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v2.4.1.9

Significant Accounting Policies (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Jun. 30, 2014 | Mar. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Jun. 30, 2013 | Mar. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash And Cash Equivalent Maturity Maximum |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 months |  |
Allowance For Doubtful Accounts [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for doubtful accounts (in US dollars) | $ 1,544 us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable |  |  |  | $ 1,993 us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable |  |  |  | $ 1,544 us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable | $ 1,993 us-gaap_AllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsReceivable |
Tax Treatment Of Dividend [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Investment Trust Distributable Income Policy (in percentage) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 90.00%alx_RealEstateInvestmentTrustDistributableIncomePolicy |  |
Internal Taxable Income Distribution Policy (in percentage) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00%alx_InternalTaxableIncomeDistributionPolicy |  |
Differences Between Book and Tax Basis | 204,815 alx_CumulativeAmountOfTemporaryDifferenceBetweenBookValueAndTaxBasis |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 204,815 alx_CumulativeAmountOfTemporaryDifferenceBetweenBookValueAndTaxBasis |  |
Reconciliation of Net Income to Estimated Taxable Income [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income attributable to Alexander's | 18,161 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss | 17,692 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss | 16,828 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss | 15,244 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss | 15,790 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss | 13,824 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss | 13,139 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss | 14,162 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss | 67,925 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss | 56,915 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss | 674,387 us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Straight-line rent adjustments |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2,538)alx_IncomeTaxReconciliationStraightLineRentAdjustment | (3,707)alx_IncomeTaxReconciliationStraightLineRentAdjustment | (4,475)alx_IncomeTaxReconciliationStraightLineRentAdjustment
Depreciation and amortization timing differences |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,283 us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseDepreciationAndAmortization | 2,134 us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseDepreciationAndAmortization | 910 us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationNondeductibleExpenseDepreciationAndAmortization
Interest expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense | 27 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense | 29 us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncomeTaxPenaltiesAndInterestExpense
Reversal of income tax liability |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (420)us-gaap_TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisions | (206)us-gaap_TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisions | 0 us-gaap_TaxAdjustmentsSettlementsAndUnusualProvisions
Additional tax gain on sale of the Kings Plaza Regional Shopping Center |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (357)alx_IncomeTaxReconciliationGainOnSaleDifference | 0 alx_IncomeTaxReconciliationGainOnSaleDifference | 23,928 alx_IncomeTaxReconciliationGainOnSaleDifference
Other |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,112 us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments | (2,213)us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments | 4,396 us-gaap_IncomeTaxReconciliationOtherAdjustments
Estimated taxable income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 68,015 alx_TaxableIncomeLoss | $ 52,950 alx_TaxableIncomeLoss | $ 699,175 alx_TaxableIncomeLoss
Maximum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment estimated useful lives |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 40 Years |  |
Minimum [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Property plant and equipment estimated useful lives |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3 Years |  |
Rego Park I [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Real Estate Properties [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage of cash mortgage collateralized | 100.00%alx_PercentageOfCashMortgageCollateralized / us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis = alx_RegoPark1ShoppingMember |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 100.00%alx_PercentageOfCashMortgageCollateralized / us-gaap_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis = alx_RegoPark1ShoppingMember |  |

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