Investments in and Advances to Joint Ventures - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands		4 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 28, 2014 USD ($) ShoppingCenter	Apr. 28, 2014 ShoppingCenter BRL / $	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Property	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Property	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of properties sold | Property			33	29
Percentage of ownership interest transferred			25.00%
Gain (loss) on change in control of interests			$ (1,087)	$ 7,772	$ 87,996
Number of assets sold to former joint venture partner | Property				2
Aggregate sales price				$ 112,300
Gain on sale of properties			$ 73,386	167,571	3,060
Joint Venture Partner [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of properties sold | Property			10
Parent Company [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Investment interest percentage		33.00%
Gain on Sale of Interests					83,700
Gain on sale and change in control of interests					$ 19,700
Property Management Company [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on change in control of interests				$ (6,500)
Percentage of ownership interest transferred				50.00%
BRE DDR Joint Ventures [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Redeemable preferred equity			$ 386,100
Preferred equity investment accrued interest			$ 7,200
Preferred equity fixed dividend rate per annum			8.50%
Maximum preferred equity fixed distribution deferral			23.50%
Ownership interest of joint venture partner			95.00%
Ownership interest in joint venture			5.00%
Redemption of preferred equity in full at company option			after seven years
SSB [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of joint venture assets	$ 343,600
Percentage of ownership interest transferred	50.00%	50.00%
Weighted-average exchange rate used for recording the equity in net income | BRL / $		2.26
Sonae Sierra Brasil Sa [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest of joint venture partner	66.00%
Shopping centers owned | ShoppingCenter	10	10
Unpaid Preferred Equity Distributions [Member] | BRE DDR Joint Ventures [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Preferred equity fixed dividend rate per annum			8.50%
Shopping Centers and Land [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of properties sold | Property			17
Proceeds from sale of joint venture assets			$ 214,600
Gain on sale of joint venture assets			$ 13,800
Shopping Center [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Gain on sale of properties				$ 59,800