2.2.0.25falsefalse1020 - Disclosure - Basis of Presentation and Consolidationtruefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 USD ($) USD ($) / shares $D2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001063761duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDPerShareDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2true0spg_BasisOfPresentationDisclosureAbstractspgfalsenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalseBasis of Presentation and Consolidation3false0spg_BasisOfPresentationAndConsolidationDisclosureTextBlockspgfalsenadurationDescribes an entity's accounting policy regarding (1) the principles it follows in consolidating or combining the separate...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00<table style="font-size:10pt; font-family:'Times New Roman',times,serif;"> <tr> <td> 2.    Basis of Presentation and Consolidation             The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of all majority-owned subsidiaries, and all significant intercompany amounts have been eliminated.             We consolidate properties that are wholly owned or properties where we own less than 100% but we control. Control of a property is demonstrated by, among other factors, our ability to refinance debt and sell the property without the consent of any other partner or owner and the inability of any other partner or owner to replace us.             We also consolidate a variable interest entity, or VIE, when we are determined to be the primary beneficiary. On January 1, 2010, we adopted the amendment on the accounting and disclosure requirements for the consolidation of VIEs. This amendment requires an enterprise to perform a qualitative analysis when determining whether or not it must consolidate a VIE. The amendment also requires an enterprise to continuously reassess whether it must consolidate a VIE. Additionally, the amendment requires enhanced disclosures about an enterprise's involvement with VIEs and any significant change in risk exposure due to that involvement, as well as how its involvement with VIEs impacts the enterprise's financial statements. Finally, an enterprise will be required to disclose significant judgments and assumptions used to determine whether or not to consolidate a VIE. The adoption of this amendment did not have a significant impact on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.             Determination of the primary beneficiary of a VIE is based on whether an entity (1) has the power to direct activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of the VIE and (2) has the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. Our determination of the primary beneficiary of a VIE considers all relationships between us and the VIE, including management agreements and other contractual arrangements. There have been no changes during 2010 in conclusions about whether an entity qualifies as a VIE or whether we are the primary beneficiary of any previously identified VIE. During 2010, we did not provide financial or other support to a previously identified VIE that we were not previously contractually obligated to provide.             Investments in partnerships and joint ventures represent our noncontrolling ownership interests in properties. We account for these investments using the equity method of accounting. We initially record these investments at cost and we subsequently adjust for net equity in income or loss, which we allocate in accordance with the provisions of the applicable partnership or joint venture agreement, and cash contributions and distributions. The allocation provisions in the partnership or joint venture agreements are not always consistent with the legal ownership interests held by each general or limited partner or joint venture investee primarily due to partner preferences. We separately report investments in joint ventures for which accumulated distributions have exceeded investments in and our share of net income of the joint ventures within cash distributions and losses in partnerships and joint ventures, at equity in the consolidated balance sheets. The net equity of certain joint ventures is less than zero because of financing or operating distributions that are usually greater than net income, as net income includes non-cash charges for depreciation and amortization.             As of December 31, 2010, we consolidated 218 wholly-owned properties and 19 additional properties that are less than wholly-owned, but which we control or for which we are the primary beneficiary. We account for the remaining 156 properties, or joint venture properties, using the equity method of accounting. We manage the day-to-day operations of 92 of the 156 joint venture properties, but have determined that our partner or partners have substantive participating rights in regards to the assets and operations of these joint venture properties. Our investments in joint ventures in Europe, Japan, Mexico and Korea comprise 55 of the remaining 64 properties. The international properties are managed by joint ventures in which we share oversight responsibility with our partner. Additionally, we account for our investment in SPG-FCM Ventures, LLC, or SPG-FCM, which acquired The Mills Corporation and its wholly-owned subsidiary, The Mills Limited Partnership, or collectively Mills, in April 2007, using the equity method of accounting. We have determined that SPG-FCM is not a VIE and that Farallon Capital Management, L.L.C., our joint venture partner, has substantive participating rights with respect to the assets and operations of SPG-FCM pursuant to the applicable partnership agreements.             We allocate net operating results of the Operating Partnership after preferred distributions to third parties and to us based on the partners' respective weighted average ownership interests in the Operating Partnership. Net operating results of the Operating Partnership attributable to third parties are reflected in net income attributable to noncontrolling interests.             Our weighted average ownership interest in the Operating Partnership was as follows: <div style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0pt; PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0pt; MARGIN-LEFT: 20%; WIDTH: 60%; PADDING-TOP: 0pt; POSITION: relative">   <div align="center"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0"> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right" width="6"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="35"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="27"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right" width="6"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="35"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="27"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="right" width="6"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="35"></td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" width="12"></td></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom"> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left">  </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="8">For the Year Ended December 31, </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="bottom"> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times" align="left">  </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="2">2010 </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="2">2009 </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th> <th style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 1pt solid; FONT-FAMILY: times" align="center" colspan="2">2008 </th> <th style="FONT-FAMILY: times"> </th></tr> <tr style="HEIGHT: 0px" valign="top" bgcolor="#CCEEFF"> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> Weighted average ownership interest</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">83.2%</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">82.4%</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom" align="right">79.8%</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: times" valign="bottom"> </td></tr></table></div> </div>             As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, our ownership interest in the Operating Partnership was 82.9% and 83.2%, respectively. We adjust the limited partners' interest in the Operating Partnership at the end of each period to reflect their interest in the Operating Partnership. <ul> <li style="list-style: none"> Reclassifications </li></ul>             We made certain reclassifications of prior period amounts in the consolidated financial statements to conform to the 2010 presentation. These reclassifications had no impact on previously reported net income attributable to common stockholders or earnings per share. </td></tr></table> 2.    Basis of Presentation and Consolidation             The accompanyingfalsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:textBlockItemTypestringDescribes an entity's accounting policy regarding (1) the principles it follows in consolidating or combining the separate financial statements, including the principles followed in determining the inclusion or exclusion of subsidiaries or other entities in the consolidated or combined financial statements and (2) its treatment of interests (for example common stock, a partnership interest or other means of exerting influence) in other entities, for example consolidation or use of the equity or cost methods of accounting. An entity also may describe its accounting treatment for intercompany accounts and transactions, minority interest, and the income statement treatment in consolidation for issuances of stock by a subsidiary. Also discloses any material changes in classifications in the current financial statements compared to the classifications in the prior year's financial statements, including an explanation of the reason for the change and the areas impacted.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseBasis of Presentation and Consolidation12Basis of Presentation and ConsolidationUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue