MORTGAGES, NOTES AND LOANS PAYABLE - (Schedule of Debt by Property) (Details)																							12 Months Ended
	Feb. 25, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 27, 2016 USD ($) item	Dec. 30, 2015 USD ($) item	Nov. 09, 2015 USD ($) item	May. 15, 2015 USD ($)	May. 06, 2015 USD ($) item	Dec. 05, 2014 USD ($) item	Nov. 06, 2014 USD ($) item	Oct. 03, 2014 USD ($) item	Aug. 06, 2014 USD ($) room	Jul. 18, 2014 USD ($)	Jul. 15, 2014 USD ($) item	Jun. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Jun. 27, 2014 USD ($) item	Apr. 15, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 20, 2013 USD ($) ft² item	Nov. 25, 2013 USD ($) item	Oct. 24, 2013 USD ($) item	Oct. 23, 2013 USD ($) item	Oct. 02, 2013 USD ($)	Jul. 11, 2013	Mar. 15, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Nov. 24, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 25, 2015 USD ($)	Nov. 10, 2014 USD ($)	Aug. 02, 2013 USD ($) ft² item
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Unamortized underwriting fees																							$ (6,767,000)	$ (7,689,000)
Deferred Financing Costs:																							(12,392,000)	(14,663,000)
Deferred Financing Costs, accumulated amortization																							$ 12,700,000	$ 6,900,000
Weighted average interest rate (as a percent)																							4.44%	4.61%
Land, buildings and equipment and developments in progress pledged as collateral																							$ 2,300,000,000
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable																							2,443,962,000	$ 1,978,807,000
Net cash proceeds																							$ 583,822,000	597,553,000	$ 1,120,102,000
One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis (as a percent)																							0.36%
Variable rate basis																					one-month LIBOR
Other Corporate Financing Arrangements
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							3.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 18,794,000	19,968,000
Other Corporate Financing Arrangements | Recourse Debt
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 20,400,000
Senior Notes 6.875 Percent Due 2021
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							6.88%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 750,000,000	750,000,000
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)																				6.875%
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable																				$ 750,000,000
Maximum percentage of Notes that can be redeemed using proceeds from equity offerings at any time prior to October 1, 2016																				35.00%
Percentage of principal amount at which Notes can be redeemed																				106.875%
Net cash proceeds																				$ 741,300,000
Senior Notes 6.875 Percent Due 2021 | Recourse Debt
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 750,000,000
Bridgeland | Revolving Credit Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Facility Amount				$ 15,200,000
Number of extension options | item				2
Option to extend, term				1 year
Bridgeland | Revolving Credit Facility | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis (as a percent)				3.15%
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)				4.60%
Summerlin
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Maximum recourse upon completion of the project and achievement of debt service coverage ratio																							15.00%
Maximum percentage recourse upon achievement of conditions																							10.00%
Debt service coverage ratio to be achieved for reduction in maximum recourse																							1.15
Debt service coverage ratio to be achieved for further reduction in maximum recourse																							1.25
Minimum average tenant sales per net rentable square foot to be achieved for further reduction in maximum recourse																							$ 500.00
Occupancy percentage																							90.00%
Recourse on loan (as a percent)																							35.00%
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable																							$ 311,800,000
Columbia Regional Building
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable																						$ 23,000,000
Outlet at Riverwalk Properties | Construction Loan Payable
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																		2.75%
Number of extension options | item																		2
Option to extend, term																		1 year
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable																		$ 64,400,000
Master Planned Communities
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 282,889,000	211,195,000
Master Planned Communities | Bridgeland | Term Loan
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																							2.75%
Master Planned Communities | Bridgeland | Land Loan
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							4.60%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 40,072,000	15,874,000
Net worth required to be maintained																							$ 65,000,000
Master Planned Communities | Bridgeland | Development Loan
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							5.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								10,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin | Bonds
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
New SIDs issued																							$ 54,000,000
Bond obligation																							$ 16,700,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S108
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							5.95%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								563,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S124
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							5.95%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 159,000	236,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S128
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							6.05%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 534,000	623,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S128C
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							6.05%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 4,856,000	5,274,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S132
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							6.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 1,676,000	2,936,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S151
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							6.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 4,534,000	6,211,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S152
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							6.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 9,020,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin West | S808 or 810
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							6.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 1,047,000	2,805,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin West | S812
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							6.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 28,328,000
Master Planned Communities | Woodlands Properties
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Number of extension options | item																							2
Master Planned Communities | Woodlands Properties | Line of Credit
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							3.11%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 192,663,000	176,663,000
Undrawn and available borrowing capacity																							$ 7,300,000
Option to extend, term																							1 year
Net worth required to be maintained																							$ 200,000,000
Maximum facility amount at first extension option																							175,000,000
Maximum facility amount at second extension option																							25,000,000
Master Planned Communities | Woodlands Properties | Term Loan
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Facility Amount																							100,000,000
Master Planned Communities | Woodlands Properties | Revolving Credit Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Facility Amount																							100,000,000
Operating Assets
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Outstanding balance																							40,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 1,326,992,000	1,019,996,000
Fixed interest rate per swap (as a percent)																							3.41%
Operating Assets | Capital Lease Obligations
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							3.60%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 52,000	135,000
Operating Assets | Shops at Summerlin Centre | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							2.61%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 289,804,000	229,153,000
Net worth required to be maintained																							$ 311,800,000
Operating Assets | Shops at Summerlin Centre | S108
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							5.95%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 235,000	310,000
Operating Assets | Shops at Summerlin Centre | S124
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							6.05%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 3,350,000	3,431,000
Operating Assets | 10-60 Columbia Corporate Center
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							2.76%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 80,000,000
Interest rate margin (as a percent)						1.75%
Number of extension options | item						2
Option to extend, term						1 year
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable						$ 80,000,000
Operating Assets | 70 Columbia Corporate Center
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis														one-month LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)														2.25%
Cash paid in full satisfaction of loan assumed as part of the acquisition															$ 17,000,000
Loans Assumed															$ 16,000,000
Lender participation right (as a percent)															30.00%
Percentage of cumulative preferred return on the property															10.00%
Participation right payment															$ 700,000
Number of extension options | item														2
Option to extend, term														1 year
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable														$ 20,000,000
Operating Assets | 70 Columbia Corporate Center | Line of Credit
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							2.61%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 20,000,000	20,000,000
Operating Assets | Columbia Regional Building
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis																						one-month LIBOR
Interest rate margin above specified limit (as a percent)																							2.00%
Extension period at borrower's option																							1 year
Number of extension options | item																							2
Operating Assets | Columbia Regional Building | Line of Credit
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							2.36%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 22,188,000	20,513,000
Net worth required to be maintained																							$ 23,008,000
Operating Assets | One Hughes Landing
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							4.30%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 52,000,000	52,000,000
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)																												4.30%
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable																												$ 52,000,000
Operating Assets | Two Hughes Landing
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							4.20%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 48,000,000	19,992,000		$ 48,000,000
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)																										4.20%
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable																										$ 41,200,000
Operating Assets | 1725-35 Hughes Landing Boulevard
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							2.01%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 89,677,000	47,513,000
Net worth required to be maintained																							$ 143,000,000
Operating Assets | Hughes Landing Hotel
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							2.86%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 20,064,000
Net worth required to be maintained																							$ 37,100,000
Operating Assets | Hughes Landing Retail
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							2.31%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 28,726,000	17,424,000
Net worth required to be maintained																							$ 36,575,000
Operating Assets | 1701 Lake Robbins
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							5.81%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 4,600,000	4,600,000
Loans Assumed											$ 4,600,000
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)											5.81%
Operating Assets | Millennium Waterway Apartments
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							3.75%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 55,584,000	55,584,000
Operating Assets | 110 N Wacker
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							5.21%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 26,481,000	29,000,000
Fixed interest rate per swap (as a percent)																							5.21%
Corporate recourse guarantee amount																							$ 7,000,000
Operating Assets | 9303 New Trails
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							4.88%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 12,734,000	13,074,000
Operating Assets | Outlet Collection at Riverwalk
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							3.11%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 56,100,000	47,118,000
Variable rate basis																		one-month LIBOR
Decrease in exposure of outstanding principal (as a percent)																							25.00%
Percentage of debt yield to draw additional loan proceeds																							11.00%
Net worth required to be maintained																							$ 64,400,000
Recourse on loan (as a percent)																							50.00%
Operating Assets | 3831 Technology Forest Drive
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							4.50%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 22,759,000
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)																											4.50%
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable																											$ 23,000,000
Operating Assets | The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							3.11%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross			$ 85,000,000																				$ 85,000,000	76,027,000
Interest rate margin (as a percent)			2.75%
Number of extension options | item			2
Option to extend, term			1 year
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable			$ 95,000,000
Operating Assets | Ward Village
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							3.42%
Outstanding balance																							$ 143,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 238,716,000	238,716,000
Fixed interest rate per swap (as a percent)																							3.81%
Undrawn and available borrowing capacity																							$ 0
Net worth required to be maintained																							250,000,000
Maximum facility amount at first extension option																							$ 200,000,000
Operating Assets | 2025 Waterway Avenue
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							4.79%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 14,112,000	14,330,000
Operating Assets | 3 Waterway Square
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							3.94%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 52,000,000	52,000,000					$ 52,000,000
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)																													3.94%
Number of stories of building to be constructed with loan proceeds | item																													11
Area of office building to be constructed using proceeds from loan | ft²																													232,000
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable																													$ 43,300,000
Operating Assets | 4 Waterway Square
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							4.88%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 37,293,000	38,289,000
Operating Assets | One Lakes Edge
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							2.86%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 67,517,000	$ 40,787,000
Net worth required to be maintained																							73,525,000
Operating Assets | Outlet at Riverwalk Properties | Construction Loan Payable | Recourse Debt
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 64,400,000
Maximum percent recourse																							50.00%
Maximum percentage recourse upon achievement of conditions																							25.00%
Debt yield to achieve the reduced maximum percentage recourse																							11.00%
Time period of minimum level of tenant sales needed to achieve the reduced maximum percent recourse																							12 months
Strategic Developments
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 84,446,000
Strategic Developments | Summerlin
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis												one-month LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)												2.25%
Maximum percentage recourse upon achievement of conditions												10.00%
Time period of minimum level of tenant sales needed to achieve the reduced maximum percent recourse												12 months
Debt instruments debt services coverage ratio												1.25
Number of extension options | item												2
Option to extend, term												1 year
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable												$ 311,800,000
Strategic Developments | Summerlin | Minimum
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Percentage of occupancy after lease is executed												90.00%
Strategic Developments | Hughes Landing Hotel
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis									one-month LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)									2.50%
Number of extension options | item									2
Option to extend, term									1 year
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable									$ 37,100,000
Strategic Developments | Hughes Landing Retail
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis																one-month LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																1.95%
Extension period at borrower's option																1 year
Number of extension options | item																2
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable																$ 36,600,000
Area of real estate property to be constructed (in square feet) | ft²																123,000
Strategic Developments | Alden Bridge Self Storage Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							2.96%
Outstanding balance																							$ 6,658,000
Strategic Developments | Alden Bridge Self Storage Facility | Construction Loan Payable
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																			2.60%
Number of extension options | item																			2
Option to extend, term																			1 year
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable																			$ 6,700,000
Strategic Developments | Alden Bridge Self Storage Facility | Construction Loan Payable | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis																			one-month LIBOR
Strategic Developments | Lakeland Village Center
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							2.71%
Net worth required to be maintained																							$ 14,000,000
Strategic Developments | Lakeland Village Center | Construction Loan Payable
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)					2.35%
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable					$ 14,000,000
Strategic Developments | Lakeland Village Center | Construction Loan Payable | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis					one-month LIBOR
Strategic Developments | Three Hughes Landing
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							2.71%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 23,268,000
Variable rate basis							one-month LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)							2.35%
Number of extension options | item							2
Option to extend, term							1 year
Net worth required to be maintained																							$ 65,455,000
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable							$ 65,500,000
Strategic Developments | One Lakes Edge
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis																	one-month LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																	2.50%
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable																	$ 73,500,000
Strategic Developments | Waiea And Anaha Condominiums
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							7.11%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 27,817,000
Variable rate basis								one-month LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)								6.75%
Number of extension options | item								2
Option to extend, term								1 year
Net worth required to be maintained																							$ 600,000,000
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable								$ 600,000,000
Strategic Developments | Waterway Square Hotel
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																							3.01%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																							$ 33,361,000
Net worth required to be maintained																							$ 69,300,000
Strategic Developments | Waterway Hotel
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis										one-month LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)										2.65%
Option to extend, term										1 year
Number of rooms in property securing debt (in rooms) | room										302
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable										$ 69,300,000
Strategic Developments | Hughes Landing Multi Family
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Number of extension options | item																	2
Option to extend, term																	1 year
Strategic Developments | Two Office Buildings
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis													one-month LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)													1.65%
Option to extend, term													1 year
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable													$ 143,000,000
Strategic Developments | One Merriweather | Construction Loan Payable
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Option to extend, term	1 year
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable	$ 49,900,000
Strategic Developments | One Merriweather | Construction Loan Payable | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis (as a percent)	2.15%
Variable rate basis	one-month LIBOR
Strategic Developments | HHC 2978 Self Storage Facility [Member] | Construction Loan Payable
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis		one-month LIBOR
Number of extension options | item		2
Option to extend, term		1 year
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable		$ 6,400,000
Strategic Developments | HHC 2978 Self Storage Facility [Member] | Construction Loan Payable | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)		2.60%