Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended						3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended					3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 Parent company	Sep. 30, 2012 Parent company	Sep. 30, 2011 Parent company	Sep. 30, 2012 MS Inland Fund, LLC	Sep. 30, 2011 MS Inland Fund, LLC	Sep. 30, 2012 MS Inland Fund, LLC	Sep. 30, 2011 MS Inland Fund, LLC	Dec. 31, 2011 MS Inland Fund, LLC	Sep. 30, 2012 Hampton Retail Colorado, L.L.C. property	Sep. 30, 2011 Hampton Retail Colorado, L.L.C.	Sep. 30, 2012 Hampton Retail Colorado, L.L.C. property	Sep. 30, 2011 Hampton Retail Colorado, L.L.C.	Dec. 31, 2011 Hampton Retail Colorado, L.L.C.	Sep. 30, 2012 Hampton Retail Colorado, L.L.C. Maximum	Sep. 30, 2012 RC Inland L.P.	Dec. 31, 2011 RC Inland L.P.	Sep. 30, 2012 Oak Property and Casualty LLC	Sep. 30, 2011 Oak Property and Casualty LLC	Sep. 30, 2012 Oak Property and Casualty LLC	Sep. 30, 2011 Oak Property and Casualty LLC	Dec. 31, 2011 Oak Property and Casualty LLC	Dec. 31, 2011 Britomart	Sep. 30, 2012 Britomart	Sep. 30, 2011 Britomart	Sep. 30, 2012 Britomart	Sep. 30, 2011 Britomart	Dec. 15, 2011 Britomart joint_venture	Dec. 31, 2011 Britomart Vacant land parcel property	Dec. 31, 2011 Britomart Single tenant office building property	Sep. 30, 2012 RioCan	Sep. 30, 2011 RioCan	Sep. 30, 2012 RioCan	Sep. 30, 2011 RioCan	Dec. 31, 2010 RioCan shopping_center
Real estate joint ventures of the entity
Ownership interest of unconsolidated joint ventures (as a percent)									20.00%		20.00%		20.00%	95.90%		95.90%		95.90%	96.30%	20.00%	20.00%	25.00%		25.00%		25.00%	15.00%					15.00%
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	$ 53,617		$ 53,617		$ 81,168				$ 6,348		$ 6,348		$ 9,246	$ 0		$ 0		$ 1,124		$ 40,894	$ 53,800	$ 6,375		$ 6,375		$ 8,759	$ 8,239	$ 0		$ 0
Company's share of losses in excess of investment																88
Number of grocery and necessity-based-anchored shopping centers contributed to the joint venture																																							8
Percentage of interest acquired in joint venture																																							20.00%
Ownership interest acquired by joint venture partner in joint venture																																			80.00%		80.00%
Receivable balance contributed for noncontrolling ownership interest																																8,239
Number of joint ventures under common control																																2
Transfer of restricted cash to noncontrolling interest																											525
Number of real estate properties														2		2																	1	1
Redemptions			(525)	(2)																										(525)
Decrease in other financings																														8,477
Gain recognized in other (expense) income, net	726	567	(342)	1,323																										241
Profits, Losses and Capital Activity
Company's share of net income (loss)	(1,922)	(1,916)	(5,606)	(6,203)					2	(361)	(122)	(552)		0	(1)	(1,092)	(3,547)					(1,252)	(1,090)	(2,577)	(1,063)			0	0	0	0				(672)	(464)	(1,815)	(1,041)
Net cash distributions from / (contributions to) joint ventures	1,068	(3,681)	13,845	(6,100)					370	(470)	3,761	(30)		16	(50)	53	(365)					0	(3)	(193)	60			0	0	0	0				682	(3,158)	10,224	(5,765)
Fees earned by the Company	700	574	2,179	1,582					188	244	618	795		0	22	2	65					0	0	0	0			0	0	0	0				512	308	1,559	722
Impairment charges						71	1,593	4,067						68		1,527	3,897
Amortization of basis differences in joint venture properties	$ 59	$ 47	$ 139	$ 175