Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Text (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Properties	302
Value of furniture and fixtures minimum range	$ 10,000
Value of furniture and fixtures maximum range	$ 25,000
Lease Intangibles, Average Term	6 months
Capitalized Costs Development and Renovation	$ 18,700,000	$ 22,300,000	$ 22,400,000
Debt Issuance Costs, Net	42,617,000	0
Other assets	398,883,000	428,899,000
Secured Debt	4,119,181,000	4,685,134,000
Notes, net	$ 4,848,079,000	5,848,956,000
Apartment Units	77,458
Noncontrolling Interests Partially Owned Properties	$ 10,609,000	4,608,000
Minimum [Member]
Retail/Commercial Leases Term	5
Maximum [Member]
Retail/Commercial Leases Term	10
Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]
Debt Issuance Costs, Net		(54,004,000)
Other assets		6,872,000
Secured Debt		(19,736,000)
Notes, net		(27,396,000)
Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]
Debt Issuance Costs, Net		54,004,000
Other assets		422,027,000
Secured Debt		4,704,870,000
Notes, net		5,876,352,000
Other Assets [Member]
Debt Issuance Costs, Net	$ 12,100,000	16,300,000	$ 26,400,000
Furniture and Fixtures [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	5
Furniture and Fixtures Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	10
Building [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	30
Building Improvements [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	8
Replacements Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	5
Replacements Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	10
Renovations and Improvements Minimum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	5
Renovations and Improvements Maximum [Member]
Property, Plant and Equipment, Estimated Useful Lives	15
Partially Owned Properties – Unconsolidated
Properties	2
Other assets	$ 491,000
Secured Debt	$ 145,424,000
Apartment Units	945
Noncontrolling Interests Partially Owned Properties	$ 145,235,000
Partially Owned Properties – Consolidated
Properties	17
Apartment Units	3,215
Limited Life Partnership Properties [Member]
Properties	4
Noncontrolling Interests Partially Owned Properties		$ 7,700,000
Noncontrolling Interests Settlement Value	$ 62,600,000