CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
INVESTMENTS IN REAL ESTATE, at cost:
Operating properties	$ 3,084,759	$ 3,196,529
Construction in progress	129,614	97,575
Land held for development	5,881	5,910
Total investments in real estate	3,220,254	3,300,014
Accumulated depreciation	(1,082,840)	(1,060,845)
Net investments in real estate	2,137,414	2,239,169
INVESTMENTS IN PARTNERSHIPS, at equity:	201,000	168,608
OTHER ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	76,942	9,803
Tenant and other receivables (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $6,599 and $6,236 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	34,745	39,026
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $12,643 and $11,064 at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively)	18,167	19,746
Deferred costs and other assets, net	107,304	93,800
Total assets	2,624,646	2,616,832
LIABILITIES:
Mortgage loans payable, net	1,032,578	1,222,859
Long-term Debt	547,567	397,043
Revolving Facility		147,000
Tenants’ deposits and deferred rent	12,234	13,262
Distributions in excess of partnership investments	59,871	61,833
Derivative, Net Liability Position, Aggregate Fair Value	445
Fair value of derivative liabilities		1,520
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	58,542	68,251
Total liabilities	1,743,532	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 69,888 shares at September 30, 2017 and 69,553 shares at December 31, 2016	69,888	69,553
Capital contributed in excess of par	1,768,540	1,481,787
Accumulated other comprehensive income	3,534	(1,622)
Distributions in excess of net income	(1,098,547)	(997,789)
Total equity—Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust	743,613	555,254
Noncontrolling interest	137,501	147,152
Total equity	881,114	702,406
Total liabilities and equity	2,624,646	2,616,832
Assets Held-for-sale, Not Part of Disposal Group, Current	49,074	46,680
Real Estate Liabilities Associated with Assets Held for Development and Sale	32,295	2,658
Series A Preferred Shares [Member]
EQUITY:
Preferred Shares	46	46
Total equity	46	46
Series B Preferred Shares [Member]
EQUITY:
Preferred Shares	35	35
Total equity	35	$ 35
Series C Preferred Stock [Member]
EQUITY:
Preferred Shares	69
Total equity	69
Series D Preferred Stock [Member]
EQUITY:
Preferred Shares	48
Total equity	$ 48