Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Discontinued Operations (Summary Of Income From Discontinued Operations And Related Realized And Unrealized Gains (Losses)) (Details)

v2.4.1.9
Discontinued Operations (Summary Of Income From Discontinued Operations And Related Realized And Unrealized Gains (Losses)) (Details) (USD $)
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 0 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Sep. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Mar. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Mar. 31, 2012
sqft
Apr. 10, 2013
Apr. 26, 2013
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]                    
Total revenues           $ 33,601,000us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationRevenue $ 66,882,000us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationRevenue      
Operating and other expenses           (13,454,000)us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOperatingExpense (26,484,000)us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationOperatingExpense      
Depreciation and amortization           (8,218,000)us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationDepreciationAndAmortization (17,765,000)us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationDepreciationAndAmortization      
Interest expense           (118,000)us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationInterestExpense (755,000)us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationInterestExpense      
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        
Impairments           (23,851,000)cli_DiscontinuedOperationsAssetImpairmentCharges [1] (8,400,000)cli_DiscontinuedOperationsAssetImpairmentCharges [1]      
Unrealized losses on disposition of rental property             (9,213,000)cli_UnrealizedGainLossOnDispositionOfRentalProperty [2]      
Realized gains on disposition of rental property           83,371,000cli_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDispositionOfAssets 4,438,000cli_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationGainLossOnDispositionOfAssets      
Realized gains (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      
Valuation allowance         14,400,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance          
Sales proceeds         319,239,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfRealEstateHeldforinvestment 390,615,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfRealEstateHeldforinvestment [4]        
Gain (loss) on sale of property         54,848,000us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfRealEstateDiscontinuedOperations 83,371,000us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfRealEstateDiscontinuedOperations [5]        
Rental property held for sale, net 307,244,000us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationPropertyPlantAndEquipment       264,391,000us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationPropertyPlantAndEquipment 307,244,000us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationPropertyPlantAndEquipment        
Accumulated depreciation 1,400,988,000us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyAccumulatedDepreciation       1,414,305,000us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyAccumulatedDepreciation 1,400,988,000us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyAccumulatedDepreciation        
95 Chestnut Ridge Road [Member]                    
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]                    
Area of property (in square feet)               47,700us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= cli_NinetyFiveChestnutRidgeRoadMember
   
Valuation allowance               500,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= cli_NinetyFiveChestnutRidgeRoadMember
   
Sales proceeds               4,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfRealEstateHeldforinvestment
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= cli_NinetyFiveChestnutRidgeRoadMember
   
Moorestown, New Jersey [Member]                    
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]                    
Area of property (in square feet)               222,258us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= cli_MoorestownNewJerseyMember
   
Valuation allowance               1,600,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= cli_MoorestownNewJerseyMember
   
Sales proceeds               19,400,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfRealEstateHeldforinvestment
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= cli_MoorestownNewJerseyMember
   
Gain (loss) on sale of property               (100,000)us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfRealEstateDiscontinuedOperations
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= cli_MoorestownNewJerseyMember
   
Number of properties held for sale               3cli_NumberOfRealEstatePropertiesHeldForSale
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= cli_MoorestownNewJerseyMember
   
19 Skyline Drive [Member]                    
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]                    
Area of property (in square feet)             248,400us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= cli_NineteenSkylineDriveMember
     
Valuation allowance             7,100,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= cli_NineteenSkylineDriveMember
     
Sales proceeds           16,131,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfRealEstateHeldforinvestment
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= cli_NineteenSkylineDriveMember
[6]     16,100,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfRealEstateHeldforinvestment
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= cli_NineteenSkylineDriveMember
 
Gain (loss) on sale of property           126,000us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfRealEstateDiscontinuedOperations
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= cli_NineteenSkylineDriveMember
[6]     100,000us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfRealEstateDiscontinuedOperations
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= cli_NineteenSkylineDriveMember
 
Rental property held for sale, net 16,005,000us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= cli_NineteenSkylineDriveMember
[6]         16,005,000us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= cli_NineteenSkylineDriveMember
[6]        
55 Corporate Drive [Member]                    
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]                    
Area of property (in square feet)             204,057us-gaap_AreaOfRealEstateProperty
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= cli_FiftyFiveCorporateDriveMember
     
Valuation allowance             7,100,000us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowance
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= cli_FiftyFiveCorporateDriveMember
     
Sales proceeds           70,967,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfRealEstateHeldforinvestment
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= cli_FiftyFiveCorporateDriveMember
      71,000,000us-gaap_ProceedsFromSaleOfRealEstateHeldforinvestment
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= cli_FiftyFiveCorporateDriveMember
Gain (loss) on sale of property           19,659,000us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfRealEstateDiscontinuedOperations
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= cli_FiftyFiveCorporateDriveMember
      19,700,000us-gaap_GainLossOnDispositionOfRealEstateDiscontinuedOperations
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= cli_FiftyFiveCorporateDriveMember
Number of properties held for sale             2cli_NumberOfRealEstatePropertiesHeldForSale
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= cli_FiftyFiveCorporateDriveMember
     
Rental property held for sale, net 51,308,000us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= cli_FiftyFiveCorporateDriveMember
        51,308,000us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= cli_FiftyFiveCorporateDriveMember
60,900,000us-gaap_DisposalGroupIncludingDiscontinuedOperationPropertyPlantAndEquipment
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= cli_FiftyFiveCorporateDriveMember
     
Accumulated depreciation             $ 16,800,000us-gaap_RealEstateInvestmentPropertyAccumulatedDepreciation
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis
= cli_FiftyFiveCorporateDriveMember
     
[1] Represents impairment charges recorded on certain properties prior to their sale.
[2] Represents valuation allowances on properties identified as held for sale in 2012, as follows:At March 31, 2012, the Company identified as held for sale its 47,700 square foot office building located at 95 Chestnut Ridge Road in Montvale, New Jersey. The Company determined that the carrying amount of this property was not expected to be recovered from estimated net sales proceeds and, accordingly, recognized a valuation allowance of $0.5 million at March 31, 2012. On July 25, 2012, the Company sold the building for approximately $4.0 million (with no gain from the sale).At March 31, 2012, the Company identified as held for sale three office buildings totaling 222,258 square feet in Moorestown, New Jersey. The Company determined that the aggregate carrying amount of these properties was not expected to be recovered from estimated net sales proceeds and, accordingly, recognized a valuation allowance of $1.6 million at June 30, 2012. On November 7, 2012, the Company sold the buildings for approximately $19.4 million and recognized a loss of approximately $0.1 million from the sale.At December 31, 2012, the Company identified as held for sale its 248,400 square foot office building located at 19 Skyline Drive in Hawthorne, New York. The Company determined that the carrying amount of this property was not expected to be recovered from estimated sales proceeds and accordingly recognized a valuation allowance of $7.1 million at December 31, 2012. Also at December 31, 2012, the Company identified as held for sale its 204,057 square foot office building located at 55 Corporate Drive in Bridgewater, New Jersey. The two properties held for sale at December 31, 2012 carried an aggregate book value of $60.9 million, net of accumulated depreciation of $16.8 million and a valuation allowance of $7.1 million. As of April 10, 2013, the Company sold 19 Skyline Drive for approximately $16.1 million and recognized a gain of approximately $0.1 million. As of April 26, 2013, the Company sold 55 Corporate Drive for approximately $71 million and recognized a gain of approximately $19.7 million.
[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.
[4] This amount excludes approximately $535,000 of net closing prorations and related adjustments received from sellers at closing.
[5] This amount, net of impairment charges recorded in 2013 of $23,851,000 on certain of the properties prior to their sale (per Note [d] above), comprises the $59,520,000 of realized gains (losses) and unrealized losses on disposition of rental property and impairments, net, for the year ended December 31, 2013.  See Note 7: Discontinued Operations.
[6] The Company recognized a valuation allowance of $7.1 million on this property identified as held for sale at December 31, 2012. In connection with the sale, the Company provided an interest-free note receivable to the buyer of $5 million (with a net present value of $3.7 million at closing) which matures in 2023 and requires monthly payments of principal. See Note 5: Deferred charges, goodwill and other assets.