Note 5 - Investments and Advances in Real Estate Joint Ventures (Detail) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Aug. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Purchase Price	$ 167,267,000		$ 167,267,000
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Liabilities Incurred	51,749,000		51,749,000
Sales of Real Estate				6,100,000
Proceeds from Distributions Received from Real Estate Partnerships			44,894,000	75,289,000
Impairment of Real Estate			16,700,000	12,800,000
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt		(10,811,000)		(10,811,000)
Fair Value Of Real Estate	3,550,000		3,550,000			16,414,000
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments	609,000		609,000	5,994,000
Equity Method Investment, Other than Temporary Impairment	2,000,000		5,123,000
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage					13.40%
CPP [Member]
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Purchase Price	52,000,000		52,000,000
BIG Shopping Centers [Member]
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Purchase Price	43,500,000		43,500,000
Business Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Liabilities Incurred	34,100,000		34,100,000
Other Joint Venture Programs [Member]
Sales of Real Estate			37,700,000
Proceeds from Distributions Received from Real Estate Partnerships			11,200,000
Gains (Losses) on Sales of Investment Real Estate			2,400,000
Guarantor Obligations, Current Carrying Value	24,500,000		24,500,000
Equity Method Investment, Other than Temporary Impairment			2,000,000
Other Joint Venture Programs [Member] | Company's Share Of Impairment [Member]
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments			3,100,000
Other Joint Venture Programs [Member] | Financial Footnote Disclosure [Member]
Equity Method Investment, Ownership Percentage	13.40%		13.40%
KimPru [Member] | Total Impairment [Member]
Impairment of Real Estate			40,100,000
KimPru [Member] | Company's Share Of Impairment [Member]
Impairment of Real Estate			4,500,000
KimPru [Member] | Total Gain On Extinguishment Of Debt [Member]
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt			30,100,000
KimPru [Member] | Company's Share Of Extinguishment Of Debt [Member]
Gains (Losses) on Extinguishment of Debt			4,500,000
KimPru II [Member] | Total Impairment [Member]
Impairment of Real Estate			7,300,000
KimPru II [Member] | Company's Share Of Impairment [Member]
Impairment of Real Estate			1,000,000
KIR [Member] | Total Impairment [Member]
Impairment of Real Estate			4,600,000
KIR [Member] | Company's Share Of Impairment [Member]
Impairment of Real Estate			2,100,000
KIR [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value Of Real Estate	14,000,000		14,000,000
UBS Programs [Member] | Total Impairment [Member]
Impairment of Real Estate			9,700,000
UBS Programs [Member] | Company's Share Of Impairment [Member]
Impairment of Real Estate			1,900,000
UBS Programs [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]
Fair Value Of Real Estate	$ 17,400,000		$ 17,400,000