CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
INVESTMENTS IN REAL ESTATE, at cost:
Operating properties	$ 3,207,221	$ 3,297,520
Construction in progress	98,925	64,019
Land held for development	5,908	6,350
Total investments in real estate	3,312,054	3,367,889
Accumulated depreciation	(1,052,550)	(1,015,647)
Net investments in real estate	2,259,504	2,352,242
INVESTMENTS IN PARTNERSHIPS, at equity:	166,149	161,029
OTHER ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	25,384	22,855
Tenant and other receivables (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $7,128 and $6,417 at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)	31,721	40,324
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $10,664 and $13,441 at September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)	20,283	22,248
Deferred costs and other assets, net	90,975	75,450
Total assets	2,624,731	2,800,392
LIABILITIES:
Mortgage loans payable	1,227,690	1,321,331
Long-term Debt	396,856	398,040
Revolving Facility	115,000	65,000
Tenants’ deposits and deferred rent	15,374	14,631
Distributions in excess of partnership investments	61,617	65,547
Fair value of derivative liabilities	6,482	2,756
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	64,048	78,539
Total liabilities	1,888,160	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 69,537 shares at September 30, 2016 and 69,197 shares at December 31, 2015	69,537	69,197
Capital contributed in excess of par	1,479,945	1,476,397
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(8,100)	4,193
Distributions in excess of net income	(955,364)	(912,221)
Total equity—Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust	586,099	629,261
Noncontrolling interest	150,472	155,369
Total equity	736,571	784,630
Total liabilities and equity	2,624,731	2,800,392
Assets Held-for-sale, Not Part of Disposal Group, Current	30,715	126,244
Real Estate Liabilities Associated with Assets Held for Development and Sale	1,093	69,918
Series A Preferred Shares [Member]
EQUITY:
Preferred Shares	46	46
Series B Preferred Shares [Member]
EQUITY:
Preferred Shares	$ 35	$ 35