Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenue
Rents and reimbursements	$ 44,636	$ 38,059	$ 39,803
Interest, dividends and discount accretion	25,458	17,128	7,336
Total Revenue	70,094	55,187	47,139
Expenses
Property operating	15,321	8,665	7,041
Real estate taxes	4,546	2,532	2,542
Depreciation and amortization	13,539	9,956	10,529
Interest	16,021	15,375	16,664
Impairment loss on investment in real estate	7,600	2,720	10,000
Provision for loss on loans receivable			2,152
General and administrative	11,767	8,826	7,303
State and local taxes	379	134	157
Total expenses	69,173	45,488	56,388
Other income (loss)
Earnings (loss) from preferred equity investments	338	338	(2,108)
Equity in loss of equity investments (inclusive of impairments of $21,058, $0, $36,356)	(12,919)	(2,007)	(103,092)
Gain on sale of equity investments	207
Realized gain on sale of securities carried at fair value	123	558	5,416
Unrealized gain on securities carried at fair value	2,788	5,060	17,862
Impairment loss on real estate loan available for sale			(203)
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt, net	9,258		6,846
Realized gain on loan securities carried at fair value		469
Unrealized gain on loan securities carried at fair value	2,738	5,011
Gain on consolidation of property	818
Interest and other income	1,179	139	172
Total other income (loss)	10,398	9,568	(75,107)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	11,319	19,267	(84,356)
Discontinued operations
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	428	(1,902)	1,026
Consolidated net income (loss)	11,747	17,365	(83,330)
Income attributable to non-controlling interest	(814)	(888)	(1,017)
Net income (loss) attributable to Winthrop Realty Trust	10,933	16,477	(84,347)
Income attributable to non-controlling redeemable preferred interest	(585)	(288)	(147)
Income attributable to Series D Preferred Shares	(339)
Net income (loss) attributable to Common Shares	10,009	16,189	(84,494)
Comprehensive income (loss)
Consolidated net income (loss)	11,747	17,365	(83,330)
Change in unrealized gain on available for sale securities		2	19
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate derivative	(29)	22	543
Change in unrealized gain (loss) from equity investments			26,174
Comprehensive income (loss)	$ 11,718	$ 17,389	$ (56,594)
Per Common Share data--Basic
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ 0.31	$ 0.80	$ (5.25)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	$ 0.01	$ (0.08)	$ 0.06
Net income (loss) attributable to Winthrop Realty Trust	$ 0.32	$ 0.72	$ (5.19)
Per Common Share data--Diluted
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$ 0.31	$ 0.80	$ (5.25)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	$ 0.01	$ (0.08)	$ 0.06
Net income (loss) attributable to Winthrop Realty Trust	$ 0.32	$ 0.72	$ (5.19)
Basic Weighted-Average Common Shares	31,428	22,566	16,277
Diluted Weighted-Average Common Shares	31,428	22,568	16,277