Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (USD $) Share data in Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
REVENUES:
Rental property revenues	$ 125,609,000	$ 105,596,000	$ 101,715,000
Fee income	17,797,000	13,821,000	14,444,000
Land sales	2,616,000	3,015,000	2,514,000
Multi-family residential unit sales	694,000	4,664,000	34,442,000
Other	1,562,000	1,950,000	1,119,000
Total consolidated revenues	148,278,000	129,046,000	154,234,000
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
Rental property operating expenses	54,518,000	44,912,000	43,441,000
Reimbursed expenses	7,063,000	6,207,000	6,297,000
General and administrative expenses	23,208,000	24,166,000	28,517,000
Land cost of sales	1,420,000	2,891,000	1,939,000
Multi-family residential unit cost of sales	413,000	2,487,000	27,017,000
Interest expense	23,933,000	27,784,000	37,180,000
Depreciation and amortization	43,559,000	34,580,000	36,688,000
Impairment losses	488,000	100,131,000	2,554,000
Separation expenses	1,985,000	197,000	1,045,000
Other	4,104,000	4,374,000	4,351,000
Total costs and expenses	160,691,000	247,729,000	189,029,000
LOSS ON EXTINGUISHMENT OF DEBT AND INTEREST RATE SWAPS	(94,000)	(74,000)	(9,827,000)
LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES, UNCONSOLIDATED JOINT VENTURES AND SALE OF INVESTMENT PROPERTIES	(12,507,000)	(118,757,000)	(44,622,000)
BENEFIT (PROVISION) FOR INCOME TAXES FROM OPERATIONS	(91,000)	186,000	1,079,000
INCOME (LOSS) FROM UNCONSOLIDATED JOINT VENTURES	39,258,000	(18,299,000)	9,493,000
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE GAIN ON SALE OF INVESTMENT PROPERTIES	26,660,000	(136,870,000)	(34,050,000)
GAIN ON SALE OF INVESTMENT PROPERTIES	4,053,000	3,494,000	1,948,000
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS	30,713,000	(133,376,000)	(32,102,000)
INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(1,201,000)	1,390,000	12,853,000
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net	18,407,000	8,519,000	7,216,000
Total income from discontinued operations	17,206,000	9,909,000	20,069,000
NET INCOME (LOSS)	47,919,000	(123,467,000)	(12,033,000)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	(2,191,000)	(4,958,000)	(2,540,000)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO CONTROLLING INTEREST	45,728,000	(128,425,000)	(14,573,000)
DIVIDENDS TO PREFERRED STOCKHOLDERS	(12,907,000)	(12,907,000)	(12,907,000)
NET INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	32,821,000	(141,332,000)	(27,480,000)
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME:
Effective portion of change in value of interest rate swaps	0	0	9,517,000
Total Other Comprehensive Income	0	0	9,517,000
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	$ 32,821,000	$ (141,332,000)	$ (17,963,000)
PER COMMON SHARE INFORMATION - BASIC AND DILUTED:
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to controlling interest (dollars per share)	$ 0.15	$ (1.46)	$ (0.47)
Income from discontinued operations (dollars per share)	$ 0.17	$ 0.10	$ 0.20
Net income (loss) available to common stockholders (dollars per share)	$ 0.32	$ (1.36)	$ (0.27)
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES—BASIC (shares)	104,117	103,651	101,440
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES—DILUTED (shares)	104,125	103,651	101,440