Investment in Partially-Owned Entities (Details) (USD $)				3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended																																																									12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012 Bluerock, Huntsville, AL	Mar. 31, 2012 Colonial Promenade Madison, Huntsville, AL sqft	Jun. 30, 2012 DRA/CLP JV	Dec. 31, 2011 DRA/CLP JV	Jun. 30, 2012 Multifamily properties	Dec. 31, 2011 Multifamily	Jun. 30, 2012 Multifamily Belterra, Ft. Worth, TX	Dec. 31, 2011 Multifamily Belterra, Ft. Worth, TX	Jun. 30, 2012 Multifamily CG at Huntcliff, Atlanta, GA	Dec. 31, 2011 Multifamily CG at Huntcliff, Atlanta, GA	Jun. 30, 2012 Multifamily CG at McKinney, Dallas, TX		Dec. 31, 2011 Multifamily CG at McKinney, Dallas, TX		Jun. 30, 2012 Multifamily CG at Research Park, Raleigh, NC	Dec. 31, 2011 Multifamily CG at Research Park, Raleigh, NC	Jun. 30, 2012 Multifamily Regents Park (Phase II), Atlanta, GA		Dec. 31, 2011 Multifamily Regents Park (Phase II), Atlanta, GA		Jun. 30, 2012 Commercial properties		Dec. 31, 2011 Commercial	Jun. 30, 2012 Commercial 600 Building Partnership, Birmingham, AL	Dec. 31, 2011 Commercial 600 Building Partnership, Birmingham, AL	Jun. 30, 2012 Commercial Bluerock, Huntsville, AL		Dec. 31, 2011 Commercial Bluerock, Huntsville, AL		Jun. 30, 2012 Commercial Colonial Promenade Madison, Huntsville, AL		Dec. 31, 2011 Commercial Colonial Promenade Madison, Huntsville, AL		Jun. 30, 2012 Commercial Colonial Promenade Smyrna, Smyrna, TN	Dec. 31, 2011 Commercial Colonial Promenade Smyrna, Smyrna, TN	Jun. 30, 2012 Commercial DRA/CLP JV		Mar. 31, 2012 Commercial DRA/CLP JV properties	Dec. 31, 2011 Commercial DRA/CLP JV		Jun. 30, 2012 Commercial Highway 150, LLC, Birmingham, AL	Dec. 31, 2011 Commercial Highway 150, LLC, Birmingham, AL	Jun. 30, 2012 Commercial Parkside Drive LLC II, Knoxville, TN		Dec. 31, 2011 Commercial Parkside Drive LLC II, Knoxville, TN		Jun. 30, 2012 Other	Dec. 31, 2011 Other	Jun. 30, 2012 Other Colonial/Polar-BEK Managment Company, Birmingham, AL	Dec. 31, 2011 Other Colonial/Polar-BEK Managment Company, Birmingham, AL	Jun. 30, 2012 Colonial Properties Trust	Dec. 31, 2011 Colonial Properties Trust		Jun. 30, 2012 Colonial Realty Limited Partnership	Dec. 31, 2011 Colonial Realty Limited Partnership	Jun. 30, 2012 Colonial Properties Trust	Dec. 31, 2011 Colonial Properties Trust DRA/CLP JV	Dec. 31, 2011 Restatement Adjustment		Jun. 30, 2012 Colonial Properties Trust DRA/CLP JV	Dec. 31, 2011 Colonial Properties Trust Restatement Adjustment DRA/CLP JV
Investments in Unconsolidated Partially-owned Entities
Investment in partially-owned entities			$ (100,000)																																																		$ 6,795,000	$ 31,577,000		$ 6,795,000	$ 27,432,000
Equity method investment, difference between carrying amount and underlying equity			(6,700,000)
Guarantor obligations, current carrying value																																																										4,100,000	4,100,000
Equity method investments							7,330,000	7,469,000	332,000	365,000	1,297,000	1,382,000	1,718,000	[1]	1,721,000	[1]	602,000	660,000	3,381,000	[1]	3,341,000	[1]	(4,861,000)		(26,771,000)	341,000	331,000	(6,795,000)	[2]	(6,426,000)	[2]	0	[3]	2,062,000	[3]	1,523,000	2,259,000	0	[4]		(25,152,000)	[4]	34,000	43,000	36,000	[5]	112,000	[5]	29,000	28,000	29,000	28,000	2,498,000	(19,274,000)	[6]		(15,100,000)
Equity method investment, ownership percentage				25.00%					10.00%		20.00%		25.00%				20.00%		40.00%							33.00%		10.00%				0.00%				50.00%		0.00%		15.00%			10.00%		0.00%						50.00%
Number of real estate properties							115																21	[7]																18
Contingent consideration, potential cash receipt					2,000,000
Contingent consideration, expected cash receipt					0
Equity method investment, notes payable	212,919,000	[8]																																																										957,068,000	[8]	111,300,000
Gain on sale of properties				1,000,000	21,900,000
Impairment of real estate						34,500,000																																																									3,200,000
Number of positions eliminated					21
Termination benefits and severance-related charges					1,100,000
Restructuring and related activities, completion date					Aug. 31, 2012
Total square feet				111,000
Total consideration from sale of real estate				$ 3,000,000

[1] These joint ventures consist of undeveloped land.

[2] Equity investment includes the Company’s investment of approximately $(0.1) million, plus by the excess basis difference on the transaction of approximately $(6.7) million, which is being amortized over the life of the properties. This joint venture is presented under “Liabilities” on the Company’s Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011.

[3] In the first quarter 2012, the Company sold its noncontrolling interest in this joint venture (see below).

[4] The Company's noncontrolling interest in this joint venture was redeemed effective as of June 30, 2012 (see below).

[5] In the fourth quarter 2011, the Company sold its noncontrolling interest in this joint venture.

[6] Net investment in partially-owned entities as of December 31, 2011 includes the Trust's $4.1 million contingent obligation related to the DRA/CLP JV. CRLP's net investment in partially owned entities was $(15.1) million as of December 31, 2011.

[7] The Company's remaining 15% interest in the DRA/CLP joint venture, which was comprised of 18 commercial assets representing approximately 5.2 million square feet, was redeemed by the joint venture, effective as of June 30, 2012. See Note 12 - "Investment in Partially-Owned Entities". As a result of the redemption, these 18 assets are not included in the table above.

[8] The Company’s pro-rata share of indebtedness, as calculated based on ownership percentage, at June 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011, was $35.9 million and $147.8 million, respectively.