DISPOSITIONS, DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS AND GAINS (LOSSES) ON DISPOSITIONS OF INTERESTS IN OPERATING PROPERTIES (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended			1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012 property	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012 The Village Of Cross Keys	Feb. 29, 2012 Grand Traverse Mall	Feb. 21, 2012 Grand Traverse Mall	Jun. 30, 2012 Discontinuing operations	Jun. 30, 2011 Discontinuing operations	Jun. 30, 2012 Discontinuing operations	Jun. 30, 2011 Discontinuing operations	Jan. 12, 2012 Discontinuing operations Rouse Properties, Inc. (Rouse) property sqft
DISPOSITIONS, DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS AND GAINS (LOSSES) ON DISPOSITIONS OF INTERESTS IN OPERATING PROPERTIES
Number of properties previously classified as held for sale, reclassified as held for use		4
Discontinued operations
Sale Price							$ 25,000,000
Cash received on sale				12,324,000	275,299,000		8,000,000
Note receivable entered into with the buyer							17,000,000
Secured indebtedness								18,900,000
Secured indebtedness at market rate adjustment								9,000,000
Gain on extinguishment of debt				(9,911,000)				(9,900,000)
Debt on the property assumed by the lender as consideration for the sale						74,795,000			62,000,000
Number of mall portfolios spun-off in the form of a special dividend														30
Area of mall portfolio spun-off in the form of a special dividend (in square feet)														21,000,000
Entity's ownership in properties (as a percent)														1.00%
Retail and other revenue										1,436,000	77,034,000	22,317,000	163,867,000
Retail and other operating expenses										(488,000)	59,090,000	6,860,000	123,528,000
Provisions for impairment												10,393,000	51,000
Total expenses	426,329,000		459,089,000	877,378,000	921,170,000					(488,000)	59,090,000	17,253,000	123,579,000
Operating income	197,799,000		143,768,000	358,720,000	301,939,000					1,924,000	17,944,000	5,064,000	40,288,000
Interest expense, net										(71,000)	(21,911,000)	(4,618,000)	(46,985,000)
Net income (loss) from operations										1,853,000	(3,967,000)	446,000	(6,697,000)
Provision for income taxes										(7,000)	(171,000)	(23,000)	(342,000)
Allocation to noncontrolling interests	(1,590,000)		(935,000)	(4,957,000)	(2,205,000)						(41,000)		(53,000)
Loss on disposition										(147,000)	(690,000)	(175,000)	(546,000)
Net income (loss) from discontinued operations	$ 1,699,000		$ (4,869,000)	$ 248,000	$ (7,638,000)					$ 1,699,000	$ (4,869,000)	$ 248,000	$ (7,638,000)