Investments in Unconsolidated Entities - Statements of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Income from Unconsolidated Entities	$ 353,334	$ 284,806	$ 226,774
Unconsolidated properties
REVENUE:
Minimum rent	1,823,674	1,801,023	1,746,549
Overage rent	200,638	191,249	183,478
Tenant reimbursements	862,155	799,420	786,351
Other income	237,782	236,726	293,419
Total revenue	3,124,249	3,028,418	3,009,797
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Property operating	538,002	530,798	574,706
Depreciation and amortization	588,666	594,973	604,199
Real estate taxes	239,917	231,154	221,745
Repairs and maintenance	76,380	73,286	71,203
Advertising and promotion	88,956	75,773	72,496
Provision for credit losses	7,603	4,153	6,527
Other	183,435	169,504	187,729
Total operating expenses	1,722,959	1,679,641	1,738,605
Operating Income	1,401,290	1,348,777	1,271,192
Interest expense	(585,958)	(593,187)	(598,900)
Income from Continuing Operations	815,332	755,590	672,292
Income from operations of discontinued joint venture interests			5,079
Gain on sale or disposal of assets and interests in unconsolidated entities, net	101,051	67,176
Net Income	916,383	822,766	677,371
Third-Party Investors’ Share of Net Income	452,844	405,456	348,127
Our Share of Net Income	463,539	417,310	329,244
Amortization of Excess Investment	(94,213)	(94,828)	(99,463)
Our Share of Gain on Sale or Disposal of Assets and Interests in Unconsolidated Entities, net	(22,636)	(43,589)
Our Share of Gain on Sale or Disposal of Assets and Interests Included in Other Income in the Consolidated Financial Statements	(36,153)
Our Share of Loss from Unconsolidated Discontinued Operations			(652)
Income from Unconsolidated Entities	$ 310,537	$ 278,893	$ 229,129