Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents (including $144 and $307 from VIEs, respectively)	$ 3,781	$ 30,919
Restricted cash	3,530	3,836
Investment in marketable equity securities	815	1,948
Accounts receivable from related parties - net	4,010	3,460
Service fees receivable - net (including $553 and $915 from VIEs, respectively)	28,798	31,048
Professional service contracts - net	2,751	3,468
Prepaid expenses and other assets	10,359	11,842
Assets held for sale (including $14,943 from VIEs and $24,992 from related parties)	0	100,314
Total current assets	54,044	186,835
Professional service contracts - net	3,304	5,750
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements - net	11,050	10,110
Identified intangible assets - net	77,791	80,698
Other assets - net (including $11 and $7 from VIEs, respectively)	2,067	2,030
Goodwill	1,521	1,521
Total assets	149,777	286,944
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (including $735 and $916 from VIEs, respectively)	63,793	69,470
Credit facility (includes accrued interest)	18,511	0
Notes payable and capital lease obligations	5,391	1,041
Liabilities held for sale (including $822 from VIEs and $2,178 from related parties)	0	122,478
Total current liabilities	87,695	192,989
Long-term liabilities:
Convertible notes	30,369	30,133
Notes payable and capital lease obligations	409	566
Other long-term liabilities	9,035	7,065
Deferred tax liabilities	25,234	25,070
Total liabilities	152,742	255,823
Commitment and contingencies (Note 11)
Preferred stock: 12% cumulative participating perpetual convertible; $0.01 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010; 965,700 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010	98,892	90,080
Shareowners' deficit:
Preferred stock: $0.01 par value; 19,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010; no shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010
Common stock: $0.01 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010; 69,940,830 and 70,076,451 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively	698	701
Additional paid-in capital	404,065	409,943
Accumulated deficit	(506,513)	(478,881)
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(107)	148
Total Grubb & Ellis Company shareowners' deficit	(101,857)	(68,089)
Noncontrolling interests (including $9,130 from VIEs as of December 31, 2010) )	0	9,130
Total deficit	(101,857)	(58,959)
Total liabilities and shareowners' deficit	$ 149,777	$ 286,944