MORTGAGES, NOTES AND LOANS PAYABLE (Schedule of Debt by Property) (Details)					1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Feb. 25, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 27, 2016 USD ($)	Nov. 09, 2015 USD ($) item	Oct. 02, 2013 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) item	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) item	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Unamortized underwriting fees						$ (6,282,000)	$ (6,282,000)		$ (6,767,000)
Deferred Financing Costs, net						(10,434,000)	(10,434,000)		(12,392,000)
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable						2,651,805,000	2,651,805,000		2,443,962,000
Deferred Financing Costs, accumulated amortization						$ 14,700,000	$ 14,700,000		$ 12,700,000
Weighted average interest rate (as a percent)						4.56%	4.56%		4.44%
Net cash proceeds received from issuance							$ 207,561,000	$ 310,822,000
One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis (as a percent)							0.45%
Variable rate basis							one month LIBOR
Other Financing Arrangements | Recourse Debt
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross									$ 17,400,000
Senior Notes 6.875 Percent Due 2021
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						6.88%	6.88%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 750,000,000	$ 750,000,000		750,000,000
Senior Notes 6.875 Percent Due 2021 | Recourse Debt
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						750,000,000	750,000,000
Woodlands Properties
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Land, buildings and equipment and developments in progress pledged as collateral						2,400,000,000	2,400,000,000
Master Planned Communities
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 297,668,000	$ 297,668,000		282,889,000
Variable rate basis			three-month LIBOR
Debt refinanced			$ 15,200,000
Number of extension options | item			2
Option to extend, term			1 year
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)			4.60%
Master Planned Communities | Three Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)			3.15%
Master Planned Communities | Bridgeland
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Incremental borrowing capacity			$ 65,000,000
Master Planned Communities | Bridgeland | Bridgeland Credit Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						4.60%	4.60%
Facility Amount						$ 65,000,000	$ 65,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						59,349,000	59,349,000		40,072,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin | Bonds
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
New SIDs issued						0	0
Bond obligation						$ 3,400,000	$ 3,400,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S124
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						5.95%	5.95%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 141,000	$ 141,000		159,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S128
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						6.05%	6.05%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 487,000	$ 487,000		534,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S128C
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						6.05%	6.05%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 4,728,000	$ 4,728,000		4,856,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S132
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						6.00%	6.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 1,494,000	$ 1,494,000		1,676,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S151
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						6.00%	6.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 4,349,000	$ 4,349,000		4,534,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S159
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						6.00%	6.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 6,614,000	$ 6,614,000		9,020,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin West | S808 or 810
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						6.00%	6.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross									1,047,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin West | S812
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						6.00%	6.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 27,844,000	$ 27,844,000		28,328,000
Master Planned Communities | Woodlands Properties
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Number of extension options | item						2	2
Master Planned Communities | Woodlands Properties | Line of Credit
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Facility Amount						$ 200,000,000	$ 200,000,000
Interest rate margin (as a percent)					2.75%
Option to extend, term						1 year
Maximum facility amount at first extension option						$ 175,000,000	175,000,000
Maximum facility amount at second extension option						$ 25,000,000	$ 25,000,000
Master Planned Communities | Woodlands Properties | Line of Credit | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis					one-month LIBOR
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
Master Planned Communities | Woodlands Properties | The Woodlands Master Credit Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						3.20%	3.20%
Facility Amount						$ 200,000,000	$ 200,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						192,662,000	192,662,000		192,663,000
Operating Assets
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 1,406,730,000	$ 1,406,730,000		1,360,353,000
Operating Assets | Capital Lease Obligations
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						3.60%	3.60%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 28,000	$ 28,000		52,000
Operating Assets | Downtown Summerlin
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						2.70%	2.70%
Facility Amount						$ 311,800,000	$ 311,800,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 293,732,000	$ 293,732,000		$ 289,804,000
Operating Assets | Downtown Summerlin | Recourse Debt
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Maximum percent recourse									35.00%
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%	90.00%
Operating Assets | Downtown Summerlin | S108
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						5.95%	5.95%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 235,000	$ 235,000		$ 235,000
Operating Assets | Downtown Summerlin | S128
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						6.05%	6.05%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 3,350,000	$ 3,350,000		3,350,000
Operating Assets | The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						3.20%	3.20%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 85,000,000	$ 85,000,000		85,000,000
Operating Assets | 10-60 Columbia Corporate Center
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						2.81%	2.81%
Outstanding balance						$ 40,000,000	$ 40,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 80,000,000	$ 80,000,000		80,000,000
Fixed interest rate per swap (as a percent)						3.41%	3.41%
Operating Assets | 70 Columbia Corporate Center
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						2.70%	2.70%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 20,000,000	$ 20,000,000		20,000,000
Operating Assets | Columbia Regional Building
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						2.45%	2.45%
Facility Amount						$ 23,008,000	$ 23,008,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 22,188,000	$ 22,188,000		22,188,000
Operating Assets | One Hughes Landing
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						4.30%	4.30%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 52,000,000	$ 52,000,000		52,000,000
Operating Assets | Two Hughes Landing
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						4.20%	4.20%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 48,000,000	$ 48,000,000		48,000,000
Operating Assets | 1725-35 Hughes Landing Boulevard
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						2.10%	2.10%
Facility Amount						$ 143,000,000	$ 143,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 103,968,000	$ 103,968,000		89,677,000
Operating Assets | Embassy Suites at Hughes Landing
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						2.95%	2.95%
Facility Amount						$ 37,100,000	$ 37,100,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 28,829,000	$ 28,829,000		20,064,000
Operating Assets | Hughes Landing Retail
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						2.40%	2.40%
Facility Amount						$ 36,575,000	$ 36,575,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 32,465,000	$ 32,465,000		28,726,000
Operating Assets | 1701 Lake Robbins
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						5.81%	5.81%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 4,600,000	$ 4,600,000		4,600,000
Operating Assets | Millennium Waterway Apartments
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						3.75%	3.75%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 55,584,000	$ 55,584,000		55,584,000
Operating Assets | 110 N Wacker
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						5.21%	5.21%
Outstanding balance						$ 24,600,000	$ 24,600,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 24,593,000	$ 24,593,000		26,481,000
Fixed interest rate per swap (as a percent)						5.21%	5.21%
Operating Assets | 110 N Wacker | Recourse Debt
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Corporate recourse guarantee amount									7,000,000
Operating Assets | 9303 New Trails
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						4.88%	4.88%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 12,558,000	$ 12,558,000		12,734,000
Operating Assets | One Lakes Edge
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						2.70%	2.70%
Facility Amount						$ 73,525,000	$ 73,525,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 69,646,000	$ 69,646,000		67,517,000
Operating Assets | Outlet Collection at Riverwalk
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						3.20%	3.20%
Facility Amount						$ 64,400,000	$ 64,400,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 56,100,000	$ 56,100,000		56,100,000
Operating Assets | AnahaWard Village Condominium
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						3.46%	3.46%
Facility Amount						$ 250,000,000	$ 250,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 238,716,000	$ 238,716,000		238,716,000
Fixed interest rate per swap (as a percent)						3.81%	3.81%
Operating Assets | AnahaWard Village Condominium | LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)							2.50%
Operating Assets | 2025 Waterway Avenue
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						4.79%	4.79%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 14,000,000	$ 14,000,000		14,112,000
Operating Assets | 3 Waterway Square
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						3.94%	3.94%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 52,000,000	$ 52,000,000		52,000,000
Operating Assets | 4 Waterway Square
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						4.88%	4.88%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 36,777,000	$ 36,777,000		37,293,000
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
Operating Assets | The Westin at the woodlands
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						3.10%	3.10%
Facility Amount						$ 69,300,000	$ 69,300,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 49,788,000	$ 49,788,000		$ 33,361,000
Operating Assets | 3831 Technology Forest
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						4.50%	4.50%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 22,573,000	$ 22,573,000		22,759,000
Strategic Developments
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						196,751,000	196,751,000		51,085,000
Strategic Developments | Downtown Summerlin | Recourse Debt
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable						$ 311,800,000	$ 311,800,000
Strategic Developments | HHC 2978 Self Storage Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						3.05%	3.05%
Facility Amount						$ 6,368,000	$ 6,368,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross		$ 6,400,000
Amount withdrawn						$ 0	$ 0
Option to extend, term		1 year
Strategic Developments | HHC 2978 Self Storage Facility | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)		2.60%
Strategic Developments | HHC 242 Self Storage Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						3.05%	3.05%
Facility Amount						$ 6,658,000	$ 6,658,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 866,000	$ 866,000
Strategic Developments | One Merriweather
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						2.60%	2.60%
Facility Amount						$ 49,900,000	$ 49,900,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	$ 49,900,000					3,988,000	3,988,000
Amount withdrawn						$ 200,000	$ 200,000
Option to extend, term	1 year
Strategic Developments | One Merriweather | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)	2.15%
Strategic Developments | Three Hughes Landing
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						2.80%	2.80%
Facility Amount						$ 65,455,000	$ 65,455,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 33,200,000	$ 33,200,000		23,268,000
Strategic Developments | Waiea And Anaha Condominiums
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						7.20%	7.20%
Facility Amount						$ 600,000,000	$ 600,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 150,025,000	$ 150,025,000		27,817,000
Strategic Developments | Lakeland Village Center
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						2.80%	2.80%
Facility Amount						$ 14,000,000	$ 14,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 8,514,000	$ 8,514,000
Strategic Developments | Merriweather Post Pavilion
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						2.45%	2.45%
Facility Amount						$ 9,500,000	$ 9,500,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 158,000	$ 158,000
Corporate | Other Financing Arrangements
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)						3.00%	3.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross						$ 17,372,000	$ 17,372,000		$ 18,794,000
Corporate | Senior Notes 6.875 Percent Due 2021
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable				$ 750,000,000
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)				6.875%
Maximum percentage of Notes that can be redeemed				35.00%
Redemption price percentage at which Notes can be redeemed				106.875%