Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Organization And Basis Of Presentation (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Organization And Basis Of Presentation (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
sqft
state
property
Dec. 31, 2014
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]    
Number of properties owned or investment interests 283cli_RealEstatePropertyOwnedAndInvestmentInterest  
Aggregate square feet of the property owned or investment interest 30,900,000cli_RealEstatePropertyOwnedAndInvestmentInterestArea  
Number of states where properties are located 7cli_RealEstatePropertyOwnedOrInvestmentInterestNumberOfLocation  
Consolidated joint ventures, total real estate assets $ 253.5cli_ConsolidatedJointVenturesRealEstateAssets $ 242.9cli_ConsolidatedJointVenturesRealEstateAssets
Consolidated joint ventures, mortgages 98.3cli_ConsolidatedJointVenturesMortgages 94.3cli_ConsolidatedJointVenturesMortgages
Consolidated joint ventures, other liabilities $ 20.5cli_ConsolidatedJointVenturesOtherLiabilities $ 15.7cli_ConsolidatedJointVenturesOtherLiabilities
Commercial Properties [Member]    
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]    
Number of properties owned or investment interests 263cli_RealEstatePropertyOwnedAndInvestmentInterest
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialRealEstateMember
 
Number of tenants 2,000cli_NumberOfTenants
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialRealEstateMember
 
Multi-Family Properties [Member]    
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]    
Number of properties owned or investment interests 20cli_RealEstatePropertyOwnedAndInvestmentInterest
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis
= cli_MultipleFamilyPropertiesMember
 
Number of units 5,861us-gaap_NumberOfUnitsInRealEstateProperty
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis
= cli_MultipleFamilyPropertiesMember
 
Office And Office/Flex Buildings [Member]    
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]    
Number of properties owned or investment interests 248cli_RealEstatePropertyOwnedAndInvestmentInterest
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis
= cli_OfficeAndOfficeFlexBuildingsMember
 
Aggregate square feet of the property owned or investment interest 30,400,000cli_RealEstatePropertyOwnedAndInvestmentInterestArea
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis
= cli_OfficeAndOfficeFlexBuildingsMember
 
Unconsolidated Joint Venture Office Buildings [Member]    
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]    
Number of properties owned or investment interests 36cli_RealEstatePropertyOwnedAndInvestmentInterest
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis
= cli_UnconsolidatedJointVentureOfficeBuildingsMember
 
Aggregate square feet of the property owned or investment interest 5,600,000cli_RealEstatePropertyOwnedAndInvestmentInterestArea
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis
= cli_UnconsolidatedJointVentureOfficeBuildingsMember
 
Industrial/Warehouse Facilities [Member]    
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]    
Number of properties owned or investment interests 6cli_RealEstatePropertyOwnedAndInvestmentInterest
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis
= cli_IndustrialAndWarehouseFacilitiesMember
 
Aggregate square feet of the property owned or investment interest 387,400cli_RealEstatePropertyOwnedAndInvestmentInterestArea
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis
= cli_IndustrialAndWarehouseFacilitiesMember
 
Unconsolidated Joint Venture Multi-Family Properties [Member]    
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]    
Number of properties owned or investment interests 14cli_RealEstatePropertyOwnedAndInvestmentInterest
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis
= cli_UnconsolidatedJointVentureMultipleFamilyPropertiesMember
 
Number of units 4,560us-gaap_NumberOfUnitsInRealEstateProperty
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis
= cli_UnconsolidatedJointVentureMultipleFamilyPropertiesMember
 
Parking/Retail [Member]    
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]    
Number of properties owned or investment interests 5cli_RealEstatePropertyOwnedAndInvestmentInterest
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis
= cli_ParkingRetailMember
 
Aggregate square feet of the property owned or investment interest 121,500cli_RealEstatePropertyOwnedAndInvestmentInterestArea
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis
= cli_ParkingRetailMember
 
Unconsolidated Joint Venture Parking/Retail Buildings [Member]    
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]    
Number of properties owned or investment interests 2cli_RealEstatePropertyOwnedAndInvestmentInterest
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis
= cli_UnconsolidatedJointVentureParkingRetailBuildingsMember
 
Aggregate square feet of the property owned or investment interest 81,500cli_RealEstatePropertyOwnedAndInvestmentInterestArea
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis
= cli_UnconsolidatedJointVentureParkingRetailBuildingsMember
 
Unconsolidated Joint Venture Hotel [Member]    
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]    
Number of properties owned or investment interests 1cli_RealEstatePropertyOwnedAndInvestmentInterest
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis
= cli_UnconsolidatedJointVentureHotelMember
 
Number of units 350us-gaap_NumberOfUnitsInRealEstateProperty
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis
= cli_UnconsolidatedJointVentureHotelMember
 
Land [Member]    
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]    
Number of properties owned or investment interests 3cli_RealEstatePropertyOwnedAndInvestmentInterest
/ us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis
= us-gaap_LandMember