Consolidated Statements of Changes in Capital - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Jan. 01, 2019
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting standard			$ (239)
Distributions	$ (47)	$ (43)
Change in fair value of interest rate swap agreements	(3,476)	4,298
Net income	11,426	11,265
Operating Partnership
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	2,447,660	2,547,634
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting standard			(239)
Net proceeds from sale of Trust common shares and issuance of common units	31,020	5,316
Trust restricted share award grants, net	355	933
Purchase of OP Units	(105)
Conversion of OP Units		0
OP Units - distributions	(43,694)	(43,126)
Preferred distributions	(284)	(487)
Distributions	(47)	(43)
Change in market value of Redeemable Limited Partners	(290)	194
Buyout of Noncontrolling Interest - partially owned properties		1,276
Change in fair value of interest rate swap agreements	(3,476)	4,298
Net income	11,426	11,265
Adjustments for Limited Partners ownership in Operating Partnership	0	0
Ending balance	2,442,326	2,527,260
Operating Partnership \| Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	14,433	13,952
Change in fair value of interest rate swap agreements	(3,476)	4,298
Ending balance	10,957	18,250
Operating Partnership \| General Partner
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	2,365,072	2,459,220
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting standard			(239)
Net proceeds from sale of Trust common shares and issuance of common units	31,020	5,316
Trust restricted share award grants, net	355	933
Conversion of OP Units		126
OP Units - distributions	(42,536)	(41,910)
Preferred distributions	(284)	(487)
Change in market value of Redeemable Limited Partners	(290)	194
Buyout of Noncontrolling Interest - partially owned properties		1,276
Net income	11,057	10,908
Adjustments for Limited Partners ownership in Operating Partnership	(149)	(712)
Ending balance	2,364,006	2,434,864
Operating Partnership \| Limited Partner
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	67,477	73,844
Purchase of OP Units	(105)
Conversion of OP Units		(126)
OP Units - distributions	(1,158)	(1,216)
Net income	305	313
Adjustments for Limited Partners ownership in Operating Partnership	149	712
Ending balance	66,668	73,527
Operating Partnership \| Total Partners’ Capital
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	2,446,982	2,547,016
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting standard			$ (239)
Net proceeds from sale of Trust common shares and issuance of common units	31,020	5,316
Trust restricted share award grants, net	355	933
Purchase of OP Units	(105)
OP Units - distributions	(43,694)	(43,126)
Preferred distributions	(284)	(487)
Change in market value of Redeemable Limited Partners	(290)	194
Buyout of Noncontrolling Interest - partially owned properties		1,276
Change in fair value of interest rate swap agreements	(3,476)	4,298
Net income	11,362	11,221
Ending balance	2,441,631	2,526,641
Partially Owned Properties Noncontrolling Interest
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Distributions	(47)	(43)
Change in fair value of interest rate swap agreements		0
Net income	64	44
Partially Owned Properties Noncontrolling Interest \| Operating Partnership
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	678	618
Distributions	(47)	(43)
Net income	64	44
Ending balance	$ 695	$ 619

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Amount, after tax and reclassification, of gain (loss) from derivative instrument designated and qualifying as cash flow hedge included in assessment of hedge effectiveness.

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Total distributions to each class of partners (i.e., general, limited and preferred partners).

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