Investments in and Advances to Joint Ventures - Additional Information (Detail)		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) ShoppingCenter Assets	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Property Investment ShoppingCenter Assets	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Property	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Property
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Preferred investment interest valuation allowance	$ 61,000,000	$ 61,000,000
Dividend, aggregate amount		6,300,000
DDR interest			25.00%
Contribution		69,240,000	$ 6,849,000	$ 6,142,000
Gain (loss) on change in control of interests		368,000	(1,087,000)	7,772,000
Gain on sale of properties		$ 161,164,000	$ 73,386,000	$ 167,571,000
Property Management Company [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of ownership acquired/ transferred				50.00%
Gain (loss) on change in control of interests				$ (6,500,000)
Joint Venture Partner [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of properties sold | Property			10
BRE DDR Joint Ventures [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of unconsolidated investments | Investment		2
Maximum preferred investment fixed distribution deferral	23.50%	23.50%
Redemption of preferred equity in full or in part at partners option		during the first three years
Redemption of preferred investment in full at company option		after seven years
Dividend, cash interest rate		6.50%
Dividend, accrued PIK interest rate		2.00%
BRE DDR Joint Ventures [Member] | Preferred Equity Fixed Dividend Rate [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Preferred equity fixed dividend rate per annum		8.50%
BRE DDR III [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest of joint venture partner	95.00%	95.00%
Ownership interest in joint venture	5.00%	5.00%
Redemption of preferred investment in full at company option year		2021
Preferred investment interest valuation allowance	$ 50,000,000	$ 50,000,000
DDR interest	5.00%	5.00%
BRE DDR III [Member] | Preferred Shares
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Remaining net asset sale proceeds	52.00%
BRE DDR IV [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Ownership interest of joint venture partner	95.00%	95.00%
Ownership interest in joint venture	5.00%	5.00%
Redemption of preferred investment in full at company option year		2022
Minimum net asset sales threshold payable	$ 4,900,000	$ 4,900,000
Preferred investment interest valuation allowance	$ 11,000,000	$ 11,000,000
DDR interest	5.00%	5.00%
BRE DDR IV [Member] | Preferred Shares
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of assets with nominal interest | ShoppingCenter	3	3
Minimum net asset sales threshold payable	$ 1,100,000	$ 1,100,000
DDRM Properties [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Properties Owned | Assets	52	52
Transaction Value at 100%		$ 1,050,000,000
Percentage of ownership acquired/ transferred		80.00%
DDR interest	20.00%	20.00%
New financing 100%	$ 706,700,000	$ 706,700,000
DDR pro rata share new financing	$ 141,300,000	$ 141,300,000
Debt instrument maturity date		2022-07
Contribution		$ 46,900,000
DDR Domestic Retail Fund I [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Properties Owned | Assets	3	3
DDR interest	20.00%	20.00%
Aggregate book value	$ 74,000,000	$ 74,000,000
Pro rata Aggregate book value	$ 14,800,000	$ 14,800,000
Shopping Centers and Land [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of properties sold | Property		15	17	16
Proceeds from sale of joint venture assets		$ 545,600,000	$ 214,600,000	$ 289,700,000
Gain on sale of joint venture assets		$ 5,700,000	$ 13,800,000	$ 4,000,000
Shopping Center [Member]
Schedule Of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of assets sold to former joint venture partner | Property				2
Aggregate sales price				$ 112,300,000
Gain on sale of properties				$ 59,800,000