CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Common Stock Held in Trust	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Accumulated Deficit [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	Total
Balance at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 57,976	$ 15	$ (2,895)	$ 428,367	$ (7,728)	$ (69,487)	$ 127,192	$ 533,440
Comprehensive loss
Net loss	0	0	0	0	0	(11,603)	(10,562)	(22,165)
Change in fair value of interest rate swaps	0	0	0	0	2,836	0	0	2,836
Total comprehensive loss	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(19,329)
Common dividends declared	0	0	0	0	0	(26,070)	0	(26,070)
Preferred dividends declared	0	0	0	0	0	(4,800)	0	(4,800)
Share-based compensation	0	0	0	2,581	0	0	0	2,581
Issuance of common stock	0	7	0	84,450	0	0	0	84,457
Shares issued in lieu of Directors' fees	0	0	0	58	0	0	0	58
Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligation in connection with the vesting of restricted stock and deferred incentive share units	0	0	0	(58)	0	0	0	(58)
Distribution of common stock from deferred compensation plan	0	0	511	0	0	0	0	511
Contribution of common stock to deferred compensation plan	0	0	(15)	0	0	0	0	(15)
Contribution of capital by noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0	0	0	57	57
Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	57,976	22	(2,399)	515,398	(4,892)	(111,960)	116,687	570,832
Comprehensive loss
Net loss	0	0	0	0	0	(2,618)	(10,789)	(13,407)
Change in fair value of interest rate swaps	0	0	0	0	1,889	0	0	1,889
Total comprehensive loss	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(11,518)
Common dividends declared	0	0	0	0	0	(6,494)	0	(6,494)
Preferred dividends declared	0	0	0	0	0	(6,325)	0	(6,325)
Share-based compensation	0	0	0	1,319	0	0	0	1,319
Issuance of preferred stock	44,811	0	0	0	0	0	0	44,811
Shares issued in lieu of Directors' fees	0	0	0	285	0	0	0	285
Issuance costs for shelf registration	0	0	0	(14)	0	0	0	(14)
Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligation in connection with the vesting of restricted stock and deferred incentive share units	0	0	0	(821)	0	0	0	(821)
Distribution of common stock from deferred compensation plan	0	0	578	0	0	0	0	578
Contribution of common stock to deferred compensation plan	0	0	(75)	0	0	0	0	(75)
Contribution of capital by noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0	0	0	27,912	27,912
Purchase of noncontrolling interest's share in Parkway Moore, LLC	0	0	0	0	0	(178)	178	0
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	102,787	22	(1,896)	516,167	(3,003)	(127,575)	133,988	620,490
Comprehensive loss
Net loss	0	0	0	0	0	(126,903)	(85,100)	(212,003)
Change in fair value of interest rate swaps	0	0	0	0	(337)	0	(7,794)	(8,131)
Total comprehensive loss	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	(220,134)
Common dividends declared	0	0	0	0	0	(6,574)	0	(6,574)
Preferred dividends declared	0	0	0	0	0	(10,052)	0	(10,052)
Share-based compensation	0	0	0	1,341	0	0	0	1,341
Issuance of preferred stock	26,155	0	0	0	0	0	0	26,155
Shares issued in lieu of Directors' fees	0	0	0	198	0	0	0	198
Shares withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligation in connection with the vesting of restricted stock and deferred incentive share units	0	0	0	(397)	0	0	0	(397)
Distribution of common stock from deferred compensation plan	0	0	1,713	0	0	0	0	1,713
Contribution of common stock to deferred compensation plan	0	0	(37)	0	0	0	0	(37)
Contribution of capital by noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0	0	0	287,501	287,501
Distribution of capital to noncontrolling interest	0	0	0	0	0	0	(43,546)	(43,546)
Reclassification of Partnership Operating Units	0	0	0	0	0	0	29	29
Sale of noncontrolling interest in Parkway Properties Office Fund, L.P.	0	0	0	0	0	0	(26,650)	(26,650)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 128,942	$ 22	$ (220)	$ 517,309	$ (3,340)	$ (271,104)	$ 258,428	$ 630,037