EMPLOYEE SHARE PURCHASE AND DEFERRED SHARE PLAN	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Employee Share Purchase and Deferred Share Plan	Employee Share Purchase and Deferred Share Plan The Acadia Realty Trust Employee Share Purchase Plan (the “Purchase Plan”), allows eligible employees of the Company to purchase Common Shares through payroll deductions. The Purchase Plan provides for employees to purchase Common Shares on a quarterly basis at a 15% discount to the closing price of the Company’s Common Shares on either the first day or the last day of the quarter, whichever is lower. A participant may not purchase more the $25,000 in Common Shares per year. Compensation expense will be recognized by the Company to the extent of the above discount to the closing price of the Common Shares with respect to the applicable quarter. During 2011, 2010 and 2009, a total of 4,886, 6,184 and 8,744 Common Shares, respectively, were purchased by employees under the Purchase Plan. Associated compensation expense of $0.01 million was recorded in 2011 and $0.02 million was recorded in both 2010 and 2009. During May of 2006, the Company adopted a Trustee Deferral and Distribution Election (“Trustee Deferral Plan”) whereby the participating Trustees have deferred compensation of $0.06 million in both 2011 and 2010 and $0.05 million for 2009. During 2009, certain trustees elected to receive 14,722 Common Shares, which were previously deferred, from the Trustee Deferral Plan.

Employee Share Purchase and Deferred Share Plan

The Acadia Realty Trust Employee Share Purchase Plan (the “Purchase Plan”), allows eligible employees of the Company to purchase Common Shares through payroll deductions. The Purchase Plan provides for employees to purchase Common Shares on a quarterly basis at a 15% discount to the closing price of the Company’s Common Shares on either the first day or the last day of the quarter, whichever is lower. A participant may not purchase more the $25,000 in Common Shares per year. Compensation expense will be recognized by the Company to the extent of the above discount to the closing price of the Common Shares with respect to the applicable quarter. During 2011, 2010 and 2009, a total of 4,886, 6,184 and 8,744 Common Shares, respectively, were purchased by employees under the Purchase Plan. Associated compensation expense of $0.01 million was recorded in 2011 and $0.02 million was recorded in both 2010 and 2009.

During May of 2006, the Company adopted a Trustee Deferral and Distribution Election (“Trustee Deferral Plan”) whereby the participating Trustees have deferred compensation of $0.06 million in both 2011 and 2010 and $0.05 million for 2009. During 2009, certain trustees elected to receive 14,722 Common Shares, which were previously deferred, from the Trustee Deferral Plan.