Consolidated Statement of Capital - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Net income	$ 366,288	$ 47,317	$ 243,258
Other comprehensive income
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	4,141	11,262	3,269
Deferred compensation plan, net	75
Contributions from partners		606	2,151
Issuance of exchangeable operating partnership units		1,275	25,870
Distributions to partners	(4,345)	(4,888)	(5,518)
Restricted units issued as a result of restricted stock issued by Parent Company, net of amortization	12,652	14,248	16,254
Total Partners' Capital [Member]
Net income	361,411	44,889	239,430
Other comprehensive income
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	3,795	10,961	3,318
Deferred compensation plan, net	75
Reallocation of limited partners' interest			(66)
Restricted units issued as a result of restricted stock issued by Parent Company, net of amortization	12,652	14,248	16,254
Partnership Interest [Member]
Beginning Balance	6,058,147	6,289,961	6,450,168
Net income	366,288	47,317	243,258
Other comprehensive income
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	4,986	(18,867)	(15,270)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	4,141	11,262	3,269
Deferred compensation plan, net	75
Contributions from partners		606	2,151
Issuance of exchangeable operating partnership units		1,275	25,870
Distributions to partners	(416,600)	(409,343)	(398,596)
Restricted units issued as a result of restricted stock issued by Parent Company, net of amortization	12,652	14,248	16,254
Common units issued as a result of common stock issued by Parent Company, net of issuance costs	82,510	125,608
Common units repurchased as a result of common stock repurchased by Parent Company, net of issuances	(2,267)	(3,920)
Common units repurchased and retired as a result of common stock repurchased and retired by Parent Company			(32,778)
Common units redeemed as a result of common stock redeemed by Parent Company, net of issuances			(4,365)
Ending Balance	6,109,932	6,058,147	6,289,961
Partnership Interest [Member] | Total Partners' Capital [Member]
Beginning Balance	6,020,639	6,249,448	6,408,636
Net income	363,026	45,092	240,064
Other comprehensive income
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	4,626	(17,668)	(14,419)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	3,812	11,011	3,330
Deferred compensation plan, net	75
Issuance of exchangeable operating partnership units		1,275	25,870
Distributions to partners	(412,255)	(404,455)	(393,078)
Reallocation of limited partners' interest			(66)
Restricted units issued as a result of restricted stock issued by Parent Company, net of amortization	12,652	14,248	16,254
Common units issued as a result of common stock issued by Parent Company, net of issuance costs	82,510	125,608
Common units repurchased as a result of common stock repurchased by Parent Company, net of issuances	(2,267)	(3,920)
Common units repurchased and retired as a result of common stock repurchased and retired by Parent Company			(32,778)
Common units redeemed as a result of common stock redeemed by Parent Company, net of issuances			(4,365)
Ending Balance	6,072,818	6,020,639	6,249,448
Partnership Interest [Member] | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]
Beginning Balance	(18,625)	(11,997)	(927)
Other comprehensive income
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	4,603	(17,589)	(14,388)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	3,795	10,961	3,318
Ending Balance	(10,227)	(18,625)	(11,997)
Partnership Interest [Member] | Noncontrolling Interests in Limited Partners Interest in Consolidated Partnerships [Member]
Beginning Balance	37,508	40,513	41,532
Net income	3,262	2,225	3,194
Other comprehensive income
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	360	(1,199)	(851)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	329	251	(61)
Contributions from partners		606	2,151
Distributions to partners	(4,345)	(4,888)	(5,518)
Reallocation of limited partners' interest			66
Ending Balance	37,114	37,508	40,513
Partnership Interest [Member] | General Partner [Member]
Beginning Balance	6,003,537	6,225,345	6,398,897
Net income	361,411	44,889	239,430
Other comprehensive income
Deferred compensation plan, net	75
Distributions to partners	(410,419)	(402,633)	(392,027)
Reallocation of limited partners' interest			(66)
Restricted units issued as a result of restricted stock issued by Parent Company, net of amortization	12,652	14,248	16,254
Common units issued as a result of common stock issued by Parent Company, net of issuance costs	82,510	125,608
Common units repurchased as a result of common stock repurchased by Parent Company, net of issuances	(2,267)	(3,920)
Common units repurchased and retired as a result of common stock repurchased and retired by Parent Company			(32,778)
Common units redeemed as a result of common stock redeemed by Parent Company, net of issuances			(4,365)
Common unit exchanged for common stock of Parent Company	99
Ending Balance	6,047,598	6,003,537	6,225,345
Partnership Interest [Member] | Limited Partner [Member]
Beginning Balance	35,727	36,100	10,666
Net income	1,615	203	634
Other comprehensive income
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications	23	(79)	(31)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income	17	50	12
Issuance of exchangeable operating partnership units		1,275	25,870
Distributions to partners	(1,836)	(1,822)	(1,051)
Common unit exchanged for common stock of Parent Company	(99)
Ending Balance	$ 35,447	$ 35,727	$ 36,100