Quarterly Results of Operations - Summary of Quarterly Results of Operations (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 240,261	$ 253,800	$ 257,321	$ 254,423	$ 254,788	$ 257,135	$ 257,323	$ 258,825	$ 1,005,805	$ 1,028,071	$ 985,675
Net income (loss) attributable to DDR	33,741	(60,360)	41,058	45,573	93,466	59,555	18,598	(243,787)	60,012	(72,168)	117,282
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders	$ 28,147	$ (65,954)	$ 35,464	$ 39,980	$ 87,872	$ 53,962	$ 13,004	$ (249,381)	$ 37,637	$ (94,543)	$ 91,285
Basic:
Net income (loss) per common share attributable to common shareholders	$ 0.08	$ (0.18)	$ 0.10	$ 0.11	$ 0.24	$ 0.15	$ 0.03	$ (0.69)	$ 0.10	$ (0.27)	$ 0.25
Weighted-average number of shares	365,965	365,508	364,976	364,691	362,734	361,107	360,073	359,818	365,294	360,946	358,122
Diluted:
Net income (loss) per common share attributable to common shareholders	$ 0.08	$ (0.18)	$ 0.10	$ 0.11	$ 0.24	$ 0.15	$ 0.03	$ (0.69)	$ 0.10	$ (0.27)	$ 0.25
Weighted-average number of shares	366,075	365,508	365,318	365,042	365,197	363,571	364,147	359,818	365,561	360,946	358,122