Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
300 properties designed and built in violation of accessibility requirements	300
Projects in various stages of development	14
Units in various stages of development	4,017
Consolidated Project Under Development Commitment Fund	$ 768,100,000
Various stages of development with estimated completion dates ranging through June 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016
Number Of Unconsolidated Projects	3
Number Of Apartments Units Under Development Unconsolidated Projects	176
Estimated completion period of project	Dec. 31, 2014
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Assets	108,000,000	1,047,545,000
Investment in Joint Venture	292,600,000
Noncontrolling Interests - Partially Owned Properties	126,583,000	77,688,000
Number Of Operating Properties Under Long Term Ground Leases	13
Total operating lease payments	13,200,000	8,100,000	7,100,000
Compensation expense, Recognized	500,000	1,000,000	1,000,000
Number Of Operating Properties and Land Parcels Under Long Term Ground Leases	14
Operating Leases:
Minimum Rent Payments Due, Year 1	14,518,000
Minimum Rent Payments Due, Year 2	14,935,000
Minimum Rent Payments Due, Year 3	15,084,000
Minimum Rent Payments Due, Year 4	14,961,000
Minimum Rent Payments Due, Year 5	14,830,000
Minimum Rent Payments Due, Thereafter	869,687,000
Minimum Rent Payments Due, Total	944,015,000
Other Long-Term Liabilities:
Deferred Compensation Due, Year 1	1,378,000
Deferred Compensation Due, Year 2	1,705,000
Deferred Compensation Due, Year 3	1,705,000
Deferred Compensation Due, Year 4	1,705,000
Deferred Compensation Due, Year 5	1,705,000
Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Future Benefit Payments in Five Fiscal Years Thereafter	5,596,000
Deferred Compensation Due, Total	13,794,000
Company's Portion [Member]
Land purchase price	76,100,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Assets	102,500,000
Joint Venture Partner [Member]
Land purchase price	57,900,000
Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Assets	75,700,000
Noncontrolling Interests - Partially Owned Properties	111,700,000
Unconsolidated Development Projects Held for and or Under Development [Domain]
Number Of Unconsolidated Projects	1
Enclave at Wellington [Domain]
Business Acquisition, Percentage of Voting Interests Acquired	95.00%
Parkside at Emeryville [Domain]
Unconsolidated Project Under Development Commitment Fund	$ 19,700,000