CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Common Stock Held in Trust [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 57,976	$ 22	$ (2,399)	$ 515,398	$ (4,892)	$ (111,960)	$ 116,687	$ 570,832
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	0	0	0	0	0	(2,618)	(10,789)	(13,407)
Change in fair value of interest rate swaps	0	0	0	0	1,889	0	0	1,889
Common dividends declared	0	0	0	0	0	(6,494)	0	(6,494)
Preferred dividends declared	0	0	0	0	0	(6,325)	0	(6,325)
Share-based compensation	0	0	0	1,319	0	0	0	1,319
Issuance of preferred stock	44,811	0	0	0	0	0	0	44,811
Shares issued in lieu of Directors' fees	0	0	0	285	0	0	0	285
Issuance costs for shelf registration	0	0	0	(14)	0	0	0	(14)
Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligation in connection with the vesting of restricted stock and deferred incentive share units	0	0	0	(821)	0	0	0	(821)
Distribution of common stock from deferred compensation plan	0	0	578	0	0	0	0	578
Contribution of common stock to deferred compensation plan	0	0	(75)	0	0	0	0	(75)
Contribution of capital by noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0	0	0	27,912	27,912
Purchase of noncontrolling interest's share in Parkway Moore, LLC	0	0	0	0	0	(178)	178	0
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	102,787	22	(1,896)	516,167	(3,003)	(127,575)	133,988	620,490
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	0	0	0	0	0	(126,903)	(85,100)	(212,003)
Change in fair value of interest rate swaps	0	0	0	0	(337)	0	(7,794)	(8,131)
Common dividends declared	0	0	0	0	0	(6,574)	0	(6,574)
Preferred dividends declared	0	0	0	0	0	(10,052)	0	(10,052)
Share-based compensation	0	0	0	1,341	0	0	0	1,341
Issuance of preferred stock	26,155	0	0	0	0	0	0	26,155
Shares issued in lieu of Directors' fees	0	0	0	198	0	0	0	198
Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligation in connection with the vesting of restricted stock and deferred incentive share units	0	0	0	(397)	0	0	0	(397)
Distribution of common stock from deferred compensation plan	0	0	1,713	0	0	0	0	1,713
Contribution of common stock to deferred compensation plan	0	0	(37)	0	0	0	0	(37)
Contribution of capital by noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0	0	0	287,501	287,501
Distribution of capital to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0	0	0	(43,546)	(43,546)
Reclassification of Partnership Operating Units	0	0	0	0	0	0	29	29
Sale of noncontrolling interest in Parkway Properties Office Fund, L.P.	0	0	0	0	0	0	(26,650)	(26,650)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	128,942	22	(220)	517,309	(3,340)	(271,104)	258,428	630,037
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net loss	0	0	0	0	0	(39,395)	(3,586)	(42,981)
Change in fair value of interest rate swaps	0	0	0	0	(1,085)	0	(2,279)	(3,364)
Common dividends declared	0	0	0	0	0	(14,570)	0	(14,570)
Preferred dividends declared	0	0	0	0	0	(10,843)	0	(10,843)
Convertible preferred dividends declared-$0.075 per share	0	0	0	0	0	(1,011)	0	(1,011)
Share-based compensation	0	0	0	432	0	0	0	432
Shares issued in lieu of Directors' fees	0	0	0	263	0	0	0	263
Shares Issued Pursuant to the TPG Management Services Agreement	0	0	0	225	0	0	0	225
Issuance of common stock	0	19	0	229,824	0	0	0	229,843
Conversion of 13,484,444 convertible preferred shares to common stock	0	13	0	141,160	0	0	0	141,173
Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligation in connection with the vesting of restricted stock and deferred incentive share units	0	0	0	(173)	0	0	0	(173)
Distribution of common stock from deferred compensation plan	0	0	258	0	0	0	0	258
Contribution of common stock to deferred compensation plan	0	0	(38)	0	0	0	0	(38)
Issuance of 1.8 million operating partnership units	0	0	0	0	0	0	18,216	18,216
Issuance of 1.8 million shares of common stock upon redemption of operating partnership units	0	2	0	18,214	0	(890)	(17,326)	0
Contribution of capital by noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0	0	0	17,447	17,447
Distribution of capital to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0	0	0	(729)	(729)
Sale of noncontrolling interest in Parkway Properties Office Fund, L.P.	0	0	0	0	0	0	(8,179)	(8,179)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 128,942	$ 56	$ 0	$ 907,254	$ (4,425)	$ (337,813)	$ 261,992	$ 956,006