Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011 ReportableSegment sqft Property Store Loan	Sep. 30, 2010 ReportableSegment Property sqft Store	Dec. 31, 2009	Sep. 30, 2011 Year Entity Property ReportableSegment sqft Store Loan	Sep. 30, 2010 Entity sqft Property ReportableSegment Store
Company's combined shopping and office properties portfolios
Shopping centers owned	450	493		450	493
Office properties owned	5	6		5	6
Company's reportable segments
Total revenues	$ 196,448	$ 192,992		$ 590,092	$ 583,514
Operating expenses	(111,737)	(61,220)		(254,611)	(239,510)
Net operating income	84,711	131,772		335,481	344,004
Unallocated expenses	(130,164)	(139,569)		(360,713)	(410,429)
Equity in net income (loss) of joint ventures	(2,590)	(4,801)		15,951	(3,777)
Impairment of joint venture investments				(1,671)
Loss from continuing operations	(48,043)	(12,598)		(10,952)	(70,202)
Total gross real estate assets	8,379,688	8,428,102		8,379,688	8,428,102
Segment Information (Textuals) [Abstract]
Number of reportable segments	3	3		3	3
Quantitative threshold of revenues, profit or loss and assets for identifying reportable segments	10.00%	10.00%		10.00%	10.00%
Impairment charges	51,245		170,900	68,457	59,277
Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Member]
Company's combined shopping and office properties portfolios
Shopping centers owned	184	198		184	198
Consolidated Joint Ventures [Member]
Company's combined shopping and office properties portfolios
Shopping centers owned	2	3		2	3
States [Member]
Company's combined shopping and office properties portfolios
Shopping centers owned	39	41		39	41
Office properties owned	3	4		3	4
Other Investments [Member]
Company's reportable segments
Total revenues	1,603	1,286		4,380	3,882
Operating expenses	(408)	(395)		(1,336)	(1,621)
Net operating income	1,195	891		3,044	2,261
Total gross real estate assets	47,598	49,573		47,598	49,573
Shopping Centers [Member]
Company's reportable segments
Total revenues	194,845	191,706		585,712	579,632
Operating expenses	(111,329)	(60,825)		(253,275)	(237,889)
Net operating income	83,516	130,881		332,437	341,743
Equity in net income (loss) of joint ventures	(7,190)	(7,377)		568	(9,680)
Impairment of joint venture investments				(1,671)
Total gross real estate assets	8,332,090	8,378,529		8,332,090	8,378,529
Brazil Equity Investment [Member]
Company's reportable segments
Equity in net income (loss) of joint ventures	4,600	2,576		15,383	5,903
Other [Member]
Company's reportable segments
Unallocated expenses	$ (130,164)	$ (139,569)		$ (360,713)	$ (410,429)

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