SCHEDULE XI - REAL ESTATE AND ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION (Schedule of Properties) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2012
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Encumbrances	$ 246,552,000
Initial Cost to Company
Land	66,631,000
Buildings and Improvements	152,703,000
Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition
Land	13,158,000
Improvements	121,540,000
Carrying Costs
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	79,789,000
Buildings and Improvements	274,243,000
Total	354,032,000	292,769,000	283,703,000
Accumulated Depreciation	81,569,000	75,226,000	69,619,000
Real estate:
Balance, beginning of year	292,769,000	283,703,000	285,137,000
Buildings and improvements	62,340,000	9,903,000	4,267,000
Deferred project cost write-off			(3,726,000)
Sale of discontinued operation	(1,077,000)	(837,000)	(1,975,000)
Balance, end of year	354,032,000	292,769,000	283,703,000
Accumulated depreciation:
Balance, beginning of year	75,226,000	69,619,000	64,976,000
Additions - Charged to operating expenses	6,346,000	6,244,000	6,215,000
Sale of discontinued operation		(631,000)	(1,561,000)
Adjustments/Deletions	(3,000)	(6,000)	(11,000)
Balance, end of year	81,569,000	75,226,000	69,619,000
Hammel Gardens, Maywood, NJ [Member] | Residential Properties [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Encumbrances	8,374,000
Initial Cost to Company
Land	312,000
Buildings and Improvements	728,000
Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition
Land
Improvements	1,272,000
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	312,000
Buildings and Improvements	2,000,000
Total	2,312,000
Accumulated Depreciation	1,564,000
Real estate:
Balance, end of year	2,312,000
Accumulated depreciation:
Balance, end of year	1,564,000
Hammel Gardens, Maywood, NJ [Member] | Residential Properties [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	7 years
Hammel Gardens, Maywood, NJ [Member] | Residential Properties [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	40 years
Steuben Arms, River Edge, NJ [Member] | Residential Properties [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Encumbrances	11,037,000
Initial Cost to Company
Land	364,000
Buildings and Improvements	1,773,000
Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition
Land
Improvements	1,573,000
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	364,000
Buildings and Improvements	3,346,000
Total	3,710,000
Accumulated Depreciation	2,768,000
Real estate:
Balance, end of year	3,710,000
Accumulated depreciation:
Balance, end of year	2,768,000
Steuben Arms, River Edge, NJ [Member] | Residential Properties [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	7 years
Steuben Arms, River Edge, NJ [Member] | Residential Properties [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	40 years
Berdan Court, Wayne, NJ [Member] | Residential Properties [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Encumbrances	18,686,000
Initial Cost to Company
Land	250,000
Buildings and Improvements	2,206,000
Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition
Land
Improvements	4,221,000
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	250,000
Buildings and Improvements	6,427,000
Total	6,677,000
Accumulated Depreciation	5,024,000
Real estate:
Balance, end of year	6,677,000
Accumulated depreciation:
Balance, end of year	5,024,000
Berdan Court, Wayne, NJ [Member] | Residential Properties [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	7 years
Berdan Court, Wayne, NJ [Member] | Residential Properties [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	40 years
Westwood Hills, Westwood, NJ [Member] | Residential Properties [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Encumbrances	21,974,000
Initial Cost to Company
Land	3,849,000
Buildings and Improvements	11,546,000
Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition
Land
Improvements	2,674,000
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	3,849,000
Buildings and Improvements	14,220,000
Total	18,069,000
Accumulated Depreciation	7,671,000
Real estate:
Balance, end of year	18,069,000
Accumulated depreciation:
Balance, end of year	7,671,000
Westwood Hills, Westwood, NJ [Member] | Residential Properties [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	7 years
Westwood Hills, Westwood, NJ [Member] | Residential Properties [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	40 years
Pierre Towers, Hackensack, NJ [Member] | Residential Properties [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Encumbrances	31,198,000
Initial Cost to Company
Land	8,390,000
Buildings and Improvements	37,486,000
Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition
Land	19,000
Improvements	7,932,000
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	8,409,000
Buildings and Improvements	45,418,000
Total	53,827,000
Accumulated Depreciation	12,281,000
Cost for Federal income tax purposes	40,900,000
Real estate:
Balance, end of year	53,827,000
Accumulated depreciation:
Balance, end of year	12,281,000
Pierre Towers, Hackensack, NJ [Member] | Residential Properties [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	7 years
Pierre Towers, Hackensack, NJ [Member] | Residential Properties [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	40 years
Boulders - Rockaway, NJ [Member] | Residential Properties [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Encumbrances	18,030,000
Initial Cost to Company
Land	1,683,000
Buildings and Improvements
Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition
Land	3,335,000
Improvements	16,274,000
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	5,018,000
Buildings and Improvements	16,274,000
Total	21,292,000
Accumulated Depreciation	4,212,000
Real estate:
Balance, end of year	21,292,000
Accumulated depreciation:
Balance, end of year	4,212,000
Boulders - Rockaway, NJ [Member] | Residential Properties [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	7 years
Boulders - Rockaway, NJ [Member] | Residential Properties [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	40 years
Regency Club - Middletown, NY [Member] | Residential Properties [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Encumbrances
Initial Cost to Company
Land	2,833,000
Buildings and Improvements	17,792,000
Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition
Land
Improvements	85,000
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	2,833,000
Buildings and Improvements	17,877,000
Total	20,710,000
Accumulated Depreciation	149,000
Cost for Federal income tax purposes	12,600,000
Real estate:
Balance, end of year	20,710,000
Accumulated depreciation:
Balance, end of year	149,000
Regency Club - Middletown, NY [Member] | Residential Properties [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	7 years
Regency Club - Middletown, NY [Member] | Residential Properties [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	40 years
Damascus Shopping Center, Damascus, MD [Member] | Retail Properties [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Encumbrances	19,326,000
Initial Cost to Company
Land	2,950,000
Buildings and Improvements	6,987,000
Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition
Land	6,296,000
Improvements	17,425,000
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	9,246,000
Buildings and Improvements	24,412,000
Total	33,658,000
Accumulated Depreciation	4,014,000
Real estate:
Balance, end of year	33,658,000
Accumulated depreciation:
Balance, end of year	4,014,000
Damascus Shopping Center, Damascus, MD [Member] | Retail Properties [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	15 years
Damascus Shopping Center, Damascus, MD [Member] | Retail Properties [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	39 years
Franklin Crossing, Franklin Lakes, NJ [Member] | Retail Properties [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Encumbrances
Initial Cost to Company
Land	29,000
Buildings and Improvements
Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition
Land	3,382,000
Improvements	7,999,000
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	3,411,000
Buildings and Improvements	7,999,000
Total	11,410,000
Accumulated Depreciation	3,756,000
Real estate:
Balance, end of year	11,410,000
Accumulated depreciation:
Balance, end of year	3,756,000
Franklin Crossing, Franklin Lakes, NJ [Member] | Retail Properties [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	10 years
Franklin Crossing, Franklin Lakes, NJ [Member] | Retail Properties [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	50 years
Glen Rock, NJ [Member] | Retail Properties [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Encumbrances
Initial Cost to Company
Land	12,000
Buildings and Improvements	36,000
Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition
Land
Improvements	213,000
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	12,000
Buildings and Improvements	249,000
Total	261,000
Accumulated Depreciation	204,000
Real estate:
Balance, end of year	261,000
Accumulated depreciation:
Balance, end of year	204,000
Glen Rock, NJ [Member] | Retail Properties [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	10 years
Glen Rock, NJ [Member] | Retail Properties [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	31 years 6 months
Pathmark Super Center, Patchogue, NY [Member] | Retail Properties [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Encumbrances	5,376,000
Initial Cost to Company
Land	2,128,000
Buildings and Improvements	8,818,000
Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition
Land
Improvements	(21,000)
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	2,128,000
Buildings and Improvements	8,797,000
Total	10,925,000
Accumulated Depreciation	3,773,000
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	39 years
Real estate:
Balance, end of year	10,925,000
Accumulated depreciation:
Balance, end of year	3,773,000
Westridge Square S/C, Frederick, MD [Member] | Retail Properties [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Encumbrances	22,000,000
Initial Cost to Company
Land	9,135,000
Buildings and Improvements	19,159,000
Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition
Land	(1,000)
Improvements	4,196,000
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	9,134,000
Buildings and Improvements	23,355,000
Total	32,489,000
Accumulated Depreciation	15,292,000
Real estate:
Balance, end of year	32,489,000
Accumulated depreciation:
Balance, end of year	15,292,000
Westridge Square S/C, Frederick, MD [Member] | Retail Properties [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	15 years
Westridge Square S/C, Frederick, MD [Member] | Retail Properties [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	31 years 6 months
Westwood Plaza, Westwood, NJ [Member] | Retail Properties [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Encumbrances	21,884,000
Initial Cost to Company
Land	6,889,000
Buildings and Improvements	6,416,000
Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition
Land
Improvements	2,487,000
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	6,889,000
Buildings and Improvements	8,903,000
Total	15,792,000
Accumulated Depreciation	7,417,000
Real estate:
Balance, end of year	15,792,000
Accumulated depreciation:
Balance, end of year	7,417,000
Westwood Plaza, Westwood, NJ [Member] | Retail Properties [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	15 years
Westwood Plaza, Westwood, NJ [Member] | Retail Properties [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	31 years 6 months
Preakness S/C, Wayne, NJ [Member] | Retail Properties [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Encumbrances	25,978,000
Initial Cost to Company
Land	9,280,000
Buildings and Improvements	24,217,000
Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition
Land
Improvements	1,685,000
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	9,280,000
Buildings and Improvements	25,902,000
Total	35,182,000
Accumulated Depreciation	8,524,000
Cost for Federal income tax purposes	35,400,000
Real estate:
Balance, end of year	35,182,000
Accumulated depreciation:
Balance, end of year	8,524,000
Preakness S/C, Wayne, NJ [Member] | Retail Properties [Member] | Minimum [Member]
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	15 years
Preakness S/C, Wayne, NJ [Member] | Retail Properties [Member] | Maximum [Member]
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	31 years 6 months
The Rotunda, Baltimore, MD [Member] | Retail Properties [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Encumbrances	42,689,000
Initial Cost to Company
Land	16,263,000
Buildings and Improvements	14,634,000
Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition
Land	232,000
Improvements	53,525,000
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	16,495,000
Buildings and Improvements	68,159,000
Total	84,654,000
Accumulated Depreciation	4,682,000
Life on Which Depreciation is Computed	40 years
Cost for Federal income tax purposes	71,600,000
Real estate:
Balance, end of year	84,654,000
Accumulated depreciation:
Balance, end of year	4,682,000
Rockaway, NJ [Member] | Land Leased [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Encumbrances
Initial Cost to Company
Land	114,000
Buildings and Improvements
Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition
Land	51,000
Improvements
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	165,000
Buildings and Improvements
Total	165,000
Accumulated Depreciation
Real estate:
Balance, end of year	165,000
Accumulated depreciation:
Balance, end of year
Rochelle Park, NJ [Member] | Land Leased [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Encumbrances
Initial Cost to Company
Land	1,640,000
Buildings and Improvements	905,000
Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition
Land
Improvements
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	1,640,000
Buildings and Improvements	905,000
Total	2,545,000
Accumulated Depreciation	238,000
Real estate:
Balance, end of year	2,545,000
Accumulated depreciation:
Balance, end of year	238,000
Franklin Lakes, NJ [Member] | Vacant Land [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Encumbrances
Initial Cost to Company
Land	224,000
Buildings and Improvements
Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition
Land	(156,000)
Improvements
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	68,000
Buildings and Improvements
Total	68,000
Accumulated Depreciation
Real estate:
Balance, end of year	68,000
Accumulated depreciation:
Balance, end of year
Wayne, NJ [Member] | Vacant Land [Member]
SEC Schedule III, Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation [Line Items]
Encumbrances
Initial Cost to Company
Land	286,000
Buildings and Improvements
Costs Capitalized Subsequent to Acquisition
Improvements
Gross Amount at Which Carried at Close of Period
Land	286,000
Buildings and Improvements
Total	286,000
Accumulated Depreciation
Real estate:
Balance, end of year	286,000
Accumulated depreciation:
Balance, end of year