Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Investments in real estate, at cost
Land	$ 90,481	$ 82,215
Buildings and improvements	591,824	588,653
Investment in real estate, gross	682,305	670,868
Less: accumulated depreciation	(56,035)	(56,448)
Investments in real estate, net (variable interest entities $65,523 and $65,275, respectively)	626,270	614,420
Cash and cash equivalents (variable interest entities $1,530 and $1,163, respectively)	102,512	112,512
Restricted cash held in escrows (variable interest entities $6,116 and $7,340, respectively)	16,329	13,372
Loans receivable, net	48,667	101,100
Secured financing receivable	30,700	30,728
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $63 and $414, respectively	2,506	2,229
Accrued rental income, net of allowances of $354 and $0, respectively	12,572	19,760
Loan securities carried at fair value	226	226
Preferred equity investments	6,492	6,485
Equity investments	190,737	149,085
Lease intangibles, net (variable interest entities $19,466 and $20,043, respectively)	53,822	49,866
Deferred financing costs, net	6,036	6,189
Other assets	4,090	3,314
Assets held for sale	25,156	23,038
TOTAL ASSETS	1,126,115	1,132,324
LIABILITIES
Mortgage loans payable (variable interest entities $91,170 and $90,404, respectively)	476,424	444,933
Senior notes payable	86,250	86,250
Secured financings		29,150
Notes payable (variable interest entities $1,024 and $942, respectively)	1,693	1,742
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities and other liabilities	24,493	26,266
Related party fees payable	2,605	2,831
Dividends payable	8,964	6,099
Deferred income	825	1,353
Below market lease intangibles, net (variable interest entities $488 and $527, respectively)	10,405	2,399
Liabilities of assets held for sale	1,182	21,638
TOTAL LIABILITIES	612,841	622,661
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 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013	120,500	120,500
Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, $1 par, unlimited shares authorized; 36,409,710 and 36,401,438 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively	35,817	35,809
Additional paid-in capital	647,618	647,121
Accumulated distributions in excess of net income	(330,494)	(322,432)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(269)	(124)
Total Winthrop Realty Trust Shareholders' Equity	473,172	480,874
Non-controlling interests	40,102	28,789
Total Equity	513,274	509,663
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$ 1,126,115	$ 1,132,324