Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 567,831	$ 654,776	$ 550,702
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	565,857	544,004	534,415
Loss (gain) on sale of depreciable real estate assets	62	(214,762)	(220,428)
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	(54)	(809)	(811)
(Gain) loss on embedded derivative in preferred shares	(18,528)	21,107	4,560
Stock compensation expense	15,699	18,798	16,665
Amortization of debt issuance costs, discounts and premiums	5,909	6,064	5,652
(Gain) loss on investments	(4,449)	45,357	(51,713)
Net change in operating accounts and other operating activities	4,860	(16,056)	55,925
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,137,187	1,058,479	894,967
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of real estate and other assets	(223,453)	(271,428)	(46,028)
Capital improvements and other	(341,224)	(296,176)	(279,635)
Development costs	(198,152)	(172,124)	(231,642)
Distributions from real estate joint venture	312	538	497
Contributions to affiliates	(16,636)	(13,849)	(4,669)
Proceeds from real estate asset dispositions	2,946	320,491	293,071
Net proceeds from insurance recoveries	945	27,312	14,820
Net cash used in investing activities	(775,262)	(405,236)	(253,586)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net proceeds from (payments of) commercial paper	475,000	20,000	(172,000)
Proceeds from notes payable	0	0	594,423
Principal payments on notes payable	(353,861)	(126,401)	(467,153)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(2)	(5,516)	(5,940)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(17,671)	(14,927)	(15,497)
Distributions paid on common shares/units	(651,717)	(539,605)	(470,401)
Distributions paid on preferred shares/units	(3,688)	(3,688)	(3,688)
Proceeds from issuances of common shares	205,070	1,083	645
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests	(15,757)	(43,070)	0
Net change in other financing activities	(5,279)	(10,646)	(6,787)
Net cash used in financing activities	(367,905)	(722,770)	(546,398)
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(5,980)	(69,527)	94,983
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	61,071	130,598	35,615
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	55,091	61,071	130,598
Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at period end:
Cash and cash equivalents	41,314	38,659	54,302
Restricted cash	13,777	22,412	76,296
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	55,091	61,071	130,598
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid	157,566	157,497	158,630
Income taxes paid	4,002	3,490	2,543
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Distributions on common shares/ units declared and accrued	176,162	166,103	128,916
Accrued construction in progress	23,345	16,484	15,123
Interest capitalized	12,376	8,728	9,720
Conversion of OP Units to shares of common stock	1,092	2,118	43,292
Limited Partner [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	567,831	654,776	550,702
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	565,857	544,004	534,415
Loss (gain) on sale of depreciable real estate assets	62	(214,762)	(220,428)
Gain on sale of non-depreciable real estate assets	(54)	(809)	(811)
(Gain) loss on embedded derivative in preferred shares	(18,528)	21,107	4,560
Stock compensation expense	15,699	18,798	16,665
Amortization of debt issuance costs, discounts and premiums	5,909	6,064	5,652
(Gain) loss on investments	(4,449)	45,357	(51,713)
Net change in operating accounts and other operating activities	4,860	(16,056)	55,925
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,137,187	1,058,479	894,967
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of real estate and other assets	(223,453)	(271,428)	(46,028)
Capital improvements and other	(341,224)	(296,176)	(279,635)
Development costs	(198,152)	(172,124)	(231,642)
Distributions from real estate joint venture	312	538	497
Contributions to affiliates	(16,636)	(13,849)	(4,669)
Proceeds from real estate asset dispositions	2,946	320,491	293,071
Net proceeds from insurance recoveries	945	27,312	14,820
Net cash used in investing activities	(775,262)	(405,236)	(253,586)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net proceeds from (payments of) commercial paper	475,000	20,000	(172,000)
Proceeds from notes payable	0	0	594,423
Principal payments on notes payable	(353,861)	(126,401)	(467,153)
Payment of deferred financing costs	(2)	(5,516)	(5,940)
Distributions paid on common shares/units	(669,388)	(554,532)	(485,898)
Distributions paid on preferred shares/units	(3,688)	(3,688)	(3,688)
Proceeds from issuances of common shares	205,070	1,083	645
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests	(15,757)	(43,070)	0
Net change in other financing activities	(5,279)	(10,646)	(6,787)
Net cash used in financing activities	(367,905)	(722,770)	(546,398)
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(5,980)	(69,527)	94,983
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period	61,071	130,598	35,615
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	55,091	61,071	130,598
Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at period end:
Cash and cash equivalents	41,314	38,659	54,302
Restricted cash	13,777	22,412	76,296
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	55,091	61,071	130,598
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Interest paid	157,566	157,497	158,630
Income taxes paid	4,002	3,490	2,543
Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Distributions on common shares/ units declared and accrued	176,162	166,103	128,916
Accrued construction in progress	23,345	16,484	15,123
Interest capitalized	$ 12,376	$ 8,728	$ 9,720