Investments in and Advances to Joint Ventures - Condensed Combined Statements of Operations of Unconsolidated Joint Venture Investments (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Expenses from operations:
Operating expenses	$ 188,099	$ 189,643	$ 857,482	$ 584,114
Impairment charges	0	1,448	279,021	18,119
Depreciation and amortization	97,155	97,270	299,470	296,093
Interest expense	58,217	56,774	182,524	176,106
Other (income) expense, net	240	2,758	1,300	11,041
Income (loss) before tax (expense) benefit of taxable REIT subsidiaries and state franchise and income taxes	18,558	6,436	(236,197)	55,539
Income tax expense (primarily Sonae Sierra Brasil), net	(528)	214	(6,001)	(1,113)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	18,030	6,650	(242,198)	54,426
Discontinued operations:
Loss from discontinued operations		464		(6,361)
Gain on disposition of real estate, net of tax		57,105		74,287
Income (loss) before gain on disposition of real estate	18,030	64,219	(242,198)	122,352
Gain on disposition of real estate, net	41,793	2,262	78,154	2,645
(Income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests, net	(268)	2,125	(1,590)	2,985
Net income (loss) attributable to DDR	59,555	68,606	(165,634)	127,982
Company's share of equity in net income of joint ventures	336	3,316	1,406	9,483
Basis differential adjustments	312	304	945	758
Equity in net income of joint ventures	648	3,620	2,351	10,241
Unconsolidated Joint Ventures [Member]
Condensed Combined Statements of Operations
Revenues from operations	126,698	108,334	397,364	356,975
Expenses from operations:
Operating expenses	47,676	34,883	147,072	121,884
Impairment charges	0	0	448	600
Depreciation and amortization	49,949	31,435	158,168	107,165
Interest expense	33,202	37,667	107,698	129,514
Other (income) expense, net	589	173	1,173	2,964
Total expenses	131,416	104,158	414,559	362,127
Income (loss) before tax (expense) benefit of taxable REIT subsidiaries and state franchise and income taxes	(4,718)	4,176	(17,195)	(5,152)
Income tax expense (primarily Sonae Sierra Brasil), net	0	0	0	(6,565)
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(4,718)	4,176	(17,195)	(11,717)
Discontinued operations:
Loss from discontinued operations	0	(12,906)	0	(17,090)
Gain on disposition of real estate, net of tax	0	4,713	0	28,224
Income (loss) before gain on disposition of real estate	(4,718)	(4,017)	(17,195)	(583)
Gain on disposition of real estate, net	(2,626)	3,833	(4,197)	3,833
Net (loss) income	(7,344)	(184)	(21,392)	3,250
(Income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests, net	0	0	0	(2,023)
Net income (loss) attributable to DDR	$ (7,344)	$ (184)	$ (21,392)	$ 1,227