Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Condensed Quarterly Financial Information (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Condensed Quarterly Financial Information (Details) (USD $)
 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
Total revenues $ 151,414,000us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet $ 155,489,000us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet $ 160,300,000us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet $ 169,596,000us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet $ 165,267,000us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet $ 162,505,000us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet $ 168,346,000us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet $ 170,913,000us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet $ 636,799,000us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet $ 667,031,000us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet $ 650,632,000us-gaap_RealEstateRevenueNet
Operating and other expenses 64,177,000cli_OperatingAndOtherExpenses 64,374,000cli_OperatingAndOtherExpenses 65,788,000cli_OperatingAndOtherExpenses 81,854,000cli_OperatingAndOtherExpenses 67,862,000cli_OperatingAndOtherExpenses 64,467,000cli_OperatingAndOtherExpenses 58,900,000cli_OperatingAndOtherExpenses 63,245,000cli_OperatingAndOtherExpenses      
Direct construction costs           609,000us-gaap_GeneralContractorCosts 6,511,000us-gaap_GeneralContractorCosts 7,825,000us-gaap_GeneralContractorCosts   14,945,000us-gaap_GeneralContractorCosts 12,647,000us-gaap_GeneralContractorCosts
Real estate service salaries 5,923,000cli_RealEstateServiceSalaries 6,933,000cli_RealEstateServiceSalaries 6,571,000cli_RealEstateServiceSalaries 6,709,000cli_RealEstateServiceSalaries 6,907,000cli_RealEstateServiceSalaries 5,552,000cli_RealEstateServiceSalaries 5,304,000cli_RealEstateServiceSalaries 4,953,000cli_RealEstateServiceSalaries      
General and administrative 23,950,000us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense 12,665,000us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense 13,673,000us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense 22,881,000us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense 10,447,000us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense 12,151,000us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense 13,111,000us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense 11,973,000us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense 73,169,000us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense 47,682,000us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense 47,664,000us-gaap_GeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
Depreciation and amortization 40,811,000us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization 41,983,000us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization 44,711,000us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization 44,985,000us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization 47,666,000us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization 46,087,000us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization 45,665,000us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization 43,348,000us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization 172,490,000us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization 182,766,000us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization 174,333,000us-gaap_DepreciationAndAmortization
Impairments         62,153,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges [1],[2] 48,700,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges [1]       110,853,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges 9,845,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Total expenses 134,861,000us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses 125,955,000us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses 130,743,000us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses 156,429,000us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses 195,035,000us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses 177,566,000us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses 129,491,000us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses 131,344,000us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses 547,988,000us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses 633,436,000us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses 490,190,000us-gaap_CostsAndExpenses
Operating Income 16,553,000us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss 29,534,000us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss 29,557,000us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss 13,167,000us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss (29,768,000)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss (15,061,000)us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss 38,855,000us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss 39,569,000us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss 88,811,000us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss 33,595,000us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss 160,442,000us-gaap_OperatingIncomeLoss
Interest expense (27,420,000)us-gaap_InterestExpense (27,353,000)us-gaap_InterestExpense (28,159,000)us-gaap_InterestExpense (29,946,000)us-gaap_InterestExpense (31,626,000)us-gaap_InterestExpense (30,936,000)us-gaap_InterestExpense (31,270,000)us-gaap_InterestExpense (29,869,000)us-gaap_InterestExpense (112,878,000)us-gaap_InterestExpense (123,701,000)us-gaap_InterestExpense (122,039,000)us-gaap_InterestExpense
Interest and other investment income 1,399,000us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend 908,000us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend 922,000us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend 386,000us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend 1,616,000us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend 187,000us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend 1,094,000us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend 6,000us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend 3,615,000us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend 2,903,000us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend 34,000us-gaap_InvestmentIncomeInterestAndDividend
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated joint ventures (363,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments (1,268,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments 443,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments (1,235,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments (268,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments (229,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments (80,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments (1,750,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments (2,423,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments (2,327,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments 4,089,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestments
Realized gains on disposition of rental property   264,000us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets 54,584,000us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets           54,848,000us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets    
Loss from early extinguishment of debt (582,000)us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt       (156,000)us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt       (582,000)us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt (156,000)us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt (4,960,000)us-gaap_GainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt
Total other (expense) income (26,966,000)us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense (27,449,000)us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense 27,790,000us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense (30,795,000)us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense (30,434,000)us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense (30,978,000)us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense (30,256,000)us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense (31,613,000)us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense (57,420,000)us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense (123,281,000)us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense (122,876,000)us-gaap_NonoperatingIncomeExpense
Income (loss) from continuing operations (10,413,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest 2,085,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest 57,347,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest (17,628,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest (60,202,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest (46,039,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest 8,599,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest 7,956,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest 31,391,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest (89,686,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest 37,566,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsIncludingPortionAttributableToNoncontrollingInterest
Discontinued operations:                      
Income from discontinued operations         (9,000)us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodNetOfTax 2,157,000us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodNetOfTax 4,530,000us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodNetOfTax 5,133,000us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodNetOfTax   11,811,000us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodNetOfTax 21,878,000us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationIncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationDuringPhaseOutPeriodNetOfTax
Loss from early extinguishment of debt             (703,000)cli_DiscontinuedOperationGainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt     (703,000)cli_DiscontinuedOperationGainsLossesOnExtinguishmentOfDebt  
Realized gains (losses) and unrealized losses on disposition of rental property and impairments, net         (1,559,000)us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTax [3] 47,321,000us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTax 13,758,000us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTax     59,520,000us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTax (13,175,000)us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationNetOfTax
Total discontinued operations, net         (1,568,000)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax 49,478,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax 17,585,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax 5,133,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax   70,628,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax 8,703,000us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTax
Net income (loss) (10,413,000)us-gaap_ProfitLoss 2,085,000us-gaap_ProfitLoss 57,347,000us-gaap_ProfitLoss (17,628,000)us-gaap_ProfitLoss (61,770,000)us-gaap_ProfitLoss 3,439,000us-gaap_ProfitLoss 26,184,000us-gaap_ProfitLoss 13,089,000us-gaap_ProfitLoss 31,391,000us-gaap_ProfitLoss (19,058,000)us-gaap_ProfitLoss 46,269,000us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures 21,000us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInNetIncomeLossJointVenturePartnersNonredeemable 145,000us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInNetIncomeLossJointVenturePartnersNonredeemable 290,000us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInNetIncomeLossJointVenturePartnersNonredeemable 322,000us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInNetIncomeLossJointVenturePartnersNonredeemable 237,000us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInNetIncomeLossJointVenturePartnersNonredeemable 1,838,000us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInNetIncomeLossJointVenturePartnersNonredeemable 62,000us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInNetIncomeLossJointVenturePartnersNonredeemable 62,000us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInNetIncomeLossJointVenturePartnersNonredeemable 778,000us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInNetIncomeLossJointVenturePartnersNonredeemable 2,199,000us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInNetIncomeLossJointVenturePartnersNonredeemable 330,000us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInNetIncomeLossJointVenturePartnersNonredeemable
Noncontrolling interest in Operating Partnership 1,152,000us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInNetIncomeLossOperatingPartnershipsNonredeemable (248,000)us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInNetIncomeLossOperatingPartnershipsNonredeemable (6,514,000)us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInNetIncomeLossOperatingPartnershipsNonredeemable 2,008,000us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInNetIncomeLossOperatingPartnershipsNonredeemable 7,167,000us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInNetIncomeLossOperatingPartnershipsNonredeemable 5,313,000us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInNetIncomeLossOperatingPartnershipsNonredeemable (1,048,000)us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInNetIncomeLossOperatingPartnershipsNonredeemable (973,000)us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInNetIncomeLossOperatingPartnershipsNonredeemable (3,602,000)us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInNetIncomeLossOperatingPartnershipsNonredeemable 10,459,000us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInNetIncomeLossOperatingPartnershipsNonredeemable (4,619,000)us-gaap_NoncontrollingInterestInNetIncomeLossOperatingPartnershipsNonredeemable
Noncontrolling interest in discontinued operations         187,000cli_NoncontrollingInterestInDiscontinuedOperations (5,947,000)cli_NoncontrollingInterestInDiscontinuedOperations (2,127,000)cli_NoncontrollingInterestInDiscontinuedOperations (622,000)cli_NoncontrollingInterestInDiscontinuedOperations   (8,509,000)cli_NoncontrollingInterestInDiscontinuedOperations (1,058,000)cli_NoncontrollingInterestInDiscontinuedOperations
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders (9,240,000)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss 1,982,000us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss 51,123,000us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss (15,298,000)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss (54,179,000)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss 4,643,000us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss 23,071,000us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss 11,556,000us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss 28,567,000us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss (14,909,000)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss 40,922,000us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Basic earnings per common share:                      
Income from continuing operations available to common shareholders $ (0.10)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare $ 0.02us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare $ 0.58us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare $ (0.17)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare $ (0.60)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare $ (0.45)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare $ 0.09us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare $ 0.08us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare $ 0.32us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare $ (0.88)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare $ 0.38us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerBasicShare
Discontinued operations         $ (0.02)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare $ 0.50us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare $ 0.17us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare $ 0.05us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare   $ 0.71us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare $ 0.09us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerBasicShare
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders $ (0.10)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic $ 0.02us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic $ 0.58us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic $ (0.17)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic $ (0.62)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic $ 0.05us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic $ 0.26us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic $ 0.13us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic $ 0.32us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic $ (0.17)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic $ 0.47us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic
Diluted earnings per common share:                      
Income from continuing operations available to common shareholders $ (0.10)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare $ 0.02us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare $ 0.58us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare $ (0.17)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare $ (0.60)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare $ (0.45)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare $ 0.09us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare $ 0.08us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare $ 0.32us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare $ (0.88)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare $ 0.38us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsPerDilutedShare
Discontinued operations         $ (0.02)us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare $ 0.50us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare $ 0.17us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare $ 0.05us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare   $ 0.71us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare $ 0.09us-gaap_IncomeLossFromDiscontinuedOperationsNetOfTaxPerDilutedShare
Net income (loss) available to common shareholders $ (0.10)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted $ 0.02us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted $ 0.58us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted $ (0.17)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted $ (0.62)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted $ 0.05us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted $ 0.26us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted $ 0.13us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted $ 0.32us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted $ (0.17)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted $ 0.47us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted
Dividends declared per common share $ 0.15us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared $ 0.15us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared $ 0.15us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared $ 0.30us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared $ 0.30us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared $ 0.30us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared $ 0.30us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared $ 0.45us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared $ 0.75us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared $ 1.35us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared $ 1.80us-gaap_CommonStockDividendsPerShareDeclared
Scenario, Adjustment [Member]                      
Impairments         1,260,000us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioAdjustmentMember 		           
Realized gains on disposition of rental property         $ 1,559,000us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfAssets
/ us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis
= us-gaap_ScenarioAdjustmentMember 		           
[1] Amounts for the year ended December 31, 2013 relate to impairment charges as further described in Note 3: Real Estate Transactions - Impairments on Properties Held and Used.
[2] During the quarter ended December 31, 2013, the Company identified and recorded an out-of-period adjustment to reflect a charge of $1,260,000 to correct an error in the measurement of its impairment charges on certain properties in the third quarter of 2013. In the third quarter, in measuring the impairments on these properties, the Company did not include certain tenant improvement amounts to be paid for in-place leases in its discounted cash flows used to measure fair value and, as a result, should have recognized larger impairment charges by this aggregate amount. The Company has determined that this adjustment was not material to the quarter ended December 31, 2013 or the prior interim period.
[3] During the quarter ended December 31, 2013, the Company identified and recorded an out-of-period adjustment to reflect a charge of $1,559,000 to correct an error in its calculation of the gain on sale of rental property on a transaction that closed in the third quarter of 2013. In the third quarter, in recording the gain on the sale transaction, the Company did not include the full consolidated carrying amount of the property in computing the gain and, as a result, should have recognized a smaller gain by this amount. The Company has determined that this adjustment was not material to the quarter ended December 31, 2013 or the prior interim period.