CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
INVESTMENTS IN REAL ESTATE, at cost:
Operating properties	$ 3,205,211	$ 3,196,529
Construction in progress	108,553	97,575
Land held for development	5,910	5,910
Total investments in real estate	3,319,674	3,300,014
Accumulated depreciation	(1,090,174)	(1,060,845)
Net investments in real estate	2,229,500	2,239,169
INVESTMENTS IN PARTNERSHIPS, at equity:	186,789	168,608
OTHER ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	18,704	9,803
Tenant and other receivables (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $6,552 and $6,236 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	31,047	39,026
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $11,638 and $11,064 at March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	19,172	19,746
Deferred costs and other assets, net	101,839	93,800
Total assets	2,590,495	2,616,832
LIABILITIES:
Mortgage loans payable, net	1,069,539	1,222,859
Long-term Debt	397,231	397,043
Revolving Facility	135,000	147,000
Tenants’ deposits and deferred rent	15,146	13,262
Distributions in excess of partnership investments	61,898	61,833
Derivative, Net Liability Position, Aggregate Fair Value	834
Fair value of derivative liabilities		1,520
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	62,204	68,251
Total liabilities	1,741,852	1,914,426
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 6):
EQUITY:
Shares of beneficial interest, $1.00 par value per share; 200,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding 69,747 shares at March 31, 2017 and 69,553 shares at December 31, 2016	69,747	69,553
Capital contributed in excess of par	1,648,419	1,481,787
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	3,260	(1,622)
Distributions in excess of net income	(1,018,484)	(997,789)
Total equity—Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust	703,092	555,254
Noncontrolling interest	145,551	147,152
Total equity	848,643	702,406
Total liabilities and equity	2,590,495	2,616,832
Assets Held-for-sale, Not Part of Disposal Group, Current	3,444	46,680
Real Estate Liabilities Associated with Assets Held for Development and Sale		2,658
Series A Preferred Shares [Member]
EQUITY:
Preferred Shares	46	46
Series B Preferred Shares [Member]
EQUITY:
Preferred Shares	35	$ 35
Series C Preferred Stock [Member]
EQUITY:
Preferred Shares	$ 69