Investment in and Advances to Unconsolidated Affiliates (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Investments in Affiliates [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in joint ventures, maximum	50.00%		50.00%
Number of joint ventures with debt investment	1		1
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 25,623,000	$ 26,517,000	$ 75,619,000	$ 93,819,000
Expenses:
Rental property and other expenses	10,805,000	12,664,000	33,576,000	45,463,000
Depreciation and amortization	6,759,000	6,730,000	19,670,000	24,108,000
Interest expense	5,976,000	6,094,000	17,841,000	21,892,000
Total expenses	23,540,000	25,488,000	71,087,000	91,463,000
Net income	2,083,000	1,029,000	4,532,000	2,356,000
Our share of:
Depreciation and amortization of real estate assets	2,066,000	2,115,000	6,192,000	8,193,000
Interest expense	1,965,000	2,190,000	6,159,000	8,368,000
Net income	442,000	432,000	2,112,000	952,000
Our share of net income	442,000	432,000	2,112,000	952,000
Purchase accounting and management, leasing and other fees adjustments	671,000	586,000	1,821,000	1,749,000
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates	1,113,000	1,018,000	3,933,000	2,701,000
Gross proceeds received from disposition of investment in unconsolidated affiliate			4,756,000	15,000,000
HIW Development B, LLC joint venture [Member]
Our share of:
Percentage of equity interest in joint venture (in hundredths)	10.00%		10.00%
Gross proceeds received from disposition of investment in unconsolidated affiliate			4,800,000
Gain recorded on disposition of investment in unconsolidated affiliate	$ 2,300,000