Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 262,636	$ 258,714	$ 777,388	$ 776,890
Property operating expenses	(71,918)	(71,473)	(215,645)	(219,235)
Interest expense	(56,451)	(60,214)	(174,362)	(179,997)
Other expense	(8,787)	(7,396)	(21,191)	(21,331)
Gain on sales of real estate assets	3,237	434	18,167	3,513
Segment profit (loss)	128,717	120,065	384,357	359,840
Depreciation and amortization expense	(74,045)	(72,488)	(221,550)	(212,180)
General and administrative expense	(12,995)	(9,474)	(46,440)	(35,583)
Interest and other income	579	463	6,242	3,535
Gain on Extinguishment of Debt	0	18,282	256	60,942
Loss on impairment	(884)	(497)	(3,665)	(17,753)
Gain on investment	0	0	16,560	0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	3,508	3,936	12,212	11,038
Income tax provision	(448)	(3,083)	(2,004)	(4,266)
Income from continuing operations	44,432	57,204	145,968	165,573
Total Assets	6,695,735	6,632,711	6,695,735	6,632,711	$ 6,616,299
Capital expenditures	73,483	85,263	349,992	238,676
Operating Segments | Malls
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	234,095	228,661	694,310	683,494
Property operating expenses	(69,690)	(68,597)	(209,850)	(210,553)
Interest expense	(39,707)	(50,228)	(128,168)	(148,822)
Other expense	0	(1)	0	(20)
Gain on sales of real estate assets	0	(12)	264	1,654
Segment profit (loss)	124,698	109,823	356,556	325,753
Total Assets	5,943,299	5,644,948	5,943,299	5,644,948
Capital expenditures	66,311	60,484	326,607	144,123
Operating Segments | Associated Centers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	9,693	9,961	30,164	31,104
Property operating expenses	(2,260)	(2,226)	(7,206)	(6,981)
Interest expense	(1,732)	(1,987)	(5,561)	(5,983)
Other expense	0	0	0	0
Gain on sales of real estate assets	2,769	3	16,260	937
Segment profit (loss)	8,470	5,751	33,657	19,077
Total Assets	258,047	274,845	258,047	274,845
Capital expenditures	1,134	1,220	2,523	13,906
Operating Segments | Community Centers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	5,231	4,598	14,925	13,847
Property operating expenses	(1,114)	(1,195)	(3,392)	(3,784)
Interest expense	(1,003)	(649)	(3,233)	(1,949)
Other expense	0	0	0	0
Gain on sales of real estate assets	0	33	0	489
Segment profit (loss)	3,114	2,787	8,300	8,603
Total Assets	279,598	284,691	279,598	284,691
Capital expenditures	489	842	1,884	2,439
Operating Segments | All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	13,616	15,494	37,988	48,445
Property operating expenses	1,145	545	4,803	2,083
Interest expense	(14,008)	(7,350)	(37,400)	(23,243)
Other expense	(8,787)	(7,395)	(21,191)	(21,311)
Gain on sales of real estate assets	468	410	1,643	433
Segment profit (loss)	(7,566)	1,704	(14,157)	6,407
Total Assets	214,791	428,227	214,791	428,227
Capital expenditures	$ 5,549	$ 22,717	$ 18,978	$ 78,208