Fair Value Measurements (Details Textuals) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011 PartnershipUnit Property Market	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010
Fair Value Measurements (Textuals) [Abstract]
Amortized cost of the investment in securities	$ 52,500,000
Carrying amount of real estate (held for use or held for sale) prior to recognition of impairment losses	70,100,000		52,300,000
Estimated aggregate fair value of notes receivable	112,300,000	116,000,000
Carrying amounts of notes receivable	124,200,000	127,600,000
Estimated aggregate fair value of consolidated debt (including amounts reported in liabilities related to assets held for sale)	5,800,000,000	5,500,000,000
Carrying amount of consolidated debt (including amounts reported in liabilities related to assets for sale)	$ 5,300,000,000	$ 5,500,000,000
Number of partnerships consolidated at fair value	17

Carrying amount of consolidated debt (including amounts reported in liabilities related to assets for sale).

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- Definition

Carrying amount of real estate (held for use or held for sale) prior to recognition of impairment losses.

+ Details

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value measurements.

+ Details

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- Definition

Carrying amount of notes receivable from unconsolidated real estate partnerships, net and notes receivable from non-affiliates, net.

+ Details

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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number of partnerships consolidated at fair value.

+ Details

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- Definition

This item represents the cost of debt and equity securities, which are categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading, net of adjustments including accretion, amortization, collection of cash, previous other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings (less any cumulative-effect adjustments recognized, as defined), and fair value hedge accounting adjustments, if any.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS115-1/124-1

-Paragraph 7

-Footnote 2

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 115

-Paragraph 19

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fair value amount of long-term debt whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission.

+ Details

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- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. An amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the Company (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date(s).

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph b

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3(b))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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