Consolidated Statements of Changes In Equity (USD $) In Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Paid-in Capital	Cumulative Series Eight Point Zero Three Four Percent Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock [Member]	Cumulative Series C Six Point Seven Five Percent Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock [Member]	Distributions in Excess of Accumulated Comprehensive Earnings	Non-controlling Interests - Common OP Units	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 799,280	$ 828	$ 998,067	$ 0	$ 0	$ (270,021)	$ 72,953	$ (2,547)
Payments for Repurchase of Preferred Stock and Preference Stock	(63,856)	0	0	(63,856)	0	0	0	0
Conversion of OP Units to common stock	0	(3)	(6,717)	0	0	0	(6,720)	0
Issuance of common stock through exercise of options	3,856	1	3,855	0	0	0	0	0
Issuance of common stock through employee stock purchase plan	1,076	0	1,076	0	0	0	0	0
Compensation expenses related to stock options and restricted stock	5,797	0	5,797	0	0	0	0	0
Repurchase of common stock or Common OP Units	(1,287)	0	(1,287)	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment for Common OP Unitholders in the Operating Partnership	0	0	450	0	0	0	(450)	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax	43	0	0	0	0	0	0	43
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Stock Issued, Issuance Costs, Preferred Stock Offering Costs	757	0	757	0	0	0	0	0
Net income	54,779
Distributions	(79,106)us-gaap_Dividends	0	0	0	0	(72,410)	(6,696)	0
Stock Exchange	0els_StockExchange	0	0	(136,144)	136,144	0	0	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	59,846us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	0	0	0	0	54,779	5,067	0
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Stock Issued, Issuance Costs	(504)	0	(504)	0	0	0	0	0
Temporary Equity Conversion To Permanent Equity	200,000	0	0	200,000	0	0	0	0
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	924,302	832	1,012,514	0	136,144	(287,652)	65,054	(2,590)
Payments for Repurchase of Preferred Stock and Preference Stock	0
Conversion of OP Units to common stock	0	0	(280)	0	0	0	(280)	0
Issuance of common stock through exercise of options	248	1	247	0	0	0	0	0
Issuance of common stock through employee stock purchase plan	720	1	719	0	0	0	0	0
Compensation expenses related to stock options and restricted stock	5,952	0	5,952	0	0	0	0	0
Repurchase of common stock or Common OP Units	(1,121)	0	(1,121)	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment for Common OP Unitholders in the Operating Partnership	0	0	(6,730)	0	0	0	6,730	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax	(1,663)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(1,663)
Net income	106,919
Distributions	(100,194)us-gaap_Dividends	0	0	0	(9,280)	(83,350)	(7,564)	0
Units Issued During Period, Value, Acquisition	9,686	0	0	0	0	0	9,686	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	(125,905)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	0	0	0	9,280	106,919	9,706	0
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Stock Issued, Issuance Costs	544	0	544	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Stock Issued, Issuance Costs, Preferred Stock Offering Costs	(3,412)els_ReleaseOfCommonSharesFromEscrow	0	(3,412)	0	0	0	0	0
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	963,205	834	1,021,365	0	136,144	(264,083)	69,872	(927)
Payments for Repurchase of Preferred Stock and Preference Stock	0
Conversion of OP Units to common stock	0	(4)	(4,091)	0	0	0	(4,095)	0
Issuance of common stock through employee stock purchase plan	1,328	1	1,327	0	0	0	0	0
Compensation expenses related to stock options and restricted stock	7,568	0	7,568	0	0	0	0	0
Repurchase of common stock or Common OP Units	(1,870)	0	(1,870)	0	0	0	0	0
Adjustment for Common OP Unitholders in the Operating Partnership	0	0	727	0	0	0	(727)	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax	(546)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(546)
Net income	118,731
Distributions	(127,689)us-gaap_Dividends	0	0	0	(9,274)	(108,857)	(9,558)	0
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	138,468us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	0	0	0	9,274	118,731	10,463	0
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Stock Issued, Issuance Costs	595	0	220	0	0	0	375	0
Adjustments to Additional Paid in Capital, Stock Issued, Issuance Costs, Preferred Stock Offering Costs	(1,934)els_ReleaseOfCommonSharesFromEscrow	(1)	(1,933)	0	0	0	0	0
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	$ 979,027	$ 838	$ 1,029,601	$ 0	$ 136,144	$ (254,209)	$ 67,034	$ (381)

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Direct costs (e.g., legal and accounting fees) associated with issuing preferred stock that is deducted from additional paid in capital. Also includes any direct costs associated with preferred stock offering costs under a shelf registration.

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The fair value of shares drawn down from an escrow deposit furnished by shares designated as collateral for future ground lease payments.

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Reflects the exchange of common or preferred stock with common or preferred stock with a different rate and liquidation value.

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Value of temporary equity converted to permanent equity upon triggering event during period.

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Value of ownership interests of the partnership issued pursuant to acquisition during period.

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This element represents the amount of recognized equity-based compensation during the period, that is, the amount recognized as expense in the income statement (or as asset if compensation is capitalized). Alternate captions include the words "stock-based compensation".

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Amount of decrease in additional paid in capital (APIC) resulting from direct costs associated with issuing stock. Includes, but is not limited to, legal and accounting fees and direct costs associated with stock issues under a shelf registration.

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Amount of paid and unpaid cash, stock, and paid-in-kind (PIK) dividends declared, for example, but not limited to, common and preferred stock.

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The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

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Net income after adjustments for dividends on preferred stock (declared in the period) and/or cumulative preferred stock (accumulated for the period).

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Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments, of increase (decrease) in accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges and an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gain (loss).

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The cash outflow to reacquire preferred stock during the period.

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Amount of stockholders' equity (deficit), net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity, attributable to both the parent and noncontrolling interests. Amount excludes temporary equity. Alternate caption for the concept is permanent equity.

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Value of stock issued during the period upon the conversion of units. An example of a convertible unit is an umbrella partnership real estate investment trust unit (UPREIT unit).

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Aggregate change in value for stock issued during the period as a result of employee stock purchase plan.

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Value of stock issued as a result of the exercise of stock options.

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Equity impact of the value of stock that has been repurchased during the period and has not been retired and is not held in treasury. Some state laws may mandate the circumstances under which an entity may acquire its own stock and prescribe the accounting treatment therefore. This element is used when state law does not recognize treasury stock.

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