Organization	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Organization	1. Organization Winthrop Realty Trust (“Winthrop”), a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) under Sections 856-860 of the Internal Revenue Code is an unincorporated association in the form of a business trust organized in Ohio under a Declaration of Trust dated August 1, 1961, as amended and restated on May 21, 2009, which has as its stated principal business activity the ownership and management of, and lending to, real estate and related investments. Winthrop conducts its business through WRT Realty L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”). Winthrop is the sole general partner of, and owns directly and indirectly, 100% of the limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership. All references to the “Trust” refer to Winthrop and its consolidated subsidiaries, including the Operating Partnership. The Trust is engaged in the business of owning real property and real estate related assets which it categorizes into three segments: (i) ownership of investment properties including wholly owned properties and investments in joint ventures which own investment properties (“operating properties”); (ii) origination and acquisition of loans collateralized directly or indirectly by commercial and multi-family real property, (collectively “loan assets”); and (iii) equity and debt interests in other real estate investment trusts (“REIT securities”). On April 28, 2014 the Trust’s Board of Trustees adopted a plan of liquidation which was subject to approval by the holders of a majority of the Trust’s common shares of beneficial interest (“Common Shares”). The plan was approved at a special meeting of shareholders on August 5, 2014.

1. Organization

Winthrop Realty Trust (“Winthrop”), a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) under Sections 856-860 of the Internal Revenue Code is an unincorporated association in the form of a business trust organized in Ohio under a Declaration of Trust dated August 1, 1961, as amended and restated on May 21, 2009, which has as its stated principal business activity the ownership and management of, and lending to, real estate and related investments.

Winthrop conducts its business through WRT Realty L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”). Winthrop is the sole general partner of, and owns directly and indirectly, 100% of the limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership. All references to the “Trust” refer to Winthrop and its consolidated subsidiaries, including the Operating Partnership.

The Trust is engaged in the business of owning real property and real estate related assets which it categorizes into three segments: (i) ownership of investment properties including wholly owned properties and investments in joint ventures which own investment properties (“operating properties”); (ii) origination and acquisition of loans collateralized directly or indirectly by commercial and multi-family real property, (collectively “loan assets”); and (iii) equity and debt interests in other real estate investment trusts (“REIT securities”).

On April 28, 2014 the Trust’s Board of Trustees adopted a plan of liquidation which was subject to approval by the holders of a majority of the Trust’s common shares of beneficial interest (“Common Shares”). The plan was approved at a special meeting of shareholders on August 5, 2014.