Earnings Per Common Share - Calculation of numerator and denominator in eps table (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Numerator:
Net income available for Common Stockholders – basic	$ 60,222	$ 56,888
Amounts allocated to dilutive securities	3,955	3,890
Net income available for Common Stockholders – fully diluted	$ 64,177	$ 60,778
Denominator:
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding – basic (shares)	88,524	86,048
Effect of dilutive securities:
Conversion of Common OP Units to Common Shares (shares)	5,828	6,588
Stock options and restricted shares (shares)	225	375
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding – fully diluted (shares)	94,577	93,011
Earnings per Common Share – Basic:
Net income available for Common Shareholders (usd per share)	$ 0.68	$ 0.66
Earnings per Common Share – Fully Diluted:
Net income available for Common Stockholders (usd per share)	$ 0.68	$ 0.65

Earnings Per Share Basic And Diluted Denominator [Abstract]

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Earnings Per Share Basic And Diluted Numerator [Abstract]

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Potential income (loss) due to stock option exercises and restricted stock awards.

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The amount of net income (loss) for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period.

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The amount of net income (loss) for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.

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Additional shares included in the calculation of diluted EPS as a result of the potentially dilutive effect of convertible preferred stock using the if-converted method.

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Additional shares included in the calculation of diluted EPS as a result of the potentially dilutive effect of share based payment arrangements using the treasury stock method.

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Net income after adjustments for dividends on preferred stock (declared in the period) and/or cumulative preferred stock (accumulated for the period).

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Net Income or Loss Available to Common Stockholders plus adjustments resulting from the assumption that dilutive convertible securities were converted, options or warrants were exercised, or that other shares were issued upon the satisfaction of certain conditions.

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The average number of shares or units issued and outstanding that are used in calculating diluted EPS or earnings per unit (EPU), determined based on the timing of issuance of shares or units in the period.

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Number of [basic] shares or units, after adjustment for contingently issuable shares or units and other shares or units not deemed outstanding, determined by relating the portion of time within a reporting period that common shares or units have been outstanding to the total time in that period.

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