CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 65,948	$ 129,893	$ (92,144)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	66,792	83,481	135,373
Amortization of loan costs and lease costs (including above- and below-market leases)	1,133	3,846	12,310
Accretion and amortization of fair value measures	19	(89)	305
Gain on sale of properties and disposal of fixed assets	(8,445)	(246,837)	(4,073)
Gain from acquisition of unconsolidated entity	(30,025)	0	0
Gain on sale of unconsolidated entities	0	(39,252)	0
Loss on extinguishment of debt	333	23,107	6,209
Amortization of terminated hedge	0	180	3,486
Swap termination fees	0	(184)	(1,904)
Loss on lease termination	0	0	8,174
Gain from insurance proceeds	(1,118)	(2,914)	(4,916)
Impairment provision	8,142	132,622	68,295
Loan loss provision	0	9,319	3,270
Bad debt expense	1,854	10,298	2,309
Prepayment penalties on loans	(235)	(1,277)	(7,047)
Premium paid on senior notes	0	(11,537)	(2,500)
Equity in earnings net of distributions from unconsolidated entities	(216)	6,934	5,744
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Other assets	1,490	(146)	467
Deferred rent and lease incentives	1,010	(4,214)	(982)
Accounts and other receivables	(6,420)	499	(7,401)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(8,943)	(41,852)	3,017
Income tax liabilities	(1,354)	9,778	0
Due to affiliates	64	988	(1,058)
Net cash provided by operating activities	90,029	62,643	126,934
Investing activities:
Proceeds from sale of real estate	148,319	992,738	384,293
Acquisition of properties	0	0	(128,390)
Capital expenditures	(27,074)	(49,272)	(79,115)
Contributions to unconsolidated entities	(5,839)	(54,572)	0
Proceeds from sale of unconsolidated entities	0	139,501	0
Cash assumed through purchase of controlling interest of investment in unconsolidated entity	11,861	0	0
Proceeds from insurance	1,734	4,674	10,187
Proceeds from short-term investment	0	0	1,169
Principal payments received on mortgage loans receivable	0	9,828	83,468
Changes in restricted cash	7,440	14,317	1,394
Other	0	0	980
Net cash provided by investing activities	136,441	1,057,214	273,986
Financing activities:
Redemptions of common stock	0	(6)	(9,609)
Distributions to stockholders (net of reinvestments during 2014)	(211,369)	(487,774)	(110,671)
Borrowings under line of credit	0	0	232,500
Proceeds from mortgages and other notes payable	0	0	57,790
Principal payments on line of credit	0	(152,500)	(130,000)
Principal payments on mortgages, notes payable and senior notes	(39,206)	(529,893)	(365,224)
Principal payments on capital leases	(2,557)	(2,834)	(4,863)
Payments of entrance fee refunds	0	0	(1,845)
Payment of loan costs	0	(239)	(3,536)
Net cash used in financing activities	(253,132)	(1,173,246)	(335,458)
Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash	(66)	(52)	(51)
Net increase (decrease) in cash	(26,728)	(53,441)	65,411
Cash at beginning of period	83,544	136,985	71,574
Cash at end of period	56,816	83,544	136,985
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the period for interest	10,428	35,030	68,536
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing activities:
Net increase in real estate and other working capital due to consolidation of unconsolidated entity	18,164	0	0
Assumption of debts	0	0	27,398
Assumption of capital leases	1,650	2,761	4,004
Change in accounts payable related to capital expenditures	2,831	5,898	4,192
Property assumed in connection with foreclosure	0	0	8,729
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing activities:
Assumption of mortgage loans by third party	$ 0	$ 151,478	$ 0