Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2014		Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Student Housing Operations:
Revenues from external customers	$ 32,201	[1]	$ 24,839	[1]	$ 24,990	[1]	$ 24,711	[1]	$ 24,768	$ 23,257	$ 22,294	$ 21,751	$ 106,741	$ 92,070	$ 74,650
Operating expenses													147,602	76,454	62,744
Severance expense													6,159	0	0
Impairment of unconsolidated entities													57,789	0	0
Effect of not exercising Copper Beech purchase option													(33,375)	0	0
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated earnings													(5,510)	(3,727)	361
Operating income (loss)	(21,022)	[1]	(120,526)	[1]	878	[1]	3,135	[1]	(3,480)	6,235	5,214	3,608	(137,535)	11,577	12,267
Nonoperating expenses													(16,114)	(11,555)	(5,401)
Net income (loss)	(33,580)	[1]	(130,843)	[1]	(486)	[1]	953	[1]	(9,437)	4,758	3,845	2,072	(163,956)	1,238	10,418
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest													(1,233)	(34)	46
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders													(9,509)	486	3,881
Investment in unconsolidated entities	259,740								324,838				259,740	324,838
Total consolidated revenues													1,249	820	559
Interest expense													(16,156)	(12,969)	(11,545)
Impairment of land & pre-development costs													31,927	0	0
Write-off of corporate other assets													15,110	0	0
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax benefit (expense)													(153,649)	22	6,866
Total assets at end of period	1,176,811								1,182,679				1,176,811	1,182,679
Student Housing Operations [Member]
Student Housing Operations:
Revenues from external customers													105,492	91,250	74,091
Operating expenses													75,904	63,351	53,856
Income from wholly-owned student housing operations													29,588	27,899	20,235
Severance expense													(700)	0	0
Impairment of unconsolidated entities													(57,789)	0	0
Effect of not exercising Copper Beech purchase option													(33,375)	0	0
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated earnings													(5,510)	(3,727)	361
Operating income (loss)													(67,786)	24,172	20,596
Nonoperating expenses													(10,200)	(10,529)	(10,246)
Net income (loss)													(77,986)	13,643	10,350
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest													(750)	136	106
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders													(77,236)	13,507	10,244
Depreciation and amortization													28,273	22,356	20,377
Capital expenditures													188,495	142,167	111,167
Investment in unconsolidated entities	259,740								324,838				259,740	324,838	22,555
Total segment assets at end of period	1,165,523								1,132,371				1,165,523	1,132,371	691,671
Property Management Services [Member]
Student Housing Operations:
Revenues from external customers													1,249	820	559
Operating expenses													3,983	2,638	2,107
Operating income (loss)													(2,581)	(1,546)	(1,292)
Nonoperating expenses													0	0	0
Net income (loss)													(2,581)	(1,546)	(1,292)
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest													(25)	(15)	(12)
Net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders													(2,556)	(1,531)	(1,280)
Depreciation and amortization													96	234	14
Total segment assets at end of period	0								0				0	0	0
Intersegment revenues													153	272	256
Total segment revenues													1,402	1,092	815
Reconciliations [Member]
Student Housing Operations:
Severance expense													(5,459)	0	0
Total segment assets at end of period	1,165,523								1,132,371				1,165,523	1,132,371	691,671
Intersegment revenues													(153)	(272)	(256)
Total segment revenues													106,894	92,342	74,906
Total consolidated revenues													106,741	92,070	74,650
Segment operating income (loss)													(70,367)	22,626	19,304
Interest expense													(16,156)	(12,969)	(11,545)
Impairment of land & pre-development costs													(31,927)	0	0
Write-off of corporate other assets													(15,110)	0	0
Corporate depreciation and amortization													(1,057)	0	0
Net unallocated expenses and eliminations													(13,615)	(11,049)	(7,037)
Other income (expense)													42	1,414	6,144
Income (loss) from continuing operations, before income tax benefit (expense)													(153,649)	22	6,866
Unallocated corporate assets and eliminations	11,288								50,308				11,288	50,308	4,649
Total assets at end of period	$ 1,176,811								$ 1,182,679				$ 1,176,811	$ 1,182,679	$ 696,320

[1] Total revenues, operating income (loss) and net income (loss) for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2014 have been adjusted for the Company’s discontinuance of two immaterial non-GAAP policies. Effective August 2014, the Company recognizes revenue over an 11.5 month period to align with lease terms as opposed to a 12 month period. Effective August 2014, the Company recognizes turn costs as incurred as opposed to accruing turn costs throughout the academic year.