Investments in Partnerships - Summary of Equity Investments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Total assets		$ 628,560		$ 628,560		$ 558,346
Investments in real estate, at cost:
Operating properties		670,634		670,634		654,024
Construction in progress		86,569		86,569		41,919
Total investments in real estate		757,203		757,203		695,943
Accumulated depreciation		(193,353)		(193,353)		(190,100)
Net investments in real estate		563,850		563,850		505,843
Cash and cash equivalents		24,085		24,085		15,229
Deferred costs and other assets, net		40,625		40,625		37,274
Total assets		628,560		628,560		558,346
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ INVESTMENT:
Mortgage loans payable		419,599		419,599		383,190
Other liabilities		36,666		36,666		34,314
Total liabilities		456,265		456,265		417,504
Net investment		172,295		172,295		140,842
Partners’ share		89,685		89,685		74,663
PREIT’s share		82,610		82,610		66,179
Excess investment	[1]	7,839		7,839		8,747
Net investments and advances		90,449		90,449		74,926
Investment in partnerships, at equity		155,129		155,129		140,882
Distributions in excess of partnership investments		(64,680)		(64,680)		(65,956)
Lehigh Valley Associates, LP [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Total assets		52,161		52,161		51,703
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Mortgages Payable		130,272		130,272		131,394
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Revenue		8,960	$ 9,061	17,904	$ 18,096
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Property Operating Expenses		(2,537)	(2,455)	(5,017)	(5,219)
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Interest Expense		(1,931)	(1,964)	(3,871)	(3,935)
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Net Income (Loss)		3,858	3,836	7,319	7,082
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Share of Equity in Income of Partnership		1,929	$ 1,918	3,659	$ 3,541
Investments in real estate, at cost:
Total assets		$ 52,161		$ 52,161		$ 51,703
Lehigh Valley Associates, LP [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage		50.00%		50.00%

[1] Excess investment represents the unamortized difference between our investment and our share of the equity in the underlying net investment in the partnerships. The excess investment is amortized over the life of the properties, and the amortization is included in “Equity in income of partnerships.”