SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY AND PARTNERS' CAPITAL (Distributions - Operating Partnership) (Details) - CBL & Associates Limited Partnership - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Nov. 03, 2016	Apr. 15, 2016
Distribution Made to Limited Partner [Line Items]
Cash distributions paid	$ 9,054	$ 9,310
Redeemable Common Units
Distribution Made to Limited Partner [Line Items]
Distributions declared, amount (in usd per share)			$ 0.7322	$ 0.7322
Common Units
Distribution Made to Limited Partner [Line Items]
Distributions declared, amount (in usd per share)			$ 0.2692	$ 0.2692