CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
INVESTMENTS IN REAL ESTATE, at cost:
Operating properties	$ 3,196,529	$ 3,297,520
Construction in progress	97,575	64,019
Land held for development	5,910	6,350
Total investments in real estate	3,300,014	3,367,889
Accumulated depreciation	(1,060,845)	(1,015,647)
Net investments in real estate	2,239,169	2,352,242
INVESTMENTS IN PARTNERSHIPS, at equity:	168,608	161,029
OTHER ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	9,803	22,855
Tenant and other receivables (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $6,236 and $6,417 at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively)	39,026	40,324
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $11,064 and $13,441 at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively)	19,746	22,248
Deferred costs and other assets, net	93,800	75,450
Assets held for sale	46,680	126,244
Total assets	2,616,832	2,800,392
LIABILITIES:
Mortgage loans payable	1,222,859	1,321,331
Term Loans	397,043	398,040
2013 Revolving Facility	147,000	65,000
Tenants’ deposits and deferred rent	13,262	14,631
Distributions in excess of partnership investments	61,833	65,547
Fair value of derivative instruments	1,520	2,756
Liabilities on assets held for sale	2,658	69,918
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	68,251	78,539
Total liabilities	1,914,426	2,015,762
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 11)
EQUITY:
Shares of beneficial interest, $1.00 par value per share; 200,000 shares authorized; 69,553 issued and outstanding shares at December 31, 2016 and 69,197 shares at December 31, 2015	69,553	69,197
Capital contributed in excess of par	1,481,787	1,476,397
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	1,622	(4,193)
Distributions in excess of net income	(997,789)	(912,221)
Total equity – Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust	555,254	629,261
Noncontrolling interest	147,152	155,369
Total equity	702,406	784,630
Total liabilities and equity	2,616,832	2,800,392
Series A Preferred Shares[Member]
EQUITY:
Preferred shares, value	46	46
Total equity	46	46
Series B Preferred Shares [Member]
EQUITY:
Preferred shares, value	35	35
Total equity	$ 35	$ 35