Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)
Parent Company [Member]
Restricted Cash	$ 17,414	$ 78,117	$ 88,264
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents	51,673	88,867	121,800
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income	(231,022)	(340,536)	(224,402)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	(490,995)	(494,540)	(323,283)
Stock compensation expense	12,444	10,570	11,486
Amortization of debt premium	(4,990)	(9,810)	(9,820)
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	(4,532)	(21)	(2,171)
Gain on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	39	(127,386)	(80,397)
Proceeds from Other Operating Activities	9,314	(47,629)	18,221
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	734,292	660,800	485,004
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of real estate and other assets	(129,487)	(136,065)	(339,186)
Payments for Capital Improvements	254,715	343,890	183,977
Proceeds from Equity Method Investment, Distribution, Return of Capital	775	0	1,778
Contributions to Real Estate Joint Ventures	(2,905)	(1,500)	0
Proceeds from disposition of real estate assets	19,982	187,245	296,410
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	0	0	(424,156)
Net cash used in investing activities	(366,350)	(294,210)	(649,131)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Lines of Credit	1,540,000	805,000	635,000
Repayments of Lines of Credit	(1,490,000)	(965,000)	(300,000)
Proceeds from notes payable	869,630	597,480	300,000
Principal payments on notes payable	(878,610)	(413,557)	(146,026)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(6,060)	(5,358)	(2,395)
Repurchase of common stock	(2,921)	(4,782)	(2,019)
Payment for Debt Extinguishment or Debt Prepayment Cost	(60)	(1,659)	(139)
Proceeds from issuances of common shares	585	1,557	291
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised	916	432	0
Dividends, Preferred Stock, Cash	(3,688)	(3,688)	(924)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(15,079)	(14,654)	(13,850)
Dividends paid on common shares	(419,849)	(395,294)	(247,652)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(405,136)	(399,523)	222,286
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(37,194)	(32,933)	58,159
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	10,750	33,536
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	34,259	10,750	33,536
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid	184,834	166,757	144,843
Income Taxes Paid	2,550	2,366	1,582
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Conversion of units to shares of common stock	4,443	1,602	902
Accrued construction in progress	8,581	7,852	31,491
Interest capitalized	2,047	7,238	2,073
Marked-to-market adjustment on derivative instruments	(6,436)	17,806	5,670
Fair value adjustment on debt assumed	0	0	8,864
Loan assumption from the Post Properties merger	0	0	586,744
Purchase Price Post	0	0	4,006,586
Limited Partner [Member]
Restricted Cash	17,414	78,117	88,264
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents	51,673	88,867	121,800
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income	(231,022)	(340,536)	(224,402)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	(490,995)	(494,540)	(323,283)
Stock compensation expense	12,444	10,570	11,486
Amortization of debt premium	(4,990)	(9,810)	(9,820)
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	(4,532)	(21)	(2,171)
Gain on sale of depreciable real estate assets excluded from discontinued operations	39	(127,386)	(80,397)
Proceeds from Other Operating Activities	9,314	(47,629)	18,221
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Net cash provided by operating activities	734,292	660,800	485,004
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of real estate and other assets	(129,487)	(136,065)	(339,186)
Payments for Capital Improvements	254,715	343,890	183,977
Proceeds from Equity Method Investment, Distribution, Return of Capital	775	0	1,778
Contributions to Real Estate Joint Ventures	(2,905)	(1,500)	0
Proceeds from disposition of real estate assets	19,982	187,245	296,410
Payments to Acquire Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired	0	0	(424,156)
Net cash used in investing activities	(366,350)	(294,210)	(649,131)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Lines of Credit	1,540,000	805,000	635,000
Repayments of Lines of Credit	(1,490,000)	(965,000)	(300,000)
Proceeds from notes payable	869,630	597,480	300,000
Principal payments on notes payable	(878,610)	(413,557)	(146,026)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(6,060)	(5,358)	(2,395)
Payment for Debt Extinguishment or Debt Prepayment Cost	(60)	(1,659)	(139)
Repurchase of common units	(2,921)	(4,782)	(2,019)
Proceeds from issuance of common units	585	1,557	291
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised	916	432	0
Dividends, Preferred Stock, Cash	(3,688)	(3,688)	(924)
Distributions paid on common units	(434,928)	(409,948)	(261,502)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(405,136)	(399,523)	222,286
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(37,194)	(32,933)	58,159
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	10,750	33,536	121,800
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	34,259	10,750	33,536
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid	184,834	166,757	144,843
Income Taxes Paid	2,550	2,366	1,582
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Accrued construction in progress	8,581	7,852	31,491
Interest capitalized	2,047	7,238	2,073
Marked-to-market adjustment on derivative instruments	(6,436)	17,806	5,670
Fair value adjustment on debt assumed	0	0	8,864
Loan assumption from the Post Properties merger	0	0	586,744
Purchase Price Post	$ 0	$ 0	$ 4,006,586