INCOME TAXES (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) property	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($)	May. 06, 2011 USD ($)
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
Current	$ 2,849	$ (2,050)	$ 1,218
Deferred taxes	21,152	65,010	8,352
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	24,001	62,960	9,570
Reconciliation of income tax expense computed by applying the Federal corporate tax rate to the provision for income taxes
Tax at statutory rate on earnings from continuing operations before income taxes	52,751	13,800	(22,477)
Increase (decrease) in valuation allowance, net	1,742	5,602	(88,826)
State income taxes, net of Federal income tax benefit	267	1,320	1,562
Tax at statutory rate on REIT entity earnings not subject to Federal income taxes		(512)	(2,648)
Tax (benefit) expense from change in rates and other permanent differences	(7,361)	(12,193)	4,339
Set up deferred tax liability related to captive REIT		(1,068)	53,973
Non-deductible warrant liability (gain) loss	(20,412)	21,182	63,695
Non-taxable interest income		18,373	(363)
Uncertain tax position (benefit) expense, excluding interest	(2,483)	2,395	(1,034)
Uncertain tax position interest, net of Federal income tax benefit	(503)	14,061	1,349
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes	24,001	62,960	$ 9,570
Tax credit carryforwards - Federal AMT				$ 3,667
Additional Disclosures
Gross deferred tax assets				327,370	$ 335,674
Gross deferred tax liabilities				396,631	379,661
Valuation allowance				19,960	18,218
Deferred Tax Assets Valuation Allowance Percentage							100.00%
Percentage of deferred tax asset realized on successful implementation of tax planning			90.00%
Deferred tax assets:
Operating and Strategic Development properties, primary differences in basis of assets and liabilities				213,090	201,303
Interest deduction carryforwards				79,781	80,520
Operating loss and tax credit carryforwards				34,499	53,851
Total deferred tax assets				327,370	335,674
Valuation allowance				(19,960)	(18,218)
Total net deferred tax assets				307,410	317,456
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property Associated with Master Planned Communities, primarily differences in the tax basis of land assets and treatment of interest and other costs				(218,842)	(212,093)
Operating and Strategic Development properties, primarily differences in basis of assets and liabilities				(42,860)	(47,355)
Deferred income				(134,929)	(120,213)
Total deferred tax liabilities				(396,631)	(379,661)
Net deferred tax liabilities				(89,221)	(62,205)
Proceeds From Settlement Of Tax Indemnity Receivable		138,000
Interest expense related to unrecognized tax benefits	100	21,600	$ 2,100
Unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest	184,200	90,532	95,917	36,524	184,200	$ 90,532	$ 95,917
Accrued interest related to unrecognized tax benefits				300
Unrecognized tax benefits that would impact effective tax rate				0	0	$ 0
Unrecognized tax benefits
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Beginning Balance	184,200	90,532	95,917
Gross increases - tax positions in prior period		93,668	9,162
Gross decreases - tax positions in prior periods	(147,676)		(14,547)
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Ending Balance	36,524	184,200	90,532
Reduction in uncertain tax benefits due to payments	$ 0	144,100	$ 0
Unrecognized tax benefits, excluding accrued interest, which could significantly increase or decrease during the next twelve months				36,500
Deferred Tax Liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities:
Reclassification of uncertain tax position liability		39,000
Income Tax Receivable
Deferred tax liabilities:
Reclassification of uncertain tax position liability		2,500
State and Local Jurisdiction
Reconciliation of income tax expense computed by applying the Federal corporate tax rate to the provision for income taxes
Net operating loss carryforwards				175,346
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Reconciliation of income tax expense computed by applying the Federal corporate tax rate to the provision for income taxes
Net operating loss carryforwards				52,571
Head Acquisition LP
Additional Disclosures
Deferred tax assets previously believed to have had only a remote possibility of realization recorded in the current period							$ 76,400
General Growth Properties
Deferred tax liabilities:
Percentage of certain taxes indemnified by related party	93.75%
Amount of combined deficiencies determined by the IRS sought to be overturned by the petition filed								$ 144,100
Proceeds From Settlement Of Tax Indemnity Receivable		$ 138,000
Number of office properties from settlement | property		6
Value Of Buildings Received From Settlement Of Tax Indemnity Receivable		$ 130,000
Non-cash charges	$ 74,000
Consideration received	$ 268,000
Percentage of deferred tax assets liabilities	100.00%
Unrecognized tax benefits, excluding interest	$ 85,100	85,100		$ 81,500	85,100
Unrecognized tax benefits
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Beginning Balance	85,100
Unrecognized Tax Benefits, Ending Balance	81,500	$ 85,100
General Growth Properties | Maximum
Deferred tax liabilities:
Amount of certain taxes indemnified by related party	$ 303,800
Victoria Ward Limited
Deferred tax liabilities:
Deferred Tax Liabilities Excess Book Over Tax Basis					$ 46,900