Note 2 - Operating Property Activities (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended						6 Months Ended		1 Months Ended							1 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014 Operating Expense [Member]	Jun. 30, 2013 Operating Expense [Member]	Apr. 30, 2014 Disposals [Member] KIF [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Initial Dispositions [Member] Operating Properties [Member] Mexico [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Initial Dispositions [Member] Operating Properties [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Initial Dispositions [Member]	Jan. 31, 2014 Corporate Joint Venture [Member] LaSalle Properties [Member]	Apr. 30, 2014 Property with Assumed Debt [Member] KIF [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Assets Held-for-sale [Member] Operating Properties [Member]	Jun. 30, 2014 Assets Held-for-sale [Member] Impaired Operating Properties [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Quail Corners [Member] Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Quail Corners [Member] Kimco Realty Corporation [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Quail Corners [Member] Quail Corners' Seller [Member]	Apr. 30, 2014 KIF [Member]
Note 2 - Operating Property Activities (Details) [Line Items]
Number of Real Estate Properties							1	5	18		3	10	150	18				12
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage											11.00%							39.10%
Business Combination, Step Acquisition, Equity Interest in Acquiree, Remeasurement Gain	$ 65,598,000	$ (1,459,000)	$ 69,342,000	$ 21,711,000							$ 3,700,000							$ 65,600,000
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Parent																65.40%
Noncontrolling Interest, Ownership Percentage by Noncontrolling Owners																	34.60%
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Equity, Fair Value															4,900,000
Repayments of Secured Debt												128,400,000
Sales of Real Estate									199,800,000
Discontinued Operation, Provision for Loss (Gain) on Disposal, before Income Tax	(20,952,000)	(1,869,000)	(30,290,000)	(4,365,000)						(30,300,000)
Impairment of Real Estate					88,400,000	17,400,000				3,100,000
Asset Impairment Charges			99,952,000	81,546,000	90,600,000	25,200,000
Cost-method Investments, Other than Temporary Impairment			$ 2,200,000	$ 7,800,000	$ 2,200,000	$ 7,800,000