Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Other expense (income) [Abstract]
Equity in income of investments in real estate partnerships (note 4)	$ 42,974	$ 43,341	$ 56,518
Federal Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations	522	(9,647)	(153)
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Properties, Net of Applicable Income Taxes	(28,343)	(27,432)	(47,321)
Parent Company [Member]
Revenues:
Minimum rent	818,483	728,078	444,305
Percentage rent	7,486	6,635	4,128
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	266,512	223,455	140,611
Property Management Fee Revenue	28,494	26,158	25,327
Total revenues	1,120,975	984,326	614,371
Operating expenses:
Depreciation and amortization	359,688	334,201	162,327
Direct Costs of Leased and Rented Property or Equipment	168,034	143,990	95,022
General and administrative	65,491	67,624	65,327
Real estate taxes	137,856	109,723	66,395
Other operating expenses	9,737	89,225	14,081
Total operating expenses	740,806	744,763	403,152
Other expense (income) [Abstract]
Interest Expense	148,456	132,629	90,712
Asset Impairment Charges	38,437	0	4,200
Early extinguishment of debt	11,172	12,449	14,240
Net investment loss (income)	(1,096)	3,985	1,672
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income, Ineffective Portion and Amount Excluded from Effectiveness Testing, Net	0	0	40,586
Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(170,818)	(113,661)	(100,745)
Income from operations before equity in income of investments in real estate partnerships and income taxes	209,351	125,902	110,474
Equity in income of investments in real estate partnerships (note 4)	42,974	43,341	56,518
Federal Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations	0	(9,737)	0
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Properties, Net of Applicable Income Taxes	(28,343)	(27,432)	(47,321)
Net income	252,325	178,980	166,992
Noncontrolling interests:
Noncontrolling Interest in Net Income (Loss) Operating Partnerships, Nonredeemable	(525)	(388)	(257)
Noncontrolling Interest in Net Income (Loss) Limited Partnerships, Nonredeemable	(2,673)	(2,515)	(1,813)
Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(3,198)	(2,903)	(2,070)
Net income attributable to the Company	249,127	176,077	164,922
Preferred stock dividends and issuance costs	0	(16,128)	(21,062)
Net Income (Loss) Available to Common Stockholders, Basic	$ 249,127	$ 159,949	$ 143,860
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.47	$ 1.00	$ 1.43
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.46	$ 1.00	$ 1.42
Partnership Interest [Member]
Revenues:
Minimum rent	$ 818,483	$ 728,078	$ 444,305
Percentage rent	7,486	6,635	4,128
Revenue from Contract with Customer, Including Assessed Tax	266,512	223,455	140,611
Property Management Fee Revenue	28,494	26,158	25,327
Total revenues	1,120,975	984,326	614,371
Operating expenses:
Depreciation and amortization	359,688	334,201	162,327
Direct Costs of Leased and Rented Property or Equipment	168,034	143,990	95,022
General and administrative	65,491	67,624	65,327
Real estate taxes	137,856	109,723	66,395
Other operating expenses	9,737	89,225	14,081
Total operating expenses	740,806	744,763	403,152
Other expense (income) [Abstract]
Interest Expense	148,456	132,629	90,712
Asset Impairment Charges	38,437	0	4,200
Early extinguishment of debt	11,172	12,449	14,240
Net investment loss (income)	(1,096)	3,985	1,672
Gain (Loss) on Derivative Instruments, Net, Pretax	0	0	40,586
Nonoperating Income (Expense)	(170,818)	(113,661)	(100,745)
Income from operations before equity in income of investments in real estate partnerships and income taxes	209,351	125,902	110,474
Equity in income of investments in real estate partnerships (note 4)	42,974	43,341	56,518
Federal Income Tax Expense (Benefit), Continuing Operations	0	(9,737)	0
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Properties, Net of Applicable Income Taxes	(28,343)	(27,432)	(47,321)
Net income	252,325	178,980	166,992
Noncontrolling interests:
Noncontrolling Interest in Net Income (Loss) Limited Partnerships, Nonredeemable	(2,673)	(2,515)	(1,813)
Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2,673)	(2,515)	(1,813)
Net income attributable to the Company	249,652	176,465	165,179
Preferred unit distributions	0	(16,128)	(21,062)
Net Income (Loss) Allocated to General Partners	$ 249,652	$ 160,337	$ 144,117
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.47	$ 1.00	$ 1.43
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.46	$ 1.00	$ 1.42