CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
INVESTMENTS IN REAL ESTATE, at cost:
Operating properties	$ 3,259,774	$ 3,297,520
Construction in progress	85,877	64,019
Land held for development	5,904	6,350
Total investments in real estate	3,351,555	3,367,889
Accumulated depreciation	(1,057,857)	(1,015,647)
Net investments in real estate	2,293,698	2,352,242
INVESTMENTS IN PARTNERSHIPS, at equity:	161,450	161,029
OTHER ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	16,841	22,855
Tenant and other receivables (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $7,239 and $6,417 at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)	30,591	40,324
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $9,872 and $13,441 at June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)	21,075	22,248
Deferred costs and other assets, net	84,276	75,450
Total assets	2,631,382	2,800,392
LIABILITIES:
Mortgage loans payable	1,231,709	1,321,331
Long-term Debt	396,688	398,040
Revolving Facility	85,000	65,000
Tenants’ deposits and deferred rent	17,476	14,631
Distributions in excess of partnership investments	63,188	65,547
Fair value of derivative liabilities	10,254	2,756
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	78,342	78,539
Total liabilities	1,883,149	2,015,762
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 6):
EQUITY:
Shares of beneficial interest, $1.00 par value per share; 200,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding 69,474 shares at June 30, 2016 and 69,197 shares at December 31, 2015	69,474	69,197
Capital contributed in excess of par	1,477,808	1,476,397
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(11,629)	4,193
Distributions in excess of net income	(939,407)	(912,221)
Total equity—Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust	596,327	629,261
Noncontrolling interest	151,906	155,369
Total equity	748,233	784,630
Total liabilities and equity	2,631,382	2,800,392
Assets Held-for-sale, Not Part of Disposal Group, Current	23,451	126,244
Real Estate Liabilities Associated with Assets Held for Development and Sale	492	69,918
Series A Preferred Shares [Member]
EQUITY:
Preferred Shares	46	46
Series B Preferred Shares [Member]
EQUITY:
Preferred Shares	$ 35	$ 35