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, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract]
GAAP net income (loss) attributable to DDR	$ (10,700)	$ 68,606	$ 76,016	$ (16,640)	$ 7,210	$ (375)	$ (23,313)	$ 6,303	$ 117,282	$ (10,175)	$ (25,822)
Plus: Book depreciation and amortization									341,391	296,008	247,084
Less: Tax depreciation and amortization									(210,850)	(194,889)	(185,230)
Book/tax differences on losses from capital transactions									(313,855)	(148,066)	(122,101)
Joint venture equity in earnings (loss), net									96,860	15,156	(23,885)
Dividends from subsidiary REIT investments									463	503	480
Deferred income									(12,545)	4,910	8,471
Compensation expense									(6,103)	(5,626)	(11,325)
Impairment charges									68,703	73,577	153,142
Senior convertible notes - accretion adjustment									11,377	10,789	10,884
Miscellaneous book/tax differences, net									(14,745)	(9,268)	(2,755)
Taxable income before adjustments									77,978	32,919	48,943
Less: Capital gains									(48,015)	0	(48,943)
Taxable income subject to the 90% dividend requirement									$ 29,963	$ 32,919	$ 0