CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Stock issued in connection with stock grants (in shares)	154,645	104,060
Stock issued in connection with stock grants, value		$ 13,331,000
Common stock issued through the dividend reinvestment plan (in shares)	484	638
Common stock issued through the dividend reinvestment plan	86,000	78,000
Number of shares withheld to satisfy employees' tax withholding and other liabilities	32,887	33,365
Shares withheld to satisfy employees' tax withholding and other liabilities, value	5,338,000	3,567,000
Dividends declared but not paid	165,241,000	150,304,000
(Decrease) increase in redeemable noncontrolling interests	(2,065,000)	1,081,000
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	1,565,000	1,573,000
Restricted stock
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Conversion of restricted stock units (in shares)	95,826
Restricted stock granted (in shares)	58,819
Fair value of shares issued	10,199,000
Avalon at Edgewater [Member]
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Insurance Proceeds	22,000,000
Casualty Loss	$ 21,844,000

Casualty Loss

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- Definition

Insurance Proceeds

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- Definition

Change in noncontrolling interest during the period as a result of an adjustment in redemption value associated with a put option.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Conversion of Shares

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents the fair value of share-based awards other than options issued during the period.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

The amount of adjustment to stockholders' equity associated with an employee's income tax withholding obligation as part of a net-share settlement of a share-based award.

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No definition available.

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- Definition

Carrying value as of the balance sheet date of dividends declared but unpaid on equity securities issued by the entity and outstanding.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.15(5))

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-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph a

-Article 7

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-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 15

-Subparagraph 5

-Article 9

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.15(5))

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- Definition

Amount after tax of reclassification adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive income of accumulated gain (loss) realized from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges and an entity's share of an equity investee's deferred hedging gain (loss).

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 220

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 11

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 220

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 15

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph c

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- Definition

The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(2)(iii)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

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- Definition

For net-share settlement of share-based awards when the employer settles employees' income tax withholding obligations, this element represents the number of shares the employees use to repay the employer.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Number of shares issued during the period from a dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP). A dividend reinvestment plan allows the shareholders to reinvest dividends paid to them by the entity on new issues of stock by the entity.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

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Gross number of shares (or other type of equity) issued during the period as a result of any equity-based compensation plan other than an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). Shares issued could result from the issuance of restricted stock, the exercise of stock options, stock issued under employee stock purchase plans, and/or other employee benefit plans.

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Value of stock issued during the period from a dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP). A dividend reinvestment plan allows the holder of the stock to reinvest dividends paid to them by the entity on new issues of stock by the entity.

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Gross value of stock (or other type of equity) issued during the period as a result of any equity-based compensation plan other than an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). Stock issued could result from the issuance of restricted stock, the exercise of stock options, stock issued under employee stock purchase plans, and/or other employee benefit plans.

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