INCOME TAXES (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Income tax provision
Current expense, federal	$ 1,350,000	$ 3,588,000	$ 4,177,000
Current expense, state	606,000	124,000	1,171,000
Current expense, Total	1,956,000	3,712,000	5,348,000
Tax credit, Federal	(6,849,000)	(832,000)
Tax credit, Total	(6,849,000)	(832,000)
Change in deferred benefit, Federal	6,048,000	1,282,000	(1,048,000)
Change in deferred benefit, Total	6,048,000	1,282,000	(1,048,000)
Income tax expense, Federal	549,000	4,038,000	3,129,000
Income tax expense, State	606,000	124,000	1,171,000
Total tax expense	1,155,000	4,162,000	4,300,000
Reconciliation of effective income tax amount
Expected tax at statutory rate	20,854,000	13,204,000
Non-taxable REIT income	(14,957,000)	(8,303,000)
State and local tax expense (benefit) - net of federal benefit	617,000	124,000
Change in valuation allowance	1,298,000	804,000
Tax credits	(6,849,000)	(832,000)
Miscellaneous	192,000	(835,000)
Total tax expense	1,155,000	4,162,000	4,300,000
Reconciliation of the statutory income tax provisions to the effective income tax provisions
Expected tax at statutory rate (as a percent)	35.00%	35.00%
Non-taxable REIT income (as a percent)	(25.10%)	(22.00%)
State and local tax expense - net of federal benefit (as a percent)	1.00%	0.30%
Change in valuation allowance (as a percent)	2.20%	2.10%
Tax credits (as a percent)	(11.50%)	(2.20%)
Miscellaneous (as a percent)	0.30%	(2.30%)
Total provision (as a percent)	1.90%	10.90%
Deferred tax assets
Captive insurance subsidiary	232,000	236,000
Fixed assets	(6,455,000)	1,589,000
Various liabilities	1,542,000	1,229,000
Solar credit	6,849,000
Stock compensation	1,955,000	2,140,000
State net operating losses	2,691,000	1,743,000
Deferred tax assets, gross	6,814,000	6,937,000
Valuation allowance	(3,211,000)	(2,643,000)
Net deferred tax asset	$ 3,603,000	$ 4,294,000