Income Taxes - Reconciliation of GAAP Net Loss Attributable to Taxable Income (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Income Tax Reconciliation [Line Items]
GAAP net loss attributable to DDR	$ (4)	$ 26,738	$ (37,500)	$ (15,056)	$ 5,206	$ (42,989)	$ (13,383)	$ 35,312	$ (25,822)	$ (15,854)	$ (209,358)
Plus: Book depreciation and amortization									247,084	222,751	217,035
Less: Tax depreciation and amortization									(185,230)	(181,935)	(179,377)
Book/tax differences on gains/losses from capital transactions									(122,101)	(116,395)	(103,331)
Joint venture equity in earnings (loss), net									(23,885)	19,190	(28,659)
Dividends from subsidiary REIT investments									480	954	1,609
Deferred income									8,471	(4,327)	1,937
Compensation expense									(11,325)	(17,614)	1,199
Impairment charges	20,600				47,400				153,142	128,765	172,127
Equity derivative instrument valuation									0	(21,926)	40,157
Senior Convertible Notes interest expense									10,884	14,914	8,204
Miscellaneous book/tax differences, net									(2,755)	(12,131)	(12,007)
Taxable income (loss) before adjustments									48,943	16,392	(90,464)
Less: Capital Gains									(48,943)	0	0
Less: Taxable loss carried forward	0				0				0	0	90,464
Taxable income subject to the 90% dividend requirement									$ 0	$ 16,392	$ 0