Deconsolidation of properties.

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Increase decrease in estimated receipts and costs during liquidation.

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Non-recourse secured financing.

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- Definition

Amount of net assets (liabilities).

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Amount after tax of increase (decrease) to equity or (increase) decrease to net assets as a result of a cumulative effect adjustment for prospective application of a new accounting principle.

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Amount of gain (loss) from remeasurement of estimated accrued costs to dispose of assets or other items expected to be sold in liquidation.

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Amount of gain (loss) from remeasurement of an asset to reflect the change in value under liquidation basis.

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Portion of equity (net assets) in a variable interest entity (VIE) not attributable, directly or indirectly, to the parent entity. That is, this is the portion of equity in a VIE that is attributable to the noncontrolling interest (previously referred to as minority interest).

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Amount, after the effects of master netting arrangements, of securities loaned to entities in exchange for collateral. Includes liabilities not subject to a master netting arrangement and not elected to be offset.

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Amount of stockholders' equity (deficit), net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity, attributable to both the parent and noncontrolling interests. Amount excludes temporary equity. Alternate caption for the concept is permanent equity.

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Net Assets in Liquidation - Reconciliation of Shareholder's Equity under Going Concern Basis of Accounting to Net Assets in Liquidation under Liquidation Basis of Accounting (Detail) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	5 Months Ended
	Aug. 01, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Aug. 01, 2014	Jul. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Liquidation Basis Of Accounting [Line Items]
Shareholder's Equity as of July 31, 2014	$ 476,454,000		$ 476,454,000	$ (514,214,000)	$ (509,663,000)	$ (469,264,000)	$ (408,836,000)
Increase due to estimated net realizable value of investments		192,211,000
Secured financing	(1,699,000)fur_SecuredFinancing		(1,699,000)fur_SecuredFinancing		(29,150,000)fur_SecuredFinancing
Loan securities	692,000us-gaap_SecuritiesLoaned		692,000us-gaap_SecuritiesLoaned
Deconsolidation of properties	10,178,000fur_DeconsolidationOfProperties		10,178,000fur_DeconsolidationOfProperties
Decrease due to write-off of assets and liabilities	(44,691,000)
Increase in non-controlling interest	(35,675,000)		(35,675,000)
Net assets in liquidation	786,915,000us-gaap_AssetsNet	594,704,000us-gaap_AssetsNet	786,915,000us-gaap_AssetsNet	786,915,000us-gaap_AssetsNet
Real Estate Investment [Member]
Liquidation Basis Of Accounting [Line Items]
Increase due to estimated net realizable value of investments	220,338,000
Equity Investments [Member]
Liquidation Basis Of Accounting [Line Items]
Increase due to estimated net realizable value of investments	182,472,000
Loans Receivable [Member]
Liquidation Basis Of Accounting [Line Items]
Increase due to estimated net realizable value of investments	6,071,000
Liability [Member]
Liquidation Basis Of Accounting [Line Items]
Liability for estimated costs in excess of estimated receipts during liquidation	(27,225,000)
Accounting Standards Update 2013-07 [Member]
Liquidation Basis Of Accounting [Line Items]
Adjustment to reflect the change to the liquidation basis of accounting	$ 310,461,000