Consolidated Statements Of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Dividends In Excess Of Earnings [Member]	Treasury Stock, at cost [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Noncontrolling interest - property partnerships [Member]
Equity, shares at Dec. 31, 2022		156,758,000
Equity, value at Dec. 31, 2022	$ 8,363,819	$ 1,568	$ 6,539,147	$ (391,356)	$ (2,722)	$ (13,718)	$ 683,583	$ 1,547,317
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Redemption of operating partnership units to common stock, shares		21,000
Redemption of operating partnership units to common stock, value	0	$ 1	793				(794)
Allocated net income for the period	241,812			182,215			21,169	38,428
Dividends declared	(344,146)			(307,409)			(36,737)
Shares issued pursuant to stock purchase plan, shares		9,000
Shares issued pursuant to stock purchase plan, value	586		586
Net activity from stock option and incentive plan, shares		66,000
Net activity from stock option and incentive plan, value	41,361		3,338				38,023
Proceeds from sale of interest in property partnerships and contributions from noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	7,555							7,555
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	(36,220)							(36,220)
Effective portion of interest rate contracts	8,427					7,565	862
Amortization of interest rate contracts	3,349					2,747	314	288
Reallocation of noncontrolling interest	0		17,297				(17,297)
Equity, shares at Jun. 30, 2023		156,854,000
Equity, value at Jun. 30, 2023	8,286,543	$ 1,569	6,561,161	(516,550)	(2,722)	(3,406)	689,123	1,557,368
Equity, shares at Mar. 31, 2023		156,830,000
Equity, value at Mar. 31, 2023	8,306,484	$ 1,568	6,549,314	(467,159)	(2,722)	(18,214)	691,627	1,552,070
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Redemption of operating partnership units to common stock, shares		16,000
Redemption of operating partnership units to common stock, value	0	$ 1	598				(599)
Allocated net income for the period	136,184			104,325			12,091	19,768
Dividends declared	(172,092)			(153,716)			(18,376)
Net activity from stock option and incentive plan, shares		8,000
Net activity from stock option and incentive plan, value	13,942		(110)				14,052
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	(14,614)							(14,614)
Effective portion of interest rate contracts	14,965					13,435	1,530
Amortization of interest rate contracts	1,674					1,373	157	144
Reallocation of noncontrolling interest	0		11,359				(11,359)
Equity, shares at Jun. 30, 2023		156,854,000
Equity, value at Jun. 30, 2023	$ 8,286,543	$ 1,569	6,561,161	(516,550)	(2,722)	(3,406)	689,123	1,557,368
Equity, shares at Dec. 31, 2023	156,940,866	156,941,000
Equity, value at Dec. 31, 2023	$ 8,183,981	$ 1,569	6,715,149	(816,152)	(2,722)	(21,147)	666,580	1,640,704
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Redemption of operating partnership units to common stock, shares		77,000
Redemption of operating partnership units to common stock, value	0	$ 2	2,752				(2,754)
Allocated net income for the period	213,553			159,498			19,009	35,046
Dividends declared	(345,570)			(307,864)			(37,706)
Shares issued pursuant to stock purchase plan, shares		8,000
Shares issued pursuant to stock purchase plan, value	600		600
Net activity from stock option and incentive plan, shares		72,000
Net activity from stock option and incentive plan, value	33,071		4,761				28,310
Proceeds from sale of interest in property partnerships and contributions from noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	210,423		47,326					163,097
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	(37,459)							(37,459)
Effective portion of interest rate contracts	17,287					15,481	1,806
Amortization of interest rate contracts	6,441					5,511	642	288
Reallocation of noncontrolling interest	$ 0		(1,902)				1,902
Equity, shares at Jun. 30, 2024	157,097,841	157,098,000
Equity, value at Jun. 30, 2024	$ 8,282,327	$ 1,571	6,768,686	(964,518)	(2,722)	(155)	677,789	1,801,676
Equity, shares at Mar. 31, 2024		157,049,000
Equity, value at Mar. 31, 2024	8,277,572	$ 1,570	6,752,648	(890,177)	(2,722)	(3,620)	684,969	1,734,904
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Redemption of operating partnership units to common stock, shares		41,000
Redemption of operating partnership units to common stock, value	0	$ 1	1,450				(1,451)
Allocated net income for the period	106,949			79,615			9,509	17,825
Dividends declared	(172,798)			(153,956)			(18,842)
Net activity from stock option and incentive plan, shares		8,000
Net activity from stock option and incentive plan, value	16,540		2,499				14,041
Proceeds from sale of interest in property partnerships and contributions from noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	67,481		1,244					66,237
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	(17,434)							(17,434)
Effective portion of interest rate contracts	936					835	101
Amortization of interest rate contracts	3,081					2,630	307	144
Reallocation of noncontrolling interest	$ 0		10,845				(10,845)
Equity, shares at Jun. 30, 2024	157,097,841	157,098,000
Equity, value at Jun. 30, 2024	$ 8,282,327	$ 1,571	$ 6,768,686	$ (964,518)	$ (2,722)	$ (155)	$ 677,789	$ 1,801,676