CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2016	Apr. 30, 2015	Apr. 30, 2014
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income (loss)	$ 76,602	$ 28,684	$ (16,940)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	50,978	43,762	41,976
Depreciation and amortization from discontinued operations	14,477	28,316	31,747
Gain on sale of real estate, land, other investments and discontinued operations	(33,423)	(6,093)	(6,948)
Gain on involuntary conversion			(2,480)
Gain on extinguishment of debt and discontinued operations	(35,552)
Gain on bargain purchase	(3,424)
Share-based compensation expense	2,256	2,215
Impairment of real estate investments	5,983	6,105	44,426
Bad debt expense	651	967	434
Changes in other assets and liabilities:
Receivable arising from straight-lining of rents	(437)	(64)	(2,293)
Accounts receivable	1,815	4,058	1,880
Prepaid and other assets	762	(150)	(555)
Tax, insurance and other escrow	1,463	1,445	(1,046)
Deferred charges and leasing costs	(1,366)	(2,300)	(4,708)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities	(14,292)	7,234	7,021
Net cash provided by operating activities	66,493	114,179	92,514
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from real estate deposits	5,203	1,168	991
Payments for real estate deposits	(2,714)	(3,512)	(940)
Decrease in other investments	279		314
Decrease in lender holdbacks for improvements	4,347	10,738	3,780
Increase in lender holdbacks for improvements	(1,136)	(1,204)	(11,045)
Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations	365,845		78,879
Proceeds from sale of real estate and other investments	40,306	73,835	682
Insurance proceeds received	1,320	2,678	2,491
Payments for acquisitions of real estate assets	(121,821)	(38,704)	(38,283)
Payments for development and re-development of real estate assets	(122,801)	(189,091)	(123,744)
Payments for improvements of real estate assets	(28,976)	(21,327)	(25,974)
Payments for improvements of real estate assets from discontinued operations	(5,600)	(10,988)	(8,985)
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities	134,252	(176,407)	(121,834)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from mortgages payable	143,574	90,749	50,333
Principal payments on mortgages payable	(234,885)	(127,622)	(101,867)
Proceeds from revolving lines of credit	82,000	55,000	12,500
Principal payments on revolving lines of credit	(125,000)	(17,000)	0
Proceeds from construction debt	94,142	93,643	55,199
Principal payments on construction debt	(24,754)	(12,685)	(17,443)
Proceeds from financing liability			7,900
Proceeds from sale of common shares under distribution reinvestment and share purchase program	1,493	48,701	41,194
Proceeds from noncontrolling partner - consolidated real estate entities	1,120	2,284	994
Payments for acquisition of noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities			(2,505)
Repurchase of common shares	(35,000)
Distributions paid to common shareholders	(60,063)	(45,728)	(40,764)
Distributions paid to preferred shareholders	(11,514)	(11,514)	(11,514)
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests - Unitholders of the Operating Partnership	(7,101)	(7,971)	(10,649)
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities	(7,029)	(3,926)	(924)
Net cash (used) provided by financing activities	(183,017)	63,931	(17,546)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	17,728	1,703	(46,866)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF YEAR	48,970	47,267	94,133
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR	66,698	48,970	47,267
SUPPLEMENTARY SCHEDULE OF NON-CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Distribution reinvestment plan - shares issued	3,997	15,519	13,965
Operating partnership distribution reinvestment plan - shares issued	130	636	634
Operating partnership units converted to shares	1,477	41,264	4,353
Real estate assets acquired through the issuance of operating partnership units	18,226	800	3,480
Real estate assets acquired through assumption of indebtedness and accrued costs		12,169
(Decrease) increase to accounts payable included within real estate investments	(10,420)	5,116	1,767
Real estate assets contributed by noncontrolling interests - consolidated real estate entities		6,624	2,901
Involuntary conversion of assets due to flood and fire damage			7,052
Construction debt reclassified to mortgages payable	123,553
Forfeiture of note payable in conjunction with sale of property			600
Decrease in real estate assets in connection with transfer of real estate assets in settlement of debt	87,213
Decrease in debt in connection with transfer of real estate assets in settlement of debt	122,610
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized of $4,396, $4,903 and $2,855, respectively	$ 39,668	$ 51,283	$ 54,071