Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 253,843	$ 256,933	$ 514,752	$ 518,176
Property operating expenses	(67,822)	(70,239)	(143,727)	(147,762)
Interest expense	(58,754)	(59,277)	(117,911)	(119,783)
Other expense	(5,928)	(7,390)	(12,404)	(13,935)
Gain on sales of real estate assets	14,173	1,925	14,930	3,079
Segment profit (loss)	135,512	121,952	255,640	239,775
Depreciation and amortization expense	(71,239)	(70,609)	(147,505)	(139,692)
General and administrative expense	(16,215)	(11,336)	(33,445)	(26,109)
Interest and other income	389	1,544	5,663	3,072
Gain on Extinguishment of Debt	256	0	256	42,660
Loss on impairment	(2,781)	(106)	(2,781)	(17,256)
Gain on investment	0	0	16,560	0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	4,881	3,418	8,704	7,102
Income tax provision	(2,472)	(786)	(1,556)	(1,183)
Income from continuing operations	48,331	44,077	101,536	108,369
Total Assets	6,702,203	6,701,514	6,702,203	6,701,514	$ 6,616,299
Capital expenditures	252,986	70,919	276,511	153,413
Operating Segments | Malls
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	223,744	224,960	454,015	454,833
Property operating expenses	(65,048)	(67,662)	(138,997)	(141,956)
Interest expense	(43,882)	(48,578)	(87,580)	(98,594)
Other expense	0	(19)	0	(19)
Gain on sales of real estate assets	0	536	264	1,666
Segment profit (loss)	114,814	109,237	227,702	215,930
Total Assets	5,834,340	5,707,536	5,834,340	5,707,536
Capital expenditures	229,931	50,702	260,297	83,639
Operating Segments | Associated Centers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	10,064	10,287	20,471	21,143
Property operating expenses	(2,350)	(2,260)	(4,946)	(4,755)
Interest expense	(1,873)	(1,996)	(3,829)	(3,996)
Other expense	0	0	0	0
Gain on sales of real estate assets	13,491	933	13,491	934
Segment profit (loss)	19,332	6,964	25,187	13,326
Total Assets	262,165	272,940	262,165	272,940
Capital expenditures	4,518	3,414	1,390	12,686
Operating Segments | Community Centers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	5,013	4,711	9,694	9,249
Property operating expenses	(1,154)	(932)	(2,278)	(2,589)
Interest expense	(1,035)	(651)	(2,230)	(1,300)
Other expense	0	0	0	0
Gain on sales of real estate assets	0	455	0	456
Segment profit (loss)	2,824	3,583	5,186	5,816
Total Assets	281,680	287,861	281,680	287,861
Capital expenditures	1,197	1,069	1,395	1,597
Operating Segments | All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	15,022	16,975	30,572	32,951
Property operating expenses	730	615	2,494	1,538
Interest expense	(11,964)	(8,052)	(24,272)	(15,893)
Other expense	(5,928)	(7,371)	(12,404)	(13,916)
Gain on sales of real estate assets	682	1	1,175	23
Segment profit (loss)	(1,458)	2,168	(2,435)	4,703
Total Assets	324,018	433,177	324,018	433,177
Capital expenditures	$ 17,340	$ 15,734	$ 13,429	$ 55,491