Supplemental Cash Flow Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Supplemental cash flow information:
Interest paid, net of capitalized interest	$ 261,799	$ 401,628
Income taxes paid	9,897	5,734
Capitalized interest	12,607	8,490
Supplemental schedule of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Accrued construction costs	63,515	60,897
Non-cash acquisitions and dispositions settled with receivables and restricted cash held in connection with Section 1031 transactions	0	15,570
Vesting of restricted stock units and conversion of non-managing member units into common stock	2,464	6,620
Mortgages and other liabilities assumed with real estate acquisitions	3,678	78,131
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities and derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, net	$ (56)	$ 1,531