Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Investments in real estate, at cost
Land	$ 82,215,000	$ 43,252,000
Buildings and improvements	588,653,000	378,737,000
Investment in real estate, gross	670,868,000	421,989,000
Less: accumulated depreciation	(56,448,000)	(51,553,000)
Investments in real estate, net (variable interest entities $65,275 and $21,423, respectively)	614,420,000	370,436,000
Cash and cash equivalents (variable interest entities $1,163 and $509, respectively)	112,512,000	97,682,000
Restricted cash held in escrows (variable interest entities $7,340 and $1,101, respectively)	13,372,000	13,250,000
Loans receivable, net	101,100,000	211,250,000
Secured financing receivable	30,728,000
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $414 and $374, respectively	2,229,000	1,418,000
Accrued rental income	19,760,000	17,241,000
Securities carried at fair value		19,694,000
Loan securities carried at fair value	226,000	11,000
Preferred equity investments	6,485,000	12,250,000
Equity investments	149,085,000	134,859,000
Lease intangibles, net (variable interest entities $20,043 and $3,485, respectively)	49,866,000	37,744,000
Deferred financing costs, net	6,189,000	4,864,000
Other assets	3,314,000	2,464,000
Assets held for sale	23,038,000
TOTAL ASSETS	1,132,324,000	923,163,000
LIABILITIES
Mortgage loans payable (variable interest entities $90,404 and $23,184, respectively)	444,933,000	280,576,000
Senior notes payable	86,250,000	86,250,000
Secured financings	29,150,000	52,920,000
Notes payable (variable interest entities $942 and $876, respectively)	1,742,000	1,676,000
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other liabilities	26,266,000	21,056,000
Related party fees payable	2,831,000	2,664,000
Dividends payable	6,099,000	5,366,000
Deferred income	1,353,000	1,136,000
Below market lease intangibles, net (variable interest entities $527 and $51, respectively)	2,399,000	2,255,000
Liabilities of assets held for sale	21,638,000
TOTAL LIABILITIES	622,661,000	453,899,000
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Winthrop Realty Trust Shareholders' Equity:
Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares, $25 per share liquidation preference, 5,060,000 shares authorized and 4,820,000 shares both issued and outstanding at December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012	120,500,000	120,500,000
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, $1 par, unlimited shares authorized; 36,401,438 and 33,018,711 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively	35,809,000	33,019,000
Additional paid-in capital	647,121,000	618,426,000
Accumulated distributions in excess of net income	(322,432,000)	(317,385,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(124,000)	(50,000)
Total Winthrop Realty Trust Shareholders' Equity	480,874,000	454,510,000
Non-controlling interests	28,789,000	14,754,000
Total Equity	509,663,000	469,264,000
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$ 1,132,324,000	$ 923,163,000