Deferred Charges and Other Assets, net - Schedule of deferred charges and other assets, net (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Deferred Costs, Capitalized, Prepaid, and Other Assets Disclosure [Abstract]
Leasing	$ 239,983	$ 248,709
Intangible assets:
In-place lease values	140,437	196,969
Leasing commissions and legal costs	32,384	52,000
Above-market leases	181,851	220,847
Deferred tax assets	38,301	38,847
Deferred compensation plan assets	42,711	37,341
Other assets	72,206	70,070
Deferred charges and other assets, gross	747,873	864,783
Less accumulated amortization	(269,815)	(300,492)
Deferred charges and other assets, net	478,058	564,291
In-place lease values, leasing commissions and legal costs
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Accumulated amortization	88,785	109,453
Amortization expense	$ 33,048	$ 69,460	$ 52,668