Represents the occupancy percentage of the property.

No definition available.

Name:	hhc_AreaOfLease
Namespace Prefix:	hhc_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	hhc_ImpairedAssetsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	hhc_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the write-down of various real estate pre-development costs that were determined to be non-recoverable.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hhc_ImpairmentChargesForPredevelopmentCosts
Namespace Prefix:	hhc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the increased occupancy percentage.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hhc_IncreasedOccupancyPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	hhc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the number of additional operating properties whose carrying value is in excess of estimated fair value but no additional provisions for impairment are considered necessary for such properties.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hhc_NumberOfAdditionalOperatingPropertiesForWhichAdditionalProvisionsForImpairmentWereNotConsideredNecessary
Namespace Prefix:	hhc_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the number of additional regions or projects whose carrying value is in excess of estimated fair value but no additional provisions for impairment are considered necessary for such regions or projects.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hhc_NumberOfAdditionalRegionsOrProjectsForWhichAdditionalProvisionsForImpairmentWereNotConsideredNecessary
Namespace Prefix:	hhc_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the occupancy percentage of the property.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hhc_OccupancyPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	hhc_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents real estate investments of the balance sheet date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hhc_RealEstateInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	hhc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the entity's share in charges recorded by real estate affiliates, against earnings resulting from the aggregate write down of all assets from their carrying value to their fair value.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	hhc_ShareOfEntityInImpairmentChargesRecordedByRealEstateAffiliates
Namespace Prefix:	hhc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The charge against earnings resulting from the aggregate write down of all assets from their carrying value to their fair value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 144

-Paragraph 45, 46, 47

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 28

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=8077374&loc=d3e2420-110228

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetImpairmentCharges
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AssetImpairmentChargesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Ratio of the net operating income produced by an asset and its capital cost (original prices paid to buy the asset), used as an input to measure fair value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (bbb)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7578670&loc=d3e19207-110258

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueInputsCapRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Interest rate used to find the present value of an amount to be paid or received in the future as an input to measure fair value. For example, but not limited to, weighted average cost of capital (WACC), cost of capital, cost of equity and cost of debt.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The charge against earnings in the period to reduce the carrying amount of real property to fair value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 360

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6391110&loc=d3e2921-110230

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 144

-Paragraph 26

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ImpairmentOfRealEstate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

IMPAIRMENT (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
IMPAIRMENT (Details) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2012 sqft	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010 item
IMPAIRMENT
Occupancy percentage of Park West property	68.20%	64.90%
Area of lease (in squarefeet)	18,500
Increased occupancy percentage	75.60%
Impairment
Number of additional regions or projects for which additional provisions for impairment were not considered necessary			4
Number of additional operating properties for which additional provisions for impairment were not considered necessary			4
Impaired Asset, Total Loss			$ 503,356,000
Share of the entity in impairment charges recorded by real estate affiliates			0
Discount rate			20.00%
Total Fair Value Measurement
Impairment
Impaired Asset			291,639,000
Master Planned Communities
Impairment
Impairment charges on investment in real estate			405,331,000
Master Planned Communities \| Total Fair Value Measurement
Impairment
Impaired Asset			239,797,000
Master Planned Communities \| Maryland - Gateway
Impairment
Impairment charges on investment in real estate			2,613,000
Master Planned Communities \| Maryland - Gateway \| Total Fair Value Measurement
Impairment
Impaired Asset			1,649,000
Master Planned Communities \| Maryland - Columbia
Impairment
Impairment charges on investment in real estate			56,798,000
Master Planned Communities \| Maryland - Columbia \| Total Fair Value Measurement
Impairment
Impaired Asset			34,823,000
Master Planned Communities \| Summerlin South
Impairment
Impairment charges on investment in real estate			345,920,000
Master Planned Communities \| Summerlin South \| Total Fair Value Measurement
Impairment
Impaired Asset			203,325,000
Operating Assets
Impairment
Impairment charges on investment in real estate			80,923,000
Impairment charges for pre-development costs			514,000
Operating Assets \| Total Fair Value Measurement
Impairment
Impaired Asset			33,929,000
Operating Assets \| Landmark Mall
Impairment
Impairment charges on investment in real estate			24,434,000
Operating Assets \| Landmark Mall \| Total Fair Value Measurement
Impairment
Impaired Asset			23,750,000
Operating Assets \| Riverwalk Marketplace
Impairment
Impairment charges on investment in real estate			55,975,000
Operating Assets \| Riverwalk Marketplace \| Total Fair Value Measurement
Impairment
Impaired Asset			10,179,000
Residual capitalization rate (as a percent)			8.50%
Strategic Developments
Impairment
Impairment charges on investment in real estate			17,102,000
Impairment charges for pre-development costs			68,000
Strategic Developments \| Total Fair Value Measurement
Impairment
Impaired Asset			17,913,000
Strategic Developments \| Century Plaza Mall
Impairment
Impairment charges on investment in real estate			12,899,000
Strategic Developments \| Century Plaza Mall \| Total Fair Value Measurement
Impairment
Impaired Asset			4,500,000
Strategic Developments \| Nouvelle at Natick
Impairment
Impairment charges on investment in real estate			4,135,000
Strategic Developments \| Nouvelle at Natick \| Total Fair Value Measurement
Impairment
Impaired Asset			$ 13,413,000