Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Net earnings (loss)	$ (87,514,000)	$ 176,208,000
Depreciation and amortization	169,838,000	236,488,000
Amortization of mortgage procurement costs	5,967,000	7,567,000
Impairment of real estate	130,795,000	1,175,000
Write-offs of abandoned development projects	283,000	14,858,000
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt	927,000	(18,718,000)
Net gain on land held for divestiture activity	0	(3,383,000)
Net loss on disposition of partial interest in development project	19,590,000	0
Net (gain) loss on disposition of partial interest in rental properties	613,000	(386,559,000)
Net gain on change in control of interests	(2,759,000)	(2,762,000)
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	(52,373,000)	121,085,000
Earnings from unconsolidated entities	(80,543,000)	(59,270,000)
Stock-based compensation expense	10,730,000	8,432,000
Amortization and mark-to-market adjustments of derivative instruments	4,984,000	9,872,000
Cash distributions from operations of unconsolidated entities	59,217,000	53,027,000
Non-cash operating expenses and deferred taxes included in discontinued operations	9,883,000	22,717,000
Gain on disposition of rental properties included in discontinued operations	(28,100,000)	(43,931,000)
Decrease in land inventory	9,203,000	7,266,000
Increase in notes and accounts receivable	(2,065,000)	(1,003,000)
Decrease in other assets	7,562,000	17,613,000
Decrease in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(15,009,000)	(25,960,000)
Net cash provided by operating activities	161,229,000	134,722,000
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(315,170,000)	(345,395,000)
Payment of lease procurement costs	(7,212,000)	(8,260,000)
Decrease (increase) in notes receivable	10,580,000	(21,917,000)
Decrease in restricted cash used for investing purposes	106,165,000	20,156,000
Proceeds from disposition of full or partial interest in rental properties or development project	236,908,000	496,515,000
Contributions to investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	(112,613,000)	(30,383,000)
Distributions from investments in and advances to unconsolidated entities	120,294,000	73,910,000
Net cash provided by investing activities	38,952,000	184,626,000
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Proceeds from nonrecourse mortgage debt and notes payable	507,788,000	497,646,000
Principal payments on nonrecourse mortgage debt and notes payable	(733,937,000)	(710,705,000)
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	832,325,000	507,194,000
Payments on revolving credit facility	(832,325,000)	(507,194,000)
Proceeds from issuance of Convertible Senior Notes due 2020, net of issuance costs	0	291,250,000
Redemption of Senior Notes due 2015	0	(53,253,000)
Redemption of Senior Notes due 2017	0	(132,144,000)
Make-whole premium and inducements related to exchange of Senior Notes due 2014 for Class A common stock	0	(5,490,000)
Transaction costs related to exchange of Senior Notes due 2014 for Class A common stock	0	(2,300,000)
Payments of deferred financing costs	(10,751,000)	(11,317,000)
Change in book overdrafts	0	3,161,000
Purchase of treasury stock	(3,800,000)	(3,226,000)
Redemption of Series A preferred stock	0	(5,063,000)
Proceeds from equity call hedge related to the issuance of Series A preferred stock	0	10,231,000
Exercise of stock options	583,000	8,027,000
Dividends paid to preferred shareholders	0	(185,000)
Acquisitions of noncontrolling interests	(83,871,000)	(101,467,000)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests	34,249,000	53,186,000
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(8,992,000)	(30,145,000)
Net cash used in financing activities	(298,731,000)	(191,794,000)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents	(98,550,000)	127,554,000
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period	280,206,000	293,557,000
Cash and equivalents at end of period	$ 181,656,000	$ 421,111,000