Investments in Partnerships - Summary of Equity Investments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Total assets		$ 642,667		$ 642,667		$ 558,346
Investments in real estate, at cost:
Operating properties		753,001		753,001		654,024
Construction in progress		5,678		5,678		41,919
Total investments in real estate		758,679		758,679		695,943
Accumulated depreciation		(194,114)		(194,114)		(190,100)
Net investments in real estate		564,565		564,565		505,843
Cash and cash equivalents		37,041		37,041		15,229
Deferred costs and other assets, net		41,061		41,061		37,274
Total assets		642,667		642,667		558,346
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ INVESTMENT:
Mortgage loans payable		438,061		438,061		383,190
Other liabilities		32,470		32,470		34,314
Total liabilities		470,531		470,531		417,504
Net investment		172,136		172,136		140,842
Partners’ share		89,764		89,764		74,663
PREIT’s share		82,372		82,372		66,179
Excess investment	[1]	7,978		7,978		8,747
Net investments and advances		90,350		90,350		74,926
Investment in partnerships, at equity		154,588		154,588		140,882
Distributions in excess of partnership investments		(64,238)		(64,238)		(65,956)
Lehigh Valley Associates, LP [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Total assets		52,668		52,668		51,703
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Mortgages Payable		129,698		129,698		131,394
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Revenue		8,903	$ 9,037	26,807	$ 27,133
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Property Operating Expenses		(2,200)	(2,297)	(7,219)	(7,516)
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Interest Expense		(1,923)	(1,956)	(5,794)	(5,891)
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Net Income (Loss)		3,964	3,984	11,284	11,066
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Share of Equity in Income of Partnership		1,982	$ 1,992	5,642	$ 5,533
Investments in real estate, at cost:
Total assets		$ 52,668		$ 52,668		$ 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.”