Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Operating activities:
Net income	$ 212,952	$ 197,405
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain from early Extinguishment of Debt	0	977
Impairment charges	16,548	10,195
Gain on sale of real estate	(2,688)	(28,462)
Gain on insurance recovery	0	606
Deferred income tax expense	755	911
gain on sale of investment in direct financing leases	5,514	0
Costs associated with loan refinancing or payoff	31,958	1,491
Equity in income from joint ventures	17	(86)
Distributions from joint ventures	567	442
Depreciation and amortization	113,889	95,919
Amortization of deferred financing costs	4,307	4,579
Amortization of above/below market leases and tenant allowances, net	(527)	(41)
Share-based compensation expense to management and trustees	11,295	10,566
(Increase) decrease in mortgage notes accrued interest receivable	(970)	875
(Increase) decrease in accounts receivable, net	(13,620)	10,220
Increase in direct financing lease receivable	(500)	(1,003)
Increase in other assets	(2,717)	(2,225)
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	11,244	(8,788)
Increase in unearned rents and interest	23,886	24,319
Net cash provided by operating activities	400,882	314,734
Investing activities:
Acquisition of and investments in rental properties and other assets	107,396	354,137
Proceeds from sale of real estate	19,881	136,467
Payments for (Proceeds from) Hedge, Investing Activities	(30,796)	0
Investment in mortgage notes receivable	(27,719)	(130,076)
Proceeds from mortgage note receivable paydown	272,004	16,608
Investment in promissory notes receivable	7,801	1,868
Proceeds from promissory note receivable paydown	7,500	1,599
Proceeds from insurance recovery	0	579
Proceeds from Sale of Lease Receivables	43,447	0
Additions to properties under development	(222,840)	(304,084)
Net cash provided (used) by investing activities	7,872	(634,912)
Financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt facilities	870,000	1,175,000
Principal payments on long-term debt	(941,684)	(667,091)
Deferred financing fees paid	(8,643)	(14,207)
Costs associated with loan refinancing or payoff (cash portion)	(28,650)	(7)
Net proceeds from issuance of common shares	734	68,552
Impact of stock option exercises, net	(6)	0
Purchase of common shares for treasury	(7,155)	(6,729)
Dividends paid to shareholders	(256,074)	(228,861)
Net cash (used) provided by financing activities	(371,478)	326,657
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(78)	177
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease), Including Exchange Rate Effect	37,198	6,656
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents	96,184	35,735
Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value	74,153	11,412
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents	22,031	24,323
Supplemental schedule of non-cash activity:
Transfer of property under development to rental property	175,198	301,612
Issuance of nonvested shares and restricted share units at fair value, including nonvested shares issued for payment of bonuses	18,252	23,893
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Acquisitions	0	657,473
Noncash or Part Noncash Acquisition, Net Nonmonetary Assets Acquired (Liabilities Assumed)	0	12,083
Transfer of investment in a direct financing lease to rental properties	0	35,807
Noncash or Part Noncash Acquisition, Value of Assets Acquired	155,185	0
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the year for interest	104,065	103,702
Cash paid during the period for income taxes	1,365	1,253
Interest cost capitalized	7,235	7,833
(Decrease) increase in accrued capital expenditures	$ (6,165)	$ 7,137