Subsequent Events	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	Subsequent Events In November 2012, the Company received fully executed commitments, subject to the execution of definitive loan documents, on the modification and extension of its two major credit facilities, increasing the aggregate capacity by $155,000 to $1,200,000. The first $600,000 facility will mature in November 2015 and the second $600,000 facility will mature in November 2016. Both facilities will be converted from secured to unsecured facilities, will have one-year extension options at the Company's election, and will bear interest at an annual rate equal to LIBOR plus a range of 155 to 210 basis points, based on the Company's leverage ratio. In October 2012, the Company sold Towne Mall, located in Franklin, OH, for a gross sales price of $950 less commissions and customary closing costs for a net sales price of $892. Additionally in October 2012, the Company sold Hickory Hollow Mall, located in Antioch, TN, for a gross sales price of $1,000 less commissions and customary closing costs for a net sales price of $966. Net proceeds from the sale of both malls were used to reduce the outstanding balance on the Company's secured credit facilities. As described in Note 4, Towne Mall and Hickory Hollow Mall were classified as held for sale as of September 30, 2012 and a non-cash impairment of $419 and $8,047, respectively, was recognized in the third quarter of 2012 to write down the book value of both properties to the expected net sales price. In October 2012, the Company retired an existing non-recourse mortgage loan with a principal balance of $106,895, secured by Monroeville Mall in Monroeville, PA, with borrowings from the Company's secured credit facilities. The loan was scheduled to mature in January 2013. In October 2012, the Company exercised its right to demand payment of its secured convertible promissory note with Jinsheng. The secured note has a face amount of $4,875. In October 2012, the Company completed an underwritten public offering of 6,900,000 depositary shares, each representing 1/10^th of a share of its newly designated 6.625% Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the "Series E Preferred Stock") at $25.00 per depositary share. The Company received net proceeds from the offering of approximately $166,636 after deducting the underwriting discount and offering expenses. A portion of the net proceeds from this offering were used to redeem all the Company's outstanding 7.75% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the "Series C Shares") with an aggregate liquidation preference of $115,000, as discussed below. The remaining net proceeds of $50,745 were used to reduce outstanding balances on the Company's secured credit facilities. The Company will pay cumulative dividends on the Series E Preferred Stock from the date of original issuance in the amount of $1.65625 per depositary share each year, which is equivalent to 6.625% of the $25.00 liquidation preference per depositary share. The Company may not redeem the Series E Preferred Stock before October 12, 2017, except in limited circumstances to preserve the Company's REIT status or in connection with a change of control. On or after October 12, 2017, the Company may, at its option, redeem the Series E Preferred Stock in whole at any time or in part from time to time by paying $25.00 per depositary share, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends up to, but not including, the date of redemption. The Series E Preferred Stock generally has no stated maturity, will not be subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption. The Series E Preferred Stock is not convertible into any of the Company's securities, except under certain circumstances in connection with a change of control. Owners of the depositary shares representing Series E Preferred Stock generally have no voting rights except under dividend default. On October 5, 2012, the Company called for redemption all 460,000 Series C Shares and all outstanding depositary shares, each representing 1/10^th of a Series C Share. The aggregate redemption amount of $115,891, which included $891 related to accrued and unpaid dividends, was paid on November 5, 2012. The Company will record a charge to preferred dividends of $3,773 in the fourth quarter of 2012 to write off the unamortized portion of direct issuance costs related to the Series C Shares and underlying depositary shares. On October 11, 2012, the Company registered 2,465,442 shares of common stock for public resale by thirteen holders who were issued common stock in exchange for their common units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership pursuant to their exercise of contractual registration rights. The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date of issuance of these financial statements.

Subsequent Events

In November 2012, the Company received fully executed commitments, subject to the execution of definitive loan documents, on the modification and extension of its two major credit facilities, increasing the aggregate capacity by $155,000 to $1,200,000. The first $600,000 facility will mature in November 2015 and the second $600,000 facility will mature in November 2016. Both facilities will be converted from secured to unsecured facilities, will have one-year extension options at the Company's election, and will bear interest at an annual rate equal to LIBOR plus a range of 155 to 210 basis points, based on the Company's leverage ratio.

In October 2012, the Company sold Towne Mall, located in Franklin, OH, for a gross sales price of $950 less commissions and customary closing costs for a net sales price of $892. Additionally in October 2012, the Company sold Hickory Hollow Mall, located in Antioch, TN, for a gross sales price of $1,000 less commissions and customary closing costs for a net sales price of $966. Net proceeds from the sale of both malls were used to reduce the outstanding balance on the Company's secured credit facilities. As described in Note 4, Towne Mall and Hickory Hollow Mall were classified as held for sale as of September 30, 2012 and a non-cash impairment of $419 and $8,047, respectively, was recognized in the third quarter of 2012 to write down the book value of both properties to the expected net sales price.

In October 2012, the Company retired an existing non-recourse mortgage loan with a principal balance of $106,895, secured by Monroeville Mall in Monroeville, PA, with borrowings from the Company's secured credit facilities. The loan was scheduled to mature in January 2013.

In October 2012, the Company exercised its right to demand payment of its secured convertible promissory note with Jinsheng. The secured note has a face amount of $4,875.

In October 2012, the Company completed an underwritten public offering of 6,900,000 depositary shares, each representing 1/10^th of a share of its newly designated 6.625% Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the "Series E Preferred Stock") at $25.00 per depositary share. The Company received net proceeds from the offering of approximately $166,636 after deducting the underwriting discount and offering expenses. A portion of the net proceeds from this offering were used to redeem all the Company's outstanding 7.75% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the "Series C Shares") with an aggregate liquidation preference of $115,000, as discussed below. The remaining net proceeds of $50,745 were used to reduce outstanding balances on the Company's secured credit facilities. The Company will pay cumulative dividends on the Series E Preferred Stock from the date of original issuance in the amount of $1.65625 per depositary share each year, which is equivalent to 6.625% of the $25.00 liquidation preference per depositary share. The Company may not redeem the Series E Preferred Stock before October 12, 2017, except in limited circumstances to preserve the Company's REIT status or in connection with a change of control. On or after October 12, 2017, the Company may, at its option, redeem the Series E Preferred Stock in whole at any time or in part from time to time by paying $25.00 per depositary share, plus any accrued and unpaid dividends up to, but not including, the date of redemption. The Series E Preferred Stock generally has no stated maturity, will not be subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption. The Series E Preferred Stock is not convertible into any of the Company's securities, except under certain circumstances in connection with a change of control. Owners of the depositary shares representing Series E Preferred Stock generally have no voting rights except under dividend default.

On October 5, 2012, the Company called for redemption all 460,000 Series C Shares and all outstanding depositary shares, each representing 1/10^th of a Series C Share. The aggregate redemption amount of $115,891, which included $891 related to accrued and unpaid dividends, was paid on November 5, 2012. The Company will record a charge to preferred dividends of $3,773 in the fourth quarter of 2012 to write off the unamortized portion of direct issuance costs related to the Series C Shares and underlying depositary shares.

On October 11, 2012, the Company registered 2,465,442 shares of common stock for public resale by thirteen holders who were issued common stock in exchange for their common units of limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership pursuant to their exercise of contractual registration rights.

The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date of issuance of these financial statements.