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QUARTERLY INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Real Estate Properties [Line Items]
Total revenues		$ 258,493	$ 251,721	$ 254,965	$ 263,078	$ 277,630	$ 262,636	$ 253,843	$ 260,909	$ 1,028,257	$ 1,055,018	$ 1,060,739
Income from operations		101,015	36,727	52,056	63,830	8,687	94,007	89,858	85,032	253,628	277,584
Net income (loss)		79,872	670	73,097	41,892	(26,953)	44,432	48,331	53,205	195,531	119,015
Net income attributable to the Company		68,830	1,059	62,919	40,074	(22,257)	37,569	41,895	46,164	172,882	103,371
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders		$ 57,607	$ (10,164)	$ 51,696	$ 28,851	$ (33,480)	$ 26,346	$ 30,672	$ 34,941	$ 127,990	$ 58,479
Basic per share/unit data attributable to common shareholders/unitholders:
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders (in usd per share)		$ 0.34	$ (0.06)	$ 0.30	$ 0.17	$ (0.20)	$ 0.15	$ 0.18	$ 0.21	$ 0.75	$ 0.34
Diluted per share/unit data attributable to common shareholders/unitholders:
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders (in usd per share)		$ 0.34	$ (0.06)	$ 0.30	$ 0.17	$ (0.20)	$ 0.15	$ 0.18	$ 0.20	$ 0.75	$ 0.34
Loss on impairment of real estate										$ 116,822	$ 105,945	17,858
Gain on sales of real estate assets						$ 14,065		$ 14,173		29,567	32,232	5,342
Gain on investments									$ 16,560	$ 7,534	$ 16,560	$ 87,893
2016 Dispositions
Diluted per share/unit data attributable to common shareholders/unitholders:
Loss on impairment of real estate			$ 53,558	$ 43,493	$ 19,685
Triangle Town Center
Diluted per share/unit data attributable to common shareholders/unitholders:
Gain on sales of real estate assets					$ 26,395
JG Gulf Coast Town Center LLC
Diluted per share/unit data attributable to common shareholders/unitholders:
Gain on investments				29,267
Renaissance Center
Diluted per share/unit data attributable to common shareholders/unitholders:
Gain on sales of real estate assets				$ 29,437
Chesterfield Mall
Diluted per share/unit data attributable to common shareholders/unitholders:
Loss on impairment of real estate						$ 102,280
Triangle Town Member LLC
Diluted per share/unit data attributable to common shareholders/unitholders:
Gain on sales of real estate assets	$ 2,820
Parent Company \| Triangle Town Member LLC
Diluted per share/unit data attributable to common shareholders/unitholders:
Gain on sales of real estate assets	$ 282
Company's ownership interest (as a percent)	10.00%	10.00%			50.00%					10.00%
Corporate Joint Venture \| Triangle Town Member LLC
Diluted per share/unit data attributable to common shareholders/unitholders:
Gain on sales of real estate assets	$ 2,538				$ 80,979
Company's ownership interest (as a percent)	90.00%	90.00%			50.00%					90.00%