Cash Flow Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Noncash or Part Noncash Acquisitions [Line Items]
Accrued property construction costs	$ 6,933	$ 3,862
Increase in equity for the acquisition of noncontrolling interests in consolidated real estate joint ventures		1,673
Property Acquisitions And Investments In Unconsolidated Real Estate Joint Ventures [Member]
Noncash or Part Noncash Acquisitions [Line Items]
Increase (decrease) in property, net	1,647	(47)
Increase (decrease) in security deposits		22
Sale Of Property And Property Interest [Member]
Noncash or Part Noncash Acquisitions [Line Items]
Increase (decrease) in property, net	(2,855)
Increase (decrease) in security deposits	(11)
Decrease in debt, net due to debt assumption	(3,366)
Decrease in restricted deposits and mortgage escrows	(204)
Decrease in real estate joint ventures and partnerships - investments	(95)
Decrease in noncontrolling interests	$ (95)

Future cash outflow to pay for construction in progress expenditures that have occurred.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4313-108586

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4304-108586

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4332-108586

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConstructionInProgressExpendituresIncurredButNotYetPaid
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of debt that an Entity assumes in acquiring a business or in consideration for an asset received in a noncash (or part noncash) acquisition. Noncash is defined as transactions during a period that affect recognized assets or liabilities but that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4332-108586

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 32

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4313-108586

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4304-108586

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionDebtAssumed1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of fixed assets that an Entity acquires in a noncash (or part noncash) acquisition. Noncash is defined as information about all investing and financing activities of an enterprise during a period that affect recognized assets or liabilities but that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionFixedAssetsAcquired1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of an equity method investment that an Entity acquires in a noncash (or part noncash) acquisition. Noncash is defined as information about all investing and financing activities of an enterprise during a period that affect recognized assets or liabilities but that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wri_NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionEquityMethodInvestmentsAcquired1
Namespace Prefix:	wri_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of noncontrolling interests that an entity assumes in acquiring a business or in consideration for an asset received in a noncash (or part noncash) acquisition that are not presented as a separate disclosure or otherwise listed in the existing taxonomy. Noncash is defined as transactions during a period that affect recognized assets or liabilities but that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wri_NoncashOrPartNoncashAcquisitionNoncontrollingInterests
Namespace Prefix:	wri_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of restricted cash and escrows that an Entity acquires in a noncash (or part noncash) acquisition that are not presented as a separate disclosure or not otherwise listed in the existing taxonomy. Noncash is defined as information about all investing and financing activities of an enterprise during a period that affect recognized assets or liabilities but that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wri_NonCashOrPartNonCashAcquisitionRestrictedDepositsAndEscrowsAssetsAcquired1
Namespace Prefix:	wri_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of noncontrolling interests that an Entity assumes in acquiring a consolidated business or in consideration for an asset received in a noncash (or part noncash) acquisition. Noncash is defined as transactions during a period that affect recognized noncontrolling interests but that do not result in cash receipts or cash payments in the period. "Part noncash" refers to that portion of the transaction not resulting in cash receipts or cash payments in the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wri_NoncashOrPartNoncashMinorityInterestAcquisitionValueOfEquityAssumed
Namespace Prefix:	wri_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Security deposits related to sales in noncash investing and financing activities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	wri_SecurityDepositsRelatedToSales
Namespace Prefix:	wri_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration