Consolidated Statements Of Income And Comprehensive Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2014
Property revenues
Rental revenues	$ 731,874		$ 683,362		$ 602,004
Other property revenues	112,104		105,489		96,314
Total property revenues	843,978	[1]	788,851	[1]	698,318
Property expenses
Property operating and maintenance	211,253		199,650		185,720
Real estate taxes	94,055		86,041		70,710
Total property expenses	305,308		285,691		256,430
Non-property income
Fee and asset management	9,832		11,690		12,345
Interest and other income (loss)	842		1,217		(710)
Income on deferred compensation plans	3,937		8,290		4,772
Total non-property income	14,611		21,197		16,407
Other expenses
Property management	22,689		21,774		21,796
Fee and asset management	5,341		5,756		6,631
General and administrative	51,005		40,586		37,528
Interest	93,263		98,129		104,246
Depreciation and amortization	235,634		214,395		194,673
Amortization of deferred financing costs	3,355		3,548		3,608
Expense on deferred compensation plans	3,937		8,290		4,772
Total other expenses	415,224		392,478		373,254
Gain on sale of operating properties, including land	159,289		698		0
Gain on acquisition of controlling interest in joint ventures	0		0		57,418
Impairment associated with land holdings	(1,152)		0		0
Equity in income of joint ventures	7,023	[2]	24,865	[2]	20,175	[2]
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	303,217		157,442		162,634
Income tax expense - current	(1,903)		(1,826)		(1,208)
Income from continuing operations	301,314		155,616		161,426
Income from discontinued operations	0		8,515		17,406
Gain on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	0		182,160		115,068
Net income	301,314		346,291		293,900
Less income allocated to non-controlling interests from continuing operations	(9,225)		(4,022)		(4,459)
Less income, including gain on sale, allocated to non-controlling interests from discontinued operations	0		(5,905)		(3,200)
Less income allocated to perpetual preferred units	0		0		(776)
Less write off of original issuance costs of redeemed perpetual preferred units	0		0		(2,075)
Net income attributable to common shareholders	292,089	[1]	336,364	[1]	283,390
Earnings per share - basic
Earnings per common share from continuing operations	$ 3.29		$ 1.70		$ 1.81
Earnings per common share from discontinued operations	$ 0.00		$ 2.12		$ 1.54
Total earnings per common share - basic	$ 3.29	[1]	$ 3.82	[1]	$ 3.35
Earnings per share - diluted
Earnings per common share from continuing operations	$ 3.27		$ 1.69		$ 1.79
Earnings per common share from discontinued operations	$ 0.00		$ 2.09		$ 1.51
Total earnings per common share - diluted	$ 3.27	[1]	$ 3.78	[1]	$ 3.30
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic	88,084		87,204		83,772
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted	88,468		88,494		85,556
Net income attributable to common shareholders
Income from continuing operations	301,314		155,616		161,426
Less income allocated to non-controlling interests from continuing operations	(9,225)		(4,022)		(4,459)
Less income allocated to perpetual preferred units	0		0		(776)
Less write off of original issuance costs of redeemed perpetual preferred units	0		0		(2,075)
Income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders	292,089		151,594		154,116
Income from discontinued operations, including gain on sale	0		190,675		132,474
Less income, including gain on sale, allocated to non-controlling interests from discontinued operations	0		(5,905)		(3,200)
Income from discontinued operations, including gain on sale, attributable to common shareholders	0		184,770		129,274
Net income attributable to common shareholders	292,089	[1]	336,364	[1]	283,390
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income:
Net income	301,314		346,291		293,900
Other comprehensive income
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedging activities	(417)		0		0
Unrealized loss and unamortized prior service cost on postretirement obligation	(970)		(99)		(409)
Reclassification of net loss on cash flow hedging activities, prior service cost and net loss on post retirement obligation	74		54		30
Comprehensive income	300,001		346,246		293,521
Less income allocated to non-controlling interests from continuing operations	(9,225)		(4,022)		(4,459)
Less income, including gain on sale, allocated to non-controlling interests from discontinued operations	0		(5,905)		(3,200)
Less income allocated to perpetual preferred units	0		0		(776)
Less write off of original issuance costs of redeemed perpetual preferred units	0		0		(2,075)
Comprehensive income attributable to common shareholders	$ 290,776		$ 336,319		$ 283,011

[1] Net income per share is computed independently for each of the quarters presented. Therefore, the sum of quarterly net income per share amounts may not equal the total computed for the year.

[2] Equity in income excludes our ownership interest of fee income from various services provided by us to the funds.