Deferred Charges and Other Assets, net - Schedule of deferred charges and other assets, net (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Leasing	$ 232,819	$ 239,983
Intangible assets:
In-place lease values	108,432	140,437
Leasing commissions and legal costs	25,958	32,384
Above-market leases	164,040	181,851
Deferred tax assets	29,006	38,301
Deferred compensation plan assets	52,221	42,711
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Other assets	66,990	72,206
Deferred charges and other assets, gross	710,616	747,873
Less accumulated amortization	(261,426)	(269,815)
Deferred charges and other assets, net	449,190	478,058
In-place lease values, leasing commissions and legal costs
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Accumulated amortization	74,507	88,785
Amortization expense	19,988	33,048	$ 69,460
Freehold Raceway Mall and Chandler Fashion Center | Joint venture
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Distributions in excess of co-venture obligation	$ 31,150	$ 0