Summary of Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenue		$ 54,121	$ 43,855	$ 43,918	$ 48,045	$ 51,286	$ 51,124	$ 49,176	$ 49,073	$ 189,939	$ 199,063	$ 179,681
Net income		34,236	326	26,155	73,875	7,871	18,104	85,458	38,537	134,592	149,970	152,146
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		(14,415)	5,786	(8,237)	(44,950)	1,019	(4,328)	(58,963)	(21,990)	(61,816)	(84,262)	(81,082)
Net income attributable to Acadia		$ 19,821	$ 6,112	$ 17,918	$ 28,925	$ 8,890	$ 13,776	$ 26,495	$ 16,547	$ 72,776	$ 65,708	$ 71,064
Earnings per share attributable to Acadia: Basic (in dollars per share)		$ 0.24	$ 0.08	$ 0.24	$ 0.40					$ 0.94	$ 0.94	$ 1.18
Earnings per share attributable to Acadia: Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 0.24	$ 0.08	$ 0.24	$ 0.40	$ 0.13	$ 0.20	$ 0.38	$ 0.24
Weighted average number of shares: Basic		82,728	78,449	72,896	70,756	69,328	68,943	68,825	68,295
Weighted average number of shares: Diluted		82,728	78,624	72,896	71,215	69,330	68,957	68,870	68,360	76,244	68,870	59,426
Cash dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)		$ 0.41	$ 0.25	$ 0.25	$ 0.25	$ 0.50	$ 0.24	$ 0.24	$ 0.24	$ 1.16	$ 1.22	$ 1.23
Interim Period, Costs Not Allocable [Line Items]
Equity method investment, ownership percentage					65.00%
Impairment of asset										$ 0	$ 5,000	$ 0
Noncontrolling Interests
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests										$ 61,816	84,262	$ 81,082
Fund III [Member] | Noncontrolling Interests
Interim Period, Costs Not Allocable [Line Items]
Gain on Sale								$ 15,800
White City Shopping Center [Member] | Fund III [Member]
Interim Period, Costs Not Allocable [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on disposal	$ 16,200							17,100
Brandywine Portfolio [Member]
Interim Period, Costs Not Allocable [Line Items]
Impairment of asset								5,000			$ 5,000
Brandywine Portfolio [Member] | Noncontrolling Interests
Interim Period, Costs Not Allocable [Line Items]
Impairment of asset								3,900
Cortlandt Towne Center [Member] | Fund III [Member]
Interim Period, Costs Not Allocable [Line Items]
Gain on Sale					$ 65,400
Cortlandt Towne Center [Member] | Fund III [Member] | Noncontrolling Interests
Interim Period, Costs Not Allocable [Line Items]
Gain on Sale					$ 49,400
Heritage Shops [Member] | Fund III [Member]
Interim Period, Costs Not Allocable [Line Items]
Gain on Sale				$ 16,600
Heritage Shops [Member] | Fund III [Member] | Noncontrolling Interests
Interim Period, Costs Not Allocable [Line Items]
Gain on Sale				$ 12,500
Lincoln Park Centre [Member] | Fund III [Member]
Interim Period, Costs Not Allocable [Line Items]
Gain on Sale									$ 27,100
Lincoln Park Centre [Member] | Fund III [Member] | Noncontrolling Interests
Interim Period, Costs Not Allocable [Line Items]
Gain on Sale									$ 21,700
Liberty Avenue [Member] | Fund II [Member]
Interim Period, Costs Not Allocable [Line Items]
Gain on Sale								12,000
City Point - Air Rights [Member] | Fund II [Member]
Interim Period, Costs Not Allocable [Line Items]
Gain on Sale								$ 49,900
Parkway Crossing [Member] | Fund III [Member]
Interim Period, Costs Not Allocable [Line Items]
Gain on Sale							$ 6,900
Parkway Crossing [Member] | Fund III [Member] | Noncontrolling Interests
Interim Period, Costs Not Allocable [Line Items]
Gain on Sale							$ 5,600
Out-of-period Adjustments [Member]
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Net income		$ (4,200)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		$ 1,600