Mortgages payable and credit line (Schedule of Principal Amounts Due) (Details) $ in Thousands	Oct. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
2022	$ 201,680	[1],[2],[3],[4]
2023	35,914	[5]
2024	9,663
2025	14,734
2026	$ 817

[1] Includes a loan on Boulders, which is a residential property located in Rockaway, New Jersey in the amount of approximately $14.5 million which had a maturity date of February 1, 2022. The loan was refinanced on December 30, 2021 in the amount of $7.5 million with additional funding available of up to another $7.5 million and has a maturity date of January 1, 2024. (See Note 17)

[2] Includes a loan on Rotunda property located in Baltimore, Maryland in the amount of approximately $116.5 million which would have matured on February 6, 2022. (See Note 5(K)) On December 30, 2021, the property owned by Grande Rotunda was sold and a portion of the proceeds was used to pay off the $116.5 million then outstanding balance of this loan. (See Note 17)

[3] Includes a loan on Westridge Square Shopping Center located in Frederick, Maryland in the amount of approximately $21.1 million which has a maturity date of January 31, 2021. (See Note 5(J)) On January 7, 2022, the property owned by WestFREIT was sold and a portion of the proceeds was used to pay off the then outstanding balance of this loan. (See Note 17 for additional details.)

[4] Includes a loan on the Preakness Shopping Center located in Wayne, New Jersey in the amount of approximately $22.6 million. As a result of COVID-19 pandemic rent losses and the planning for a potential redevelopment of its shopping center, as of October 31, 2021, Wayne PSC was not, and currently is not, in compliance with a look back debt service coverage ratio loan covenant contained in the mortgage loan agreement held by People’s United Bank in the amount of approximately $22.6 million as of October 31, 2021. Although the Company continues to make its required debt service payments in accordance with the loan agreement, it is unable to comply with this covenant. As such, the bank could exercise its remedies under the loan agreement including, among other things, requiring a partial or full repayment of the loan. The Company is currently working with the lender to remediate this covenant default. As of the date of the filing of this Form 10K report, the bank has not declared this loan to be in default. Until such time as a definitive agreement is entered into, there can be no assurance the loan covenant will be amended and the bank will not declare this loan to be in default. (See Note 5(F))

[5] Includes a loan on the Damascus property located in Damascus, Maryland in the amount of approximately $18.2 million. On January 10, 2022, the property owned by Damascus was sold and a portion of the proceeds was used to pay off the then outstanding balance of this loan. (See Notes 5(G) and 17)