Reportable Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Reconciliation From Segment Totals To Consolidated [Abstract]
Net operating income, including discontinued operations	$ 86,296	$ 88,063	$ 83,220
Fee income, net of reimbursed expenses	18,213	17,830	18,300
Residential lot, multi-family unit, tract and outparcel sales, net of cost of sales, including gain on sale of undepreciated investment properties	5,559	14,366	8,853
Other income	2,130	1,264	3,025
Third party management and leasing expenses, net of reimbursed expenses	(7,826)	(8,100)	(7,750)
General and administrative expenses	(24,166)	(28,517)	(26,198)
Interest expense	(27,784)	(37,180)	(41,393)
Impairment losses	(100,131)	(2,554)	(40,512)
Depreciation and amortization of non-real estate assets	(1,688)	(1,889)	(3,382)
Separation expenses	(197)	(1,045)	(3,257)
Other expenses	(4,436)	(4,416)	(13,143)
Loss on extinguishment of debt and interest rate swaps	(74)	(9,827)	9,732
Funds from operations from unconsolidated joint ventures	(7,355)	19,154	(8,897)
Impairment loss on investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(608)		(51,058)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	(2,087)	(2,540)	(2,252)
BENEFIT (PROVISION) FOR INCOME TAXES FROM OPERATIONS	186	1,079	(4,341)
DIVIDENDS TO PREFERRED STOCKHOLDERS	(12,907)	(12,907)	(12,907)
Funds from operations available to common stockholders	(76,875)	32,781	(91,960)
Real estate depreciation and amortization, including Company's share of joint ventures	(62,709)	(67,728)	(61,205)
Impairment loss on depreciable investment property	(7,632)
Noncontrolling interest related to gain on sale of depreciated investment properties	(2,871)
Gain on sale of depreciated investment properties	8,755	7,467	167,553
NET INCOME (LOSS) AVAILABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS	(141,332)	(27,480)	14,388
TOTAL ASSETS	1,235,535	1,371,282	1,491,552
Office [Member]
Reconciliation From Segment Totals To Consolidated [Abstract]
Net operating income, including discontinued operations	61,796	60,646	57,257
Residential lot, multi-family unit, tract and outparcel sales, net of cost of sales, including gain on sale of undepreciated investment properties			276
Other income	1,563	436	286
Funds from operations from unconsolidated joint ventures	11,071	9,863	(11,149)
Impairment loss on investment in unconsolidated joint ventures			(17,993)
Funds from operations available to common stockholders	74,430	70,945	28,677
TOTAL ASSETS	732,857	671,540	650,958
Retail [Member]
Reconciliation From Segment Totals To Consolidated [Abstract]
Net operating income, including discontinued operations	20,917	23,792	24,395
Residential lot, multi-family unit, tract and outparcel sales, net of cost of sales, including gain on sale of undepreciated investment properties	50	4,661	1,841
Other income	87	114	1,431
Impairment losses	(1,730)
Funds from operations from unconsolidated joint ventures	8,712	6,443	6,440
Funds from operations available to common stockholders	28,036	35,010	34,107
TOTAL ASSETS	375,923	348,470	429,099
Land [Member]
Reconciliation From Segment Totals To Consolidated [Abstract]
Fee income, net of reimbursed expenses	105	211	616
Residential lot, multi-family unit, tract and outparcel sales, net of cost of sales, including gain on sale of undepreciated investment properties	3,332	1,076	1,466
Impairment losses	(94,793)	(1,968)
Funds from operations from unconsolidated joint ventures	(27,211)	2,375	(4,091)
Impairment loss on investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(608)		(27,000)
Funds from operations available to common stockholders	(119,175)	1,694	(29,009)
TOTAL ASSETS	108,172	261,323	273,026
CPS Third Party Management and Leasing [Member]
Reconciliation From Segment Totals To Consolidated [Abstract]
Fee income, net of reimbursed expenses	10,600	9,668	11,838
Third party management and leasing expenses, net of reimbursed expenses	(7,826)	(8,100)	(7,750)
Funds from operations available to common stockholders	2,774	1,568	4,088
TOTAL ASSETS	4,302	4,050	7,291
For-Sale Multi-Family [Member]
Reconciliation From Segment Totals To Consolidated [Abstract]
Residential lot, multi-family unit, tract and outparcel sales, net of cost of sales, including gain on sale of undepreciated investment properties		7,425	5,212
Impairment losses		(586)	(36,500)
Funds from operations from unconsolidated joint ventures		473	(60)
Impairment loss on investment in unconsolidated joint ventures			(6,065)
Funds from operations available to common stockholders		7,312	(37,413)
TOTAL ASSETS		4,564	31,206
Other [Member]
Reconciliation From Segment Totals To Consolidated [Abstract]
Net operating income, including discontinued operations	3,583	3,625	1,568
Fee income, net of reimbursed expenses	7,508	7,951	5,846
Residential lot, multi-family unit, tract and outparcel sales, net of cost of sales, including gain on sale of undepreciated investment properties	2,177	1,204	58
Other income	480	714	1,308
General and administrative expenses	(24,166)	(28,517)	(26,198)
Interest expense	(27,784)	(37,180)	(41,393)
Impairment losses	(3,608)		(4,012)
Depreciation and amortization of non-real estate assets	(1,688)	(1,889)	(3,382)
Separation expenses	(197)	(1,045)	(3,257)
Other expenses	(4,436)	(4,416)	(13,143)
Loss on extinguishment of debt and interest rate swaps	(74)	(9,827)	9,732
Funds from operations from unconsolidated joint ventures	73		(37)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS	(2,087)	(2,540)	(2,252)
BENEFIT (PROVISION) FOR INCOME TAXES FROM OPERATIONS	186	1,079	(4,341)
DIVIDENDS TO PREFERRED STOCKHOLDERS	(12,907)	(12,907)	(12,907)
Funds from operations available to common stockholders	(62,940)	(83,748)	(92,410)
TOTAL ASSETS	$ 14,281	$ 81,335	$ 99,972