Note 5 - Investments and Advances in Real Estate Joint Ventures (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011
Number of Real Estate Properties	26			26			690
Proceeds from Distributions Received from Real Estate Partnerships				$ 135,987,000		$ 44,894,000
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Purchase Price	508,588,000			508,588,000
Number of Agreements	1			1
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	5,183,000		4,443,000	4,822,000		14,332,000
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Cash Paid	349,390,000			349,390,000
Impairment of Real Estate				37,600,000		16,700,000
Fair Value Of Real Estate	16,141,000			16,141,000			5,289,000
KimPru and KimPru II [Member]
Number of Joint Ventures	4			4
Number of Accounts	4			4
Number of Real Estate Properties	61	[1],[2]		61	[1],[2]		63	[1],[2]
KimPru [Member] | Company's Share Of Impairment [Member]
Impairment of Real Estate				600,000
KimPru [Member] | Additional [Member]
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments				4,200,000
KimPru [Member]
Number of Joint Ventures	3			3
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments				800,000
Other Joint Venture Programs [Member] | Additional [Member]
Sales of Real Estate				55,500,000
Other Joint Venture Programs [Member] | Additional I [Member]
Number of Real Estate Properties	1			1
Sales of Real Estate				7,500,000
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)				1,500,000
Other Joint Venture Programs [Member] | Initial [Member]
Sales of Real Estate				127,000,000
Gains (Losses) on Sales of Investment Real Estate				12,100,000
Other Income				1,100,000
Other Joint Venture Programs [Member] | Additional II [Member]
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Purchase Price	41,700,000			41,700,000
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Cash Paid	14,200,000			14,200,000
Other Joint Venture Programs [Member]
Number of Real Estate Properties	91	[3],[4],[5],[6],[7]		91	[3],[4],[5],[6],[7]		92
UBS Programs [Member] | Company's Share Of Impairment [Member]
Impairment of Real Estate				2,200,000
UBS Programs [Member]
Number of Real Estate Properties	40	[2]		40	[2]		42	[2]
Impairment of Real Estate				12,900,000
Fair Value Of Real Estate	44,100,000			44,100,000
Sold by Investee [Member] | Additional [Member]
Number of Real Estate Properties	2			2
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Purchase Price	75,500,000			75,500,000
Other Income				2,600,000
Sold by Investee [Member] | Additional I [Member]
Sales of Real Estate				62,000,000
Sold by Investee [Member]
Number of Joint Ventures	2			2
Number of Real Estate Properties	2			2
Sales of Real Estate				118,000,000
Proceeds from Distributions Received from Real Estate Partnerships				18,500,000
Gains (Losses) on Sales of Investment Real Estate				$ 8,300,000

[1] This venture represents four separate joint ventures, with four separate accounts managed by Prudential Real Estate Investors ("PREI"), three of these ventures are collectively referred to as KimPru and the remaining venture is referred to as KimPru II.

[2] The Company manages these joint venture investments and, where applicable, earns acquisition fees, leasing commissions, property management fees, assets management fees and construction management fees.

[3] During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, two joint ventures in which the Company holds noncontrolling interests sold two properties for an aggregate sales price of $118.0 million. The Company received distributions of $18.5 million and recognized an aggregate gain of $8.3 million.

[4] During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company amended one of its Canadian preferred equity investment agreements to restructure the investment as a pari passu joint venture in which the Company holds a noncontrolling interest. As a result of this transaction, the Company continues to account for its investment in this joint venture under the equity method of accounting and includes this investment in Investments and advances to real estate joint ventures within the Company's Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.

[5] During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, a joint venture in which the Company holds a noncontrolling interest sold an operating property for a sales price of $62.0 million, which resulted in no gain or loss recognized.

[6] During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company sold an operating property to a newly formed unconsolidated joint venture in which the Company has a noncontrolling interest for a sales price of $55.5 million.

[7] During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, a joint venture in which the Company holds a noncontrolling interest acquired an operating property in Alberta, Canada for a purchase price of $41.7 million. The Company's capital contribution was $14.2 million.