Consolidated Statement of Capital and Noncontrolling Interests - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2022	Mar. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	156,711,714	156,074,000	156,544,849	155,719,000
Net activity from stock option and incentive plan, value	$ 18,921	$ 38,467
Net activity from stock option and incentive plan, shares	21,000	232,000
Preferred Stock Redemption Charge	$ 0	$ (6,412)
Conversion of redeemable partnership units	141,000	118,000
Effective portion of interest rate contracts	$ 7,565	$ 3,740
Amortization of interest rate contracts	1,676	1,676
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	849	281
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	$ (26,640)	$ (18,225)
General Partner [Member]
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	1,749,000	1,737,000	1,746,000	1,731,000
Net activity from stock option and incentive plan, shares		4,000
Conversion of redeemable partnership units	3,000	2,000
Limited Partner [Member]
Common Stock, Shares, Outstanding	154,962,000	154,338,000	154,799,000	153,988,000
Net activity from stock option and incentive plan, shares	25,000	233,000
Conversion of redeemable partnership units	138,000	117,000
Partners' Capital (General and Limited Partners)[Member]
Beginning Balance	$ 3,914,832	$ 4,392,624	$ 4,173,290	$ 4,554,639
Contributions, value	467	20,489
Allocated net income for the period	145,468	101,101
Distributions	(153,577)	(152,953)
Preferred Stock Redemption Charge		6,412
Conversion of redeemable partnership units, value	5,028	4,198
Adjustment to reflect redeemable partnership units at redemption value	(255,844)	(128,438)
Preferred Units [Member]
Beginning Balance	0	0	0	193,623
Allocated net income for the period		2,560
Distributions		(2,560)
Preferred Stock, Redemption Amount		193,623
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]
Beginning Balance	(28,485)	(45,139)	(36,662)	(49,890)
Effective portion of interest rate contracts	6,800	3,370
Amortization of interest rate contracts	1,377	1,381
Noncontrolling interest - property partnerships [Member]
Beginning Balance	1,548,455	1,725,600	1,556,553	1,726,933
Allocated net income for the period	17,549	16,467
Amortization of interest rate contracts	144	144
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	849	281
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	(26,640)	(18,225)
Total Capital [Member]
Beginning Balance	5,434,802	6,073,085	5,693,181	6,425,305
Contributions, value	467	20,489
Allocated net income for the period	163,017	120,128
Distributions	(153,577)	(155,513)
Preferred Stock, Redemption Amount		193,623
Preferred Stock Redemption Charge		6,412
Conversion of redeemable partnership units, value	5,028	4,198
Adjustment to reflect redeemable partnership units at redemption value	(255,844)	(128,438)
Effective portion of interest rate contracts	6,800	3,370
Amortization of interest rate contracts	1,521	1,525
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	849	281
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in property partnerships	(26,640)	18,225
Noncontrolling interest - Redeemable partnership units [Member]
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest, Equity, Preferred, Carrying Amount	2,347,834	1,780,044	$ 2,078,603	$ 1,643,024
Net activity from stock option and incentive plan, value		18,462
Contributions, value	19,054
Allocated net income for the period	16,361	11,084
Distributions	(17,920)	(17,287)
Conversion of redeemable partnership units, value	(5,028)	(4,198)
Adjustment to reflect redeemable partnership units at redemption value	255,844	128,438
Effective portion of interest rate contracts	765	370
Amortization of interest rate contracts	$ 155	$ 151

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