Investments in Partnerships - Summary of Share of Equity in Income of Partnerships (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Real Estate Revenue Net Equity Method Investments	$ 27,201	$ 24,356	$ 56,392	$ 50,853
Total assets	657,389		657,389		$ 653,645
Operating expenses:
Property operating expenses	(6,908)	(9,290)	(17,022)	(20,052)
Interest expense	(5,384)	(5,146)	(10,776)	(10,441)
Depreciation and amortization	(5,804)	(5,932)	(11,527)	(12,303)
Total expenses	(18,096)	(20,368)	(39,325)	(42,796)
Net income	9,105	3,988	17,067	8,057
Less: Partners’ share	(4,883)	(1,981)	(9,099)	(4,017)
PREIT’s share	4,222	2,007	7,968	4,040
Amortization of and adjustments to excess investment	(30)	25	107	74
Equity in income of partnerships	$ 4,192	2,032	$ 8,075	4,114
Lehigh Valley Associates, LP [Member]
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	50.00%		50.00%
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Revenue	$ 9,121	8,960	$ 18,169	17,904
Total assets	49,228		49,228		48,352
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Mortgages Payable	127,719		127,719		$ 128,883
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Property Operating Expenses	(1,956)	(2,537)	(4,183)	(5,017)
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Interest Expense	(1,897)	(1,931)	(3,803)	(3,871)
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Net Income (Loss)	4,727	3,858	8,477	7,319
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Share of Equity in Income of Partnership	$ 2,197	$ 1,929	$ 4,239	$ 3,659