Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 260,909	$ 261,243
Property operating expenses	(75,905)	(77,523)
Interest expense	(59,157)	(60,506)
Other expense	(6,476)	(6,545)
Gain on sales of real estate assets	757	1,154
Segment profit (loss)	120,128	117,823
Depreciation and amortization expense	(76,266)	(69,083)
General and administrative expense	(17,230)	(14,773)
Interest and other income	5,274	1,528
Gain on Extinguishment of Debt	0	42,660
Loss on impairment	0	(17,150)
Gain on investment	16,560	0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	3,823	3,684
Income tax (provision) benefit	916	(397)
Income from continuing operations	53,205	64,292
Total Assets	6,543,600	6,703,849	6,616,299
Capital expenditures	67,241	82,494
Malls
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	230,271	229,873
Property operating expenses	(73,949)	(74,294)
Interest expense	(43,698)	(50,016)
Other expense	0	0
Gain on sales of real estate assets	264	1,130
Segment profit (loss)	112,888	106,693
Total Assets	5,665,654	5,766,003
Capital expenditures	30,366	32,937
Associated Centers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	10,407	10,856
Property operating expenses	(2,596)	(2,495)
Interest expense	(1,956)	(2,000)
Other expense	0	0
Gain on sales of real estate assets	0	1
Segment profit (loss)	5,855	6,362
Total Assets	272,045	274,556
Capital expenditures	5,908	9,272
Community Centers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	4,681	4,538
Property operating expenses	(1,124)	(1,657)
Interest expense	(1,195)	(649)
Other expense	0	0
Gain on sales of real estate assets	0	1
Segment profit (loss)	2,362	2,233
Total Assets	266,076	297,347
Capital expenditures	198	528
All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	15,550	15,976
Property operating expenses	1,764	923
Interest expense	(12,308)	(7,841)
Other expense	(6,476)	(6,545)
Gain on sales of real estate assets	493	22
Segment profit (loss)	(977)	2,535
Total Assets	339,825	365,943
Capital expenditures	$ 30,769	$ 39,757