SEGMENTS (Details 5)-K (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Reconciliation of total segment assets to total assets
Assets	$ 5,119,931,000	$ 4,567,868,000
Additional information
Payment to IRS net amount received upon settlement	65,300,000
Proceeds From Settlement Of Tax Indemnity Receivable	138,000,000
General Growth Properties [Member]
Additional information
Proceeds From Settlement Of Tax Indemnity Receivable	138,000,000
Operating Assets [Member]
Additional information
Increase (decrease) in assets	776,000,000
Operating Assets [Member] | Revision Of Segement Classification [Member] | Scenario, Previously Reported [Member]
Additional information
Incorrectly classified amount	185,700,000
Strategic Developments [Member]
Additional information
Increase (decrease) in assets	394,100,000
Strategic Developments [Member] | Ward Centers [Member]
Additional information
Deposits collected on the sale of condominium units	151,600,000
New developments in progress	41,600,000
Strategic Developments [Member] | Land Parcel Near Seaport [Member]
Additional information
Purchase deposits	141,800,000
Strategic Developments [Member] | 1725-35 Hughes Landing Boulevard [Member]
Additional information
New developments in progress	78,000,000
Strategic Developments [Member] | One Lakes Edge [Member]
Additional information
New developments in progress	58,700,000
Strategic Developments [Member] | Hughes Landing Retail [Member]
Additional information
New developments in progress	20,300,000
Strategic Developments [Member] | Waterway Square Hotel [Member]
Additional information
New developments in progress	18,800,000
Strategic Developments [Member] | Woodlands [Member]
Additional information
Increase (decrease) in assets	31,900,000
Strategic Developments [Member] | IBM Building At Ward Village [Member]
Additional information
Increase in buildings and equipment from the completion of the transformation of the IBM building	22,200,000
Operating Segments [Member]
Reconciliation of total segment assets to total assets
Assets	4,691,289,000	3,381,501,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Master Planned Communities [Member]
Reconciliation of total segment assets to total assets
Assets	1,877,043,000	1,760,639,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Operating Assets [Member]
Reconciliation of total segment assets to total assets
Assets	1,934,350,000	1,158,337,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Operating Assets [Member] | Summerlin [Member]
Additional information
Opening of Downtown	423,700,000
Transfer of property	163,800,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Operating Assets [Member] | Riverwalk Marketplace
Additional information
Re-opening of the outlet collection	53,800,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Operating Assets [Member] | Columbia Offices [Member]
Additional information
Assets acquisitions	130,000,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Operating Assets [Member] | Wacker110N [Member]
Additional information
Assets acquisitions	12,200,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Operating Assets [Member] | 3831 Technology Forest [Member]
Additional information
Placing in service	16,600,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Operating Assets [Member] | Hughes Landing Retail [Member]
Additional information
Number of properties transferred to operating segment	2
Placing in service	45,200,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Operating Assets [Member] | Woodlands [Member]
Additional information
Completion of renovation	52,400,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Operating Assets [Member] | South Street Seaport
Additional information
Assets acquisitions	24,400,000
Development expenditures	61,000,000
Operating Segments [Member] | Strategic Developments [Member]
Reconciliation of total segment assets to total assets
Assets	879,896,000	462,525,000
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Reconciliation of total segment assets to total assets
Assets	428,642,000	1,186,367,000
Additional information
Increase (decrease) in assets	757,700,000
Tax indemnification asset	$ 320,500,000