Commitments and Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
300 properties designed and built in violation of accessibility requirements	300
Projects in various stages of development	12
Units in various stages of development	3,871
Consolidated Project Under Development Commitment Fund	$ 1,142,758,000
Various stages of development with estimated completion dates ranging through September 30, 2016	Sep. 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	148,500,000
Investment in Joint Venture	311,597,290
Noncontrolling Interests - Partially Owned Properties	127,658,000	126,583,000
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	117,350,387
Unconsolidated Development Projects Held for and or Under Development [Domain]
Number Of Unconsolidated Projects	1
1333 Powell (formerly Parkside at Emeryville) [Domain]
Guarantor Obligations, Maximum Exposure	$ 19,700,000