, 2014	'	'	'	1,121,000	'	'	0	180,784,000	19,227,000

Consolidated_Statements_of_Equ1

Consolidated Statements of Equity (Parenthetical) (Unaudited) (Noncontrolling Interest, USD $)	6 Months Ended	11 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Noncontrolling Interest	'	'
Net earnings (loss) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	$7,191	$16,847

Consolidated_Statements_of_Cas

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Net loss	($83,396,000)	($63,715,000)
Depreciation and amortization	114,327,000	148,256,000
Amortization of mortgage procurement costs	3,893,000	5,267,000
Impairment of real estate	129,829,000	1,175,000
Write-offs of abandoned development projects	283,000	13,553,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt	878,000	4,948,000
Net gain on land held for divestiture activity	0	-12,308,000
Net loss on disposition of partial interest in development project	19,590,000	0
Net loss on disposition of partial interest in rental properties	467,000	0
Net gain on change in control of interests	-2,759,000	-2,762,000
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	-48,515,000	12,995,000
Earnings from unconsolidated entities	-61,197,000	-15,267,000
Stock-based compensation expense	7,602,000	5,891,000
Amortization and mark-to-market adjustments of derivative instruments	4,450,000	4,130,000
Cash distributions from operations of unconsolidated entities	39,571,000	33,556,000
Non-cash operating expenses and deferred taxes included in discontinued operations	9,883,000	12,906,000
Gain on disposition included in discontinued operations	-28,100,000	-21,471,000
Decrease in land inventory	7,268,000	2,218,000
Decrease in notes and accounts receivable	6,176,000	12,209,000
(Increase) decrease in other assets	-3,081,000	8,891,000
Decrease in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	-21,969,000	-70,023,000
Net cash provided by operating activities	95,200,000	80,449,000
Cash Flows from Investing Activities	'	'
Capital expenditures	-231,810,000	-240,518,000
Payment of lease procurement costs	-2,686,000	-4,797,000
Increase in notes receivable	-22,203,000	-15,330,000
Decrease in restricted cash used for investing purposes	108,212,000	5,615,000
Proceeds from disposition of full or partial interest in rental properties or development project	193,682,000	21,987,000
Contributions to investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	-89,111,000	-21,301,000
Distributions from investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	57,387,000	36,838,000
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	13,471,000	-217,506,000
Cash Flows from Financing Activities	'	'
Proceeds from nonrecourse mortgage debt and notes payable	481,019,000	97,843,000
Principal payments on nonrecourse mortgage debt and notes payable	-691,112,000	-91,174,000
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	637,825,000	206,200,000
Payments on revolving credit facility	-329,825,000	-86,950,000
Redemption of Senior Notes due 2015	0	-53,253,000
Make-whole premium and inducements related to exchange of Senior Notes due 2014 for Class A common stock	0	-4,903,000
Transaction costs related to exchange of Senior Notes due 2014 for Class A common stock	0	-2,300,000
Payments of deferred financing costs	-6,800,000	-7,888,000
Purchase of treasury stock	-3,781,000	-3,226,000
Redemption of Series A preferred stock	0	-5,063,000
Proceeds from equity call hedge related to the issuance of Series A preferred stock	0	10,231,000
Exercise of stock options	267,000	8,027,000
Dividends paid to preferred shareholders	0	-185,000
Acquisitions of noncontrolling interests	-14,245,000	-9,041,000
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	1,839,000	38,194,000
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	-7,140,000	-7,122,000
Net cash provided by financing activities	68,047,000	89,390,000
Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents	176,718,000	-47,667,000
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period	280,206,000	293,557,000
Cash and equivalents at end of period	456,924,000	245,890,000
Operating Activities	'	'
Decrease in land inventory	1,660,000	13,351,000
Increase in notes and accounts receivable	6,683,000	-30,716,000
Increase in other assets	-2,999,000	-34,623,000
Increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	4,311,000	15,225,000
Total effect on operating activities	9,655,000	-36,763,000
Investing Activities	'	'
Decrease in projects under construction and development	359,234,000	10,177,000
Decrease (increase) in completed rental properties	123,472,000	-108,206,000
Increase in restricted cash	-20,000	0
Increase in notes and accounts receivable	-42,991,000	0
Increase in investments in and advances to affiliates	-112,531,000	-12,631,000
Total effect on investing activities	327,164,000	-110,660,000
Financing Activities	'	'
Increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	41,828,000	0
(Decrease) increase in nonrecourse mortgage debt and notes payable	-339,309,000	175,594,000
Decrease in convertible senior debt	0	-178,241,000
Decrease in preferred stock	0	-5,489,000
Increase in Class A common stock	225,000	3,551,000
(Decrease) increase in additional paid-in capital	-33,611,000	137,906,000
Increase in treasury stock	0	-12,868,000
Increase in redeemable noncontrolling interest	28,390,000	2,237,000
(Decrease) increase in noncontrolling interest	-34,342,000	24,733,000
Total effect on financing activities	($336,819,000)	$147,423,000

Accounting_Policies

Accounting Policies	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Accounting Policies	'
	Accounting Policies
	Change in Year-End
	The Board of Directors of the Company approved a change to the Company's fiscal year-end to December 31 from January 31, effective December 31, 2013. As a result, the financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 are presented to allow for comparison between periods. The Company believes the change was useful to its financial statement users to allow for increased comparability of its performance to its peers.
	Basis of Presentation
	The interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-KT for the 11 months ended December 31, 2013, as amended on Form 10-KT/A on March 26, 2014. The results of interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year or any subsequent period. In management's opinion, all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring matters) necessary for a fair statement of financial position, results of operations and cash flows at the dates and for the periods presented have been included.
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions in certain circumstances that affect amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes. Some of the critical estimates include, but are not limited to, determination of the primary beneficiary of variable interest entities (“VIEs”), estimates of useful lives for long-lived assets, reserves for collection on accounts and notes receivable and other investments, the fair value estimate of redeemable noncontrolling interest, impairment of real estate and other-than-temporary impairments on equity method investments. As a result of the nature of estimates, actual results could differ.
	In April 2013, management approved a plan to demolish Ten MetroTech Center, an office building in Brooklyn, New York, to clear the land for redevelopment or sale. Accordingly, the original useful life, estimated to expire in 2042, of Ten MetroTech Center was adjusted to expire at the demolition date in October 2013, which resulted in $18,976,000 of accelerated depreciation expense recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013.
	Reclassifications
	During the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company established several new financial statement line items within the Revenue and Expense sections of the Consolidated Statement of Operations to provide the financial statement reader additional details of the components of total revenues and total expenses. Accordingly, comparable amounts for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 have been reclassified.
	The new financial statement lines discussed above and a brief description of their components not previously disclosed include the following:
	Rental - Tenant rental revenues and overage rents from operating properties, lease termination income and the adjustment to recognize minimum rents using the straight-line method.
	Tenant recoveries - Recoveries from commercial tenants for common area maintenance, real estate taxes, insurance and other commercial property operating expenses.
	Service and management fees - Management, leasing, finance, development and other service fee revenue.
	Parking and other - Revenues derived from monthly and transient tenant parking and other revenue.
	Land sales - Sales of land to residential, commercial and industrial customers, primarily at the Company's Stapleton project, and sales of commercial and residential outlots adjacent to the Company's operating property portfolio.
	Property operating and management - Expenses incurred at the operating property level and general business unit expenses including non-capitalizable development costs and management and service company expenses.
	Ground rent - Expenses related to ground leases, including participation payments under the ground lease. Participation payments are triggered by defined events within the respective lease agreements and may include refinancings, sales or other capital transactions. Also includes the adjustment to recognize ground rent expenses using the straight-line method.
	Cost of land sales - Cost of land associated with land sales.
	Corporate general and administrative - Expenses related to the Company's Corporate segment.
	In addition, The Nets operating segment information as of December 31, 2013 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 has been reclassified and aggregated with the Corporate Activities operating segment disclosures to conform to the current year presentation. Certain other prior year amounts in the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation.
	Variable Interest Entities
	As of June 30, 2014, the Company determined it was the primary beneficiary of 28 VIEs representing 21 properties, which are consolidated. The creditors of the consolidated VIEs do not have recourse to the Company’s general credit. As of June 30, 2014, the Company owns variable interests in 62 VIEs for which it is not the primary beneficiary, which are accounted for as equity method investments. The maximum exposure to loss as a result of the ownership of these unconsolidated VIEs is limited to the Company’s applicable investment balances, which approximates $217,000,000 at June 30, 2014.
	During the three months ended June 30, 2014, the Company entered into a joint venture with Greenland USA, a subsidiary of Shanghai-based Greenland Group, a Chinese state-owned enterprise ("Greenland"), to execute on the remaining development rights of Pacific Park Brooklyn (formerly Brooklyn Atlantic Yards), a 22 acre mixed-use project in Brooklyn, New York. Following the transaction, the Company determined it was no longer the primary beneficiary of the Pacific Park Brooklyn project, which historically was a VIE. The impact of the deconsolidation to the December 31, 2013 Consolidated Balance Sheet and parenthetical disclosures were decreases of $504,171,000 to development project held for sale, $1,141,000 to cash and equivalents, $99,784,000 to restricted cash, $2,571,000 to other assets, $228,000,000 to mortgage debt, nonrecourse of development project held for sale and $20,428,000 to accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities and an increase to investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities of $156,071,000 to the June 30, 2014 Consolidated Balance Sheet.
	Noncontrolling Interest
	On June 30, 2014, in connection with the closing of a joint venture with Greenland to develop Pacific Park Brooklyn, the Company became obligated to purchase certain noncontrolling interests of the fully consolidated entity that contributed the development project into the joint venture. See Note M – Net Loss on Disposition of Partial Interest in Development Project for detailed information on the joint venture. Accordingly, the Company recorded a liability at June 30, 2014. In addition, the Company acquired certain other partners’ noncontrolling interest in Shops at Wiregrass, a regional mall in Tampa, Florida, and Waterfront Station, a mixed-use development project in Washington, D.C. The fair value of consideration exchanged or accrued related to all acquisitions during the six months ended June 30, 2014 in excess of the book value was $53,351,000, resulting in a decrease in additional paid-in-capital as reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Equity.
	New Accounting Guidance
	The following accounting pronouncements were adopted during the six months ended June 30, 2014:
	In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an amendment to the accounting guidance on the presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or tax credit carryforward exists. This guidance, which clarifies whether the unrecognized tax benefit should be recorded as a liability or reduction of the related deferred tax asset, is effective for fiscal years and interim reporting periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. The amendments should be applied prospectively to all unrecognized tax benefits that exist at the effective date. Retrospective application is permitted. The adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2014 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
	In April 2014, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting guidance for reporting discontinued operations and disclosures of disposals of components of an entity. This guidance changes the requirements for reporting discontinued operations and the criteria for determining which disposals can be presented as discontinued operations. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014 and interim reporting periods within that annual period. Early adoption is permitted. This guidance was early adopted effective April 1, 2014, except for the property classified as held for sale as of March 31, 2014 and subsequently disposed of during the three months ended June 30, 2014. The adoption of this guidance is expected to substantially reduce the number of property disposals that qualify for discontinued operations as compared to historical results.
	The following new accounting pronouncement will be adopted on its respective effective date:
	In May 2014, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting guidance for revenue from contracts with customers. The core principle of this guidance is an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance defines steps an entity should apply to achieve the core principle. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim reporting periods within that annual period and allows for both retrospective and prospective methods of adoption. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently in the process of determining the method of adoption and evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.
	Related Party Transactions
	The Company and certain of its affiliates entered into a Master Contribution and Sale Agreement (the “Master Contribution Agreement”) with Bruce C. Ratner (“Mr. Ratner”), an Executive Vice President and Director of the Company, and certain entities and individuals affiliated with Mr. Ratner (the “BCR Entities”) in August 2006 to purchase their interests in a total of 30 retail, office and residential operating properties and service companies in the Greater New York City metropolitan area. The Company issued Class A Common Units ("Units") in a jointly-owned, limited liability company in exchange for their interests. The Company accounted for the issuance of the Units in exchange for the noncontrolling interests under the purchase method of accounting. The Units may be exchanged for one of the following forms of consideration at the Company’s sole discretion: (i) an equal number of shares of the Company’s Class A common stock or, (ii) cash based on a formula using the average closing price of the Class A common stock at the time of conversion or, (iii) a combination of cash and shares of the Company’s Class A common stock. The Company has no rights to redeem or repurchase the Units. Pursuant to the Master Contribution Agreement, certain projects under development would remain owned jointly until each individual project was completed and achieved “stabilization.” Upon stabilization, each project would be valued and the Company, in its discretion, would choose among various ownership options for the project following stabilization in accordance with the Master Contribution Agreement.
	In June 2014, one of the BCR Entities exchanged 673,565 of the Units. The Company issued 673,565 shares of its Class A common stock for the exchanged Units. The Company accounted for the exchange as a purchase of noncontrolling interests, resulting in a reduction of noncontrolling interests and a combined increase to Class A common stock and additional paid-in capital of $34,358,000. At June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, 2,973,190 and 3,646,755 Units, respectively, were outstanding.
	Pursuant to the terms of the Master Contribution Agreement, on January 2, 2014, the Company caused certain of its affiliates to acquire the BCR Entities' interests in three stabilized projects, 8 Spruce Street, an apartment community in Manhattan, New York, DKLB BKLN, an apartment community in Brooklyn, New York, and East River Plaza, a specialty retail center in Manhattan, New York. In accordance with the purchase agreements, the applicable BCR Entities assigned and transferred their interests in the three projects to affiliates of the Company and received cash of $14,286,000, resulting in an increase in investments in and advances to unconsolidated affiliates. Prior to the transaction, the Company accounted for the three projects using the equity method of accounting and will continue to account for the projects as equity method investments as the partners continue to have joint control.
	As a result of the disposal of Quartermaster Plaza, a specialty retail center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company accrued $1,646,000 at June 30, 2014 related to a tax indemnity payment due to the BCR Entities, in accordance with the Master Contribution Agreement.
	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
	The following table summarizes the components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“accumulated OCI”):


		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)
	Unrealized (gains) losses on foreign currency translation	$	(55	)	$	189

	Unrealized losses on interest rate contracts (1)	111,992			125,059

		111,937			125,248

	Income tax benefit	(43,363		)	(48,517		)
	Noncontrolling interest	(128		)	(149		)
	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	$	68,446		$	76,582


	-1	Included in the amounts as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 are $88,143 and $97,360, respectively, of unrealized loss on an interest rate swap associated with New York Times office building on its nonrecourse mortgage debt with a notional amount of $640,000. This swap effectively fixes the mortgage at an all-in lender interest rate of 6.40% and expires in September 2017.
	The following table summarizes the changes, net of tax and noncontrolling interest, of accumulated OCI by component:


		Securities			Foreign Currency Translation			Interest Rate Contracts			Total
		(in thousands)
	Six Months Ended June 30, 2014
	Balance, January 1, 2014	$	—		$	(116	)	$	(76,466	)	$	(76,582	)

OCI before reclassifications	—			150			4,895			5,045

Loss reclassified from accumulated OCI	—			—			3,091			3,091

Total other comprehensive income	—			150			7,986			8,136

Balance, June 30, 2014	$	—		$	34		$	(68,480	)	$	(68,446	)

Six Months Ended June 30, 2013
Balance, January 1, 2013	$	(226	)	$	—		$	(107,588	)	$	(107,814	)

OCI before reclassifications	210			(116		)	19,395			19,489

Loss reclassified from accumulated OCI	—			—			1,217			1,217

Total other comprehensive income	210			(116		)	20,612			20,706

Balance, June 30, 2013	$	(16	)	$	(116	)	$	(86,976	)	$	(87,108	)
The following table summarizes losses reclassified from accumulated OCI and their location on the Consolidated Statements of Operations:


Accumulated OCI Components	Loss Reclassified from Accumulated OCI				Location on Consolidated Statements of Operations
	(in thousands)
Six Months Ended June 30, 2014
Interest rate contracts	$	1,361			Interest expense

Interest rate contracts	3,666				Discontinued operations

Interest rate contracts	30				Equity in earnings

	5,057				Total before income tax and noncontrolling interest

	(1,958		)		Income tax benefit
	(8		)		Noncontrolling interest
	$	3,091			Loss reclassified from accumulated OCI

Six Months Ended June 30, 2013
Interest rate contracts	$	1,923			Interest expense

Interest rate contracts	73				Equity in earnings

	1,996				Total before income tax and noncontrolling interest

	(771		)		Income tax benefit
	(8		)		Noncontrolling interest
	$	1,217			Loss reclassified from accumulated OCI

Mortgage_Debt_and_Notes_Payabl

Mortgage Debt and Notes Payable, Nonrecourse	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Mortgage Debt and Notes Payable, Nonrecourse [Abstract]	'
Mortgage Debt and Notes Payable, Nonrecourse	'
	Mortgage Debt and Notes Payable, Nonrecourse
	The following table summarizes the mortgage debt and notes payable, nonrecourse maturities as of June 30, 2014:


	Years Ending December 31,
		(in thousands)
	2014	$	148,613

	2015	477,405

	2016	97,187

	2017	1,124,122

	2018	264,626

	Thereafter	1,924,150

	Total	$	4,036,103

Revolving_Credit_Facility

Revolving Credit Facility	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Revolving Credit Facility	'
	Revolving Credit Facility
	The Company's Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and Fourth Amended and Restated Guaranty of Payment of Debt, as amended to the date hereof (collectively, the “Credit Facility”), provides total available borrowings of $500,000,000, subject to certain reserve commitments to be established, as applicable, on certain dates to be used to retire convertible senior debt that becomes due during the term of the agreement. The Credit Facility matures on February 21, 2016 and provides for one, 12-month extension option, subject to certain conditions. Borrowings bear interest at London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus 3.50%. Up to $100,000,000 of the available borrowings may be used, in the aggregate, for letters of credit and/or surety bonds. The Credit Facility has restrictive covenants, including a prohibition on certain consolidations and mergers, limitations on the amount of debt, guarantees and property liens and restrictions on the pledging of ownership interests in subsidiaries. The Company may repurchase up to $100,000,000 of Class A Common Stock and declare or pay dividends in an amount not to exceed $24,000,000 in the aggregate in any four quarter period to Class A or B common shareholders, subject to certain conditions. The Credit Facility contains development limitations and financial covenants, including the maintenance of minimum liquidity, debt yield, debt service and cash flow coverage ratios, and specified levels of shareholders’ equity (all as specified in the Credit Facility). At June 30, 2014, the Company was in compliance with all of these financial covenants.
	The following table summarizes available credit on the Credit Facility:


		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)
	Maximum borrowings	$	500,000	$	500,000

	Less outstanding balances:
	Borrowings	308,000		—

	Letters of credit	48,930		59,760

	Surety bonds	—		—

	Available credit	$	143,070	$	440,240

	On July 1, 2014, the Company repaid $196,000,000 of the outstanding borrowings on the Credit Facility using cash on hand.

Convertible_Senior_Debt

Convertible Senior Debt	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Convertible Senior Debt	'
	Convertible Senior Debt
	The following table summarizes the Company’s convertible senior debt:


		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)
	5.000% Notes due 2016	$	50,000	$	50,000

	4.250% Notes due 2018	350,000		350,000

	3.625% Notes due 2020	300,000		300,000

	Total Convertible Senior Debt	$	700,000	$	700,000

	As of June 30, 2014, all of the Company's outstanding senior notes are convertible into Class A common stock based on conversion prices ranging from $13.91 to $24.21 per Class A common share.
	All of the senior debt are unsecured senior obligations and rank equally with all existing and future unsecured indebtedness; however, they are effectively subordinated to the Credit Facility and all existing and future secured indebtedness and other liabilities of the Company’s subsidiaries to the extent of the value of the collateral securing that other debt.

Derivative_Instruments_and_Hed

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities	'
	Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
	Risk Management Objective of Using Derivatives
	The Company maintains an overall interest rate risk management strategy incorporating the use of derivative instruments to minimize significant unplanned impact on earnings and cash flows that may be caused by interest rate volatility. The strategy includes the use of interest rate swaps and option contracts having indices related to the pricing of specific liabilities. The Company enters into interest rate swaps to convert floating-rate debt to fixed-rate long-term debt, and vice-versa, depending on market conditions, or forward starting swaps to hedge the changes in benchmark interest rates on forecasted financings. Interest rate swap agreements are generally for periods of one to ten years. Option products used are primarily interest rate caps for periods of one to three years. The use of option products is consistent with the Company’s risk management objective to reduce or eliminate exposure to variability in future cash flows primarily attributable to changes in benchmark rates relating to forecasted financings, and the variability in cash flows attributable to increases relating to interest payments on its floating-rate debt.
	Cash Flow Hedges of Interest Rate Risk
	The Company’s objectives in using interest rate derivatives are to add stability to interest expense and to manage exposure to interest rate movements. The Company primarily uses interest rate caps and swaps as part of its interest rate risk management strategy. Interest rate caps designated as cash flow hedges involve the receipt of variable-rate amounts from a counterparty if interest rates rise above the strike rate on the contract in exchange for an upfront premium. Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges involve the receipt of variable-rate amounts from a counterparty in exchange for the Company making fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional amount.
	The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives designated and qualifying as cash flow hedges is recorded in accumulated OCI and is subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of the derivatives is recognized directly in earnings. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company recorded $0 and $3,666,000 as an increase to interest expense related to ineffectiveness from a missed forecasted transaction arising from the early reclassification of OCI related to debt associated with an entity that was disposed of during the six months ended June 30, 2014. The amount of ineffectiveness charged to earnings was insignificant for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013. As of June 30, 2014, the Company expects that within the next twelve months it will reclassify amounts recorded in accumulated OCI into earnings as an increase in interest expense of approximately $24,788,000, net of tax. However, the actual amount reclassified could vary due to future changes in fair value of these derivatives.
	Fair Value Hedges of Interest Rate Risk
	The Company and/or certain of its joint ventures (the “Joint Ventures”) enter into total rate of return swaps (“TRS”) on various tax-exempt fixed-rate borrowings. The TRS convert borrowings from a fixed rate to a variable rate. In exchange for a fixed rate, the TRS requires the payment of a variable interest rate, generally equivalent to the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (“SIFMA”) rate (0.06% at June 30, 2014) plus a spread. Additionally, the Company and/or the Joint Ventures have guaranteed the fair value of the underlying borrowings. Fluctuation in the value of the TRS is offset by the fluctuation in the value of the underlying borrowings, resulting in minimal financial impact. At June 30, 2014, the aggregate notional amount of TRS that are designated as fair value hedging instruments is $358,755,000. The underlying TRS borrowings are subject to a fair value adjustment.
	Nondesignated Hedges of Interest Rate Risk
	The Company uses derivative contracts to hedge certain interest rate risk, even though the contracts do not qualify for, or the Company has elected not to apply, hedge accounting. In these situations, the derivative is recorded at its fair value with changes reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
	In instances where the Company enters into separate derivative instruments effectively hedging the same debt for consecutive annual periods, the duplicate amount of notional is excluded from the following disclosure in an effort to provide information that enables the financial statement user to understand the Company’s volume of derivative activity. The following table presents the fair values and location in the Consolidated Balance Sheets of all derivative instruments:


		Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
		June 30, 2014
		Asset Derivatives							Liability Derivatives
		(included in Other Assets)							(included in Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities)
		Current			Fair Value				Current			Fair Value
		Notional							Notional
		(in thousands)
	Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments
	Interest rate caps	$	330,000		$	156			$	—		$	—

	Interest rate swap agreements	—			—				871,119			88,646

	TRS	130,970			5,159				227,785			11,817

	Total	$	460,970		$	5,315			$	1,098,904		$	100,463

	Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
	Interest rate caps	$	266,775		$	58			$	—		$	—

	TRS	26,552			274				39,009			15,076

	Total	$	293,327		$	332			$	39,009		$	15,076


		December 31, 2013
	Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments
	Interest rate swap agreements	$	—		$	—			$	961,359		$	97,858

	TRS	18,970			903				339,785			9,772

	Total	$	18,970		$	903			$	1,301,144		$	107,630

	Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
	Interest rate caps	$	447,532		$	155			$	—		$	—

	TRS	—			—				39,052			15,477

	Total	$	447,532		$	155			$	39,052		$	15,477

	The following table presents the impact of gains and losses related to derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges included in the accumulated OCI section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets and in equity in earnings and interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations:


						Gain (Loss) Reclassified from
						Accumulated OCI
	Derivatives Designated as	Gain (Loss)				Location on Consolidated Statements	Effective			Ineffective
	Cash Flow Hedging Instruments	Recognized				of Operations	Amount			Amount
		in OCI
		(Effective Portion)
		(in thousands)
	Three Months Ended June 30, 2014
Interest rate caps and interest rate swaps	$	2,645			Interest expense	$	(564	)	$	—

Interest rate swaps	—				Equity in earnings	(15		)	—

Total	$	2,645				$	(579	)	$	—

Six Months Ended June 30, 2014
Interest rate caps and interest rate swaps	$	8,010			Interest expense	$	(1,361	)	$	—

Interest rate swap	—				Discontinued operations	—			(3,666		)

Interest rate swaps	—				Equity in earnings	(30		)	—

Total	$	8,010				$	(1,391	)	$	(3,666	)

Three Months Ended June 30, 2013
Interest rate caps, interest rate swaps and Treasury options	$	23,433			Interest expense	$	(954	)	$	—

Interest rate caps, interest rate swaps and Treasury options	—				Equity in earnings	(14		)	2

Total	$	23,433				$	(968	)	$	2

Six Months Ended June 30, 2013
Interest rate caps, interest rate swaps and Treasury options	$	31,689			Interest expense	$	(1,923	)	$	—

Interest rate caps, interest rate swaps and Treasury options	—				Equity in earnings	(78		)	5

Total	$	31,689				$	(2,001	)	$	5

The following table presents the impact of gains and losses related to derivatives instruments not designated as cash flow hedges in the Consolidated Statements of Operations:


	Net Gain (Loss) Recognized
	Three Months Ended June 30,							Six Months Ended June 30,
	2014			2013				2014			2013
	(in thousands)
Derivatives Designated as Fair Value Hedging Instruments
TRS (1)	$	(3,143	)	$	257			$	2,211		$	104

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
Interest rate caps and interest rate swaps	$	(46	)	$	—			$	(103	)	$	(239	)

TRS	1,681			(2,295		)		675			(1,725		)

Total	$	1,635		$	(2,295	)		$	572		$	(1,964	)


-1	The net gain (loss) recognized in interest expense from the change in fair value of the underlying TRS borrowings was $3,143 and $(2,211) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, respectively, and $(257) and $(104) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively, offsetting the gain (loss) recognized on the TRS.
Credit-risk-related Contingent Features
The principal credit risk of the Company's interest rate risk management strategy is the potential inability of a counterparty to cover its obligations. If a counterparty fails to fulfill its obligation, the risk of loss approximates the fair value of the derivative. To mitigate this exposure, the Company generally purchases derivative financial instruments from the financial institution that issues the related debt, from financial institutions with which the Company has other lending relationships, or from financial institutions with a minimum credit rating of AA at the time of the transaction.
The Company has agreements with derivative counterparties containing provisions under which the counterparty could terminate the derivative obligations if the Company defaults on its obligations under the Credit Facility and designated conditions are fulfilled. In instances where the Company’s subsidiaries have derivative obligations secured by a mortgage, the derivative obligations could be terminated if the indebtedness between the two parties is terminated, either by loan payoff or default of the indebtedness. In addition, the Company has certain derivative contracts which provide that if the Company’s credit rating falls below certain levels, it may trigger additional collateral to be posted with the counterparty up to the full amount of the liability position of the derivative contracts. Also, certain subsidiaries have agreements containing provisions whereby the subsidiaries must maintain certain minimum financial ratios.
As of June 30, 2014, the aggregate fair value of all derivative instruments in a liability position, prior to the adjustment for nonperformance risk of $5,195,000, is $120,734,000 for which the Company has posted collateral consisting primarily of cash, investment grade securities and notes receivable of $57,913,000. The majority of derivative instruments are held at the property level and do not contain credit-risk related contingent features, such as a credit rating downgrade. For corporate derivative instruments not held at the property level that contain credit-risk related contingent features, such as a credit rating downgrade, the amount of additional collateral required to be posted at June 30, 2014 had the contingent features been triggered would not have been material.

Fair_Value_Measurements

Fair Value Measurements	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Measurements	'
	Fair Value Measurements
	Fair Value Measurements on a Recurring Basis
	The Company’s financial assets consist of interest rate caps, interest rate swap agreements and TRS with positive fair values included in other assets. The Company’s financial liabilities consist of interest rate swap agreements and TRS with negative fair values included in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities and borrowings subject to TRS included in mortgage debt and notes payable, nonrecourse (see Note E – Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities).
	The Company records the redeemable noncontrolling interest related to Brooklyn Arena, LLC at redemption value, which approximates fair value. In the event the book value of the redeemable noncontrolling interest, which represents initial cost, adjusted for contributions, distributions and the allocation of profits or losses, is in excess of estimated fair value, the Company records the redeemable noncontrolling interest at book value.
	As of December 31, 2013, the fair value of the redeemable noncontrolling interest was incorrectly recorded and presented at less than the book value. Management evaluated the impact of the error and determined that the previously issued financial statements were not materially misstated. Additionally, management determined the impact of correcting the presentation of the redeemable noncontrolling interest is not material to the current period financial statements. Accordingly, at March 31, 2014, the Company corrected the carrying value of the redeemable noncontrolling interest by recording an adjustment of $28,390,000 to increase the redeemable noncontrolling interest. Such amount should have been reflected at December 31, 2013.
	The following table presents information about financial assets and liabilities and redeemable noncontrolling interest that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized to determine such fair value:


		Fair Value Measurements
		June 30, 2014
		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
		(in thousands)
	Interest rate caps	$	—		$	214		$	—		$	214

	Interest rate swap agreements (liabilities)	—			(503		)	(88,143		)	(88,646		)

	TRS (assets)	—			—			5,433			5,433

	TRS (liabilities)	—			—			(26,893		)	(26,893		)

	Fair value adjustment to the borrowings subject to TRS	—			—			6,658			6,658

	Redeemable noncontrolling interest (1)	—			—			(192,942		)	(192,942		)

	Total	$	—		$	(289	)	$	(295,887	)	$	(296,176	)


		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)
	Interest rate caps	$	—		$	155		$	—		$	155

	Interest rate swap agreements (liabilities)	—			(498		)	(97,360		)	(97,858		)

	TRS (assets)	—			—			903			903

	TRS (liabilities)	—			—			(25,249		)	(25,249		)

	Fair value adjustment to the borrowings subject to TRS	—			—			8,869			8,869

	Redeemable noncontrolling interest	—			—			(171,743		)	(171,743		)

	Total	$	—		$	(343	)	$	(284,580	)	$	(284,923	)


	-1	As of June 30, 2014, the redeemable noncontrolling interest is recorded at book value.
	The following table presents a reconciliation of all financial assets and liabilities and redeemable noncontrolling interest measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3):


		Fair Value Measurements
		Redeemable				Interest Rate				Net			Fair value			Total TRS				Total
		Noncontrolling				Swaps				TRS			adjustment			Related
		Interest											to the borrowings
													subject to TRS
		(in thousands)
	Six Months Ended June 30, 2014
	Balance, January 1, 2014	$	(171,743	)		$	(97,360	)		$	(24,346	)	$	8,869		$	(15,477	)		$	(284,580	)

	Loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	7,191				—				—			—			—				7,191

	Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
	Included in earnings	—				—				2,886			(2,211		)	675				675

	Included in other comprehensive income	—				9,217				—			—			—				9,217

Included in additional paid-in capital	(28,390		)		—				—			—			—				(28,390		)

Balance, June 30, 2014	$	(192,942	)		$	(88,143	)		$	(21,460	)	$	6,658		$	(14,802	)		$	(295,887	)

Six Months Ended June 30, 2013
Balance, January 1, 2013	$	(240,790	)		$	(131,634	)		$	(6,108	)	$	9,890		$	3,782			$	(368,642	)

Loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	11,373				—				—			—			—				11,373

Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in earnings	—				—				(1,621		)	(104		)	(1,725		)		(1,725		)

Included in other comprehensive income	—				23,589				—			—			—				23,589

Included in additional paid-in capital	(2,237		)		—				—			—			—				(2,237		)

Balance, June 30, 2013	$	(231,654	)		$	(108,045	)		$	(7,729	)	$	9,786		$	2,057			$	(337,642	)

The following table presents quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments measured on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2014:


	Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
	Fair Value June 30, 2014			Valuation	Unobservable	Input Values
				Technique	Input
	(in thousands)
Credit valuation adjustment of interest rate swap	$	5,283		Potential future exposure	Credit spread	4.00%

TRS	$	(21,460	)	Bond quote	Discount rate	N/A(1)
					Capitalization rate	N/A(1)
Fair value adjustment to the borrowings subject to TRS	$	6,658		Bond quote	Discount rate	N/A(1)

					Capitalization rate	N/A(1)

-1	The Company does not have access to certain significant unobservable inputs used by these third parties to determine these fair values.
Third party service providers involved in fair value measurements are evaluated for competency and qualifications. Fair value measurements, including unobservable inputs, are evaluated based on current transactions and experience in the real estate and capital markets.
The impact of changes in unobservable inputs used to determine the fair market value of the credit valuation adjustment, TRS and fair value adjustment to the borrowings subject to TRS are not deemed to be significant.
Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments
The carrying amount of notes and accounts receivable, excluding the Stapleton advances, and accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities approximates fair value based upon the short-term nature of the instruments. The carrying amount of the Stapleton advances approximates fair value since the interest rates on these advances approximates current market rates. The Company estimates the fair value of its debt instruments by discounting future cash payments at interest rates that the Company believes approximate the current market. Estimated fair value is based upon market prices of public debt, available industry financing data, current treasury rates, recent financing transactions and loan to value ratios. The fair value of the Company’s debt instruments is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
The following table summarizes the fair value of nonrecourse mortgage debt and notes payable (exclusive of the fair value of derivatives), revolving credit facility, convertible senior debt and nonrecourse mortgage debt of development property held for sale:


	June 30, 2014							December 31, 2013
	Carrying Value			Fair Value				Carrying Value			Fair Value
	(in thousands)
Fixed Rate Debt	$	2,925,164		$	3,257,591			$	3,281,337		$	3,488,406

Variable Rate Debt	2,118,939			2,108,459				1,998,169			1,954,136

Total	$	5,044,103		$	5,366,050			$	5,279,506		$	5,442,542

Impairment of real estate and unconsolidated entities is also subject to fair value measurements (see Note J – Impairment of Real Estate and Impairment of Unconsolidated Entities).

Capital_Stock

Capital Stock	6 Months Ended
Capital Stock	Jun. 30, 2014
Equity [Abstract]	'
Capital Stock	'
	Capital Stock
	In June 2014, the Company exchanged 673,565 Class A Common Units for 673,565 shares of Class A common stock pursuant to the Master Contribution Agreement to one of the BCR Entities. See Note A – Accounting Policies, Related Party Transactions for detailed information.
	On April 16, 2013, the Company entered into separate, privately negotiated exchange agreements with certain holders of its Puttable Equity-Linked Senior Notes due 2014 ("2014 Senior Notes") to exchange such notes for Class A common stock. Under the terms of the agreements, holders agreed to exchange $138,853,000 in aggregate principal amount of 2014 Senior Notes for a total of 9,549,721 shares of Class A common stock and a cash payment of $4,860,000 for additional exchange consideration, accrued interest and in lieu of fractional shares.
	On May 31, 2013, pursuant to the terms of the Indenture governing the 2014 Senior Notes, the Company issued a put termination notice to the noteholders. Pursuant to the Indenture, following the put termination notice, holders of the 2014 Senior Notes were permitted to put such notes to the Company through June 20, 2013. As of July 12, 2013, the last settlement date for noteholders to put the 2014 Senior Notes to the Company, $60,033,000 aggregate principal amount of the 2014 Senior Notes were put, for which noteholders received 4,128,806 shares of Class A common stock and cash payments totaling $1,088,000 for interest payable to October 15, 2013 and in lieu of fractional shares.
	From January 31, 2013 to March 14, 2013, 109,768 shares of Series A preferred stock were converted by holders into 362,990 shares of Class A common stock in accordance with the original terms of the Series A preferred stock. On March 15, 2013, the Company redeemed the remaining 101,270 shares of Series A preferred stock for approximately $5,100,000, the aggregate amount of liquidation preference plus the dividend that was due and payable on March 15, 2013.
	On March 13, 2013, the Company settled an equity call hedge transaction that was entered into in connection with the original issuance of the Series A preferred stock. As a result, the Company received 765,134 shares of Class A common stock valued at $16.82 per share for a total of $12,868,000 and cash payments of $10,231,000. In accordance with accounting guidance on equity hedge transactions, amounts received upon settlement of equity call hedge transactions in which the Company has the choice of net share settlement or net cash settlement are reflected as an increase to additional paid-in capital.
	The Company declared and paid Series A preferred stock dividends of $0 and $185,000 during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013.

StockBased_Compensation

Stock-Based Compensation	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]	'
Stock-Based Compensation	'
	Stock-Based Compensation
	The Company's 1994 Stock Plan, as amended to the date hereof (the "Plan"), permits the award of Class A stock options, restricted stock, performance shares and other equity awards to key employees and nonemployee directors of the Company. Substantially all of the awards are made annually within 90 days of the Company's year-end, which changed to December 31 from January 31, effective as of December 31, 2013. As a result, the annual grant for 2014 occurred in March 2014 and is not included in the financial statements for the three months ended June 30, 2014. The annual grant for 2013 occurred in April 2013 and is included in the results for the three months ended June 30, 2013.
	During the six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company granted 233,914 stock options, 602,602 shares of restricted stock and 309,750 performance shares under the Plan. The stock options had a grant-date fair value of $11.60, which was computed using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model using the following assumptions: expected term of 5.5 years, expected volatility of 71.5%, risk-free interest rate of 1.91%, and expected dividend yield of 0%. The exercise price of the options is $18.73, the closing price of the underlying Class A common stock on the date of grant. The restricted stock had a grant-date fair value of $18.73 per share, the closing price of the Class A common stock on the date of grant. The performance shares had a grant-date fair value of $18.23 per share, which was computed using a Monte Carlo simulation.
	At June 30, 2014, $4,276,000 of unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 31 months, $22,494,000 of unrecognized compensation cost related to restricted stock is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 33 months, and $10,683,000 of unrecognized compensation cost related to performance shares is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 33 months.
	The amount of stock-based compensation costs and related deferred income tax benefit recognized in the financial statements are as follows:


		Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013
		(in thousands)
	Stock option costs	$	523		$	1,309		$	1,979		$	1,900

	Restricted stock costs	2,579			3,294			6,303			6,015

	Performance share costs	1,089			736			1,940			1,075

	Total stock-based compensation costs	4,191			5,339			10,222			8,990

	Less amount capitalized into qualifying real estate projects	(555		)	(1,666		)	(2,620		)	(3,099		)
	Amount charged to operating expenses	3,636			3,673			7,602			5,891

	Depreciation expense on capitalized stock-based compensation	189			245			447			469

	Total stock-based compensation expense	$	3,825		$	3,918		$	8,049		$	6,360

	Deferred income tax benefit	$	1,455		$	1,453		$	3,021		$	2,333

	The amount of grant-date fair value expensed immediately for awards granted to retirement-eligible grantees during the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 was $1,358,000 and $973,000, respectively.
	In connection with the vesting of restricted stock during the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, the Company repurchased 204,574 shares and 183,375 shares, respectively, of Class A common stock to satisfy the employees’ related minimum statutory tax withholding requirements. These shares were placed in treasury with an aggregate cost basis of $3,781,000 and $3,226,000, respectively.

WriteOff_of_Abandoned_Developm

Write-Off of Abandoned Development Projects and Demolition Costs	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Write-off of Abandoned Development Projects and Demolition Costs [Abstract]	'
Write-Off of Abandoned Development Projects and Demolition Costs [Text Block]	'
	Write-Off of Abandoned Development Projects and Demolition Costs
	On a quarterly basis, the Company reviews each project under development to determine whether it is probable that the project will be developed. If management determines that the project will not be developed, project costs and other expenses related to the project are written off and expensed as an abandoned development project cost. The Company abandons projects under development for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, changes in local market conditions, increases in construction or financing costs or third party challenges related to entitlements or public financing. The Company wrote off abandoned development projects of $933,000 during the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 and $657,000 and $13,553,000 during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively. The amounts for 2014 include $650,000 of non-capitalizable demolition costs at Ten MetroTech Center.

Impairment_of_Real_Estate_and_

Impairment of Real Estate and Impairment of Unconsolidated Entities	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Impairment of Real Estate and Impairment of Unconsolidated Entities [Abstract]	'
Impairment of Real Estate and Impairment of Unconsolidated Entities	'
	Impairment of Real Estate and Impairment of Unconsolidated Entities
	Impairment of Real Estate
	The Company reviews its real estate for impairment whenever events or changes indicate that its carrying value may not be recoverable. In order to determine whether the carrying costs are recoverable from estimated future undiscounted cash flows, the Company uses various assumptions that include future net operating income, estimated holding periods, risk of foreclosure and estimated cash proceeds received upon the disposition of the asset. If the carrying costs are not recoverable, the Company records an impairment charge to reduce the carrying value to estimated fair value. The assumptions used to estimate fair value are Level 2 or 3 inputs. The Company’s assumptions are based on current information. If the conditions deteriorate or if the Company’s plans regarding its assets change, additional impairment charges may occur in the future.
	The impairments recorded during the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 represent write-downs to estimated fair value due to a change in events, such as a change in strategy for certain assets, bona fide third-party purchase offers or changes in certain assumptions, including estimated holding periods and current market conditions and the impact of these assumptions to the properties’ estimated future cash flows.
	The following table summarizes the Company’s impairment of real estate included in continuing operations:


			Three Months Ended June 30,					Six Months Ended June 30,
			2014			2013		2014		2013
			(in thousands)
	Avenue at Tower City Center (Specialty Retail Center)	Cleveland, Ohio	$	72,473		$	—	$	72,473	$	—

	Office Buildings:
	Terminal Tower	Cleveland, Ohio	42,208			—		42,208		—

	Post Office Plaza	Cleveland, Ohio	14,378			—		14,378		—

	Other		770			1,175		770		1,175

			$	129,829		$	1,175	$	129,829	$	1,175

	The Company continues to execute its strategy of focusing on core products located in core markets. In executing this strategy, the Company began serious negotiations for the sale of several operating assets in Cleveland, Ohio during the three months ended June 30, 2014. At June 30, 2014, discussions with a potential purchaser were at various stages for each of the assets and remained subject to further negotiation and applicable due diligence periods. Based on the advanced status of the discussions, the Company reviewed and adjusted the estimated holding periods of each applicable asset and in each case increased the likelihood of a near term sale. As a result, the estimated probability weighted undiscounted cash flows no longer exceed the carrying value of certain assets, requiring the Company to adjust the carrying value of those assets as described in the above table, to their estimated fair value. As such, the Company recorded impairment charges of $129,829,000 during the three and six months ended June 30, 2014.
	The following table presents quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs used to determine the fair value of the impairment of real estate for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013:


		Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
		Fair Value of Real Estate			Valuation	Unobservable	Range
					Technique	Input	of Input Values
		(in thousands)
	June 30, 2014
	Impairment of real estate	$	44,200		Discounted Cash Flows	Market Capitalization Rate	8.0% - 10.0%

						Discount Rate	10.5% - 12.0%
	Impairment of real estate	$	34,750		Indicative Bids	Indicative Bids	N/A (1)

	June 30, 2013
	Impairment of real estate	$	1,700		Indicative Bids	Indicative Bids	N/A (1)


	-1	This fair value measurement was derived from a bona fide purchase offer from third party prospective buyers, subject to the Company's corroboration for reasonableness.
	Impairment of Unconsolidated Entities
	The Company reviews its portfolio of unconsolidated entities for other-than-temporary impairments whenever events or changes indicate its carrying value in the investments may be in excess of fair value. An equity method investment’s value is impaired if management’s estimate of its fair value is less than the carrying value and the difference is deemed to be other-than-temporary. In estimating fair value, the Company uses varying assumptions that may include comparable sale prices, market discount rates, market capitalization rates and estimated future discounted cash flows specific to the geographic region and property type, all of which are considered Level 3 inputs. For recently opened properties, assumptions also include the timing of initial property lease up. In the event initial property lease up assumptions differ from actual results, estimated future discounted cash flows may vary, resulting in impairment charges in future periods. There were no impairments of unconsolidated entities recorded during the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013.

Net_Gain_on_Land_Held_for_Dive

Net Gain on Land Held for Divestiture Activity	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Land Held for Divestiture disclosures [Abstract]	'
Land Held for Divestiture	'
	Net Gain on Land Held for Divestiture Activity
	On January 31, 2012, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a strategic decision by senior management to reposition portions of the Company's Land Development Group and focus on core rental properties in core markets.
	The Company disposed of the land held for divestiture through December 31, 2013 and recorded the activity for consolidated land projects and those accounted for on the equity method of accounting on separate financial statement line items in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
	The following table summarizes the net gain on land held for divestiture activity of consolidated entities:


		Three Months Ended June 30, 2013			Six Months Ended June 30, 2013
		(in thousands)
	Sales of land held for divestiture	$	1,184		$	11,906

	Cost of sales of land held for divestiture	(63		)	(1,744		)
	Gain on extinguishment of debt of land held for divestiture	—			2,146

	Net gain on land held for divestiture activity	$	1,121		$	12,308

	The Company recorded net gains on land held for divestiture activity of unconsolidated entities of $682,000 and $2,511,000 during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively.

Loss_on_Extinguishment_of_Debt

Loss on Extinguishment of Debt	6 Months Ended
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt	Jun. 30, 2014
Extinguishment of Debt Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt [Text Block]	'
	Loss on Extinguishment of Debt
	For the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company recorded $714,000 and $878,000, respectively, as loss on extinguishment of debt. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, the Company recorded $4,975,000 and $4,948,000, respectively, as loss on extinguishment of debt. The amounts for 2013 primarily relate to a loss of $4,762,000 on the exchange of the 2014 Senior Notes for Class A common stock.

Net_Loss_on_Disposition_of_Par

Net Loss on Disposition of Partial Interest in Development Project	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Net Loss on Disposition of Partial Interest in Development Project [Abstract]	'
Net Loss on Disposition of Partial Interest in Development Project	'
	On June 30, 2014, the Company entered into a joint venture with Greenland USA, a subsidiary of Shanghai-based Greenland Group, a Chinese state-owned enterprise ("Greenland"), to develop Pacific Park Brooklyn (formerly Brooklyn Atlantic Yards), a 22 acre mixed-use project in Brooklyn, New York. The joint venture will execute on the remaining development rights of the entire project, including the infrastructure and vertical construction of the residential units, but excludes Barclays Center arena and the under construction B2 BKLYN apartment community. Under the joint venture, Greenland acquired 70% of the entire project and will co-develop the entire project with the Company, along with sharing in the entire project costs going forward in proportion to ownership interests. For its 70% equity interest, Greenland invested cash and assumed 70% of the nonrecourse mortgage debt on the project. At June 30, 2014, $163,660,000, which represents approximately 80% of the cash purchase price, net of transaction costs, was received by the Company. The remaining cash purchase price of approximately $42,991,000 is included in notes and accounts receivable and payable 90 days after closing. The transaction resulted in a net loss on disposition of partial interest in development project of $19,590,000 ($16,211,000, net of noncontrolling interests) during the three and six months ended June 30, 2014. Upon closing, the Company determined it was not the primary beneficiary of the joint venture. As a result, the Company deconsolidated the Pacific Park Brooklyn development project and will account for the joint venture on the equity method of accounting.

Income_Taxes

Income Taxes	6 Months Ended
Income Taxes	Jun. 30, 2014
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Income Taxes	'
	Income Taxes
	Income tax benefit was $46,947,000 and $18,470,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively, and $43,016,000 and $27,135,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The difference in recorded income tax expense/benefit versus income tax expense/benefit computed at the statutory federal income tax rate is primarily attributable to state income taxes, changes in state net operating losses, additional general business credits, changes to valuation allowances associated with certain deferred tax assets, and various permanent differences between pre-tax GAAP income and taxable income.
	At December 31, 2013, the Company had federal net operating loss carryforwards for tax purposes of $150,758,000 expiring in the years ending December 31, 2028 through 2033, a charitable contribution deduction carryforward of $18,125,000 expiring in the years ending December 31, 2014 through 2017, general business credit carryovers of $21,680,000 expiring in the years ending December 31, 2018 through 2033, and an alternative minimum tax (“AMT”) credit carryforward of $28,570,000 available until used to reduce federal tax to the AMT amount.
	The Company considers a variety of tax-deferral strategies, including tax deferred exchanges, when evaluating its future tax position. The Company has a full valuation allowance against the deferred tax asset associated with its charitable contributions. The Company has a valuation allowance against its general business credits, other than those general business credits which are eligible to be utilized to reduce future AMT liabilities. The Company has a valuation allowance against certain of its state net operating losses and state bonus depreciation deferred assets. These valuation allowances exist because management believes it is more likely than not that the Company will not realize these benefits.
	The Company applies the “with-and-without” methodology for recognizing excess tax benefits from the deduction of stock-based compensation. The net operating loss available for the tax return, as is noted in the paragraph above, is greater than the net operating loss available for the tax provision due to excess deductions from stock-based compensation reported on the return, as well as the impact of adjustments to the net operating loss under accounting guidance on accounting for uncertainty in income taxes. As of December 31, 2013, the Company has not recorded a net deferred tax asset of approximately $18,064,000 from excess stock-based compensation deductions taken on the tax return for which a benefit has not yet been recognized in the Company’s tax provision.

Discontinued_Operations_and_Ga

Discontinued Operations and Gain on Disposition of Rental Properties	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]	'
Discontinued Operations and Gain on Disposition of Rental Properties	'
	Discontinued Operations and Gain on Disposition of Rental Properties
	See Note A – Accounting Policies, New Accounting Guidance for discussion of adoption of new discontinued operations accounting guidance during the six months ended June 30, 2014.
	The following table summarizes the rental properties included in discontinued operations:


	Property	Location	Square Feet/ Number of Units	Period Disposed	Three Months Ended 6/30/14	Six Months Ended 6/30/14	Three Months Ended 6/30/13	Six Months Ended 6/30/13
	Commercial Group:
	Promenade Bolingbrook	Bolingbrook, Illinois	771,000 square feet	Q2-2014	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
	Quartermaster Plaza	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	456,000 square feet	Q1-2014	—	Yes	Yes	Yes
	Mesa del Sol - 5600 University SE	Albuquerque, New Mexico	87,000 square feet	Q1-2014	—	Yes	Yes	Yes
	Orchard Town Center	Westminster, Colorado	603,000 square feet	Q4-2013	—	—	Yes	Yes
	Colorado Studios	Denver, Colorado	75,000 square feet	Q3-2013	—	—	Yes	Yes
	Higbee Building	Cleveland, Ohio	815,000 square feet	Q3-2013	—	—	Yes	Yes
	Sheraton Station Square	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	399 rooms	Q3-2013	—	—	Yes	Yes
	Two triple net lease properties	Various	138,000 square feet	Various (1)	—	—	Yes	Yes
	Residential Group:
	Millender Center	Detroit, Michigan	339 units	Q1-2013	—	—	—	Yes

	-1	Includes one triple net lease property disposed of during Q4-2013 and one triple net lease property disposed of during Q1-2013.
	The following table summarizes the operating results related to discontinued operations:


		Three Months Ended June 30,							Six Months Ended June 30,
		2014			2013				2014			2013
		(in thousands)
	Revenues	$	39		$	21,189			$	7,034		$	46,426

	Expenses
	Operating expenses	(1,749		)	10,171				3,026			26,096

	Depreciation and amortization	—			4,162				987			8,475

		(1,749		)	14,333				4,013			34,571


	Interest expense	(55		)	(3,840		)		(5,538		)	(7,830		)
	Amortization of mortgage procurement costs	—			(180		)		(41		)	(361		)

	Loss on extinguishment of debt	(431		)	—				(448		)	(40		)

	Interest and other income	—			112				—			226

	Gain on disposition of rental properties	1,276			—				28,100			21,471

	Earnings before income taxes	2,578			2,948				25,094			25,321

	Income tax expense	1,438			1,123				12,082			7,763

	Earnings from discontinued operations	1,140			1,825				13,012			17,558

	Noncontrolling interest
	Gain on disposition of rental properties	—			—				58			5,835

	Operating earnings (loss) from rental properties	—			48				(8		)	64

		—			48				50			5,899

	Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	$	1,140		$	1,777			$	12,962		$	11,659

	The following table summarizes the pre-tax gain on disposition of rental properties:


		Three Months Ended June 30,							Six Months Ended June 30,
	2014			2013				2014			2013
	(in thousands)
Promenade Bolingbrook (Regional Mall)	$	1,276		$	—			$	1,276		$	—

Quartermaster Plaza (Specialty Retail Center)	—			—				26,373			—

Mesa del Sol - 5600 University SE (Office Building)	—			—				451			—

Millender Center (Apartment Community)	—			—				—			21,660

Other	—			—				—			(189		)

	$	1,276		$	—			$	28,100		$	21,471

Gain on Disposition of Unconsolidated Entities
Upon disposition, investments accounted for on the equity method are not classified as discontinued operations; therefore, gains or losses on the disposition of these properties are reported in continuing operations. The following table summarizes gains on the disposition of unconsolidated entities, which are included in equity in earnings:


		Three Months Ended June 30,							Six Months Ended June 30,
		2014			2013				2014			2013
		(in thousands)
Specialty Retail Centers:
Golden Gate	Mayfield Heights, Ohio	$	16,440		$	—			$	16,440		$	—

Plaza at Robinson Town Center	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	—			(1,510		)		—			(1,510		)

Apartment Communities:
Westwood Reserve	Tampa, Florida	—			—				8,904			—

Legacy Crossroads	Cary, North Carolina	—			—				6,216			—

Colonial Grand	Tampa, Florida	—			—				4,904			—

Legacy Arboretum	Charlotte, North Carolina	—			—				3,257			—

Barrington Place	Raleigh, North Carolina	—			—				1,515			—

Other		(350		)	—				(350		)	—

		$	16,090		$	(1,510	)		$	40,886		$	(1,510	)

Earnings_Per_Share

Earnings Per Share	6 Months Ended
Earnings Per Share	Jun. 30, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Earnings Per Share	'
	Earnings Per Share
	The Company’s restricted stock is considered a participating security pursuant to the two-class method for computing basic earnings per share (“EPS”). The Class A Common Units, which are reflected as noncontrolling interests in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, are considered convertible participating securities as they are entitled to participate in any dividends paid to the Company’s common shareholders. The Class A Common Units are included in the computation of basic EPS using the two-class method and are included in the computation of diluted EPS using the if-converted method. The Class A common stock issuable in connection with a put or conversion of the 2014 Senior Notes, 2016 Senior Notes, 2018 Senior Notes, 2020 Senior Notes and Series A preferred stock is included in the computation of diluted EPS using the if-converted method. The loss from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc. for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 was allocated solely to holders of common stock as the participating security holders do not share in the losses.
	The reconciliation of the basic and diluted EPS computations is shown in the following table:


		Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013
	Numerators (in thousands)
	Loss from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	$	(94,132	)	$	(36,717	)	$	(90,434	)	$	(66,190	)
	Preferred dividends	—			—			—			(185		)
	Preferred dividends	—			—			—			(185		)
	Loss from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders ‑ Basic and Diluted	$	(94,132	)	$	(36,717	)	$	(90,434	)	$	(66,375	)
	Net loss attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	$	(92,992	)	$	(34,940	)	$	(77,472	)	$	(54,531	)
	Preferred dividends	—			—			—			(185		)
	Preferred dividends	—			—			—			(185		)
	Net loss attributable to common shareholders ‑ Basic and Diluted	$	(92,992	)	$	(34,940	)	$	(77,472	)	$	(54,716	)
	Denominators
	Weighted average shares outstanding ‑ Basic and Diluted (1)	198,341,355			191,357,242			198,041,879			187,604,085
	Weighted average shares outstanding ‑ Basic and Diluted (1)	198,341,355			191,357,242			198,041,879			187,604,085
	Earnings Per Share
	Loss from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders ‑ Basic and Diluted	$	(0.47	)	$	(0.19	)	$	(0.46	)	$	(0.35	)
	Net loss attributable to common shareholders ‑ Basic and Diluted	$	(0.47	)	$	(0.18	)	$	(0.39	)	$	(0.29	)

	-1	Incremental shares from dilutive options, restricted stock, performance shares and convertible securities aggregating 37,140,789 and 37,425,371 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, respectively, and 31,553,214 and 35,331,648 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because their effect is anti-dilutive due to the loss from continuing operations. Weighted-average options, restricted stock and performance shares of 3,974,932 and 3,585,274 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, respectively, and 3,441,229 and 3,544,050 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because their effect is anti-dilutive under the treasury stock method.

Segment_Information

Segment Information	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Segment Information	'
	Segment Information
	The following tables summarize financial data for the Company's reportable operating segments. All amounts in the following tables are presented in thousands.


		June 30, 2014			31-Dec-13
		Identifiable Assets
	Commercial Group	$	4,300,903		$	5,120,360

	Residential Group	2,727,891			2,468,708

	Arena	965,774			984,937

	Land Development Group	285,587			260,070

	Corporate Activities	271,366			117,950

		$	8,551,521		$	8,952,025


		Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,						Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013			2014			2013			2014			2013
		Revenues												Operating Expenses
	Commercial Group	$	123,791		$	177,921		$	253,876		$	350,802		$	73,157		$	97,746		$	154,705		$	197,327

	Residential Group	61,553			63,950			127,222			127,281			37,673			47,497			83,342			95,024

	Arena	24,572			26,853			59,929			50,993			14,818			21,898			38,294			40,310

	Land Development Group	19,721			9,191			38,147			18,805			10,100			6,387			18,949			14,075

	Corporate Activities	—			—			—			—			10,059			13,478			21,620			24,537

		$	229,637		$	277,915		$	479,174		$	547,881		$	145,807		$	187,006		$	316,910		$	371,273


		Depreciation and Amortization												Interest Expense
	Commercial Group	$	32,193		$	58,102		$	62,452		$	99,787		$	32,279		$	49,216		$	66,845		$	99,428

	Residential Group	17,656			13,490			33,052			30,021			5,817			10,109			15,002			16,716

	Arena	8,674			8,001			17,206			16,374			9,649			9,393			19,206			18,275

	Land Development Group	95			103			181			429			(147		)	(167		)	(285		)	(438		)

	Corporate Activities	700			756			1,436			1,645			9,555			14,545			18,837			30,598

		$	59,318		$	80,452		$	114,327		$	148,256		$	57,153		$	83,096		$	119,605		$	164,579


		Interest and Other Income												Capital Expenditures
	Commercial Group	$	2,222		$	2,146		$	4,006		$	4,070		$	49,381		$	49,752		$	80,378		$	108,624

	Residential Group	6,599			6,307			13,044			12,261			71,058			57,276			144,849			97,700

	Arena	—			—			—			—			615			17,893			6,552			32,913

	Land Development Group	3,462			3,210			6,707			5,932			—			122			16			829

	Corporate Activities	92			112			121			162			15			229			15			452

		$	12,375		$	11,775		$	23,878		$	22,425		$	121,069		$	125,272		$	231,810		$	240,518

	The Company uses Funds From Operations (“FFO”) to report its operating results. FFO is a non-GAAP measure as defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”) and is a measure of performance used by publicly traded Real Estate Investment Trusts ("REITs"). Although the Company is not a REIT, management believes it is important to publish this measure to allow for easier comparison of its performance to its peers. FFO is defined by NAREIT as net earnings excluding the following items at the Company’s proportional share: i) gain (loss) on disposition of rental properties, divisions and other investments (net of tax); ii) non-cash charges for real estate depreciation and amortization; iii) impairment of depreciable real estate (net of tax); iv) extraordinary items (net of tax); and v) cumulative or retrospective effect of change in accounting principle (net of tax).
The Company believes that, although its business has many facets such as development, acquisitions, disposals, and property management, the core of its business is the recurring operations of its portfolio of real estate assets. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer, the chief operating decision maker, uses FFO, as presented, to assess performance of the Company's real estate assets by reportable operating segment because it provides information on the financial performance of the core real estate portfolio operations. FFO measures the profitability of a real estate segment’s operations of collecting rent, paying operating expenses and servicing its debt.
The reconciliations of net earnings (loss) to FFO by segment are shown in the following tables. All amounts are presented in thousands.


Three Months Ended June 30, 2014	Commercial			Residential			Arena			Land			Corporate			Total
	Group			Group						Development			Activities
										Group
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	$	(135,934	)	$	10,934		$	(4,511	)	$	11,493		$	25,026		$	(92,992	)

Depreciation and amortization – Real Estate Groups	45,764			24,855			5,000			42			—			75,661

Gain on disposition of unconsolidated entities	(16,090		)	—			—			—			—			(16,090		)

Impairment of consolidated depreciable real estate	129,059			—			—			—			—			129,059

Discontinued operations:
Gain on disposition of rental properties	(1,276		)	—			—			—			—			(1,276		)

Income tax expense (benefit) on non-FFO:
Gain on disposition of rental properties	—			—			—			—			8,820			8,820

Impairment of depreciable real estate	—			—			—			—			(50,053		)	(50,053		)

FFO	$	21,523		$	35,789		$	489		$	11,535		$	(16,207	)	$	53,129


Three Months Ended June 30, 2013	Commercial			Residential			Arena			Land			Corporate			Total
	Group			Group						Development			Activities
										Group
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	$	(22,300	)	$	5,002		$	(6,757	)	$	7,350		$	(18,235	)	$	(34,940	)

Depreciation and amortization – Real Estate Groups	66,914			21,495			4,657			149			—			93,215

Loss on disposition of unconsolidated entities	1,510			—			—			—			—			1,510

Impairment of consolidated depreciable real estate	—			1,175			—			—			—			1,175

Discontinued operations:
Depreciation and amortization – Real Estate Groups	4,175			32			—			—			—			4,207

Income tax benefit on non-FFO:
Gain on disposition of rental properties	—			—			—			—			(649		)	(649		)

Impairment of depreciable real estate	—			—			—			—			(456		)	(456		)

FFO	$	50,299		$	27,704		$	(2,100	)	$	7,499		$	(19,340	)	$	64,062


Six Months Ended June 30, 2014	Commercial			Residential			Arena			Land			Corporate			Total
	Group			Group						Development			Activities
										Group
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	$	(123,604	)	$	43,101		$	(7,803	)	$	23,086		$	(12,252	)	$	(77,472	)

Depreciation and amortization – Real Estate Groups	88,473			47,192			9,941			75			—			145,681

Net loss on disposition of partial interests in rental properties	467			—			—			—			—			467

Gain on disposition of unconsolidated entities	(16,090		)	(24,796		)	—			—			—			(40,886		)

Impairment of consolidated depreciable real estate	129,059			—			—			—			—			129,059

Discontinued operations:
Depreciation and amortization – Real Estate Groups	986			—			—			—			—			986

Gain on disposition of rental properties	(28,042		)	—			—			—			—			(28,042		)

Income tax expense (benefit) on non-FFO:
Gain on disposition of rental properties	—			—			—			—			28,718			28,718

Impairment of depreciable real estate	—			—			—			—			(50,053		)	(50,053		)

FFO	$	51,249		$	65,497		$	2,138		$	23,161		$	(33,587	)	$	108,458


Six Months Ended June 30, 2013	Commercial			Residential			Arena			Land			Corporate			Total
	Group			Group						Development			Activities
										Group
Net earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders	$	(46,258	)	$	21,198		$	(13,043	)	$	28,742		$	(45,355	)	$	(54,716	)

Preferred dividends	—			—			—			—			185			185

Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	$	(46,258	)	$	21,198		$	(13,043	)	$	28,742		$	(45,170	)	$	(54,531	)

Depreciation and amortization – Real Estate Groups	117,608			45,984			9,549			381			—			173,522

Loss on disposition of unconsolidated entities	1,510			—			—			—			—			1,510

Impairment of consolidated depreciable real estate	—			1,175			—			—			—			1,175

Discontinued operations:
Depreciation and amortization – Real Estate Groups	8,333			171			—			—			—			8,504

(Gain) loss on disposition of rental properties	189			(15,825		)	—			—			—			(15,636		)

Income tax expense (benefit) on non-FFO:
Gain on disposition of rental properties	—			—			—			—			5,472			5,472

Impairment of depreciable real estate	—			—			—			—			(456		)	(456		)

FFO	$	81,382		$	52,703		$	(3,494	)	$	29,123		$	(40,154	)	$	119,560

Accounting_Policies_Policies

Accounting Policies (Policies)	6 Months Ended
Accounting Policies (Policies)	Jun. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Change in Year-End	'
	Change in Year-End
	The Board of Directors of the Company approved a change to the Company's fiscal year-end to December 31 from January 31, effective December 31, 2013. As a result, the financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 are presented to allow for comparison between periods. The Company believes the change was useful to its financial statement users to allow for increased comparability of its performance to its peers.
Basis of Presentation	'
	Basis of Presentation
	The interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-KT for the 11 months ended December 31, 2013, as amended on Form 10-KT/A on March 26, 2014. The results of interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year or any subsequent period. In management's opinion, all adjustments (consisting solely of normal recurring matters) necessary for a fair statement of financial position, results of operations and cash flows at the dates and for the periods presented have been included.
Use of Estimates	'
	Use of Estimates
	The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires the Company to make estimates and assumptions in certain circumstances that affect amounts reported in the accompanying consolidated financial statements and related notes. Some of the critical estimates include, but are not limited to, determination of the primary beneficiary of variable interest entities (“VIEs”), estimates of useful lives for long-lived assets, reserves for collection on accounts and notes receivable and other investments, the fair value estimate of redeemable noncontrolling interest, impairment of real estate and other-than-temporary impairments on equity method investments. As a result of the nature of estimates, actual results could differ.
	In April 2013, management approved a plan to demolish Ten MetroTech Center, an office building in Brooklyn, New York, to clear the land for redevelopment or sale. Accordingly, the original useful life, estimated to expire in 2042, of Ten MetroTech Center was adjusted to expire at the demolition date in October 2013, which resulted in $18,976,000 of accelerated depreciation expense recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations during the three and six months ended June 30, 2013.
Reclassifications	'
	Reclassifications
	During the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company established several new financial statement line items within the Revenue and Expense sections of the Consolidated Statement of Operations to provide the financial statement reader additional details of the components of total revenues and total expenses. Accordingly, comparable amounts for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 have been reclassified.
	The new financial statement lines discussed above and a brief description of their components not previously disclosed include the following:
	Rental - Tenant rental revenues and overage rents from operating properties, lease termination income and the adjustment to recognize minimum rents using the straight-line method.
	Tenant recoveries - Recoveries from commercial tenants for common area maintenance, real estate taxes, insurance and other commercial property operating expenses.
	Service and management fees - Management, leasing, finance, development and other service fee revenue.
	Parking and other - Revenues derived from monthly and transient tenant parking and other revenue.
	Land sales - Sales of land to residential, commercial and industrial customers, primarily at the Company's Stapleton project, and sales of commercial and residential outlots adjacent to the Company's operating property portfolio.
	Property operating and management - Expenses incurred at the operating property level and general business unit expenses including non-capitalizable development costs and management and service company expenses.
	Ground rent - Expenses related to ground leases, including participation payments under the ground lease. Participation payments are triggered by defined events within the respective lease agreements and may include refinancings, sales or other capital transactions. Also includes the adjustment to recognize ground rent expenses using the straight-line method.
	Cost of land sales - Cost of land associated with land sales.
	Corporate general and administrative - Expenses related to the Company's Corporate segment.
	In addition, The Nets operating segment information as of December 31, 2013 and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013 has been reclassified and aggregated with the Corporate Activities operating segment disclosures to conform to the current year presentation. Certain other prior year amounts in the accompanying consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation.
Variable Interest Entities	'
	Variable Interest Entities
	As of June 30, 2014, the Company determined it was the primary beneficiary of 28 VIEs representing 21 properties, which are consolidated. The creditors of the consolidated VIEs do not have recourse to the Company’s general credit. As of June 30, 2014, the Company owns variable interests in 62 VIEs for which it is not the primary beneficiary, which are accounted for as equity method investments. The maximum exposure to loss as a result of the ownership of these unconsolidated VIEs is limited to the Company’s applicable investment balances, which approximates $217,000,000 at June 30, 2014.
	During the three months ended June 30, 2014, the Company entered into a joint venture with Greenland USA, a subsidiary of Shanghai-based Greenland Group, a Chinese state-owned enterprise ("Greenland"), to execute on the remaining development rights of Pacific Park Brooklyn (formerly Brooklyn Atlantic Yards), a 22 acre mixed-use project in Brooklyn, New York. Following the transaction, the Company determined it was no longer the primary beneficiary of the Pacific Park Brooklyn project, which historically was a VIE. The impact of the deconsolidation to the December 31, 2013 Consolidated Balance Sheet and parenthetical disclosures were decreases of $504,171,000 to development project held for sale, $1,141,000 to cash and equivalents, $99,784,000 to restricted cash, $2,571,000 to other assets, $228,000,000 to mortgage debt, nonrecourse of development project held for sale and $20,428,000 to accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities and an increase to investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities of $156,071,000 to the June 30, 2014 Consolidated Balance Sheet.
	Noncontrolling Interest
	On June 30, 2014, in connection with the closing of a joint venture with Greenland to develop Pacific Park Brooklyn, the Company became obligated to purchase certain noncontrolling interests of the fully consolidated entity that contributed the development project into the joint venture. See Note M – Net Loss on Disposition of Partial Interest in Development Project for detailed information on the joint venture. Accordingly, the Company recorded a liability at June 30, 2014. In addition, the Company acquired certain other partners’ noncontrolling interest in Shops at Wiregrass, a regional mall in Tampa, Florida, and Waterfront Station, a mixed-use development project in Washington, D.C. The fair value of consideration exchanged or accrued related to all acquisitions during the six months ended June 30, 2014 in excess of the book value was $53,351,000, resulting in a decrease in additional paid-in-capital as reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Equity.
New Accounting Guidance	'
	New Accounting Guidance
	The following accounting pronouncements were adopted during the six months ended June 30, 2014:
	In July 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an amendment to the accounting guidance on the presentation of an unrecognized tax benefit when a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or tax credit carryforward exists. This guidance, which clarifies whether the unrecognized tax benefit should be recorded as a liability or reduction of the related deferred tax asset, is effective for fiscal years and interim reporting periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. The amendments should be applied prospectively to all unrecognized tax benefits that exist at the effective date. Retrospective application is permitted. The adoption of this guidance on January 1, 2014 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
	In April 2014, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting guidance for reporting discontinued operations and disclosures of disposals of components of an entity. This guidance changes the requirements for reporting discontinued operations and the criteria for determining which disposals can be presented as discontinued operations. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2014 and interim reporting periods within that annual period. Early adoption is permitted. This guidance was early adopted effective April 1, 2014, except for the property classified as held for sale as of March 31, 2014 and subsequently disposed of during the three months ended June 30, 2014. The adoption of this guidance is expected to substantially reduce the number of property disposals that qualify for discontinued operations as compared to historical results.
	The following new accounting pronouncement will be adopted on its respective effective date:
	In May 2014, the FASB issued an amendment to the accounting guidance for revenue from contracts with customers. The core principle of this guidance is an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance defines steps an entity should apply to achieve the core principle. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim reporting periods within that annual period and allows for both retrospective and prospective methods of adoption. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company is currently in the process of determining the method of adoption and evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance on its consolidated financial statements.
Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments	'
	Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments
	The carrying amount of notes and accounts receivable, excluding the Stapleton advances, and accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities approximates fair value based upon the short-term nature of the instruments. The carrying amount of the Stapleton advances approximates fair value since the interest rates on these advances approximates current market rates. The Company estimates the fair value of its debt instruments by discounting future cash payments at interest rates that the Company believes approximate the current market. Estimated fair value is based upon market prices of public debt, available industry financing data, current treasury rates, recent financing transactions and loan to value ratios. The fair value of the Company’s debt instruments is classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

Accounting_Policies_Tables

Accounting Policies (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]	'
Components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	'
	The following table summarizes the components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“accumulated OCI”):


		June 30, 2014			December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)
	Unrealized (gains) losses on foreign currency translation	$	(55	)	$	189

	Unrealized losses on interest rate contracts (1)	111,992			125,059

		111,937			125,248

	Income tax benefit	(43,363		)	(48,517		)
	Noncontrolling interest	(128		)	(149		)
	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	$	68,446		$	76,582


	-1	Included in the amounts as of June 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013 are $88,143 and $97,360, respectively, of unrealized loss on an interest rate swap associated with New York Times office building on its nonrecourse mortgage debt with a notional amount of $640,000. This swap effectively fixes the mortgage at an all-in lender interest rate of 6.40% and expires in September 2017.
Schedule of changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	'
	The following table summarizes the changes, net of tax and noncontrolling interest, of accumulated OCI by component:


		Securities			Foreign Currency Translation			Interest Rate Contracts			Total
		(in thousands)
	Six Months Ended June 30, 2014
	Balance, January 1, 2014	$	—		$	(116	)	$	(76,466	)	$	(76,582	)

	OCI before reclassifications	—			150			4,895			5,045

	Loss reclassified from accumulated OCI	—			—			3,091			3,091

	Total other comprehensive income	—			150			7,986			8,136

	Balance, June 30, 2014	$	—		$	34		$	(68,480	)	$	(68,446	)

	Six Months Ended June 30, 2013
	Balance, January 1, 2013	$	(226	)	$	—		$	(107,588	)	$	(107,814	)

	OCI before reclassifications	210			(116		)	19,395			19,489

	Loss reclassified from accumulated OCI	—			—			1,217			1,217

	Total other comprehensive income	210			(116		)	20,612			20,706

	Balance, June 30, 2013	$	(16	)	$	(116	)	$	(86,976	)	$	(87,108	)
Losses reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	'
	The following table summarizes losses reclassified from accumulated OCI and their location on the Consolidated Statements of Operations:


	Accumulated OCI Components	Loss Reclassified from Accumulated OCI				Location on Consolidated Statements of Operations
		(in thousands)
	Six Months Ended June 30, 2014
	Interest rate contracts	$	1,361			Interest expense

	Interest rate contracts	3,666				Discontinued operations

	Interest rate contracts	30				Equity in earnings

		5,057				Total before income tax and noncontrolling interest

		(1,958		)		Income tax benefit
		(8		)		Noncontrolling interest
		$	3,091			Loss reclassified from accumulated OCI

	Six Months Ended June 30, 2013
	Interest rate contracts	$	1,923			Interest expense

	Interest rate contracts	73				Equity in earnings

		1,996				Total before income tax and noncontrolling interest

		(771		)		Income tax benefit
		(8		)		Noncontrolling interest
		$	1,217			Loss reclassified from accumulated OCI

Mortgage_Debt_and_Notes_Payabl1

Mortgage Debt and Notes Payable, Nonrecourse (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Mortgage Debt and Notes Payable, Nonrecourse [Abstract]	'
Composition of mortgage debt and notes payable, nonrecourse maturities	'
	The following table summarizes the mortgage debt and notes payable, nonrecourse maturities as of June 30, 2014:


	Years Ending December 31,
		(in thousands)
	2014	$	148,613

	2015	477,405

	2016	97,187

	2017	1,124,122

	2018	264,626

	Thereafter	1,924,150

	Total	$	4,036,103

Revolving_Credit_Facility_Tabl

Revolving Credit Facility (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Available credit on the revolving credit facility	'
	The following table summarizes available credit on the Credit Facility:


		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)
	Maximum borrowings	$	500,000	$	500,000

	Less outstanding balances:
	Borrowings	308,000		—

	Letters of credit	48,930		59,760

	Surety bonds	—		—

	Available credit	$	143,070	$	440,240

Convertible_Senior_Debt_Tables

Convertible Senior Debt (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Convertible Senior Debt	'
	The following table summarizes the Company’s convertible senior debt:


		June 30, 2014		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)
	5.000% Notes due 2016	$	50,000	$	50,000

	4.250% Notes due 2018	350,000		350,000

	3.625% Notes due 2020	300,000		300,000

	Total Convertible Senior Debt	$	700,000	$	700,000

Derivative_Instruments_and_Hed1

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]	'
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments	'
	The following table presents the fair values and location in the Consolidated Balance Sheets of all derivative instruments:


		Fair Value of Derivative Instruments
		June 30, 2014
		Asset Derivatives							Liability Derivatives
		(included in Other Assets)							(included in Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities)
		Current			Fair Value				Current			Fair Value
		Notional							Notional
		(in thousands)
	Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments
	Interest rate caps	$	330,000		$	156			$	—		$	—

	Interest rate swap agreements	—			—				871,119			88,646

	TRS	130,970			5,159				227,785			11,817

	Total	$	460,970		$	5,315			$	1,098,904		$	100,463

	Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
	Interest rate caps	$	266,775		$	58			$	—		$	—

	TRS	26,552			274				39,009			15,076

	Total	$	293,327		$	332			$	39,009		$	15,076


		December 31, 2013
	Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments
	Interest rate swap agreements	$	—		$	—			$	961,359		$	97,858

	TRS	18,970			903				339,785			9,772

	Total	$	18,970		$	903			$	1,301,144		$	107,630

	Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
	Interest rate caps	$	447,532		$	155			$	—		$	—

	TRS	—			—				39,052			15,477

	Total	$	447,532		$	155			$	39,052		$	15,477

Derivative Instruments Gain (Loss) in Statement of Financial Performance and Financial Position	'
	The following table presents the impact of gains and losses related to derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges included in the accumulated OCI section of the Consolidated Balance Sheets and in equity in earnings and interest expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations:


						Gain (Loss) Reclassified from
						Accumulated OCI
	Derivatives Designated as	Gain (Loss)				Location on Consolidated Statements	Effective			Ineffective
	Cash Flow Hedging Instruments	Recognized				of Operations	Amount			Amount
		in OCI
		(Effective Portion)
		(in thousands)
	Three Months Ended June 30, 2014
	Interest rate caps and interest rate swaps	$	2,645			Interest expense	$	(564	)	$	—

	Interest rate swaps	—				Equity in earnings	(15		)	—

	Total	$	2,645				$	(579	)	$	—

	Six Months Ended June 30, 2014
	Interest rate caps and interest rate swaps	$	8,010			Interest expense	$	(1,361	)	$	—

	Interest rate swap	—				Discontinued operations	—			(3,666		)

	Interest rate swaps	—				Equity in earnings	(30		)	—

	Total	$	8,010				$	(1,391	)	$	(3,666	)

	Three Months Ended June 30, 2013
	Interest rate caps, interest rate swaps and Treasury options	$	23,433			Interest expense	$	(954	)	$	—

	Interest rate caps, interest rate swaps and Treasury options	—				Equity in earnings	(14		)	2

	Total	$	23,433				$	(968	)	$	2

	Six Months Ended June 30, 2013
	Interest rate caps, interest rate swaps and Treasury options	$	31,689			Interest expense	$	(1,923	)	$	—

	Interest rate caps, interest rate swaps and Treasury options	—				Equity in earnings	(78		)	5

	Total	$	31,689				$	(2,001	)	$	5

Impact of Gains (Losses) Related to Derivative Instruments	'
	The following table presents the impact of gains and losses related to derivatives instruments not designated as cash flow hedges in the Consolidated Statements of Operations:


		Net Gain (Loss) Recognized
		Three Months Ended June 30,							Six Months Ended June 30,
		2014			2013				2014			2013
		(in thousands)
	Derivatives Designated as Fair Value Hedging Instruments
	TRS (1)	$	(3,143	)	$	257			$	2,211		$	104

	Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
	Interest rate caps and interest rate swaps	$	(46	)	$	—			$	(103	)	$	(239	)

	TRS	1,681			(2,295		)		675			(1,725		)

	Total	$	1,635		$	(2,295	)		$	572		$	(1,964	)


	-1	The net gain (loss) recognized in interest expense from the change in fair value of the underlying TRS borrowings was $3,143 and $(2,211) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, respectively, and $(257) and $(104) for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively, offsetting the gain (loss) recognized on the TRS.

Fair_Value_Measurements_Tables

Fair Value Measurements (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Financial Assets and Liabilities and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest Measured on a Recurring Basis	'
	The following table presents information about financial assets and liabilities and redeemable noncontrolling interest that were measured at fair value on a recurring basis, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized to determine such fair value:


		Fair Value Measurements
		June 30, 2014
		Level 1			Level 2			Level 3			Total
		(in thousands)
	Interest rate caps	$	—		$	214		$	—		$	214

	Interest rate swap agreements (liabilities)	—			(503		)	(88,143		)	(88,646		)

	TRS (assets)	—			—			5,433			5,433

	TRS (liabilities)	—			—			(26,893		)	(26,893		)

	Fair value adjustment to the borrowings subject to TRS	—			—			6,658			6,658

	Redeemable noncontrolling interest (1)	—			—			(192,942		)	(192,942		)

	Total	$	—		$	(289	)	$	(295,887	)	$	(296,176	)


		December 31, 2013
		(in thousands)
	Interest rate caps	$	—		$	155		$	—		$	155

	Interest rate swap agreements (liabilities)	—			(498		)	(97,360		)	(97,858		)

	TRS (assets)	—			—			903			903

	TRS (liabilities)	—			—			(25,249		)	(25,249		)

	Fair value adjustment to the borrowings subject to TRS	—			—			8,869			8,869

	Redeemable noncontrolling interest	—			—			(171,743		)	(171,743		)

	Total	$	—		$	(343	)	$	(284,580	)	$	(284,923	)


	-1	As of June 30, 2014, the redeemable noncontrolling interest is recorded at book value.
Reconciliation of Financial Assets and Liabilities and Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis Using Significant Unobservable Inputs	'
	The following table presents a reconciliation of all financial assets and liabilities and redeemable noncontrolling interest measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3):


		Fair Value Measurements
		Redeemable				Interest Rate				Net			Fair value			Total TRS			Total
		Noncontrolling				Swaps				TRS			adjustment			Related
		Interest											to the borrowings
													subject to TRS
		(in thousands)
	Six Months Ended June 30, 2014
	Balance, January 1, 2014	$	(171,743	)		$	(97,360	)		$	(24,346	)	$	8,869		$	(15,477	)	$	(284,580	)

	Loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	7,191				—				—			—			—			7,191

	Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
	Included in earnings	—				—				2,886			(2,211		)	675			675

	Included in other comprehensive income	—				9,217				—			—			—			9,217

	Included in additional paid-in capital	(28,390		)		—				—			—			—			(28,390		)

	Balance, June 30, 2014	$	(192,942	)		$	(88,143	)		$	(21,460	)	$	6,658		$	(14,802	)	$	(295,887	)

	Six Months Ended June 30, 2013
	Balance, January 1, 2013	$	(240,790	)		$	(131,634	)		$	(6,108	)	$	9,890		$	3,782		$	(368,642	)

	Loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	11,373				—				—			—			—			11,373

	Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):
	Included in earnings	—				—				(1,621		)	(104		)	(1,725		)	(1,725		)

	Included in other comprehensive income	—				23,589				—			—			—			23,589

	Included in additional paid-in capital	(2,237		)		—				—			—			—			(2,237		)

	Balance, June 30, 2013	$	(231,654	)		$	(108,045	)		$	(7,729	)	$	9,786		$	2,057		$	(337,642	)

Significant Unobservable Inputs Used to Estimate Fair Value of Financial Instruments	'
	The following table presents quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments measured on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2014:


		Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
		Fair Value June 30, 2014			Valuation	Unobservable	Input Values
					Technique	Input
		(in thousands)
	Credit valuation adjustment of interest rate swap	$	5,283		Potential future exposure	Credit spread	4.00%

	TRS	$	(21,460	)	Bond quote	Discount rate	N/A(1)
						Capitalization rate	N/A(1)
	Fair value adjustment to the borrowings subject to TRS	$	6,658		Bond quote	Discount rate	N/A(1)

						Capitalization rate	N/A(1)

	-1	The Company does not have access to certain significant unobservable inputs used by these third parties to determine these fair values.
Schedule of Fair Value of Nonrecourse Mortgage Debt and Notes Payable, Bank Revolving Credit Facility and Convertible Senior Debt	'
	The following table summarizes the fair value of nonrecourse mortgage debt and notes payable (exclusive of the fair value of derivatives), revolving credit facility, convertible senior debt and nonrecourse mortgage debt of development property held for sale:


		June 30, 2014							December 31, 2013
		Carrying Value			Fair Value				Carrying Value			Fair Value
		(in thousands)
	Fixed Rate Debt	$	2,925,164		$	3,257,591			$	3,281,337		$	3,488,406

	Variable Rate Debt	2,118,939			2,108,459				1,998,169			1,954,136

	Total	$	5,044,103		$	5,366,050			$	5,279,506		$	5,442,542

StockBased_Compensation_Tables

Stock-Based Compensation (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]	'
Amount of Stock-Based Compensation Costs and Related Deferred Income Tax Benefit Recognized in the Financial Statements	'
	The amount of stock-based compensation costs and related deferred income tax benefit recognized in the financial statements are as follows:


		Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013
		(in thousands)
	Stock option costs	$	523		$	1,309		$	1,979		$	1,900

	Restricted stock costs	2,579			3,294			6,303			6,015

	Performance share costs	1,089			736			1,940			1,075

	Total stock-based compensation costs	4,191			5,339			10,222			8,990

	Less amount capitalized into qualifying real estate projects	(555		)	(1,666		)	(2,620		)	(3,099		)
	Amount charged to operating expenses	3,636			3,673			7,602			5,891

	Depreciation expense on capitalized stock-based compensation	189			245			447			469

	Total stock-based compensation expense	$	3,825		$	3,918		$	8,049		$	6,360

	Deferred income tax benefit	$	1,455		$	1,453		$	3,021		$	2,333

Impairment_of_Real_Estate_and_1

Impairment of Real Estate and Impairment of Unconsolidated Entities (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Impairment of Real Estate and Impairment of Unconsolidated Entities [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Impairment of Real Estate Included in Continuing Operations	'
	The following table summarizes the Company’s impairment of real estate included in continuing operations:


			Three Months Ended June 30,					Six Months Ended June 30,
			2014			2013		2014		2013
			(in thousands)
	Avenue at Tower City Center (Specialty Retail Center)	Cleveland, Ohio	$	72,473		$	—	$	72,473	$	—

	Office Buildings:
	Terminal Tower	Cleveland, Ohio	42,208			—		42,208		—

	Post Office Plaza	Cleveland, Ohio	14,378			—		14,378		—

	Other		770			1,175		770		1,175

			$	129,829		$	1,175	$	129,829	$	1,175

Unobservable Inputs Used to Determine the Fair Value of the Non-recurring Impairment of Real Estate	'
	The following table presents quantitative information about the significant unobservable inputs used to determine the fair value of the impairment of real estate for the six months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013:


		Quantitative Information about Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
		Fair Value of Real Estate			Valuation	Unobservable	Range
					Technique	Input	of Input Values
		(in thousands)
	June 30, 2014
	Impairment of real estate	$	44,200		Discounted Cash Flows	Market Capitalization Rate	8.0% - 10.0%

						Discount Rate	10.5% - 12.0%
	Impairment of real estate	$	34,750		Indicative Bids	Indicative Bids	N/A (1)

	June 30, 2013
	Impairment of real estate	$	1,700		Indicative Bids	Indicative Bids	N/A (1)


	-1	This fair value measurement was derived from a bona fide purchase offer from third party prospective buyers, subject to the Company's corroboration for reasonableness.

Recovered_Sheet1

Net Gain on Land held for Divestiture Activity (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Land Held for Divestiture disclosures [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Land Held for Divestiture Activity	'
	The following table summarizes the net gain on land held for divestiture activity of consolidated entities:


		Three Months Ended June 30, 2013			Six Months Ended June 30, 2013
		(in thousands)
	Sales of land held for divestiture	$	1,184		$	11,906

	Cost of sales of land held for divestiture	(63		)	(1,744		)
	Gain on extinguishment of debt of land held for divestiture	—			2,146

	Net gain on land held for divestiture activity	$	1,121		$	12,308

Discontinued_Operations_and_Ga1

Discontinued Operations and Gain on Disposition of Rental Properties (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Discontinued Operations and Disposal Groups [Abstract]	'
Summary of Rental Properties Included in Discontinued Operations	'
	The following table summarizes the rental properties included in discontinued operations:


	Property	Location	Square Feet/ Number of Units	Period Disposed	Three Months Ended 6/30/14	Six Months Ended 6/30/14	Three Months Ended 6/30/13	Six Months Ended 6/30/13
	Commercial Group:
	Promenade Bolingbrook	Bolingbrook, Illinois	771,000 square feet	Q2-2014	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
	Quartermaster Plaza	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	456,000 square feet	Q1-2014	—	Yes	Yes	Yes
	Mesa del Sol - 5600 University SE	Albuquerque, New Mexico	87,000 square feet	Q1-2014	—	Yes	Yes	Yes
	Orchard Town Center	Westminster, Colorado	603,000 square feet	Q4-2013	—	—	Yes	Yes
	Colorado Studios	Denver, Colorado	75,000 square feet	Q3-2013	—	—	Yes	Yes
	Higbee Building	Cleveland, Ohio	815,000 square feet	Q3-2013	—	—	Yes	Yes
	Sheraton Station Square	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	399 rooms	Q3-2013	—	—	Yes	Yes
	Two triple net lease properties	Various	138,000 square feet	Various (1)	—	—	Yes	Yes
	Residential Group:
	Millender Center	Detroit, Michigan	339 units	Q1-2013	—	—	—	Yes

	-1	Includes one triple net lease property disposed of during Q4-2013 and one triple net lease property disposed of during Q1-2013.
Summary of Operating Results of Discontinued Operations	'
	The following table summarizes the operating results related to discontinued operations:


		Three Months Ended June 30,							Six Months Ended June 30,
		2014			2013				2014			2013
		(in thousands)
	Revenues	$	39		$	21,189			$	7,034		$	46,426

	Expenses
	Operating expenses	(1,749		)	10,171				3,026			26,096

	Depreciation and amortization	—			4,162				987			8,475

		(1,749		)	14,333				4,013			34,571


	Interest expense	(55		)	(3,840		)		(5,538		)	(7,830		)
	Amortization of mortgage procurement costs	—			(180		)		(41		)	(361		)

	Loss on extinguishment of debt	(431		)	—				(448		)	(40		)

	Interest and other income	—			112				—			226

	Gain on disposition of rental properties	1,276			—				28,100			21,471

	Earnings before income taxes	2,578			2,948				25,094			25,321

	Income tax expense	1,438			1,123				12,082			7,763

	Earnings from discontinued operations	1,140			1,825				13,012			17,558

	Noncontrolling interest
	Gain on disposition of rental properties	—			—				58			5,835

	Operating earnings (loss) from rental properties	—			48				(8		)	64

		—			48				50			5,899

	Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	$	1,140		$	1,777			$	12,962		$	11,659

Pre-tax Gain on Disposition of Rental Properties	'
	The following table summarizes the pre-tax gain on disposition of rental properties:


		Three Months Ended June 30,							Six Months Ended June 30,
		2014			2013				2014			2013
		(in thousands)
	Promenade Bolingbrook (Regional Mall)	$	1,276		$	—			$	1,276		$	—

	Quartermaster Plaza (Specialty Retail Center)	—			—				26,373			—

	Mesa del Sol - 5600 University SE (Office Building)	—			—				451			—

	Millender Center (Apartment Community)	—			—				—			21,660

	Other	—			—				—			(189		)

		$	1,276		$	—			$	28,100		$	21,471

Gain on Disposition of Unconsolidated Entities	'
	The following table summarizes gains on the disposition of unconsolidated entities, which are included in equity in earnings:


			Three Months Ended June 30,							Six Months Ended June 30,
			2014			2013				2014			2013
			(in thousands)
	Specialty Retail Centers:
	Golden Gate	Mayfield Heights, Ohio	$	16,440		$	—			$	16,440		$	—

	Plaza at Robinson Town Center	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	—			(1,510		)		—			(1,510		)

	Apartment Communities:
	Westwood Reserve	Tampa, Florida	—			—				8,904			—

	Legacy Crossroads	Cary, North Carolina	—			—				6,216			—

	Colonial Grand	Tampa, Florida	—			—				4,904			—

	Legacy Arboretum	Charlotte, North Carolina	—			—				3,257			—

	Barrington Place	Raleigh, North Carolina	—			—				1,515			—

	Other		(350		)	—				(350		)	—

			$	16,090		$	(1,510	)		$	40,886		$	(1,510	)

Earnings_Per_Share_Tables

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	6 Months Ended
Earnings Per Share (Tables)	Jun. 30, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Reconciliation of Basic and Diluted EPS Computations	'
	The reconciliation of the basic and diluted EPS computations is shown in the following table:


		Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013
	Numerators (in thousands)
	Loss from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	$	(94,132	)	$	(36,717	)	$	(90,434	)	$	(66,190	)
	Preferred dividends	—			—			—			(185		)
	Preferred dividends	—			—			—			(185		)
	Loss from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders ‑ Basic and Diluted	$	(94,132	)	$	(36,717	)	$	(90,434	)	$	(66,375	)
	Net loss attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	$	(92,992	)	$	(34,940	)	$	(77,472	)	$	(54,531	)
	Preferred dividends	—			—			—			(185		)
	Preferred dividends	—			—			—			(185		)
	Net loss attributable to common shareholders ‑ Basic and Diluted	$	(92,992	)	$	(34,940	)	$	(77,472	)	$	(54,716	)
	Denominators
	Weighted average shares outstanding ‑ Basic and Diluted (1)	198,341,355			191,357,242			198,041,879			187,604,085
	Weighted average shares outstanding ‑ Basic and Diluted (1)	198,341,355			191,357,242			198,041,879			187,604,085
	Earnings Per Share
	Loss from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders ‑ Basic and Diluted	$	(0.47	)	$	(0.19	)	$	(0.46	)	$	(0.35	)
	Net loss attributable to common shareholders ‑ Basic and Diluted	$	(0.47	)	$	(0.18	)	$	(0.39	)	$	(0.29	)

	-1	Incremental shares from dilutive options, restricted stock, performance shares and convertible securities aggregating 37,140,789 and 37,425,371 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, respectively, and 31,553,214 and 35,331,648 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because their effect is anti-dilutive due to the loss from continuing operations. Weighted-average options, restricted stock and performance shares of 3,974,932 and 3,585,274 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, respectively, and 3,441,229 and 3,544,050 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2013, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because their effect is anti-dilutive under the treasury stock method.

Segment_Information_Tables

Segment Information (Tables)	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014
Segment Reporting [Abstract]	'
Financial Data of Reportable Operating Segments	'
	The following tables summarize financial data for the Company's reportable operating segments. All amounts in the following tables are presented in thousands.


		June 30, 2014			31-Dec-13
		Identifiable Assets
	Commercial Group	$	4,300,903		$	5,120,360

	Residential Group	2,727,891			2,468,708

	Arena	965,774			984,937

	Land Development Group	285,587			260,070

	Corporate Activities	271,366			117,950

		$	8,551,521		$	8,952,025


		Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,						Three Months Ended June 30,						Six Months Ended June 30,
		2014			2013			2014			2013			2014			2013			2014			2013
		Revenues												Operating Expenses
	Commercial Group	$	123,791		$	177,921		$	253,876		$	350,802		$	73,157		$	97,746		$	154,705		$	197,327

	Residential Group	61,553			63,950			127,222			127,281			37,673			47,497			83,342			95,024

	Arena	24,572			26,853			59,929			50,993			14,818			21,898			38,294			40,310

	Land Development Group	19,721			9,191			38,147			18,805			10,100			6,387			18,949			14,075

	Corporate Activities	—			—			—			—			10,059			13,478			21,620			24,537

		$	229,637		$	277,915		$	479,174		$	547,881		$	145,807		$	187,006		$	316,910		$	371,273


		Depreciation and Amortization												Interest Expense
	Commercial Group	$	32,193		$	58,102		$	62,452		$	99,787		$	32,279		$	49,216		$	66,845		$	99,428

	Residential Group	17,656			13,490			33,052			30,021			5,817			10,109			15,002			16,716

	Arena	8,674			8,001			17,206			16,374			9,649			9,393			19,206			18,275

	Land Development Group	95			103			181			429			(147		)	(167		)	(285		)	(438		)

	Corporate Activities	700			756			1,436			1,645			9,555			14,545			18,837			30,598

		$	59,318		$	80,452		$	114,327		$	148,256		$	57,153		$	83,096		$	119,605		$	164,579


		Interest and Other Income												Capital Expenditures
	Commercial Group	$	2,222		$	2,146		$	4,006		$	4,070		$	49,381		$	49,752		$	80,378		$	108,624

	Residential Group	6,599			6,307			13,044			12,261			71,058			57,276			144,849			97,700

	Arena	—			—			—			—			615			17,893			6,552			32,913

	Land Development Group	3,462			3,210			6,707			5,932			—			122			16			829

	Corporate Activities	92			112			121			162			15			229			15			452

		$	12,375		$	11,775		$	23,878		$	22,425		$	121,069		$	125,272		$	231,810		$	240,518

Reconciliation of Net Earnings (Loss) to FFO by Segment	'
	The reconciliations of net earnings (loss) to FFO by segment are shown in the following tables. All amounts are presented in thousands.


	Three Months Ended June 30, 2014	Commercial			Residential			Arena			Land			Corporate			Total
		Group			Group						Development			Activities
											Group
	Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	$	(135,934	)	$	10,934		$	(4,511	)	$	11,493		$	25,026		$	(92,992	)

	Depreciation and amortization – Real Estate Groups	45,764			24,855			5,000			42			—			75,661

	Gain on disposition of unconsolidated entities	(16,090		)	—			—			—			—			(16,090		)

	Impairment of consolidated depreciable real estate	129,059			—			—			—			—			129,059

	Discontinued operations:
	Gain on disposition of rental properties	(1,276		)	—			—			—			—			(1,276		)

	Income tax expense (benefit) on non-FFO:
	Gain on disposition of rental properties	—			—			—			—			8,820			8,820

	Impairment of depreciable real estate	—			—			—			—			(50,053		)	(50,053		)

	FFO	$	21,523		$	35,789		$	489		$	11,535		$	(16,207	)	$	53,129


	Three Months Ended June 30, 2013	Commercial			Residential			Arena			Land			Corporate			Total
		Group			Group						Development			Activities
											Group
	Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	$	(22,300	)	$	5,002		$	(6,757	)	$	7,350		$	(18,235	)	$	(34,940	)

	Depreciation and amortization – Real Estate Groups	66,914			21,495			4,657			149			—			93,215

	Loss on disposition of unconsolidated entities	1,510			—			—			—			—			1,510

	Impairment of consolidated depreciable real estate	—			1,175			—			—			—			1,175

	Discontinued operations:
	Depreciation and amortization – Real Estate Groups	4,175			32			—			—			—			4,207

	Income tax benefit on non-FFO:
	Gain on disposition of rental properties	—			—			—			—			(649		)	(649		)

	Impairment of depreciable real estate	—			—			—			—			(456		)	(456		)

	FFO	$	50,299		$	27,704		$	(2,100	)	$	7,499		$	(19,340	)	$	64,062


	Six Months Ended June 30, 2014	Commercial			Residential			Arena			Land			Corporate			Total
		Group			Group						Development			Activities
											Group
	Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	$	(123,604	)	$	43,101		$	(7,803	)	$	23,086		$	(12,252	)	$	(77,472	)

	Depreciation and amortization – Real Estate Groups	88,473			47,192			9,941			75			—			145,681

	Net loss on disposition of partial interests in rental properties	467			—			—			—			—			467

	Gain on disposition of unconsolidated entities	(16,090		)	(24,796		)	—			—			—			(40,886		)

	Impairment of consolidated depreciable real estate	129,059			—			—			—			—			129,059

	Discontinued operations:
	Depreciation and amortization – Real Estate Groups	986			—			—			—			—			986

Gain on disposition of rental properties	(28,042		)	—			—			—			—			(28,042		)

Income tax expense (benefit) on non-FFO:
Gain on disposition of rental properties	—			—			—			—			28,718			28,718

Impairment of depreciable real estate	—			—			—			—			(50,053		)	(50,053		)

FFO	$	51,249		$	65,497		$	2,138		$	23,161		$	(33,587	)	$	108,458


Six Months Ended June 30, 2013	Commercial			Residential			Arena			Land			Corporate			Total
	Group			Group						Development			Activities
										Group
Net earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders	$	(46,258	)	$	21,198		$	(13,043	)	$	28,742		$	(45,355	)	$	(54,716	)

Preferred dividends	—			—			—			—			185			185

Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	$	(46,258	)	$	21,198		$	(13,043	)	$	28,742		$	(45,170	)	$	(54,531	)

Depreciation and amortization – Real Estate Groups	117,608			45,984			9,549			381			—			173,522

Loss on disposition of unconsolidated entities	1,510			—			—			—			—			1,510

Impairment of consolidated depreciable real estate	—			1,175			—			—			—			1,175

Discontinued operations:
Depreciation and amortization – Real Estate Groups	8,333			171			—			—			—			8,504

(Gain) loss on disposition of rental properties	189			(15,825		)	—			—			—			(15,636		)

Income tax expense (benefit) on non-FFO:
Gain on disposition of rental properties	—			—			—			—			5,472			5,472

Impairment of depreciable real estate	—			—			—			—			(456		)	(456		)

FFO	$	81,382		$	52,703		$	(3,494	)	$	29,123		$	(40,154	)	$	119,560

Accounting_Policies_Details

Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
The components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) ("accumulated OCI")	'		'		'	'
Unrealized (gains) losses on foreign currency translation	($55)		$189		'	'
Unrealized losses on interest rate contracts	111,992	[1]	125,059	[1]	'	'
Total unrealized losses	111,937		125,248		'	'
Income tax benefit	-43,363		-48,517		'	'
Noncontrolling interest	-128		-149		'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	$68,446		$76,582		$87,108	$107,814

[1]	Included in the amounts as of JuneB 30,B 2014 and DecemberB 31,B 2013 are $88,143 and $97,360, respectively, of unrealized loss on an interest rate swap associated with NewB YorkB Times office building on its nonrecourse mortgage debt with a notional amount of $640,000. This swap effectively fixes the mortgage at an all-in lender interest rate of 6.40% and expires in September 2017.

Accounting_Policies_Details_1

Accounting Policies (Details 1) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
Accounting Policies (Details 1) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Schedule of Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'	'
Balance, beginning	($76,582,000)	($107,814,000)
OCI before reclassifications	5,045,000	19,489,000
Loss reclassified from accumulated OCI	3,091,000	1,217,000
Total other comprehensive income	8,136,000	20,706,000
Balance, ending	-68,446,000	-87,108,000
Securities	'	'
Schedule of Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'	'
Balance, beginning	0	-226,000
OCI before reclassifications	0	210,000
Loss reclassified from accumulated OCI	0	0
Total other comprehensive income	0	210,000
Balance, ending	0	-16,000
Foreign Currency Translation	'	'
Schedule of Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'	'
Balance, beginning	-116,000	0
OCI before reclassifications	150,000	-116,000
Loss reclassified from accumulated OCI	0	0
Total other comprehensive income	150,000	-116,000
Balance, ending	34,000	-116,000
Interest Rate Contracts	'	'
Schedule of Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'	'
Balance, beginning	-76,466,000	-107,588,000
OCI before reclassifications	4,895,000	19,395,000
Loss reclassified from accumulated OCI	3,091,000	1,217,000
Total other comprehensive income	7,986,000	20,612,000
Balance, ending	($68,480,000)	($86,976,000)

Accounting_Policies_Details_2

Accounting Policies (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Interest expense	$57,153	$83,096	$119,605	$164,579
Discontinued operations	-797	-1,825	1,844	-2,380
Equity in earnings	-27,168	-4,445	-61,197	-12,756
Income tax benefit	-46,947	-18,470	-43,016	-27,135
Reclassification out of accumulated OCI [Member] \| Accumulated net gain (loss) from designated or qualifying cash flow hedges [Member]	'	'	'	'
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Interest expense	'	'	1,361	1,923
Discontinued operations	'	'	3,666	'
Equity in earnings	'	'	30	73
Total before income tax and noncontrolling interest	'	'	5,057	1,996
Income tax benefit	'	'	-1,958	-771
Noncontrolling interest	'	'	-8	-8
Loss reclassified from accumulated OCI	'	'	$3,091	$1,217

Accounting_Policies_Accounting

Accounting Policies Accounting Policies (Details Textuals) (Ten MetroTech Center [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013
Ten MetroTech Center [Member]	'
Depreciation, by Property [Line Items]	'
Accelerated depreciation	$18,976

Accounting_Policies_Details_Te

Accounting Policies (Details Textual 1) (USD $)	6 Months Ended	11 Months Ended
Accounting Policies (Details Textual 1) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]	'	'
Maximum loss exposure for unconsolidated variable interest entities	$217,000,000	'
Fair value of consideration exchanged or accrued in excess of book value	56,073,000	98,687,000
Pacific Park Brooklyn [Member]	'	'
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]	'	'
Area of project in acres	22	'
Decrease in development project held for sale due to deconsolidation of the VIE	504,171,000	'
Decrease in cash and equivalents due to deconsolidation of the VIE	1,141,000	'
Decrease in restricted cash due to deconsolidation of the VIE	99,784,000	'
Decrease in other assets due to deconsolidation of the VIE	2,571,000	'
Decrease in nonrecourse mortgage debt due to deconsolidation of the VIE	228,000,000	'
Decrease in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities due to deconsolidation of the VIE	20,428,000	'
Increase in investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities due to deconsolidation of the VIE	156,071,000	'
Primary beneficiary [Member]	'	'
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]	'	'
Number of variable interest entities	28	'
Number of properties represented by variable interest entities	21	'
Not primary beneficiary [Member]	'	'
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]	'	'
Number of variable interest entities	62	'
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	'	'
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]	'	'
Fair value of consideration exchanged or accrued in excess of book value	$53,351,000	$95,924,000

Accounting_Policies_Accounting1

Accounting Policies Accounting Policies (Details Textual 2) (USD $)	6 Months Ended			6 Months Ended	1 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Aug. 01, 2006	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Jan. 02, 2014
			property	Common stock Class A [Member]	BCR exchange transaction [Member]	BCR exchange transaction [Member]	BCR Transaction [Member]
						Common stock Class A [Member]	project
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Number of retail, office and residential operating properties and service companies	'	'	30	'	'	'	'
Exchange of common units for shares, units exchanged	'	'	'	'	673,565	'	'
Exchange of common units for shares, shares issued	'	'	'	673,000	'	673,565	'
Exchange of Class A Common Units, purchase of noncontrolling interests	$0	'	'	$224,000	$34,358,000	'	'
Class A Common Units Outstanding	2,973,190	3,646,755	'	'	'	'	'
Number of projects	'	'	'	'	'	'	3
Costs of interest transferred to affiliates of the Company	'	'	'	'	'	'	14,286,000
Tax indemnity payment accrual	$1,646,000	'	'	'	'	'	'

Accounting_Policies_Details_Te1

Accounting Policies (Details Textual 3) (USD $)	6 Months Ended	11 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'
Unrealized losses on an interest rate swap associated with office building	$88,143	$97,360
Nonrecourse mortgage debt [Member]	'	'
Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'
All-in lender interest rate	6.40%	'
Maturity date of swap agreement	1-Sep-17	'
New York Times [Member]	'	'
Accounting Policies (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'
Notional amount	$640,000	'

Mortgage_Debt_and_Notes_Payabl2

Mortgage Debt and Notes Payable, Nonrecourse (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Composition of mortgage debt and notes payable, nonrecourse maturities	'	'
Mortgage debt and notes payable nonrecourse maturities total maturities in 2014	$148,613	'
Mortgage debt and notes payable nonrecourse maturities total maturities in 2015	477,405	'
Mortgage debt and notes payable nonrecourse maturities total maturities in 2016	97,187	'
Mortgage debt and notes payable nonrecourse maturities total maturities in 2017	1,124,122	'
Mortgage debt and notes payable nonrecourse maturities total maturities in 2018	264,626	'
Mortgage debt and notes payable nonrecourse maturities total maturities thereafter	1,924,150	'
Mortgage debt and notes payable, nonrecourse - Total	$4,036,103	$4,351,506

Revolving_Credit_Facility_Deta

Revolving Credit Facility (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]	'	'
Maximum borrowings	$500,000,000	$500,000,000
Borrowings	308,000,000	0
Letters of credit	48,930,000	59,760,000
Surety bonds	0	0
Available credit	$143,070,000	$440,240,000

Revolving_Credit_Facility_Deta1

Revolving Credit Facility (Details Textual) (USD $)	6 Months Ended			6 Months Ended			0 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Jul. 01, 2014
				Revolving credit facility [Member]	Common stock Class A [Member]	Common stock Class A or B [Member]	Subsequent Event [Member]
					Revolving credit facility [Member]	Revolving credit facility [Member]	Revolving credit facility [Member]
Line of Credit Facility [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'	'	'
Total available borrowings	$500,000,000	'	$500,000,000	'	'	'	'
Credit Facility maturity terms	'	'	'	'FebruaryB 21,B 2016 and provides for one, 12-month extension option	'	'	'
Number of Credit Facility extension options	'	'	'	1	'	'	'
Term of Credit Facility extension option	'	'	'	'12 months	'	'	'
Credit Facility interest rate	'	'	'	'LIBOR plus 3.50%	'	'	'
Variable rate basis of debt instrument	'	'	'	'LIBOR	'	'	'
Variable rate basis spread of debt instrument	'	'	'	3.50%	'	'	'
Amount of available borrowings that can be used for letters of credit and/or surety bonds	'	'	'	100,000,000	'	'	'
Maximum Class A common stock repurchase amount	'	'	'	'	100,000,000	'	'
Maximum dividend restriction in any four fiscal quarter period	'	'	'	'	'	24,000,000	'
Repayment of Credit Facility	$329,825,000	$86,950,000	'	'	'	'	$196,000,000

Convertible_Senior_Debt_Detail

Convertible Senior Debt (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Schedule of convertible senior debt	'	'
Total Convertible Senior Debt	$700,000	$700,000
Notes due 2016 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rate	5.00%	5.00%
Schedule of convertible senior debt	'	'
Total Convertible Senior Debt	50,000	50,000
Notes due 2018 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rate	4.25%	4.25%
Schedule of convertible senior debt	'	'
Total Convertible Senior Debt	350,000	350,000
Notes due 2020 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Interest rate	3.63%	3.63%
Schedule of convertible senior debt	'	'
Total Convertible Senior Debt	$300,000	$300,000

Convertible_Senior_Debt_Conver

Convertible Senior Debt Convertible Senior Debt (Details Textuals) (Convertible Senior Notes [Member], USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014
Minimum [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Conversion price per share	$13.91
Maximum [Member]	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'
Conversion price per share	$24.21

Derivative_Instruments_and_Hed2

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Other Assets [Member] \| Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments	'	'
Asset Derivatives, Current Notional	$460,970,000	$18,970,000
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	5,315,000	903,000
Other Assets [Member] \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments	'	'
Asset Derivatives, Current Notional	293,327,000	447,532,000
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	332,000	155,000
Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities [Member] \| Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments	'	'
Liability Derivatives, Current Notional	1,098,904,000	1,301,144,000
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	100,463,000	107,630,000
Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities [Member] \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments	'	'
Liability Derivatives, Current Notional	39,009,000	39,052,000
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	15,076,000	15,477,000
Interest rate caps [Member] \| Other Assets [Member] \| Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments	'	'
Asset Derivatives, Current Notional	330,000,000	'
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	156,000	'
Interest rate caps [Member] \| Other Assets [Member] \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments	'	'
Asset Derivatives, Current Notional	266,775,000	447,532,000
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	58,000	155,000
Interest rate caps [Member] \| Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities [Member] \| Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments	'	'
Liability Derivatives, Current Notional	0	'
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	0	'
Interest rate caps [Member] \| Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities [Member] \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments	'	'
Liability Derivatives, Current Notional	0	0
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	0	0
Interest rate swap agreements [Member] \| Other Assets [Member] \| Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments	'	'
Asset Derivatives, Current Notional	0	0
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	0	0
Interest rate swap agreements [Member] \| Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities [Member] \| Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments	'	'
Liability Derivatives, Current Notional	871,119,000	961,359,000
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	88,646,000	97,858,000
Total Return Swap [Member] \| Other Assets [Member] \| Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments	'	'
Asset Derivatives, Current Notional	130,970,000	18,970,000
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	5,159,000	903,000
Total Return Swap [Member] \| Other Assets [Member] \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments	'	'
Asset Derivatives, Current Notional	26,552,000	0
Asset Derivatives, Fair Value	274,000	0
Total Return Swap [Member] \| Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities [Member] \| Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments	'	'
Liability Derivatives, Current Notional	227,785,000	339,785,000
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	11,817,000	9,772,000
Total Return Swap [Member] \| Accounts Payable, Accrued Expenses and Other Liabilities [Member] \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'	'
Fair Value of Derivative Instruments	'	'
Liability Derivatives, Current Notional	39,009,000	39,052,000
Liability Derivatives, Fair Value	$15,076,000	$15,477,000

Derivative_Instruments_and_Hed3

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Details 1) (Cash Flow Hedging [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Derivative instruments gain (loss) in financial statements	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) recognized in OCI (effective portion)	$2,645,000	$23,433,000	$8,010,000	$31,689,000
Gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated OCI, effective amount	-579,000	-968,000	-1,391,000	-2,001,000
Gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated OCI, ineffective amount	0	2,000	-3,666,000	5,000
Interest rate caps and interest rate swaps [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative instruments gain (loss) in financial statements	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) recognized in OCI (effective portion)	2,645,000	'	8,010,000	'
Interest rate caps and interest rate swaps [Member] \| Interest expense [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative instruments gain (loss) in financial statements	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated OCI, effective amount	-564,000	'	-1,361,000	'
Gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated OCI, ineffective amount	0	'	0	'
Interest rate swap [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative instruments gain (loss) in financial statements	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) recognized in OCI (effective portion)	'	'	0	'
Interest rate swap [Member] \| Discontinued operations [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative instruments gain (loss) in financial statements	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated OCI, effective amount	'	'	0	'
Gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated OCI, ineffective amount	'	'	-3,666,000	'
Interest rate swaps [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative instruments gain (loss) in financial statements	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) recognized in OCI (effective portion)	0	'	0	'
Interest rate swaps [Member] \| Equity in earnings [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative instruments gain (loss) in financial statements	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated OCI, effective amount	-15,000	'	-30,000	'
Gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated OCI, ineffective amount	0	'	0	'
Interest rate caps, interest rate swaps and treasury options [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative instruments gain (loss) in financial statements	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) recognized in OCI (effective portion)	'	23,433,000	'	31,689,000
Interest rate caps, interest rate swaps and treasury options [Member] \| Interest expense [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative instruments gain (loss) in financial statements	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated OCI, effective amount	'	-954,000	'	-1,923,000
Gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated OCI, ineffective amount	'	0	'	0
Interest rate caps, interest rate swaps and treasury options [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative instruments gain (loss) in financial statements	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) recognized in OCI (effective portion)	'	0	'	0
Interest rate caps, interest rate swaps and treasury options [Member] \| Equity in earnings [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative instruments gain (loss) in financial statements	'	'	'	'
Gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated OCI, effective amount	'	-14,000	'	-78,000
Gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated OCI, ineffective amount	'	$2,000	'	$5,000

Derivative_Instruments_and_Hed4

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'		'		'		'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Derivative net gain (loss) recognized in income statement	$1,635,000		($2,295,000)		$572,000		($1,964,000)
Total Return Swap [Member] \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'		'		'		'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Derivative net gain (loss) recognized in income statement	1,681,000		-2,295,000		675,000		-1,725,000
Total Return Swap [Member] \| Fair Value Hedging [Member] \| Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'		'		'		'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Derivative net gain (loss) recognized in income statement	-3,143,000	[1]	257,000	[1]	2,211,000	[1]	104,000	[1]
Interest rate caps and interest rate swaps [Member] \| Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]	'		'		'		'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'		'		'		'
Derivative net gain (loss) recognized in income statement	($46,000)		$0		($103,000)		($239,000)

[1]	The net gain (loss) recognized in interest expense from the change in fair value of the underlying TRS borrowings was $3,143 and $(2,211) for the three and six months ended JuneB 30,B 2014, respectively, and $(257) and $(104) for the three and six months ended JuneB 30,B 2013, respectively, offsetting the gainB (loss) recognized on the TRS.

Derivative_Instruments_and_Hed5

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Loss on cash flow hedges to be reclassified within next twelve months	'	'	$24,788	'
SIFMA rate	0.06%	'	0.06%	'
Net gain (loss) from change in fair value of underlying TRS borrowings recognized in interest expense	3,143	-257	-2,211	-104
Adjustment for nonperformance risk	5,195	'	5,195	'
Aggregate fair value of derivative instruments in a liability position	120,734	'	120,734	'
Posted collateral consisting of cash, investment grade securities and notes receivable	57,913	'	57,913	'
Minimum [Member] \| Interest rate swap agreements [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Derivative, term of contract	'	'	'1 year	'
Minimum [Member] \| Interest rate caps [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Derivative, term of contract	'	'	'1 year	'
Maximum [Member] \| Interest rate swap agreements [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Derivative, term of contract	'	'	'10 years	'
Maximum [Member] \| Interest rate caps [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Derivative, term of contract	'	'	'3 years	'
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] \| Total Return Swap [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Notional amount of TRS	358,755	'	358,755	'
Cash Flow Hedging [Member]	'	'	'	'
Derivative [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Loss on cash flow hedge ineffectiveness	$0	'	$3,666	'

Fair_Value_Measurements_Detail

Fair Value Measurements (Details) (Fair value measurement, recurring basis [Member], USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Financial assets and liabilities and redeemable noncontrolling interests on a recurring basis	'		'
Fair value adjustment to the borrowings subject to TRS	$6,658,000		$8,869,000
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	-192,942,000	[1]	-171,743,000
Fair value of financial assets and liabilities and redeemable noncontrolling interests on a recurring basis	-296,176,000		-284,923,000
Interest rate caps [Member]	'		'
Financial assets and liabilities and redeemable noncontrolling interests on a recurring basis	'		'
Derivative assets	214,000		155,000
Interest rate swap agreements [Member]	'		'
Financial assets and liabilities and redeemable noncontrolling interests on a recurring basis	'		'
Derivative liabilities	-88,646,000		-97,858,000
Total Return Swap [Member]	'		'
Financial assets and liabilities and redeemable noncontrolling interests on a recurring basis	'		'
Derivative assets	5,433,000		903,000
Derivative liabilities	-26,893,000		-25,249,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]	'		'
Financial assets and liabilities and redeemable noncontrolling interests on a recurring basis	'		'
Fair value adjustment to the borrowings subject to TRS	0		0
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	0		0
Fair value of financial assets and liabilities and redeemable noncontrolling interests on a recurring basis	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] \| Interest rate caps [Member]	'		'
Financial assets and liabilities and redeemable noncontrolling interests on a recurring basis	'		'
Derivative assets	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] \| Interest rate swap agreements [Member]	'		'
Financial assets and liabilities and redeemable noncontrolling interests on a recurring basis	'		'
Derivative liabilities	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member] \| Total Return Swap [Member]	'		'
Financial assets and liabilities and redeemable noncontrolling interests on a recurring basis	'		'
Derivative assets	0		0
Derivative liabilities	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'		'
Financial assets and liabilities and redeemable noncontrolling interests on a recurring basis	'		'
Fair value adjustment to the borrowings subject to TRS	0		0
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	0		0
Fair value of financial assets and liabilities and redeemable noncontrolling interests on a recurring basis	-289,000		-343,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] \| Interest rate caps [Member]	'		'
Financial assets and liabilities and redeemable noncontrolling interests on a recurring basis	'		'
Derivative assets	214,000		155,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] \| Interest rate swap agreements [Member]	'		'
Financial assets and liabilities and redeemable noncontrolling interests on a recurring basis	'		'
Derivative liabilities	-503,000		-498,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] \| Total Return Swap [Member]	'		'
Financial assets and liabilities and redeemable noncontrolling interests on a recurring basis	'		'
Derivative assets	0		0
Derivative liabilities	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]	'		'
Financial assets and liabilities and redeemable noncontrolling interests on a recurring basis	'		'
Fair value adjustment to the borrowings subject to TRS	6,658,000		8,869,000
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	-192,942,000	[1]	-171,743,000
Fair value of financial assets and liabilities and redeemable noncontrolling interests on a recurring basis	-295,887,000		-284,580,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] \| Interest rate caps [Member]	'		'
Financial assets and liabilities and redeemable noncontrolling interests on a recurring basis	'		'
Derivative assets	0		0
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] \| Interest rate swap agreements [Member]	'		'
Financial assets and liabilities and redeemable noncontrolling interests on a recurring basis	'		'
Derivative liabilities	-88,143,000		-97,360,000
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] \| Total Return Swap [Member]	'		'
Financial assets and liabilities and redeemable noncontrolling interests on a recurring basis	'		'
Derivative assets	5,433,000		903,000
Derivative liabilities	($26,893,000)		($25,249,000)

[1]	As of JuneB 30,B 2014, the redeemable noncontrolling interest is recorded at book value.

Fair_Value_Measurements_Detail1

Fair Value Measurements (Details 1) (USD $)	6 Months Ended
Fair Value Measurements (Details 1) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance, beginning	($284,580,000)	($368,642,000)
Loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	7,191,000	11,373,000
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):	'	'
Included in earnings	675,000	-1,725,000
Included in other comprehensive income	9,217,000	23,589,000
Included in additional paid-in capital	-28,390,000	-2,237,000
Balance, ending	-295,887,000	-337,642,000
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance, beginning	-171,743,000	-240,790,000
Loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	7,191,000	11,373,000
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):	'	'
Included in earnings	0	0
Included in other comprehensive income	0	0
Included in additional paid-in capital	-28,390,000	-2,237,000
Balance, ending	-192,942,000	-231,654,000
Interest Rate Swaps [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance, beginning	-97,360,000	-131,634,000
Loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	0	0
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):	'	'
Included in earnings	0	0
Included in other comprehensive income	9,217,000	23,589,000
Included in additional paid-in capital	0	0
Balance, ending	-88,143,000	-108,045,000
Net TRS [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance, beginning	-24,346,000	-6,108,000
Loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	0	0
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):	'	'
Included in earnings	2,886,000	-1,621,000
Included in other comprehensive income	0	0
Included in additional paid-in capital	0	0
Balance, ending	-21,460,000	-7,729,000
Fair value adjustment to the borrowings subject to TRS [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance, beginning	8,869,000	9,890,000
Loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	0	0
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):	'	'
Included in earnings	-2,211,000	-104,000
Included in other comprehensive income	0	0
Included in additional paid-in capital	0	0
Balance, ending	6,658,000	9,786,000
TRS Related [Member]	'	'
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance, beginning	-15,477,000	3,782,000
Loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest	0	0
Total realized and unrealized gains (losses):	'	'
Included in earnings	675,000	-1,725,000
Included in other comprehensive income	0	0
Included in additional paid-in capital	0	0
Balance, ending	($14,802,000)	$2,057,000

Fair_Value_Measurements_Detail2

Fair Value Measurements (Details 2) (Fair value measurement, recurring basis [Member], Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member], USD $)	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014
Credit valuation adjustment of interest rate swap [Member]	'
Fair value of financial instruments measured on a recurring basis	'
Fair value, assets	$5,283
Valuation technique	'PotentialB futureB exposure
Unobservable input - credit valuation adjustment of interest rate swap	'CreditB spread
Input values - credit valuation adjustment of interest rate swap	4.00%
Total Return Swap [Member]	'
Fair value of financial instruments measured on a recurring basis	'
Fair value, liabilities	-21,460
Valuation technique	'Bond quote
Total Return Swap [Member] \| Discount rate [Member]	'
Fair value of financial instruments measured on a recurring basis	'
Unobservable input - TRS	'Discount rate
Input values - TRS	'N/A	[1]
Total Return Swap [Member] \| Capitalization rate [Member]	'
Fair value of financial instruments measured on a recurring basis	'
Unobservable input - TRS	'Capitalization rate
Input values - TRS	'N/A	[1]
Fair value adjustment to the borrowings subject to TRS [Member]	'
Fair value of financial instruments measured on a recurring basis	'
Fair value, assets	$6,658
Valuation technique	'Bond quote
Fair value adjustment to the borrowings subject to TRS [Member] \| Discount rate [Member]	'
Fair value of financial instruments measured on a recurring basis	'
Unobservable input - fair value adjustment to borrowings subject to TRS	'Discount rate
Input values - fair value adjustment to the borrowing subject to TRS	'N/A	[1]
Fair value adjustment to the borrowings subject to TRS [Member] \| Capitalization rate [Member]	'
Fair value of financial instruments measured on a recurring basis	'
Unobservable input - fair value adjustment to borrowings subject to TRS	'Capitalization rate
Input values - fair value adjustment to the borrowing subject to TRS	'N/A	[1]

[1]	The Company does not have access to certain significant unobservable inputs used by these third parties to determine these fair values.

Fair_Value_Measurements_Detail3

Fair Value Measurements (Details 3) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Fair Value of nonrecourse mortgage debt and notes payable (including land held for divestiture debt), bank revolving credit facility and senior and subordinated debt	'	'
Carrying Value	$5,044,103	$5,279,506
Fair Value	5,366,050	5,442,542
Fixed Rate Debt [Member]	'	'
Fair Value of nonrecourse mortgage debt and notes payable (including land held for divestiture debt), bank revolving credit facility and senior and subordinated debt	'	'
Carrying Value	2,925,164	3,281,337
Fair Value	3,257,591	3,488,406
Variable Rate Debt [Member]	'	'
Fair Value of nonrecourse mortgage debt and notes payable (including land held for divestiture debt), bank revolving credit facility and senior and subordinated debt	'	'
Carrying Value	2,118,939	1,998,169
Fair Value	$2,108,459	$1,954,136

Fair_Value_Measurements_Fair_V

Fair Value Measurements Fair Value Measurements (Details Textual) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value Measurements [Abstract]	'
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interest	$28,390

Capital_Stock_Detail_Textuals

Capital Stock (Detail Textuals) (USD $)

0 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

11 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

11 Months Ended

0 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

11 Months Ended

1 Months Ended

Apr. 16, 2013

Mar. 13, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Jul. 12, 2013

Apr. 16, 2013

Jul. 12, 2013

Apr. 16, 2013

Mar. 14, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Jul. 12, 2013

Mar. 13, 2013

Mar. 15, 2013

Mar. 14, 2013

Jun. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Puttable Equity Linked Senior Notes due 2014 [Member]

Class A common stock [Member]

Series A Preferred Stock [Member]

BCR exchange transaction [Member]

Class A common stock [Member]

Class of Stock [Line Items]

Exchange of common units for shares, units exchanged

673,565

Exchange of common units for shares, shares issued

673,000

673,565

Senior Notes exchanged for stock, value of senior note exchanged

$138,853,000

Shares of Class A common stock issued in exchange of debt

9,549,721

13,679,000

Cash payment for additional exchange consideration, accrued interest and in lieu of fractional shares

4,860,000

Aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes put to the company

60,033,000

Number of shares received by the note holder upon a put

4,128,806

Cash payments for interest payable and in lieu of fractional shares for put transaction

1,088,000

Conversion of stock, shares converted

362,990

109,768

Stock redeemed during period, Shares

101,270

101,000

Stock redeemed during period, Value

5,063,000

5,100,000

5,063,000

Shares received upon settlement of equity call hedge

765,134

Value per share of Class A common stock received upon settlement of equity call hedge

$16.82

Class A common stock received upon settlement of equity call hedge

12,868,000

Proceeds from equity call hedge related to Series A preferred stock issuance

10,231,000

Preferred dividends

$185,000

StockBased_Compensation_Detail

Stock-Based Compensation (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Amount of stock-based compensation costs and related deferred income tax benefit recognized in the financial statements	'	'	'	'
Total stock-based compensation costs	$4,191	$5,339	$10,222	$8,990
Less amount capitalized into qualifying real estate projects	-555	-1,666	-2,620	-3,099
Amount charged to operating expenses	3,636	3,673	7,602	5,891
Depreciation expense on capitalized stock-based compensation	189	245	447	469
Total stock-based compensation expense	3,825	3,918	8,049	6,360
Deferred income tax benefit	1,455	1,453	3,021	2,333
Stock option costs [Member]	'	'	'	'
Amount of stock-based compensation costs and related deferred income tax benefit recognized in the financial statements	'	'	'	'
Total stock-based compensation costs	523	1,309	1,979	1,900
Restricted stock costs [Member]	'	'	'	'
Amount of stock-based compensation costs and related deferred income tax benefit recognized in the financial statements	'	'	'	'
Total stock-based compensation costs	2,579	3,294	6,303	6,015
Performance share costs [Member]	'	'	'	'
Amount of stock-based compensation costs and related deferred income tax benefit recognized in the financial statements	'	'	'	'
Total stock-based compensation costs	$1,089	$736	$1,940	$1,075

StockBased_Compensation_Detail1

Stock-Based Compensation (Details Textual) (USD $)	6 Months Ended		11 Months Ended
In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
	D	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Number of days after year-end in which substantially all awards are made	90	'	'
Amount of grant-date fair value expensed immediately for awards granted to retirement-eligible grantees	$1,358	$973	'
Purchase of treasury stock, shares	204,574	183,375	'
Purchase of treasury stock, aggregate cost basis	3,781	3,226	3,167
Stock options [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Stock options granted	233,914	'	'
Grant-date fair value	$11.60	'	'
Stock options expected term	'5 years 6 months	'	'
Stock options expected volatility	71.50%	'	'
Stock options risk-free interest rate	1.91%	'	'
Stock options expected dividend yield	0.00%	'	'
Exercise price of options	$18.73	'	'
Unrecognized compensation cost	4,276	'	'
Weighted-average period of unrecognized compensation cost expected to be recognized	'31 months	'	'
Restricted stock [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Shares granted	602,602	'	'
Grant-date fair value	$18.73	'	'
Unrecognized compensation cost	22,494	'	'
Weighted-average period of unrecognized compensation cost expected to be recognized	'33 months	'	'
Performance shares [Member]	'	'	'
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]	'	'	'
Shares granted	309,750	'	'
Grant-date fair value	$18.23	'	'
Unrecognized compensation cost	$10,683	'	'
Weighted-average period of unrecognized compensation cost expected to be recognized	'33 months	'	'

WriteOff_of_Abandoned_Developm1

Write-Off of Abandoned Development Projects and Demolition Costs (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Write-off of Abandoned Development Projects and Demolition Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Write-offs of abandoned development projects and demolition costs	$933,000	$657,000	$933,000	$13,553,000
Ten MetroTech Center [Member]	'	'	'	'
Write-off of Abandoned Development Projects and Demolition Costs [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Non-capitalizable demolition costs	$650,000	'	$650,000	'

Impairment_of_Real_Estate_and_2

Impairment of Real Estate and Impairment of Unconsolidated Entities (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Schedule of Impairment of Real Estate Included in Continuing Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Impairment of Real Estate	$129,829,000	$1,175,000	$129,829,000	$1,175,000
Avenue at Tower City Center [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Impairment of Real Estate Included in Continuing Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Impairment of Real Estate	72,473,000	0	72,473,000	0
Terminal Tower [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Impairment of Real Estate Included in Continuing Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Impairment of Real Estate	42,208,000	0	42,208,000	0
Post Office Plaza [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Impairment of Real Estate Included in Continuing Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Impairment of Real Estate	14,378,000	0	14,378,000	0
Other [Member]	'	'	'	'
Schedule of Impairment of Real Estate Included in Continuing Operations [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Impairment of Real Estate	$770,000	$1,175,000	$770,000	$1,175,000

Impairment_of_Real_Estate_and_3

Impairment of Real Estate and Impairment of Unconsolidated Entities (Details 1) (Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member], USD $)	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013
Indicative bids [Member]	'		'
Non-recurring Impairment of Real Estate Including Discontiued Operations	'		'
Fair value of impairment of real estate	$34,750		$1,700
Fair value valuation technique	'IndicativeB Bids		'IndicativeB Bids
Fair value unobservable input	'IndicativeB Bids		'IndicativeB Bids
Fair value range of input values	'N/A	[1]	'N/A	[1]
Discounted cash flow [Member]	'		'
Non-recurring Impairment of Real Estate Including Discontiued Operations	'		'
Fair value of impairment of real estate	$44,200		'
Fair value valuation technique	'Discounted Cash Flows		'
Market Capitalization Rate [Member] \| Discounted cash flow [Member]	'		'
Non-recurring Impairment of Real Estate Including Discontiued Operations	'		'
Fair value unobservable input	'Market Capitalization Rate		'
Market Capitalization Rate [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| Discounted cash flow [Member]	'		'
Non-recurring Impairment of Real Estate Including Discontiued Operations	'		'
Percentage of input values impairment of real estate	8.00%		'
Market Capitalization Rate [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Discounted cash flow [Member]	'		'
Non-recurring Impairment of Real Estate Including Discontiued Operations	'		'
Percentage of input values impairment of real estate	10.00%		'
Discount rate [Member] \| Discounted cash flow [Member]	'		'
Non-recurring Impairment of Real Estate Including Discontiued Operations	'		'
Fair value unobservable input	'Discount Rate		'
Discount rate [Member] \| Minimum [Member] \| Discounted cash flow [Member]	'		'
Non-recurring Impairment of Real Estate Including Discontiued Operations	'		'
Percentage of input values impairment of real estate	10.50%		'
Discount rate [Member] \| Maximum [Member] \| Discounted cash flow [Member]	'		'
Non-recurring Impairment of Real Estate Including Discontiued Operations	'		'
Percentage of input values impairment of real estate	12.00%		'

[1]	This fair value measurement was derived from a bona fide purchase offer from third party prospective buyers, subject to the Company's corroboration for reasonableness.

Impairment_of_Real_Estate_and_4

Impairment of Real Estate and Impairment of Unconsolidated Entities (Detail Textuals) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Impairment of Real Estate and Impairment of Unconsolidated Entities [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Impairment of real estate	$129,829,000	$1,175,000	$129,829,000	$1,175,000
Impairment of unconsolidated entities	$0	$0	$0	$0

Net_Gain_on_Land_Held_for_Dive1

Net Gain on Land Held for Divestiture Activity (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Schedule of net gain loss on land held for divestiture [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Sales of land held for divestiture	'	$1,184,000	'	$11,906,000
Cost of sales of land held for divestiture	'	-63,000	'	-1,744,000
Gain on extinguishment of debt of land held for divestiture	'	0	'	2,146,000
Net gain on land held for divestiture activity	$0	$1,121,000	$0	$12,308,000

Net_Gain_on_Land_Held_for_Dive2

Net Gain on Land Held for Divestiture Activity (Details Textuals) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013
Land Held for Divestiture [Abstract]	'	'
Net gain on land held for divestiture activity of unconsolidated entities	$682	$2,511

Loss_on_Extinguishment_of_Debt1

Loss on Extinguishment of Debt (Details Textuals) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Extinguishment of Debt [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Loss on extinguishment of debt	$714	$4,975	$878	$4,948
2014 Senior Notes [Member]	'	'	'	'
Extinguishment of Debt [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Loss on extinguishment of debt	'	$4,762	'	$4,762

Net_Loss_on_Disposition_of_Par1

Net Loss on Disposition of Partial Interest in Development Project (Details Textuals) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Net loss on disposition of partial interest in development project	$19,590,000	$0	$19,590,000	$0
Greenland Joint Venture [Member]	'	'	'	'
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Percentage of ownership sold	70.00%	'	70.00%	'
Cash purchase price received, net of transaction costs	163,660,000	'	163,660,000	'
Percentage of cash purchase price received, net of transaction costs	80.00%	'	80.00%	'
Remaining cash purchase price to be received	42,991,000	'	42,991,000	'
Number of days payable after closing for remaining purchase price	'90 days	'	'	'
Net loss on disposition of partial interest in development project	19,590,000	'	19,590,000	'
Net loss on disposition of partial interest in development project, net of noncontrolling interests	$16,211,000	'	$16,211,000	'
Pacific Park Brooklyn [Member] \| Greenland Joint Venture [Member]	'	'	'	'
Significant Acquisitions and Disposals [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Area of project in acres	22	'	22	'

Income_Taxes_Details_Textual

Income Taxes (Details Textual) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		11 Months Ended
In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Taxes (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'	'	'
Income tax benefit	$46,947	$18,470	$43,016	$27,135	'
Net operating loss carryforwards	'	'	'	'	150,758
Net operating loss carryforward expiration dates	'	'	'	'	'years ending DecemberB 31,B 2028 through 2033
Alternative minimum tax credit carryforward	'	'	'	'	28,570
Net deferred tax asset not recorded	'	'	'	'	18,064
Charitable contribution deduction carryforward [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Tax carryforward	'	'	'	'	18,125
Carryforward expiration dates	'	'	'	'	'years ending DecemberB 31,B 2014 through 2017
General business tax credit carryovers [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Tax Credit Carryforward [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Tax carryforward	'	'	'	'	$21,680
Carryforward expiration dates	'	'	'	'	'years ending DecemberB 31,B 2018 through 2033

Discontinued_Operations_and_Ga2

Discontinued Operations and Gain on Disposition of Rental Properties (Details)

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

6 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Jun. 30, 2014

Jun. 30, 2013

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Millender Center [Member]

Promenade Bolingbrook [Member]

Quartermaster Plaza [Member]

Mesa del Sol - 5600 University SE [Member]

Orchard Town Center [Member]

Colorado Studios [Member]

Higbee Building [Member]

Sheraton Station Square [Member]

Two triple net lease properties [Member]

One triple net lease property [Member]

apartmentunit

sqft

room

sqft

property

Summary of rental properties included in discontinued operations

Location

'Detroit, Michigan

'Bolingbrook, Illinois

'Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

'Albuquerque, New Mexico

'Westminster, Colorado

'Denver, Colorado

'Cleveland, Ohio

'Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

'Various

Square feet

771,000

456,000

87,000

603,000

75,000

815,000

138,000

Number of units/rooms

339

399

Period disposed

'Q1-2013

'Q2-2014

'Q1-2014

'Q4-2013

'Q3-2013

'Various

[1]

Period status

'Yes

Number of triple net lease properties disposed of

[1]

Includes one triple net lease property disposed of during Q4-2013 and one triple net lease property disposed of during Q1-2013.

Discontinued_Operations_and_Ga3

Discontinued Operations and Gain on Disposition of Rental Properties (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Summary of operating results of discontinued operations	'	'	'	'
Revenues	$39,000	$21,189,000	$7,034,000	$46,426,000
Expenses	'	'	'	'
Operating expenses	-1,749,000	10,171,000	3,026,000	26,096,000
Depreciation and amortization	0	4,162,000	987,000	8,475,000
Total expenses	-1,749,000	14,333,000	4,013,000	34,571,000
Interest expense	-55,000	-3,840,000	-5,538,000	-7,830,000
Amortization of mortgage procurement costs	0	-180,000	-41,000	-361,000
Loss on extinguishment of debt	-431,000	0	-448,000	-40,000
Interest and other income	0	112,000	0	226,000
Gain on disposition of rental properties	1,276,000	0	28,100,000	21,471,000
Earnings before income taxes	2,578,000	2,948,000	25,094,000	25,321,000
Income tax expense	1,438,000	1,123,000	12,082,000	7,763,000
Earnings from discontinued operations	1,140,000	1,825,000	13,012,000	17,558,000
Noncontrolling interest	'	'	'	'
Gain on disposition of rental properties	0	0	58,000	5,835,000
Operating earnings (loss) from rental properties	0	48,000	-8,000	64,000
Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	48,000	50,000	5,899,000
Earnings from discontinued operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	$1,140,000	$1,777,000	$12,962,000	$11,659,000

Discontinued_Operations_and_Ga4

Discontinued Operations and Gain on Disposition of Rental Properties (Details 3) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Rental Properties [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Pre-tax gain on disposition of rental properties	$1,276,000	$0	$28,100,000	$21,471,000
Promenade Bolingbrook [Member]	'	'	'	'
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Rental Properties [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Pre-tax gain on disposition of rental properties	1,276,000	0	1,276,000	0
Quartermaster Plaza [Member]	'	'	'	'
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Rental Properties [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Pre-tax gain on disposition of rental properties	0	0	26,373,000	0
Mesa del Sol - 5600 University SE [Member]	'	'	'	'
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Rental Properties [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Pre-tax gain on disposition of rental properties	0	0	451,000	0
Millender Center [Member]	'	'	'	'
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Rental Properties [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Pre-tax gain on disposition of rental properties	0	0	0	21,660,000
Other [Member]	'	'	'	'
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Rental Properties [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Pre-tax gain on disposition of rental properties	$0	$0	$0	($189,000)

Discontinued_Operations_and_Ga5

Discontinued Operations and Gain on Disposition of Rental Properties (Details 4) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Gain Loss on Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain on disposition of unconsolidated entities	$16,090,000	($1,510,000)	$40,886,000	($1,510,000)
Golden Gate [Member]	'	'	'	'
Gain Loss on Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain on disposition of unconsolidated entities	16,440,000	0	16,440,000	0
Plaza at Robinson Town Center [Member]	'	'	'	'
Gain Loss on Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain on disposition of unconsolidated entities	0	-1,510,000	0	-1,510,000
Westwood Reserve [Member]	'	'	'	'
Gain Loss on Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain on disposition of unconsolidated entities	0	0	8,904,000	0
Legacy Crossroads [Member]	'	'	'	'
Gain Loss on Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain on disposition of unconsolidated entities	0	0	6,216,000	0
Colonial Grand [Member]	'	'	'	'
Gain Loss on Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain on disposition of unconsolidated entities	0	0	4,904,000	0
Legacy Arboretum [Member]	'	'	'	'
Gain Loss on Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain on disposition of unconsolidated entities	0	0	3,257,000	0
Barrington Place [Member]	'	'	'	'
Gain Loss on Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain on disposition of unconsolidated entities	0	0	1,515,000	0
Other [Member]	'	'	'	'
Gain Loss on Equity Method Investments [Line Items]	'	'	'	'
Gain on disposition of unconsolidated entities	($350,000)	$0	($350,000)	$0

Earnings_Per_Share_Details

Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended				11 Months Ended
Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013
Numerators	'		'		'		'		'
Loss from continuing operations attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	($94,132,000)		($36,717,000)		($90,434,000)		($66,190,000)		'
Preferred dividends	0		0		0		-185,000		-185,000
Loss from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders b Basic and Diluted	-94,132,000		-36,717,000		-90,434,000		-66,375,000		'
Net loss attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	-92,992,000		-34,940,000		-77,472,000		-54,531,000		'
Net loss attributable to common shareholders b Basic and Diluted	($92,992,000)		($34,940,000)		($77,472,000)		($54,716,000)		'
Denominators	'		'		'		'		'
Weighted average shares outstanding b Basic and Diluted	198,341,355	[1]	191,357,242	[1]	198,041,879	[1]	187,604,085	[1]	'
Earnings per share	'		'		'		'		'
Loss from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders b Basic and Diluted	($0.47)		($0.19)		($0.46)		($0.35)		'
Net loss attributable to common shareholders b Basic and Diluted	($0.47)		($0.18)		($0.39)		($0.29)		'

[1]	Incremental shares from dilutive options, restricted stock, performance shares and convertible securities aggregating 37,140,789 and 37,425,371 for the three and six months ended JuneB 30,B 2014, respectively, and 31,553,214 and 35,331,648 for the three and six months ended JuneB 30,B 2013, respectively were not included in the computation of dilutedB EPS because their effect is anti-dilutive due to the loss from continuing operations. Weighted-average options, restricted stock and performance shares of 3,974,932 and 3,585,274 for the three and six months ended JuneB 30,B 2014, respectively, and 3,441,229 and 3,544,050 for the three and six months ended JuneB 30,B 2013, respectively, were not included in the computation of dilutedB EPS because their effect is anti-dilutive under the treasury stock method.

Earnings_Per_Share_Details_Tex

Earnings Per Share (Details Textual)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
Earnings Per Share (Details Textual)	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Dilutive options, restricted stock, performance shares and convertible securities [Member]	'	'	'	'
Earnings Per Share (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	37,140,789	31,553,214	37,425,371	35,331,648
Weighted-average options, restricted stock and performance shares [Member]	'	'	'	'
Earnings Per Share (Textual) [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share	3,974,932	3,441,229	3,585,274	3,544,050

Segment_Information_Details

Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Financial data of five reportable segments	'	'	'	'	'
Total Assets	$8,551,521,000	'	$8,551,521,000	'	$8,952,025,000
Revenues	229,637,000	277,915,000	479,174,000	547,881,000	'
Operating Expenses	145,807,000	187,006,000	316,910,000	371,273,000	'
Depreciation and amortization	59,318,000	80,452,000	114,327,000	148,256,000	'
Interest expense	57,153,000	83,096,000	119,605,000	164,579,000	'
Interest and other income	12,375,000	11,775,000	23,878,000	22,425,000	'
Capital expenditures	121,069,000	125,272,000	231,810,000	240,518,000	'
Commercial Group [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Financial data of five reportable segments	'	'	'	'	'
Total Assets	4,300,903,000	'	4,300,903,000	'	5,120,360,000
Revenues	123,791,000	177,921,000	253,876,000	350,802,000	'
Operating Expenses	73,157,000	97,746,000	154,705,000	197,327,000	'
Depreciation and amortization	32,193,000	58,102,000	62,452,000	99,787,000	'
Interest expense	32,279,000	49,216,000	66,845,000	99,428,000	'
Interest and other income	2,222,000	2,146,000	4,006,000	4,070,000	'
Capital expenditures	49,381,000	49,752,000	80,378,000	108,624,000	'
Residential Group [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Financial data of five reportable segments	'	'	'	'	'
Total Assets	2,727,891,000	'	2,727,891,000	'	2,468,708,000
Revenues	61,553,000	63,950,000	127,222,000	127,281,000	'
Operating Expenses	37,673,000	47,497,000	83,342,000	95,024,000	'
Depreciation and amortization	17,656,000	13,490,000	33,052,000	30,021,000	'
Interest expense	5,817,000	10,109,000	15,002,000	16,716,000	'
Interest and other income	6,599,000	6,307,000	13,044,000	12,261,000	'
Capital expenditures	71,058,000	57,276,000	144,849,000	97,700,000	'
Arena [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Financial data of five reportable segments	'	'	'	'	'
Total Assets	965,774,000	'	965,774,000	'	984,937,000
Revenues	24,572,000	26,853,000	59,929,000	50,993,000	'
Operating Expenses	14,818,000	21,898,000	38,294,000	40,310,000	'
Depreciation and amortization	8,674,000	8,001,000	17,206,000	16,374,000	'
Interest expense	9,649,000	9,393,000	19,206,000	18,275,000	'
Interest and other income	0	0	0	0	'
Capital expenditures	615,000	17,893,000	6,552,000	32,913,000	'
Land Development Group [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Financial data of five reportable segments	'	'	'	'	'
Total Assets	285,587,000	'	285,587,000	'	260,070,000
Revenues	19,721,000	9,191,000	38,147,000	18,805,000	'
Operating Expenses	10,100,000	6,387,000	18,949,000	14,075,000	'
Depreciation and amortization	95,000	103,000	181,000	429,000	'
Interest expense	-147,000	-167,000	-285,000	-438,000	'
Interest and other income	3,462,000	3,210,000	6,707,000	5,932,000	'
Capital expenditures	0	122,000	16,000	829,000	'
Corporate Activities [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Financial data of five reportable segments	'	'	'	'	'
Total Assets	271,366,000	'	271,366,000	'	117,950,000
Revenues	0	0	0	0	'
Operating Expenses	10,059,000	13,478,000	21,620,000	24,537,000	'
Depreciation and amortization	700,000	756,000	1,436,000	1,645,000	'
Interest expense	9,555,000	14,545,000	18,837,000	30,598,000	'
Interest and other income	92,000	112,000	121,000	162,000	'
Capital expenditures	$15,000	$229,000	$15,000	$452,000	'

Segment_Information_Details_1

Segment Information (Details 1) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		11 Months Ended
Segment Information (Details 1) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Net earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders	($92,992,000)	($34,940,000)	($77,472,000)	($54,716,000)	'
Preferred dividends	0	0	0	185,000	185,000
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	-92,992,000	-34,940,000	-77,472,000	-54,531,000	'
Depreciation and amortization - Real Estate Groups	59,318,000	80,452,000	114,327,000	148,256,000	'
Net loss on disposition of partial interests in rental properties	0	0	467,000	0	'
(Gain) Loss on disposition of unconsolidated entities	-16,090,000	1,510,000	-40,886,000	1,510,000	'
Impairment of consolidated depreciable real estate	129,059,000	1,175,000	129,059,000	1,175,000	'
Discontinued operations:	'	'	'	'	'
(Gain) loss on disposition of rental properties	-1,276,000	'	-28,042,000	-15,636,000	'
Income tax benefit (expense) on non-FFO:	'	'	'	'	'
Gain on disposition of rental properties	8,820,000	-649,000	28,718,000	5,472,000	'
Impairment of depreciable real estate	-50,053,000	-456,000	-50,053,000	-456,000	'
FFO	53,129,000	64,062,000	108,458,000	119,560,000	'
Real Estate Groups [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization - Real Estate Groups	75,661,000	93,215,000	145,681,000	173,522,000	'
Discontinued operations:	'	'	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization - Real Estate Groups	'	4,207,000	986,000	8,504,000	'
Commercial Group [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Net earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders	'	'	'	-46,258,000	'
Preferred dividends	'	'	'	0	'
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	-135,934,000	-22,300,000	-123,604,000	-46,258,000	'
Depreciation and amortization - Real Estate Groups	32,193,000	58,102,000	62,452,000	99,787,000	'
Net loss on disposition of partial interests in rental properties	'	'	467,000	'	'
(Gain) Loss on disposition of unconsolidated entities	-16,090,000	1,510,000	-16,090,000	1,510,000	'
Impairment of consolidated depreciable real estate	129,059,000	0	129,059,000	0	'
Discontinued operations:	'	'	'	'	'
(Gain) loss on disposition of rental properties	-1,276,000	'	-28,042,000	189,000	'
Income tax benefit (expense) on non-FFO:	'	'	'	'	'
Gain on disposition of rental properties	0	0	0	0	'
Impairment of depreciable real estate	0	0	0	0	'
FFO	21,523,000	50,299,000	51,249,000	81,382,000	'
Commercial Group [Member] \| Real Estate Groups [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization - Real Estate Groups	45,764,000	66,914,000	88,473,000	117,608,000	'
Discontinued operations:	'	'	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization - Real Estate Groups	'	4,175,000	986,000	8,333,000	'
Residential Group [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Net earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders	'	'	'	21,198,000	'
Preferred dividends	'	'	'	0	'
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	10,934,000	5,002,000	43,101,000	21,198,000	'
Depreciation and amortization - Real Estate Groups	17,656,000	13,490,000	33,052,000	30,021,000	'
Net loss on disposition of partial interests in rental properties	'	'	0	'	'
(Gain) Loss on disposition of unconsolidated entities	0	0	-24,796,000	0	'
Impairment of consolidated depreciable real estate	0	1,175,000	0	1,175,000	'
Discontinued operations:	'	'	'	'	'
(Gain) loss on disposition of rental properties	0	'	0	-15,825,000	'
Income tax benefit (expense) on non-FFO:	'	'	'	'	'
Gain on disposition of rental properties	0	0	0	0	'
Impairment of depreciable real estate	0	0	0	0	'
FFO	35,789,000	27,704,000	65,497,000	52,703,000	'
Residential Group [Member] \| Real Estate Groups [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization - Real Estate Groups	24,855,000	21,495,000	47,192,000	45,984,000	'
Discontinued operations:	'	'	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization - Real Estate Groups	'	32,000	0	171,000	'
Arena [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Net earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders	'	'	'	-13,043,000	'
Preferred dividends	'	'	'	0	'
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	-4,511,000	-6,757,000	-7,803,000	-13,043,000	'
Depreciation and amortization - Real Estate Groups	8,674,000	8,001,000	17,206,000	16,374,000	'
Net loss on disposition of partial interests in rental properties	'	'	0	'	'
(Gain) Loss on disposition of unconsolidated entities	0	0	0	0	'
Impairment of consolidated depreciable real estate	0	0	0	0	'
Discontinued operations:	'	'	'	'	'
(Gain) loss on disposition of rental properties	0	'	0	0	'
Income tax benefit (expense) on non-FFO:	'	'	'	'	'
Gain on disposition of rental properties	0	0	0	0	'
Impairment of depreciable real estate	0	0	0	0	'
FFO	489,000	-2,100,000	2,138,000	-3,494,000	'
Arena [Member] \| Real Estate Groups [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization - Real Estate Groups	5,000,000	4,657,000	9,941,000	9,549,000	'
Discontinued operations:	'	'	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization - Real Estate Groups	'	0	0	0	'
Land Development Group [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Net earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders	'	'	'	28,742,000	'
Preferred dividends	'	'	'	0	'
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	11,493,000	7,350,000	23,086,000	28,742,000	'
Depreciation and amortization - Real Estate Groups	95,000	103,000	181,000	429,000	'
Net loss on disposition of partial interests in rental properties	'	'	0	'	'
(Gain) Loss on disposition of unconsolidated entities	0	0	0	0	'
Impairment of consolidated depreciable real estate	0	0	0	0	'
Discontinued operations:	'	'	'	'	'
(Gain) loss on disposition of rental properties	0	'	0	0	'
Income tax benefit (expense) on non-FFO:	'	'	'	'	'
Gain on disposition of rental properties	0	0	0	0	'
Impairment of depreciable real estate	0	0	0	0	'
FFO	11,535,000	7,499,000	23,161,000	29,123,000	'
Land Development Group [Member] \| Real Estate Groups [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization - Real Estate Groups	42,000	149,000	75,000	381,000	'
Discontinued operations:	'	'	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization - Real Estate Groups	'	0	0	0	'
Corporate Activities [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Net earnings (loss) attributable to common shareholders	'	'	'	-45,355,000	'
Preferred dividends	'	'	'	185,000	'
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Forest City Enterprises, Inc.	25,026,000	-18,235,000	-12,252,000	-45,170,000	'
Depreciation and amortization - Real Estate Groups	700,000	756,000	1,436,000	1,645,000	'
Net loss on disposition of partial interests in rental properties	'	'	0	'	'
(Gain) Loss on disposition of unconsolidated entities	0	0	0	0	'
Impairment of consolidated depreciable real estate	0	0	0	0	'
Discontinued operations:	'	'	'	'	'
(Gain) loss on disposition of rental properties	0	'	0	0	'
Income tax benefit (expense) on non-FFO:	'	'	'	'	'
Gain on disposition of rental properties	8,820,000	-649,000	28,718,000	5,472,000	'
Impairment of depreciable real estate	-50,053,000	-456,000	-50,053,000	-456,000	'
FFO	-16,207,000	-19,340,000	-33,587,000	-40,154,000	'
Corporate Activities [Member] \| Real Estate Groups [Member]	'	'	'	'	'
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]	'	'	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization - Real Estate Groups	0	0	0	0	'
Discontinued operations:	'	'	'	'	'
Depreciation and amortization - Real Estate Groups	'	$0	$0	$0	'