Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($)
$ in Thousands
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2016
Sep. 30, 2015
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES    
Net income (loss) $ 113,530 $ (106,077)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by Operating activities:    
Depreciation and amortization, including related intangible assets 134,756 128,422
Amortization of directors deferred compensation stock units 285 297
Amortization of stock compensation 4,299 1,500
Amortization of deferred financing costs 3,583 2,846
Amortization of debt discount and mark-to-market 1,417 2,791
Equity in (earnings) loss of unconsolidated joint ventures (19,622) 2,723
Distributions of cumulative earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures 4,833 3,145
Gain on change of control of interests (15,347)  
Realized (gains) losses and unrealized losses on disposition of rental property, net (68,664) (53,261)
Gain on sale of investments in unconsolidated joint ventures (5,670) (6,448)
Gain from extinguishment of debt (12,420)  
Impairments   164,176
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:    
(Increase) decrease in unbilled rents receivable, net (9,860) 17
Increase in deferred charges, goodwill and other assets (11,173) (23,387)
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable, net 424 (603)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities (12,656) 5,298
Decrease in rents received in advance and security deposits (1,425) (4,502)
(Decrease) increase in accrued interest payable (1,500) 7,751
Net cash provided by operating activities 104,790 124,688
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES    
Rental property acquisitions and related intangibles (405,808) (6,057)
Rental property additions and improvements (94,017) (59,700)
Development of rental property and other related costs (150,592) (49,959)
Proceeds from the sales of rental property 409,101 81,049
Proceeds from the sale of investments in unconsolidated joint ventures 6,420 6,448
Repayment of notes receivable 375 7,750
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests (37,946)  
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures (31,318) (68,468)
Distributions in excess of cumulative earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures 20,906 4,329
Increase in restricted cash (287) (5,823)
Net cash used in investing activities (283,166) (90,431)
CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES    
Borrowings from revolving credit facility 793,000 179,000
Repayment of revolving credit facility (853,000) (144,000)
Repayment of senior unsecured notes (314,755)  
Borrowings from unsecured term loan 350,000  
Proceeds from mortgages and loans payable 426,613 6,193
Repayment of mortgages, loans payable and other obligations (187,969) (29,307)
Payment of financing costs (7,050) (98)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests 1,065 251
Payment of dividends and distributions (45,050) (44,979)
Net cash by (used in) financing activities 162,854 (32,940)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (15,522) 1,317
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 37,077 29,549
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period 21,555 30,866
Mack Cali Realty LP [Member]    
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES    
Net income (loss) 113,530 (106,077)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by Operating activities:    
Depreciation and amortization, including related intangible assets 134,756 128,422
Amortization of directors deferred compensation stock units 285 297
Amortization of stock compensation 4,299 1,500
Amortization of deferred financing costs 3,583 2,846
Amortization of debt discount and mark-to-market 1,417 2,791
Equity in (earnings) loss of unconsolidated joint ventures (19,622) 2,723
Distributions of cumulative earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures 4,833 3,145
Gain on change of control of interests (15,347)  
Realized (gains) losses and unrealized losses on disposition of rental property, net (68,664) (53,261)
Gain on sale of investments in unconsolidated joint ventures (5,670) (6,448)
Gain from extinguishment of debt (12,420)  
Impairments   164,176
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:    
(Increase) decrease in unbilled rents receivable, net (9,860) 17
Increase in deferred charges, goodwill and other assets (11,173) (23,387)
Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable, net 424 (603)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities (12,656) 5,298
Decrease in rents received in advance and security deposits (1,425) (4,502)
(Decrease) increase in accrued interest payable (1,500) 7,751
Net cash provided by operating activities 104,790 124,688
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES    
Rental property acquisitions and related intangibles (405,808) (6,057)
Rental property additions and improvements (94,017) (59,700)
Development of rental property and other related costs (150,592) (49,959)
Proceeds from the sales of rental property 409,101 81,049
Proceeds from the sale of investments in unconsolidated joint ventures 6,420 6,448
Repayment of notes receivable 375 7,750
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests (37,946)  
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures (31,318) (68,468)
Distributions in excess of cumulative earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures 20,906 4,329
Increase in restricted cash (287) (5,823)
Net cash used in investing activities (283,166) (90,431)
CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES    
Borrowings from revolving credit facility 793,000 179,000
Repayment of revolving credit facility (853,000) (144,000)
Repayment of senior unsecured notes (314,755)  
Borrowings from unsecured term loan 350,000  
Proceeds from mortgages and loans payable 426,613 6,193
Repayment of mortgages, loans payable and other obligations (187,969) (29,307)
Payment of financing costs (7,050) (98)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests 1,065 251
Payment of dividends and distributions (45,050) (44,979)
Net cash by (used in) financing activities 162,854 (32,940)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (15,522) 1,317
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 37,077 29,549
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 21,555 $ 30,866