RECENT TRANSACTIONS (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
Mar. 16, 2016 ft²	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Proceeds from disposition of 80 South Street Assemblage, net \| $		$ 378,257
Pre-tax gain recognized on the sale \| $		$ 140,479
Area of land sold (in square feet) \| ft²	42,694
Air rights with total residential and commercial development rights (in square feet) \| ft²	817,784

Represents information pertaining to area of air rights with total residential and commercial development rights.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	hhc_
Data Type:	num:areaItemType
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- Definition

Represents the area of land sold by the entity during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	hhc_
Data Type:	num:areaItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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- Definition

The difference between the carrying value and the sale price of real estate or properties that were intended to be sold or held for capital appreciation or rental income. This element refers to the gain (loss) included in earnings and not to the cash proceeds of the sale. This element is a noncash adjustment to net income when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method.

+ 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=56944662&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Cash received from the sale of real estate that is held for investment, that is, it is part of an investing activity during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3179-108585

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration