Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Parent Company [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income	$ 305,378	$ 119,819
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Retail revenue accretion	(952)	(17)
Depreciation and amortization	223,651	233,312
Stock compensation expense	4,438	3,180
Redeemable stock issued	741	690
Amortization of debt premium	(15,465)	(20,121)
(Gain) loss from investments in real estate joint ventures	6	(3,159)
Loss on debt extinguishment	2,788	2,586
Derivative interest (credit) expense	(1,567)	(2,543)
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Derivatives	0	(3,625)
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	(172)	(535)
Gain on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	(190,031)	(42,254)
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	0	(5,378)
Net casualty loss and other settlement proceeds	(485)	431
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash	(1,533)	(11,262)
Other assets	5,927	(5,016)
Accounts payable	(1,211)	(1,665)
Accrued expenses and other	28,877	32,209
Security deposits	1,146	688
Net cash provided by operating activities	361,536	297,340
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of real estate and other assets	(248,668)	(155,679)
Normal capital improvements	(72,786)	(72,045)
Construction capital and other improvements	(5,479)	(6,287)
Renovations to existing real estate assets	(22,470)	(15,484)
Development	(24,870)	(57,705)
Distributions from real estate joint ventures	6	15,964
Contributions to Real Estate Joint Ventures	(29)	0
Proceeds from disposition of real estate assets	358,017	241,691
(Funding) return of escrow for future acquisitions	(59,607)	(5,589)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(75,886)	(55,134)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in credit lines	8,885	(216,184)
Proceeds from notes payable	0	396,532
Principal payments on notes payable	(92,211)	(258,105)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(178)	(4,156)
Repurchase of common stock	(957)	(456)
Proceeds from issuances of common shares	326	728
Exercise of stock options	420	11,916
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(9,676)	(9,227)
Dividends paid on common shares	(174,036)	(164,298)
Net cash used in financing activities	(267,427)	(243,250)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	18,223	(1,044)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	26,653	89,333
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	44,876	88,289
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid	97,798	101,252
Income Taxes Paid	2,095	1,596
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Conversion of units to shares of common stock	236	992
Accrued construction in progress	8,333	6,539
Interest capitalized	1,313	1,253
Marked-to-market adjustment on derivative instruments	(4,632)	6,471
Fair value adjustment on debt assumed	0	2,720
Loan assumption	0	52,521
Limited Partner [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income	305,378	119,819
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Retail revenue accretion	(952)	(17)
Depreciation and amortization	223,651	233,312
Stock compensation expense	4,438	3,180
Redeemable stock issued	741	690
Amortization of debt premium	(15,465)	(20,121)
(Gain) loss from investments in real estate joint ventures	6	(3,159)
Loss on debt extinguishment	2,788	2,586
Derivative interest (credit) expense	(1,567)	(2,543)
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Derivatives	0	(3,625)
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	(172)	(535)
Gain on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	(190,031)	(42,254)
Gain on sale of discontinued operations	0	(5,378)
Net casualty loss and other settlement proceeds	(485)	431
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash	(1,533)	(11,262)
Other assets	5,927	(5,016)
Accounts payable	(1,211)	(1,665)
Accrued expenses and other	28,877	32,209
Security deposits	1,146	688
Net cash provided by operating activities	361,536	297,340
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of real estate and other assets	(248,668)	(155,679)
Normal capital improvements	(72,786)	(72,045)
Construction capital and other improvements	(5,479)	(6,287)
Renovations to existing real estate assets	(22,470)	(15,484)
Development	(24,870)	(57,705)
Distributions from real estate joint ventures	6	15,964
Contributions to Real Estate Joint Ventures	(29)	0
Proceeds from disposition of real estate assets	358,017	241,691
(Funding) return of escrow for future acquisitions	(59,607)	(5,589)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(75,886)	(55,134)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in credit lines	8,885	(216,184)
Proceeds from notes payable	0	396,532
Principal payments on notes payable	(92,211)	(258,105)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(178)	(4,156)
Repurchase of common units	(957)	(456)
Proceeds from issuances of common units	326	728
Exercise of stock options	420	11,916
Distributions paid on common units	(183,712)	(173,525)
Net cash used in financing activities	(267,427)	(243,250)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	18,223	(1,044)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	26,653	89,333
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	44,876	88,289
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid	97,798	101,252
Income Taxes Paid	2,095	1,596
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Accrued construction in progress	8,333	6,539
Interest capitalized	1,313	1,253
Marked-to-market adjustment on derivative instruments	(4,632)	6,471
Fair value adjustment on debt assumed	0	2,720
Loan assumption	$ 0	$ 52,521