CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Operating Lease, Liability	$ 120,261
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Common stock issued through the dividend reinvestment plan (in shares)	2,069	2,272	3,058
Common stock issued through the dividend reinvestment plan	$ 418	$ 387	$ 558
Number of shares withheld to satisfy employees' tax withholding and other liabilities	84,710	68,565	60,319
Shares withheld to satisfy employees' tax withholding and other liabilities, value	$ 16,101	$ 10,556	$ 10,542
Number of shares forfeited	2,361
Shares cancelled upon forfeiture	$ 399	717	588
Common stock dividends declared but not paid	214,832		196,094
Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	373	(223)	(2,026)
Increase (decrease) in derivative liabilities	(6,379)	6,366	1,171
Cash flow hedge losses reclassified to earnings	(6,571)	(6,143)	(7,070)
Right of use lease assets	103,063
Investments in unconsolidated real estate entities	165,806	217,432
Increase (decrease) in derivative assets	388		$ 12,114
Net operating real estate	$ 16,632,502	$ 15,822,878
Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Converted From Performance Shares
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Granted (in shares)	152,502	187,010	201,824
Restricted Stock Converted From Performance Shares [Member]
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Granted (in shares)	73,072	88,297	128,482
Restricted stock
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Granted (in shares)	79,430	98,713	73,342
Fair value of shares issued	$ 15,603	$ 15,950	$ 13,171
Number of shares forfeited	2,361	4,860	3,388
Accumulated earnings less dividends
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Redemptions or Purchase of Interests			$ 65
Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest	$ 373	$ (223)	(2,026)
Deferred Compensation, Share-based Payments [Member] \| Non-employee directors
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Granted (in shares)	1,838
Fair value of shares issued	$ 205
Avalon Maplewood
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Net operating real estate			$ 16,361
Non-employee directors \| Deferred Compensation, Share-based Payments [Member]
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Granted (in shares)	1,838
NYC JV
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Repayments of secured debt		395,939
NYC JV
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Investments in unconsolidated real estate entities		$ 74,159
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	20.00%
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash investing and financing activities
Right of use lease assets	$ 122,276

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