Deferred Charges and Other Assets, net - Schedule of deferred charges and other assets, net (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Leasing	$ 226,885	$ 232,819
Intangible assets:
In-place lease values	94,966	108,432
Leasing commissions and legal costs	23,508	25,958
Above-market leases	140,889	164,040
Deferred tax assets	32,197	29,006
Deferred compensation plan assets	45,857	52,221
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	0	31,150
Other assets	75,497	66,990
Deferred charges and other assets, gross	639,799	710,616
Less accumulated amortization	(249,396)	(261,426)
Deferred charges and other assets, net	390,403	449,190
In-place lease values, leasing commissions and legal costs
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Accumulated amortization	72,286	74,507
Amortization expense	$ 13,635	$ 19,958	$ 33,048