EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations attributable to Common Shareholders	$ 3,789	$ 3,843	$ 4,245	$ 8,185	$ 6,589	$ 4,592	$ 12,250	$ 4,829	$ 20,062	$ 28,260	$ 26,574
Effect of dilutive securities:
Preferred OP Unit distributions									18	18	19
Employee share options									264,000	245,000	212,000
Convertible Preferred OP Units									25,000	25,000	25,000
Dilutive potential Common Shares									289,000	270,000	237,000
Numerator for diluted earnings per Common Share									20,080	28,278	26,593
Denominator
Weighted average shares for basic earnings per share									40,697,000	40,136,000	38,005,000
Effect of dilutive securities:
Preferred OP Unit distributions									$ 18	$ 18	$ 19
Employee share options									264,000	245,000	212,000
Convertible Preferred OP Units									25,000	25,000	25,000
Dilutive potential Common Shares									289,000	270,000	237,000
Denominatior for diluted earnings per share	42,066,390	40,628,781	40,633,317	40,580,173	40,594,009	40,430,998	40,371,812	40,149,931	40,986,000	40,406,000	38,242,000
Basic earnings per Common Share from continuing operations attributable to Common shareholders	$ 0.09	$ 0.10	$ 0.11	$ 0.20	$ 0.16	$ 0.12	$ 0.30	$ 0.12	$ 0.50	$ 0.70	$ 0.70
Diluted earnings per Common Share from continuing operations attributable to Common Shareholders	$ 0.09	$ 0.10	$ 0.10	$ 0.20	$ 0.16	$ 0.12	$ 0.30	$ 0.12	$ 0.49	$ 0.70	$ 0.70
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount									25,067	25,067	25,067
Acadia Realty, LP [Member] | Series A Preferred Stock [Member]
Effect of dilutive securities:
Series A Preferred OP Units	188				188				188	188	188
Common Stock [Member]
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Line Items]
Issuance of Common Shares through special dividend (in shares)											1,287,000