Nature of Business and Financial Statement Presentation (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Comprehensive income (loss)
Net (loss) income	$ (13,269,000)	$ (121,166,000)	$ 22,110,000	$ (147,750,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Settlement/change in fair value of interest-rate contracts	(987,000)	4,102,000	(2,772,000)	7,570,000
Amortization of interest-rate contracts	47,000	(61,000)	40,000	(154,000)
Foreign currency translation	7,879,000	(4,255,000)	12,855,000	(16,157,000)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	6,939,000	(214,000)	10,123,000	(8,741,000)
Comprehensive (loss) income	(6,330,000)	(121,380,000)	32,233,000	(156,491,000)
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests	(350,000)	37,495,000	(1,539,000)	41,304,000
Total comprehensive (loss) income attributable to DDR	(6,680,000)	(83,885,000)	30,694,000	(115,187,000)
Nature of Business and Financial Statement Presentation (Textuals) [Abstract]
Total real estate assets for which the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary	6,880,181,000		6,880,181,000		6,959,127,000
Other liabilities	83,497,000		83,497,000		95,359,000
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Nature of Business and Financial Statement Presentation (Textuals) [Abstract]
Total real estate assets for which the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary	384,900,000		384,900,000		374,200,000
Mortgages for which the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary	41,800,000		41,800,000		42,900,000
Other liabilities	$ 14,800,000		$ 14,800,000		$ 13,700,000