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Co-investments - Summary of Investments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 9 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Co-investments | $ 1,122,913 | $ 1,036,047
Total operating co investments [Member] |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Co-investments | 794,858 | 831,521
Membership Interest In Limited Liability Company That Owns Connolly Station [Member] |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Co-investments | $ 426,259 | 422,317
Limited partnership interest in partnership investments | 55.00% |
Membership interest in Wesco I, III, and IV [Member] |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Co-investments | $ 202,531 | 218,902
Limited partnership interest in partnership investments | 50.00% |
Membership interest in BEXAEW [Member] |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Co-investments | $ 66,346 | 88,850
Limited partnership interest in partnership investments | 50.00% |
Membership Interest In Palm Valley [Member] |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Co-investments | $ 68,403 | 68,525
Limited partnership interest in partnership investments | 50.00% |
Partnership interest in Other Funds [Member] |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Co-investments | $ 31,319 | 32,927
Partnership interest in Other Funds [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Limited partnership interest in partnership investments | 50.00% |
Partnership interest in Other Funds [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Limited partnership interest in partnership investments | 55.00% |
Total development co investments [Member] |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Co-investments | $ 141,666 | 98,214
Total development co investments [Member] | Minimum [Member] |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Limited partnership interest in partnership investments | 50.00% |
Total development co investments [Member] | Maximum [Member] |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Limited partnership interest in partnership investments | 55.00% |
Total preferred interest investments [Member] |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Co-investments | $ 186,389 | 106,312
Total preferred interest investments [Member] | Investments in Majority-owned Subsidiaries [Member] |  |
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items] |  |
Co-investments | $ 35,900 | $ 35,800

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