CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011 Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock	Dec. 31, 2010 Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock	Dec. 31, 2011 Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock	Dec. 31, 2010 Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock	Dec. 31, 2011 Consolidated VIE's	Dec. 31, 2010 Consolidated VIE's
Cash and cash equivalents (in dollars)	$ 150,533	$ 276,034					$ 1,438	$ 1,365
Restricted cash (in dollars)	67,898	54,954					4,833	3,581
Accounts receivable, net (in dollars)	32,536	17,285					3,001	1,885
Inventories (in dollars)	2,608	2,101					205	159
Other assets, net (in dollars)	19,577	12,743					0	3
Accounts payable and accrued expenses (in dollars)	26,854	20,889					791	713
Accrued payroll and employee benefits (in dollars)	20,863	12,674					1,205	1,123
Other current liabilities (in dollars)	28,465	16,907					3,408	1,439
Other liabilities (in dollars)	$ 11,056	$ 8,724					$ 0	$ 30
Preferred stock, Series C Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, Series C Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, shares authorized	4,102,564	4,102,564
Preferred stock, Series C Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, shares issued	4,102,564	4,102,564
Preferred stock, Series C Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, shares outstanding	4,102,564	4,102,564
Preferred stock, Series C Cumulative Convertible Redeemable Preferred Stock, liquidation preference (in dollars per share)	$ 24.375	$ 24.375
Preferred stock, 8.0% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, 8.0% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, shares authorized	100,000,000	100,000,000
Preferred stock, 8.0% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, shares issued			7,050,000	7,050,000	4,600,000	0
Preferred stock, 8.0% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, shares outstanding			7,050,000	7,050,000	4,600,000	0
Preferred stock, 8.0% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, dividend rate (as a percent)			8.00%	8.00%	8.00%
Preferred stock, 8.0% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, liquidation preference (in dollars per share)			$ 25.00	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	500,000,000	500,000,000
Common stock, shares issued	117,265,090	116,950,504
Common stock, shares outstanding	117,265,090	116,950,504