Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		$ 229,233	$ 254,965	$ 467,246	$ 518,043
Property operating expenses		(60,444)	(65,684)	(130,793)	(141,888)
Interest expense		(55,065)	(53,187)	(111,266)	(108,418)
Other expense		(5,019)	(5,052)	(5,019)	(14,737)
Gain on sales of real estate assets		79,533	9,577	85,521	9,577
Segment profit (loss)		188,238	140,619	305,689	262,577
Depreciation and amortization expense		(82,509)	(72,205)	(153,729)	(148,711)
General and administrative expense		(15,752)	(16,475)	(31,834)	(33,643)
Interest and other income		31	251	1,435	611
Gain on extinguishment of debt		20,420	0	24,475	6
Loss on impairment		(43,203)	(43,493)	(46,466)	(63,178)
Loss on investment		(5,843)	0	(5,843)	0
Income tax benefit		2,920	51	3,720	588
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates		6,325	64,349	11,698	96,739
Net income		70,627	73,097	109,145	114,989
Capital expenditures		39,741	31,374	83,597	82,520
Total Assets	[1]	5,808,333		5,808,333		$ 6,104,640
Malls
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		213,793	232,746	435,724	471,488
Property operating expenses		(56,794)	(65,409)	(123,324)	(140,786)
Interest expense		(31,314)	(35,486)	(64,559)	(69,881)
Other expense		0	0	0	0
Gain on sales of real estate assets		77,428	140	77,428	140
Segment profit (loss)		203,113	131,991	325,269	260,961
Capital expenditures		38,348	12,770	79,044	61,321
Total Assets		5,225,213		5,225,213		5,383,937
Associated Centers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		9,760	9,857	19,476	20,099
Property operating expenses		(2,166)	(2,127)	(4,080)	(4,699)
Interest expense		(584)	(1,431)	(1,226)	(3,133)
Other expense		0	0	0	0
Gain on sales of real estate assets		0	478	0	478
Segment profit (loss)		7,010	6,777	14,170	12,745
Capital expenditures		517	1,671	1,084	3,097
Total Assets		259,600		259,600		259,966
Community Centers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		4,509	4,488	9,073	9,970
Property operating expenses		(826)	(1,260)	(1,551)	(2,403)
Interest expense		(82)	(66)	(158)	(364)
Other expense		0	0	0	0
Gain on sales of real estate assets		0	3,281	0	3,281
Segment profit (loss)		3,601	6,443	7,364	10,484
Capital expenditures		240	540	705	968
Total Assets		210,315		210,315		215,917
All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues		1,171	7,874	2,973	16,486
Property operating expenses		(658)	3,112	(1,838)	6,000
Interest expense		(23,085)	(16,204)	(45,323)	(35,040)
Other expense		(5,019)	(5,052)	(5,019)	(14,737)
Gain on sales of real estate assets		2,105	5,678	8,093	5,678
Segment profit (loss)		(25,486)	(4,592)	(41,114)	(21,613)
Capital expenditures		636	$ 16,393	2,764	$ 17,134
Total Assets		$ 113,205		$ 113,205		$ 244,820

[1] As of June 30, 2017, includes $655,236 of assets related to consolidated variable interest entities that can be used only to settle obligations of the consolidated variable interest entities and $451,661 of liabilities of consolidated variable interest entities for which creditors do not have recourse to the general credit of the Company. See Note 5.