CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
INVESTMENTS IN REAL ESTATE, at cost:
Operating properties	$ 3,305,542	$ 3,297,520
Construction in progress	66,497	64,019
Land held for development	5,906	6,350
Total investments in real estate	3,377,945	3,367,889
Accumulated depreciation	(1,046,632)	(1,015,647)
Net investments in real estate	2,331,313	2,352,242
INVESTMENTS IN PARTNERSHIPS, at equity:	157,995	161,029
OTHER ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	30,453	22,855
Tenant and other receivables (net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $7,216 and $6,417 at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)	32,562	40,324
Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $13,972 and $13,441 at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively)	21,717	22,248
Deferred costs and other assets, net	89,974	75,450
Total assets	2,687,385	2,800,392
LIABILITIES:
Mortgage loans payable	1,247,173	1,321,331
Long-term Debt	398,160	398,040
Revolving Facility	115,000	65,000
Tenants’ deposits and deferred rent	17,741	14,631
Distributions in excess of partnership investments	64,712	65,547
Fair value of derivative liabilities	7,248	2,756
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	76,679	78,539
Total liabilities	$ 1,926,713	$ 2,015,762
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 6):
EQUITY:
Shares of beneficial interest, $1.00 par value per share; 200,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding 69,459 shares at March 31, 2016 and 69,197 shares at December 31, 2015	$ 69,459	$ 69,197
Capital contributed in excess of par	1,475,992	1,476,397
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(9,052)	4,193
Distributions in excess of net income	(929,046)	(912,221)
Total equity—Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust	607,434	629,261
Noncontrolling interest	153,238	155,369
Total equity	760,672	784,630
Total liabilities and equity	2,687,385	2,800,392
Assets Held-for-sale, Not Part of Disposal Group, Current	23,371	126,244
Real Estate Liabilities Associated with Assets Held for Development and Sale		69,918
Series A Preferred Shares [Member]
EQUITY:
Preferred Shares	46	46
Series B Preferred Shares [Member]
EQUITY:
Preferred Shares	$ 35	$ 35