Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2012
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION:
Total Assets	$ 1,151,920				$ 950,013
Total Debt	534,257				390,794
Total Equity	582,424				535,515
Company's Investment	120,807				89,797
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	38,387		38,777
Net Income (Loss)	7,263		8,363
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	1,652		2,186
MSREF Terminus Two Hundred LLC [Member]
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION:
Total Assets	0	[1]			95,520	[1]
Total Debt	0	[1]			74,340	[1]
Total Equity	0	[1]			19,659	[1]
Company's Investment	0	[1]			3,930	[1]
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	1,256	[1]	2,973	[1]
Net Income (Loss)	(115)	[1]	(362)	[1]
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	(35)	[1]	(73)	[1]
EP I LLC [Member]
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION:
Total Assets	87,844				83,235
Total Debt	49,500				43,515
Total Equity	32,078				32,611
Company's Investment	27,446				27,864
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	1,169		0
Net Income (Loss)	(519)		71
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	(389)		53
Cousins Watkins LLC [Member]
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION:
Total Assets	53,633				54,285
Total Debt	28,127				28,244
Total Equity	24,619				25,259
Company's Investment	16,745				16,692
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	1,286		1,235
Net Income (Loss)	(29)		45
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	580		610
CF Murfreesboro Associates [Member]
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION:
Total Assets	119,279				121,451
Total Debt	93,200				94,540
Total Equity	24,752				25,411
Company's Investment	14,208				14,571
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	3,291		3,327
Net Income (Loss)	(633)		(28)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	(383)		(81)
CP Venture Five LLC [Member]
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION:
Total Assets	284,430				286,647
Total Debt	35,261				35,417
Total Equity	241,055				243,563
Company's Investment	13,746				13,884
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	7,843		7,533
Net Income (Loss)	1,435		749
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	315		241
Charlotte Gateway Village, LLC [Member]
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION:
Total Assets	139,030				140,384
Total Debt	64,378				68,242
Total Equity	73,195				70,917
Company's Investment	10,291				10,299
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	8,294		8,016
Net Income (Loss)	2,581		2,336
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	294		294
Temco Associates, LLC [Member]
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION:
Total Assets	8,432				8,409
Total Debt	0				0
Total Equity	8,206				8,233
Company's Investment	4,088				4,095
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	69		440
Net Income (Loss)	(13)		(57)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	(6)		(233)
CL Realty, L.L.C. [Member]
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION:
Total Assets	7,506				7,549
Total Debt	0				0
Total Equity	7,382				7,155
Company's Investment	3,697				3,579
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	428		1,667
Net Income (Loss)	236		551
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	118		(39)
CP Venture Two LLC [Member]
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION:
Total Assets	95,508				96,345
Total Debt	0				0
Total Equity	93,942				94,819
Company's Investment	2,716				2,894
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	4,926		4,814
Net Income (Loss)	2,724		2,594
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	281		268
Wildwood Associates [Member]
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION:
Total Assets	21,166				21,176
Total Debt	0				0
Total Equity	21,130				21,173
Company's Investment	(1,685)	[2]			(1,664)	[2]
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	0		0
Net Income (Loss)	(42)		(37)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	(21)		(18)
Crawford Long - CPI, LLC [Member]
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION:
Total Assets	33,167				32,818
Total Debt	46,202				46,496
Total Equity	(14,404)				(15,129)
Company's Investment	(6,049)	[2]			(6,407)	[2]
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	2,958		2,944
Net Income (Loss)	725		669
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	360		334
Terminus Office Holdings [Member]
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION:
Total Assets	299,742	[1]			0	[1]
Total Debt	217,589	[1]			0	[1]
Total Equity	68,613	[1]			0	[1]
Company's Investment	35,533	[1]			0	[1]
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	5,606	[1]	0	[1]
Net Income (Loss)	1,062	[1]	0	[1]
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	529	[1]	0	[1]
Palisades West LLC [Member]
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	0		4,106
Net Income (Loss)	(27)		1,497
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	0		717
Ten Peachtree Place Associates [Member]
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	0		1,713
Net Income (Loss)	0		392
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	0		199
Other Equity Method Investee [Member]
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION:
Total Assets	2,183				2,194
Total Debt	0				0
Total Equity	1,856				1,844
Company's Investment	71				60
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	1,261		9
Net Income (Loss)	(122)		(57)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	$ 9		$ (86)

[1] See note 7 for further discussion of the transactions affecting these entities.

[2] Negative balances are included in deferred income on the balance sheets.