Management agreement, fees and transactions with related party (Details) - USD ($)			12 Months Ended
	May 08, 2008	Oct. 31, 2006	Oct. 31, 2019	Oct. 31, 2018	Oct. 31, 2017	Oct. 31, 2013	Oct. 31, 2016
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Asset management fees			$ 2,603,000	$ 2,547,000	$ 2,375,000
Sale/Acquisition commissions			131,250	522,500	467,500
Total construction financing, including other members			14,460,000
Amount of the capital call			8,700,000
Payment of capital call			8,700,000
Due to affiliate			5,705,000	5,417,000
Secured loans receivable			5,053,000	4,862,000
Commissions related to loan financing			$ 144,075	672,500
Damascus Centre, LLC [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Sale of interest		$ 3,224,000
Sale of interest, amount financed		$ 1,451,000
Damascus Centre, LLC [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Ownership by parent (percentage)			70.00%
Ownership by noncontrolling owners (percentage)			30.00%
Grande Rotunda, LLC [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Aggregate outstanding principal balance			$ 4,000,000	4,000,000
Accrued but unpaid interest			$ 1,053,000	862,000
Ownership by parent (percentage)			60.00%
Ownership by noncontrolling owners (percentage)			40.00%
Due to affiliate			$ 5,700,000	5,400,000
Managing Agent Hekemian & Co [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Asset management fees			2,549,000	2,438,000	2,216,000
Leasing commissions and reimbursement of operating expenses			762,000	742,000	1,191,000
Insurance commissions			196,000	178,000	175,000
Maximum advances to employees	$ 2,000,000		4,000,000	4,000,000
Accounts Payable			219,000	212,000
Rotunda 100 [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Secured loans receivable to noncontrolling interest			2,100,000
Amount of the capital call			5,800,000
Payment of capital call			5,800,000
Advance to affiliate			3,700,000
Fee amount			1,400,000
Affiliated Entity 1 [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Construction and development costs						$ 1,400,000
Development fees included in accounts payable					900,000		$ 900,000
Consulting services expense			275,000	1,195,000	467,500
Robert S. Hekemian [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Trustee fee expense			214,000	365,000	538,000
Consulting services expense			60,000	34,200
Consulting fee per month			5,000
Consulting fee quarterly installments			15,000
Robert S. Hekemian, Jr. [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Trustee fee expense			381,000	149,000	65,000
David Hekemian [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Trustee fee expense			22,000	0	0
Allan Tubin [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Trustee fee expense			$ 56,000	$ 26,000	0
Damascus Centre [Member]
Related Party Transaction [Line Items]
Secured notes outstanding					1,870,000
Principal amount on notes					1,451,000
Accrued interest payable					$ 419,000