CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
INVESTMENTS IN REAL ESTATE, at cost:
Operating properties	$ 3,042,247	$ 3,196,529
Construction in progress	137,369	97,575
Land held for development	5,913	5,910
Total investments in real estate	3,185,529	3,300,014
Accumulated depreciation	(1,055,334)	(1,060,845)
Net investments in real estate	2,130,195	2,239,169
INVESTMENTS IN PARTNERSHIPS, at equity:	206,618	168,608
OTHER ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	19,021	9,803
Tenant and other receivables (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $6,255 and $6,236 at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	29,742	39,026
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $12,165 and $11,064 at June 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	18,645	19,746
Deferred costs and other assets, net	99,886	93,800
Total assets	2,585,666	2,616,832
LIABILITIES:
Mortgage loans payable, net	1,036,640	1,222,859
Long-term Debt	547,376	397,043
Revolving Facility	52,000	147,000
Tenants’ deposits and deferred rent	11,280	13,262
Distributions in excess of partnership investments	60,659	61,833
Derivative, Net Liability Position, Aggregate Fair Value	654
Fair value of derivative liabilities		1,520
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	66,126	68,251
Total liabilities	1,811,592	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 69,809 shares at June 30, 2017 and 69,553 shares at December 31, 2016	69,809	69,553
Capital contributed in excess of par	1,650,746	1,481,787
Accumulated other comprehensive income	3,065	(1,622)
Distributions in excess of net income	(1,087,809)	(997,789)
Total equity—Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust	635,961	555,254
Noncontrolling interest	138,113	147,152
Total equity	774,074	702,406
Total liabilities and equity	2,585,666	2,616,832
Assets Held-for-sale, Not Part of Disposal Group, Current	81,559	46,680
Real Estate Liabilities Associated with Assets Held for Development and Sale	36,857	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