Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities
Net income		$ 838,226	$ 258,262	$ 301,314
Net income from discontinued operations, including gain on sale		(382,842)	(19,750)	(18,197)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		250,146	240,944	222,055
Gain on sale of operating properties, including land		(295,397)	(104,288)	(159,289)
Impairment associated with land holdings		0	0	1,152
Distributions of income from joint ventures		7,057	6,387	7,399
Equity in income of joint ventures	[1]	(7,125)	(6,168)	(7,023)
Share-based compensation		20,123	17,674	15,552
Net change in operating accounts and other		281	(5,761)	22,298
Net cash from continuing operating activities		430,469	387,300	385,261
Net cash from discontinued operating activities		12,594	35,938	33,267
Net cash from operating activities		443,063	423,238	418,528
Cash flows from investing activities
Development and capital improvements		(342,952)	(411,799)	(497,124)
Acquisition of operating properties		0	0	(62,260)
Proceeds from sale of operating properties, including land		515,754	145,044	237,625
Purchase of short-term investments		(100,000)	0	0
Distributions from investments in joint ventures		3,512	2,512	6,350
Other		(6,994)	(15,217)	(4,945)
Net cash from continuing investing activities		69,320	(279,460)	(320,354)
Proceeds from discontinued operations		622,982	0	0
Net cash from discontinued investing activities		(1,890)	(13,775)	(6,233)
Net cash from investing activities		690,412	(293,235)	(326,587)
Cash flows from financing activities
Borrowings on unsecured line of credit and other short-term borrowings		1,305,000	1,466,000	2,246,000
Repayments on unsecured line of credit and other short-term borrowings		(1,549,000)	(1,222,000)	(2,246,000)
Proceeds from notes payable		0	0	248,078
Repayment of notes payable		(3,077)	(253,043)	(36,340)
Distributions to common shareholders and non-controlling interests		(663,363)	(253,129)	(236,514)
Purchase of non-controlling interests		0	(9,500)	0
Proceeds from issuance of common shares		0	0	66,225
Other		6,203	(1,559)	2,033
Net cash from financing activities		(904,237)	(273,231)	43,482
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash		229,238	(143,228)	135,423
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of year		16,588	159,816	24,393
Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of year		245,826	16,588	159,816
Reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash to the Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract]
Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash		16,588	159,816	24,393
Supplemental information
Cash paid for interest, net of interest capitalized		93,302	96,179	86,711
Cash paid for income taxes		2,424	1,889	1,658
Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing activities
Value of shares issued under benefit plans, net of cancellations		19,006	18,336	19,310
Accrual associated with construction and capital expenditures		$ 22,762	$ 24,175	$ 22,456

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