Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		$ 224,650	$ 251,721	$ 691,896	$ 769,764
Property operating expenses		(64,122)	(70,844)	(194,915)	(212,732)
Interest expense		(53,913)	(54,292)	(165,179)	(162,710)
Other expense		(132)	(5,576)	(5,151)	(20,313)
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate assets		1,383	4,926	86,904	14,503
Segment profit (loss)		107,866	125,935	413,555	388,512
Depreciation and amortization expense		(71,732)	(71,794)	(225,461)	(220,505)
General and administrative expense		(13,568)	(13,222)	(45,402)	(46,865)
Interest and other income (loss)		(200)	451	1,235	1,062
Gain on extinguishment of debt		6,452	(6)	30,927	0
Loss on impairment		(24,935)	(53,558)	(71,401)	(116,736)
Loss on investment		(354)	0	(6,197)	0
Income tax benefit		1,064	2,386	4,784	2,974
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates		4,706	10,478	16,404	107,217
Net income		9,299	670	118,444	115,659
Capital expenditures		48,281	98,018	131,878	180,538
Total Assets	[1]	5,743,756		5,743,756		$ 6,104,640
Malls
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		205,020	228,918	632,830	700,407
Property operating expenses		(59,602)	(68,189)	(182,926)	(208,975)
Interest expense		(28,922)	(35,915)	(93,481)	(105,797)
Other expense		0	0	0	0
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate assets		(1,994)	273	75,434	489
Segment profit (loss)		114,502	125,087	431,857	386,124
Capital expenditures		47,246	64,085	126,290	125,406
Total Assets		5,086,855		5,086,855		5,383,937
Associated Centers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		9,720	9,997	28,704	30,096
Property operating expenses		(2,643)	(2,311)	(6,723)	(7,010)
Interest expense		(43)	(1,424)	(1,269)	(4,557)
Other expense		0	0	0	0
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate assets		0	0	0	478
Segment profit (loss)		7,034	6,262	20,712	19,007
Capital expenditures		594	61	1,678	3,158
Total Assets		243,840		243,840		259,966
Community Centers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		4,023	4,776	12,459	14,747
Property operating expenses		(843)	(1,149)	(2,394)	(3,552)
Interest expense		(89)	(858)	(247)	(321)
Other expense		0	0	0	0
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate assets		0	0	0	3,239
Segment profit (loss)		3,091	2,769	9,818	14,113
Capital expenditures		331	1,452	1,036	2,420
Total Assets		235,680		235,680		215,917
All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		5,887	8,030	17,903	24,514
Property operating expenses		(1,034)	805	(2,872)	6,805
Interest expense		(24,859)	(16,095)	(70,182)	(52,035)
Other expense		(132)	(5,576)	(5,151)	(20,313)
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate assets		3,377	4,653	11,470	10,297
Segment profit (loss)		(16,761)	(8,183)	(48,832)	(30,732)
Capital expenditures		110	$ 32,420	2,874	$ 49,554
Total Assets		$ 177,381		$ 177,381		$ 244,820

[1] As of September 30, 2017, includes $652,439 of assets related to consolidated variable interest entities that can be used only to settle obligations of the consolidated variable interest entities and $379,786 of liabilities of consolidated variable interest entities for which creditors do not have recourse to the general credit of the Company. See Note 5.