MORTGAGE AND OTHER INDEBTEDNESS, NET (Scheduled Principal Payments) (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) loan extension_option	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Maturities of Long-term Debt [Abstract]
2017	$ 757,314
2018	711,645
2019	275,477
2020	213,608
2021	455,026
Thereafter	1,887,567
Total	4,300,637
Net unamortized discounts	(7,130)
Unamortized deferred financing costs	(17,855)	$ (16,059)
Mortgage and other indebtedness, net	4,465,294	$ 4,710,628
Operating Property Loan
Maturities of Long-term Debt [Abstract]
2017	$ 361,794
Number of operating property loans \| loan	8
Unsecured Term Loan
Maturities of Long-term Debt [Abstract]
2017	$ 350,000
Number of extension options available \| extension_option	2
Extension option, term (years)	1 year
Mortgages \| Operating Property Loan
Maturities of Long-term Debt [Abstract]
2017	$ 10,962
Extension option, term (years)	1 year
Mortgages \| Remaining Loans
Maturities of Long-term Debt [Abstract]
2017	$ 350,832
Principal Amortization
Maturities of Long-term Debt [Abstract]
2017	45,520
Chesterfield Mall, Midland Mall, and Wausau Center \| Mortgages
Maturities of Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Mortgage and other indebtedness, net	$ 189,642
Number of debt instruments \| loan	3
Wausau Center \| Mortgages
Maturities of Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Mortgage and other indebtedness, net	$ 17,689
The Outlet Shoppes at El Paso, El Paso, TX
Maturities of Long-term Debt [Abstract]
Secured loan	$ 62,355

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