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Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands | Total | Limited Partners' Capital Account [Member] | General Partners' Capital Account [Member] | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] | Common Stock | Additional Paid-in Capital | Accumulated Distributions in Excess of Net Income | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] | Noncontrolling Interest | Stockholders' Equity, Total [Member] | Parent Company [Member] | Parent Company [Member] Common Stock | Parent Company [Member] Additional Paid-in Capital | Parent Company [Member] Accumulated Distributions in Excess of Net Income | Parent Company [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] | Parent Company [Member] Noncontrolling Interest | Parent Company [Member] Stockholders' Equity, Total [Member] | Parent Company [Member] Redeemable Stock | Limited Partner [Member] | Limited Partner [Member] Limited Partners' Capital Account [Member] | Limited Partner [Member] General Partners' Capital Account [Member] | Limited Partner [Member] Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] | Limited Partner [Member] Total Partnership Capital [Member] | Limited Partner [Member] Redeemable Stock
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Shares, Outstanding at Dec. 31, 2012 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 42,243 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock shares issued (shares) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 32,325 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock repurchased and retired (shares) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 10 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 111 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Conversion of Units |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 79 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares, Outstanding at Dec. 31, 2013 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 74,748 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Dec. 31, 2012 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 422,000 | $ 1,542,999,000 | $ (603,315,000) | $ (26,054,000) | $ 31,058,000 | $ 945,110,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net Income Attributable to Parent |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 115,281,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,998,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 119,279,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 119,279,000 |  | $ 107,544,000 |  |  |  | $ 107,544,000 |
Other comprehensive income - derivative instruments (cash flow hedges) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 26,162,000 | 892,000 | 27,054,000 |  |  |  |  | $ 27,055,000 | 27,055,000 |
Issuance and registration of common shares |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 325,000 | 2,026,913,000 |  |  | 161,069,000 | 2,188,307,000 | $ 692,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares repurchased and retired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | (702,000) |  |  |  | (702,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Exercise of stock options |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 6,212,000 |  |  |  | 6,212,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares issued in exchange for units |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 2,519,000 |  |  | (2,519,000) | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes To Financial Statements [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Redeemable stock fair market value |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 355,000 |  |  | 355,000 | (355,000) |  |  | $ (355,000) |  | (355,000) | $ (355,000)
Correction of classification of equity accounts (Note 1) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 |  | 0 | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Adjustment for Noncontrolling Interest Ownership in operating partnership |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 19,340,000 |  |  | (19,340,000) | 0 |  |  | $ (25,505,000) | 43,324,000 |  | 17,819,000 |
Amortization of unearned compensation |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2,268,000 |  |  |  | 2,268,000 |  |  |  | 2,268,000 |  | 2,268,000 |
Dividends on common stock |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (165,914,000) |  |  | (165,914,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Dividends on noncontrolling interest units |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (8,432,000) | (8,432,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Dec. 31, 2013 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 747,000 | 3,599,549,000 | (653,593,000) | 108,000 | $ 166,726,000 | 3,113,537,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Redeemable stock at Dec. 31, 2012 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,713,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 4,713,000
Redeemable stock at Dec. 31, 2013 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5,050,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 5,050,000
Partners' Capital at Dec. 31, 2012 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 38,154,000 | 927,734,000 | (26,881,000) | 939,007,000 |
Notes To Financial Statements [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net Income (Loss) Allocated to Limited Partners |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,979,000 |  |  |  |
Net Income (Loss) Allocated to General Partners |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 103,565,000 |  |  |
Issuance of units |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 161,069,000 | 2,027,237,000 |  | 2,188,306,000 | 692,000
Units repurchased and retired |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (702,000) |  | (702,000) |
Exercise of unit options |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,212,000 |  | 6,212,000 |
General partnership units issued in exchange for limited partnership units |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (2,519,000) | (2,519,000) |  | 0 |
Distributions |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (8,432,000) | (165,914,000) |  | (174,346,000) |
Partners' Capital at Dec. 31, 2013 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 166,746,000 | 2,946,598,000 | 174,000 | 3,113,518,000 |
Common stock shares issued (shares) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 138 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock repurchased and retired (shares) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 270 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Conversion of Units |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 36 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares, Outstanding at Dec. 31, 2014 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 75,180 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net Income Attributable to Parent |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 147,980,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 8,297,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 156,277,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 156,277,000 |  | 156,277,000 |  |  |  | 156,277,000 |
Other comprehensive income - derivative instruments (cash flow hedges) |  |  |  | $ (550,000) |  |  |  | $ (520,000) | (30,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (550,000) |  |  |  |  |  | (550,000) |
Issuance and registration of common shares |  |  |  |  | $ 2,000 | $ 1,040,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,042,000 | 874,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares repurchased and retired |  |  |  |  | 0 | 465,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (465,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Exercise of stock options |  |  |  |  | 3,000 | 12,242,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12,245,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares issued in exchange for units |  |  |  |  | 0 | 1,419,000 |  |  | (1,419,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes To Financial Statements [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stock Issued in Exchange for Redeemable Stock |  |  |  |  |  | 998,000 |  |  |  | $ (998,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (998,000) |  |  |  |  |  |
Redeemable stock fair market value |  |  | $ 985,000 |  |  |  | 985,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (985,000) | 985,000 |  |  |  |  | 985,000 | 985,000
Adjustment for Noncontrolling Interest Ownership in operating partnership |  | $ 117,000 | (117,000) |  |  | (144,000) |  |  | 144,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |
Amortization of unearned compensation |  |  | 4,631,000 |  |  | 4,631,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,631,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 4,631,000 |
Dividends on common stock |  |  |  |  |  |  | 222,488,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (222,488,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Dividends on noncontrolling interest units |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12,431,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (12,431,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Dec. 31, 2014 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,051,811,000 | $ 752,000 | 3,619,270,000 | (729,086,000) | (412,000) | $ 161,287,000 | 3,051,811,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Redeemable stock at Dec. 31, 2014 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5,911,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5,911,000 | 5,911,000 |  |  |  |  | 5,911,000
Notes To Financial Statements [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net Income (Loss) Allocated to Limited Partners |  | 8,297,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net Income (Loss) Allocated to General Partners |  |  | 147,980,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Issuance of units |  |  | 1,042,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  | 1,042,000 | 874,000
Units repurchased and retired |  |  | (465,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (465,000) |
Exercise of unit options |  |  | 12,245,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12,245,000 |
General partnership units issued in exchange for limited partnership units |  | 1,419,000 | (1,419,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |
Partnership units issued in exchange for redeemable units |  |  | 998,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (998,000)
Distributions |  | (12,431,000) | (222,488,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (234,919,000) |
Partners' Capital at Dec. 31, 2014 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 161,310,000 | 2,890,858,000 | (376,000) | 3,051,792,000 |
Development and capital improvements in progress |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 80,772,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 80,772,000 |  |  |  |  |
Common stock shares issued (shares) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 116 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock repurchased and retired (shares) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 13 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 7 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Conversion of Units |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 28 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares, Outstanding at Dec. 31, 2015 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 75,318 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net Income Attributable to Parent |  |  |  |  |  |  | 332,287,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 18,458,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 350,745,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 350,745,000 |  | 350,745,000 |  |  |  | 350,745,000 |
Other comprehensive income - derivative instruments (cash flow hedges) |  |  |  | $ (1,242,000) |  |  |  | $ (1,177,000) | (65,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,242,000) |  |  |  |  |  | (1,242,000) |
Issuance and registration of common shares |  |  |  |  | 1,000 | 621,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 622,000 | $ 924,000 |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares repurchased and retired |  |  |  |  | 0 | 958,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (958,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Exercise of stock options |  |  |  |  | 0 | 420,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 420,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Shares issued in exchange for units |  |  |  |  | $ 0 | 1,121,000 |  |  | (1,121,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Notes To Financial Statements [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
SHAREHOLDER’S EQUITY | SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY OF MAA On December 31, 2015, 75,408,571 shares of common stock of MAA and 4,162,996 partnership units in the Operating Partnership were issued and outstanding, representing a total of 79,571,567 shares and units. At December 31, 2014, 75,267,675 shares of common stock of MAA and 4,191,152 partnership units in the Operating Partnership were outstanding, representing a total of 79,458,827 shares and units. There were 58,112 outstanding options as of December 31, 2015 compared to 74,454 outstanding options as of December 31, 2014. During the year ended December 31, 2015, 11,914 shares of our common stock were acquired from employees to satisfy minimum tax withholding obligations that arose upon vesting of restricted stock granted pursuant to approved plans. During the year ended December 31, 2014, 9,270 shares were acquired for these purposes. Noncontrolling Interest Noncontrolling interest in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements relates to the limited partnership interest in the Operating Partnership owned by the holders of the Class A limited partner units of the Operating Partnership, or Class A Units. MAA is the sole general partner of the Operating Partnership and holds all of the outstanding Class B general partner units of the Operating Partnership, or Class B Units. Net income is allocated to MAA and the noncontrolling interest based on their respective ownership percentages of the Operating Partnership. Issuance of additional Class A Units or Class B Units changes the ownership percentage of both the noncontrolling interest and MAA. The issuance of Class B Units generally occurs when MAA issues common stock and the issuance proceeds are contributed to the Operating Partnership in exchange for Class B Units equal to the number of shares of common stock issued. At each reporting period, the allocation between total MAA shareholders’ equity and Noncontrolling interest is adjusted to account for the change in the respective percentage ownership of the underlying equity of the Operating Partnership. MAA’s Board of Directors established economic rights in respect to each Class A Unit that were equivalent to the economic rights in respect to each share of MAA common stock. The holders of Class A Units may redeem each of their units in exchange for one share of common stock in MAA or cash, at the option of MAA. At December 31, 2015, a total of 4,162,996 Class A Units were outstanding and redeemable to MAA by the holders of the units for 4,162,996 shares of MAA common stock or approximately $378.0 million, based on the closing price of MAA’s common stock on December 31, 2015 of $90.81 per share, at MAA’s option. At December 31, 2014, a total of 4,191,152 Class A Units were outstanding and redeemable to MAA by the holders of the units for 4,191,152 shares of MAA common stock or approximately $313.0 million, based on the closing price of MAA’s common stock on December 31, 2014 of $74.68 per share, at MAA’s option. The Operating Partnership pays the same per unit distribution in respect to the Class A Units as the per share distribution MAA pays in respect to the common stock. Operating Partnership net income for 2015, 2014 and 2013 was allocated approximately 5.2%, 5.3% and 4.6%, respectively, to holders of Class A Units and 94.8%, 94.7% and 95.4%, respectively, to MAA as the holder of all Class B Units. Direct Stock Purchase and Distribution Reinvestment Plan MAA has a Dividend and Distribution Reinvestment and Share Purchase Plan, or DRSPP, pursuant to which MAA’s shareholders have the ability to reinvest all or part of their distributions from MAA’s stock and holders of Class A Units have the ability to reinvest all or part of their distributions from MAALP into MAA’s common stock. The DRSPP also provides the opportunity to make optional cash investments in MAA's common stock of at least $250, but not more than $5,000 in any given month, free of brokerage commissions and charges. MAA, in its absolute discretion, may grant waivers to allow for optional cash payments in excess of $5,000. To fulfill its obligations under the DRSPP, MAA may either issue additional shares of common stock or repurchase common stock in the open market. MAA has registered with the SEC the offer and sale of up to 9,600,000 shares of common stock pursuant to the DRSPP. MAA may elect to sell shares under the DRSPP at up to a 5% discount. Shares of common stock totaling 8,562 in 2015, 9,055 in 2014, and 10,924 in 2013 were acquired by shareholders under the DRSPP. MAA did not offer a discount for optional cash purchases in 2015, 2014 or 2013. At the Market Offering On December 9, 2015, we entered into distribution agreements with J.P. Morgan Securities, LLC, BMO Capital Markets Corp. and KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc. to sell up to an aggregate of 4.0 million shares of common stock, from time-to-time in at-the-market offerings or negotiated transactions through controlled equity offering programs, or ATMs. As of December 31, 2015, there were 4.0 million shares remaining under the ATM program. During the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, MAA did not sell any shares of common stock under its ATMs. As of December 31, 2015, there were 4.0 million shares available for issuance under MAA's ATMs. Stock Repurchase Plan In 1999, MAA’s Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase plan to acquire up to a total of 4.0 million shares of MAA’s common stock. As of December 8, 2015, MAA had repurchased and retired approximately 1.9 million shares of common stock for a cost of approximately $42.0 million at an average price per common share of $22.54. No shares were repurchased in 2002 through 2015 under the plan. On December 8, 2015, MAA's Board of Directors authorized us to repurchase up to 4.0 million shares of MAA common stock, which represented approximately 5.3% of MAA's common stock outstanding at the time of such authorization. This December 2015 authorization replaced and superseded the 1999 plan, under which approximately 2.1 million shares remained at the time of the December 2015 authorization. No shares were repurchased from December 8, 2015 through December 31, 2015 under the current authorization. Exercise of Stock Options During the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014, and 2013 we issued 7,342 shares, 270,459 shares, and 110,715 shares, respectively, related to the exercise of stock options. These exercises resulted in proceeds of $0.4 million, $12.2 million, and $6.2 million respectively. |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stock Issued in Exchange for Redeemable Stock |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Redeemable stock fair market value |  |  | 1,415,000 |  |  |  | 1,415,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (1,415,000) | $ 1,415,000 |  |  |  |  | 1,415,000 | 1,415,000
Adjustment for Noncontrolling Interest Ownership in operating partnership |  | 164,000 | (164,000) |  |  | (252,000) |  |  | 252,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |
Amortization of unearned compensation |  |  | 6,852,000 |  |  | $ 6,852,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,852,000 |  |  |  |  |  | 6,852,000 |
Dividends on common stock |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 235,927,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (235,927,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Dividends on noncontrolling interest units |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 13,085,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (13,085,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest at Dec. 31, 2015 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,157,823,000 | $ 753,000 | $ 3,627,074,000 | $ (634,141,000) | $ (1,589,000) | $ 165,726,000 | $ 3,157,823,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Redeemable stock at Dec. 31, 2015 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8,250,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 8,250,000 | 8,250,000 |  |  |  |  | 8,250,000
Notes To Financial Statements [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net Income (Loss) Allocated to Limited Partners |  | 18,458,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net Income (Loss) Allocated to General Partners |  |  | 332,287,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Issuance of units |  |  | 622,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |  |  | 622,000 | 924,000
Units repurchased and retired |  |  | (958,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (958,000) |
Exercise of unit options |  |  | 420,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 420,000 |
General partnership units issued in exchange for limited partnership units |  | 1,121,000 | (1,121,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 |
Partnership units issued in exchange for redeemable units |  |  | 0 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | $ 0
Distributions |  | $ (13,085,000) | $ (235,927,000) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (249,012,000) |
Partners' Capital at Dec. 31, 2015 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 165,726,000 | $ 2,993,696,000 | $ (1,618,000) | $ 3,157,804,000 |
Development and capital improvements in progress |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 44,355,000 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 44,355,000 |  |  |  |  |

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