Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income (loss)	$ 11,747	$ 17,365	$ (83,330)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization (including amortization of deferred financing costs)	9,412	6,988	7,504
Amortization of lease intangibles	4,472	3,033	4,771
Straight-lining of rental income	(2,076)	212	(1,280)
Loan discount accretion	(13,401)	(8,782)	(1,021)
Discount accretion received in cash	13,290
(Earnings) loss of preferred equity investments	(338)	(338)	2,758
Distributions of income from preferred equity investments	571	340	2,373
Loss of equity investments	12,919	2,007	103,092
Distributions of income from equity investments	12,696	5,270	2,784
Restricted cash held in escrows	1,431	1,167	(1,824)
Gain on sale of securities carried at fair value	(123)	(558)	(5,416)
Unrealized gain on securities carried at fair value	(2,788)	(5,060)	(17,862)
Gain on sale of assets held for sale	(392)
Gain on sale of loan securities carried at fair value		(469)
Unrealized gain on loan securities carried at fair value	(2,738)	(5,011)
Impairment loss on real estate loan available for sale			203
Impairment loss on investment in real estate	7,600	2,720	10,000
Gain on sale of equity investments	(207)
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt	(9,258)		(6,846)
Gain on consolidation of property	(818)
Provision for loss on loans receivable			2,152
Tenant leasing costs	(2,791)	(2,996)	(2,191)
Bad debt (recovery) expense	377	(643)	340
Net change in interest receivable	37	(361)	(74)
Net change in accounts receivable	(616)	2,363
Net change in accounts payable and accrued liabilities	681	2,365	(873)
Net cash provided by operating activities	39,687	19,612	14,968
Cash flows from investing activities
Issuance and acquisition of loans receivable	(67,619)	(122,301)	(31,514)
Investments in real estate	(9,751)	(23,484)	(2,522)
Investment in equity investments	(151,219)	(25,632)	(3,358)
Investment in preferred equity investment	(7,564)		(487)
Return of capital distribution from equity investments	31,890	9,625	118
Investment in real estate loan available for sale			(35,000)
Return of capital distribution from securities carried at fair value		181
Purchase of securities carried at fair value	(19,321)	(13,222)	(33,115)
Proceeds from sale of assets held for sale	3,629	1,750
Proceeds from preferred equity investments			145
Proceeds from sale of equity investments	6,000
Proceeds from sale of real estate loan available for sale			34,797
Proceeds from sale of securities carried at fair value	26,408	31,249	39,015
Proceeds from sale of available for sale securities		205
Proceeds of loan securities at maturity	8,748	2,272
Proceeds from sale of loans receivable		12,876
Restricted cash held in escrows	3,160	(1,508)	2,668
Collection of loans receivable	70,289	15,064	11,467
Cash from foreclosure on properties		275
Net cash used in investing activities	(105,350)	(112,650)	(17,786)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from mortgage loans payable	32,494		49
Proceeds from loan payable			19,818
Payment of loan payable			(19,818)
Proceeds from revolving line of credit	67,324	25,450	35,000
Payment of revolving line of credit	(52,774)		(35,000)
Principal payments of mortgage loans payable	(72,574)	(10,199)	(6,229)
Restricted cash held in escrows	89	1,520	4,004
Payments of note payable			(9,800)
Deferred financing costs	(788)	(252)	(61)
Contribution from non-controlling interest	1,349	1,431	979
Distribution to non-controlling interest	(356)	(354)	(843)
Issuance of Common Shares under Dividend Reinvestment Plan	2,760	2,401	1,615
Issuance of Common Shares through offering	61,386	66,774	40,168
Issuance of Preferred Shares	38,378
Dividend paid on Common Shares	(19,496)	(14,573)	(17,809)
Dividend paid on Series C Preferred Shares	(624)	(396)
Dividend paid on Series D Preferred Shares	(339)
Redemption of Series B-1 Preferred Shares	(21,400)		(2,000)
Redemption of Series C Preferred Shares	(3,221)
Proceeds from secured financing	29,150
Net cash provided by financing activities	61,358	71,802	10,073
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(4,305)	(21,236)	7,255
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	45,257	66,493	59,238
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	40,952	45,257	66,493
Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
Interest paid	16,246	14,240	16,324
Taxes paid	396	133	220
Supplemental Disclosure on Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities
Dividends accrued on Common Shares	5,396	4,392	3,311
Dividends accrued on Series C Preferred Shares		39	147
Capital expenditures accrued	2,807	1,046	201
Distribution from equity investment			161
Redemption of Series B-1 Preferred Shares			(17,081)
Deposit on redemption of Series B-1 Preferred Shares			17,081
Transfer from preferred equity investments	5,821		41,823
Transfer from (to) loans receivable	(6,534)		15,805
Transfer to equity method investments	(7,509)		(57,628)
Transfer to investments in lease intangibles	(11,904)	(3,204)
Transfer to investments in real estate	(52,778)	(41,425)
Transfer to below market lease intangibles	1,005	125
Assumption of mortgage loan on investment in real estate	49,091	23,875
Transfer from loan securities	$ 662