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Investments in Partially Owned Entities (Summary of Debt) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	May 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2018	Oct. 30, 2018	Oct. 29, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	May 01, 2016
Partially Owned Office Buildings
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, effective percentage		4.18%
Maturity, range, start		2019
Maturity, range, end		2026
Equity method investment debt of partially owned entities		$ 3,985,855			$ 3,934,894
PREIT
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method ownership percentage		7.90%
Debt instrument, interest rate, effective percentage		3.81%
Maturity, range, start		2020
Maturity, range, end		2025
Equity method investment debt of partially owned entities		$ 1,642,408			1,586,045
Urban Edge Properties
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method ownership percentage		4.50%
Debt instrument, interest rate, effective percentage		4.09%
Maturity, range, start		2021
Maturity, range, end		2034
Equity method investment debt of partially owned entities		$ 1,563,375			1,415,806
Alexanders Inc
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method ownership percentage		32.40%
Debt instrument, interest rate, effective percentage		3.67%
Maturity, range, start		2021
Maturity, range, end		2025
Equity method investment debt of partially owned entities		$ 1,170,544			1,252,440
Other equity method investments
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, effective percentage		4.57%
Maturity, range, start		2019
Maturity, range, end		2025
Equity method investment debt of partially owned entities		$ 1,358,706			8,601,383
7 West 34th Street
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Sale of ownership interest percent	47.00%
Mortgage loans on real estate, face amount of mortgages						$ 300,000
Partially Owned Properties
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method investment pro rata share debt of partially owned entities		$ 2,682,865			$ 5,288,276
Farley Office and Retail Building
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Equity method ownership percentage			95.00%	50.10%
Equity method additional ownership percentage		44.90%	44.90%