Investments in and Advances to Joint Ventures - Condensed Combined Statements of Operations of Unconsolidated Joint Venture Investments (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
Condensed combined statements of operations
Revenues from operations	$ 210,870	$ 204,119	$ 193,778	$ 191,608	$ 189,357	$ 186,279	$ 185,946	$ 188,247	$ 800,375	$ 749,829	$ 741,932
Operating expenses									338,472	294,167	306,901
Impairment charges									105,395	67,912	84,855
Depreciation and amortization									248,781	215,928	202,981
Interest expense									221,424	224,024	209,643
Income tax expense (primarily Sonae Sierra Brasil), net									(1,160)	(1,025)	(47,942)
Other income									(17,880)	(5,002)	(24,148)
Loss from continuing operations									(14,776)	(7,886)	(162,253)
Discontinued Operations:
Gain (loss) on disposition of real estate, net of tax									3,847	40,163	5,775
Gain on disposition of real estate, net									5,863	7,079	1,318
Non-controlling interests									(493)	3,543	38,363
Net loss attributable to unconsolidated joint ventures	(4)	26,738	(37,500)	(15,056)	5,206	(42,989)	(13,383)	35,312	(25,822)	(15,854)	(209,358)
Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Member]
Condensed combined statements of operations
Revenues from operations									705,810	659,978	614,775
Operating expenses									249,540	217,673	230,528
Impairment charges									10,402	208,843	0
Depreciation and amortization									203,412	171,634	172,926
Interest expense									237,138	217,676	215,482
Total expenses									700,492	815,826	618,936
Income (loss) before other items									5,318	(155,848)	(4,161)
Income tax expense (primarily Sonae Sierra Brasil), net									(25,444)	(38,598)	(20,247)
Other income									0	0	10,592
Loss from continuing operations									(20,126)	(194,446)	(13,816)
Discontinued Operations:
Loss from discontinued operations									(52,619)	(64,056)	(23,508)
Gain on debt forgiveness									0	2,976	0
Gain (loss) on disposition of real estate, net of tax									11,739	18,705	(26,674)
Loss before gain on disposition of real estate, net									(61,006)	(236,821)	(63,998)
Gain on disposition of real estate, net									54,582	1,733	17
Net loss									(6,424)	(235,088)	(63,981)
Non-controlling interests									(42,995)	(16,132)	(458)
Net loss attributable to unconsolidated joint ventures									(49,419)	(251,220)	(64,439)
Company's share of equity in net income (loss) of joint ventures									$ 33,512	$ (12,979)	$ 6,319