Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 261,243	$ 258,482
Property operating expenses	(77,523)	(75,739)
Interest expense	(60,506)	(59,824)
Other expense	(6,545)	(6,656)
Gain on sales of real estate assets	1,154	543
Segment profit (loss)	117,823	116,806
Depreciation and amortization expense	(69,083)	(69,056)
General and administrative expense	(14,773)	(13,424)
Interest and other income	1,528	727
Gain on extinguishment of debt	42,660	0
Loss on impairment	(17,150)	0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	3,684	2,619
Income tax (provision) benefit	(397)	174
Income from continuing operations	64,292	37,846
Total assets	6,703,849		6,785,971
Capital expenditures	82,494	61,809
Malls [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	229,873	229,146
Property operating expenses	(74,294)	(77,265)
Interest expense	(50,016)	(52,439)
Other expense	0	0
Gain on sales of real estate assets	1,130	295
Segment profit (loss)	106,693	99,737
Capital expenditures	32,937	19,557
Associated Centers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	10,856	10,605
Property operating expenses	(2,495)	(2,677)
Interest expense	(2,000)	(2,046)
Other expense	0	0
Gain on sales of real estate assets	1	0
Segment profit (loss)	6,362	5,882
Capital expenditures	9,272	1,006
Community Centers [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	4,538	4,064
Property operating expenses	(1,657)	(554)
Interest expense	(649)	(577)
Other expense	0	0
Gain on sales of real estate assets	1	0
Segment profit (loss)	2,233	2,933
Capital expenditures	528	1,184
All Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	15,976	14,667
Property operating expenses	923	4,757
Interest expense	(7,841)	(4,762)
Other expense	(6,545)	(6,656)
Gain on sales of real estate assets	22	248
Segment profit (loss)	2,535	8,254
Capital expenditures	$ 39,757	$ 40,062