Investments in and Advances To Joint Ventures (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Condensed Combined Balance Sheets
Land	$ 1,843,033,000		$ 1,843,033,000		$ 1,837,403,000
Buildings	5,506,914,000		5,506,914,000		5,491,489,000
Fixtures and tenant improvements	360,196,000		360,196,000		339,129,000
Total real estate rental property	7,710,143,000		7,710,143,000		7,668,021,000
Less: Accumulated depreciation	1,538,522,000		1,538,522,000		1,452,112,000
Land held for development and construction in progress	708,365,000		708,365,000		743,218,000
Real estate, net	6,880,181,000		6,880,181,000		6,959,127,000
Other assets, net	249,410,000		249,410,000		247,709,000
Total assets	7,666,864,000		7,666,864,000		7,768,090,000
Mortgage debt	1,786,998,000		1,786,998,000		1,978,553,000
Other liabilities	83,497,000		83,497,000		95,359,000
Total liabilities	4,453,214,000		4,453,214,000		4,633,403,000
Condensed Combined Statements of Operations
Revenues from operations	198,495,000	196,600,000	399,678,000	397,131,000
Operating expenses	(82,189,000)	(135,616,000)	(150,382,000)	(196,806,000)
Depreciation and amortization	56,750,000	54,561,000	112,235,000	109,128,000
Interest expense	59,579,000	56,190,000	119,363,000	111,797,000
Income tax expense (primarily Sonae Sierra Brasil), net	435,000	(3,616,000)	761,000	(2,614,000)
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(9,124,000)	(66,428,000)	(10,632,000)	(73,375,000)
Gain (loss) on disposition of real estate, net of tax	(7,264,000)	(4,057,000)	(7,020,000)	(3,491,000)
Adjustments to Company's share of joint venture net loss
Income (expense), net		1,200,000	(1,900,000)	1,200,000
Investments in and advances to joint ventures
Investments in and advances to joint ventures	415,584,000		415,584,000		417,223,000
Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Member]
Condensed Combined Balance Sheets
Land	1,553,101,000		1,553,101,000		1,566,682,000
Buildings	4,747,856,000		4,747,856,000		4,783,841,000
Fixtures and tenant improvements	162,927,000		162,927,000		154,292,000
Total real estate rental property	6,463,884,000		6,463,884,000		6,504,815,000
Less: Accumulated depreciation	(779,377,000)		(779,377,000)		(726,291,000)
Real estate investment property, net	5,684,507,000		5,684,507,000		5,778,524,000
Land held for development and construction in progress	242,917,000		242,917,000		174,237,000
Real estate, net	5,927,424,000		5,927,424,000		5,952,761,000
Receivables, net	110,332,000		110,332,000		111,569,000
Leasehold interests	9,716,000		9,716,000		10,296,000
Other assets, net	572,537,000		572,537,000		303,826,000
Total assets	6,620,009,000		6,620,009,000		6,378,452,000
Mortgage debt	3,895,393,000		3,895,393,000		3,940,597,000
Notes and accrued interest payable to DDR	95,113,000		95,113,000		87,282,000
Other liabilities	220,792,000		220,792,000		186,333,000
Total liabilities	4,211,298,000		4,211,298,000		4,214,212,000
Accumulated equity	2,408,711,000		2,408,711,000		2,164,240,000
Liabilities and accumulated equity	6,620,009,000		6,620,009,000		6,378,452,000
Company's share of accumulated equity	496,369,000		496,369,000		480,200,000
Condensed Combined Statements of Operations
Revenues from operations	178,337,000	163,010,000	349,251,000	325,587,000
Operating expenses	65,667,000	67,988,000	128,124,000	130,972,000
Depreciation and amortization	45,117,000	46,594,000	92,549,000	92,174,000
Interest expense	56,641,000	58,878,000	114,005,000	116,730,000
Total expenses	167,425,000	173,460,000	334,678,000	339,876,000
Income (loss) before tax expense and discontinued operations	10,912,000	(10,450,000)	14,573,000	(14,289,000)
Income tax expense (primarily Sonae Sierra Brasil), net	(11,386,000)	(5,035,000)	(17,530,000)	(9,833,000)
Loss from continuing operations	(474,000)	(15,485,000)	(2,957,000)	(24,122,000)
Discontinued operations:
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	110,000	(12,765,000)	(471,000)	(12,227,000)
Gain on debt forgiveness	2,976,000		2,976,000
Gain (loss) on disposition of real estate, net of tax	22,756,000	(3,212,000)	21,893,000	(11,963,000)
Gain (loss) before gain on disposition of real estate, net	25,368,000	(31,462,000)	21,441,000	(48,312,000)
Gain on disposition of real estate, net		17,000		17,000
Net income (loss)	25,368,000	(31,445,000)	21,441,000	(48,295,000)
Company's share of equity in net income (loss) of joint ventures	16,532,000	(1,824,000)	20,439,000	(164,000)
Investments in and advances to joint ventures
Company's share of accumulated equity	496,400,000		496,400,000		480,200,000
Basis differentials	(172,900,000)		(172,900,000)		(147,500,000)
Deferred development fees, net of portion relating to the Company's interest	(3,400,000)		(3,400,000)		(3,400,000)
Notes receivable from investments	400,000		400,000		600,000
Notes and accrued interest payable to DDR	95,100,000		95,100,000		87,300,000
Investments in and advances to joint ventures	415,600,000		415,600,000		417,200,000
Service fees and income earned by the Company's unconsolidated joint ventures
Management and other fees	7,300,000	7,700,000	14,700,000	16,900,000
Financing and other fees	300,000	200,000	300,000	200,000
Development fees and leasing commissions	1,900,000	2,000,000	3,700,000	3,700,000
Interest income		$ 100,000	$ 100,000	$ 200,000