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, 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
Expenses from operations:
Operating expenses									$ 797,591	$ 634,339	$ 551,348
Impairment charges									29,175	19,044	46,741
Depreciation and amortization									402,825	296,560	219,902
Interest expense									237,120	214,370	197,641
Other (income) expense, net									12,262	6,408	17,806
Income before tax expense of taxable REIT subsidiaries and state franchise and income taxes									22,962	24,104	29,303
Income tax expense (primarily Sonae Sierra Brasil), net									(1,855)	(2,685)	(1,131)
Income from continuing operations									21,107	21,419	28,172
Discontinued operations:
Loss from discontinued operations									(6,611)	(42,541)	(63,211)
Gain (loss) on disposition of real estate, net of tax									96,009	11,274	3,847
Income (loss) before gain on disposition of real estate									110,505	(9,848)	(31,192)
Gain on disposition of real estate, net									3,060	467	5,863
Loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests, net									3,717	(794)	(493)
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)
Company's share of equity in net income of joint ventures									9,218	3,314	33,512
Basis differential adjustments									1,771	3,505	1,738
Equity in net income of joint ventures									10,989	6,819	35,250
Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Member]
Condensed Combined Statements of Operations
Revenues from operations									485,764	635,933	622,771
Expenses from operations:
Operating expenses									167,691	210,829	200,662
Impairment charges									21,583	43,913	840
Depreciation and amortization									151,651	201,021	175,225
Interest expense									171,803	204,893	203,205
Other (income) expense, net									18,249	2,298	10,435
Total expenses									530,977	662,954	590,367
Income before tax expense of taxable REIT subsidiaries and state franchise and income taxes									(45,213)	(27,021)	32,404
Income tax expense (primarily Sonae Sierra Brasil), net									(6,565)	(27,553)	(25,444)
Income from continuing operations									(51,778)	(54,574)	6,960
Discontinued operations:
Loss from discontinued operations									(13,955)	(65,951)	(79,705)
Gain (loss) on disposition of real estate, net of tax									55,020	(19,190)	11,739
Income (loss) before gain on disposition of real estate									(10,713)	(139,715)	(61,006)
Gain on disposition of real estate, net									10,116	794	54,582
Net loss									(597)	(138,921)	(6,424)
Loss (income) attributable to non-controlling interests, net									(2,022)	(26,005)	(42,995)
Net income (loss) attributable to DDR									$ (2,619)	$ (164,926)	$ (49,419)