MORTGAGES, NOTES AND LOANS PAYABLE (Schedule of Debt by Property) (Details)																							1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jan. 17, 2017 USD ($) ft² Option	Dec. 30, 2016 USD ($) Option	Nov. 25, 2016 USD ($)	Oct. 24, 2016 USD ($) Option	Oct. 23, 2016 Option	Oct. 07, 2016	Sep. 12, 2016 USD ($) Option	Feb. 25, 2016	Jan. 27, 2016 item	Dec. 20, 2015 Option	Nov. 09, 2015 USD ($) Option	May 15, 2015	Dec. 05, 2014 Option	Nov. 06, 2014 USD ($) Option	Oct. 03, 2014 Option	Aug. 06, 2014	Jul. 30, 2014	Jul. 24, 2014 Option	Jul. 15, 2014 USD ($) Option	Apr. 15, 2014 USD ($)	Oct. 23, 2013 item	Oct. 02, 2013 USD ($)	Jul. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Option	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Jan. 19, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 08, 2016 USD ($)	Jul. 20, 2016	Dec. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Nov. 24, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 25, 2015	Nov. 10, 2014	Jul. 18, 2014
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Unamortized underwriting fees																								$ (5,779,000)	$ (6,767,000)
Deferred Financing Costs, net																								(11,934,000)	(12,392,000)
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable																								2,690,747,000	2,443,962,000
Deferred Financing Costs, accumulated amortization																								14,300,000	12,700,000
Outstanding principal balance of debt that is swapped to fixed rate through maturity																								$ 182,100,000	$ 209,500,000
Weighted average interest rate (as a percent)																								4.71%	4.44%
Net cash proceeds received from issuance																								$ 535,505,000	$ 583,822,000	$ 597,553,000
Millennium Six Pines Apartments [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)																													3.39%
One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																								0.72%
Other Corporate Financing Arrangements
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								3.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 15,948,000	18,794,000
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
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable																						$ 750,000,000
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)																						6.875%
Net cash proceeds received from issuance																						$ 741,300,000
Woodlands Properties
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Land, buildings and equipment and developments in progress pledged as collateral																								3,100,000,000
70 Columbia Corporate Center | Subsequent Event
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross	$ 94,500,000
Waiea And Anaha Condominiums
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Facility Amount																								410,000,000
One Mall North | Subsequent Event
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Number of extension options | Option	2
Option to extend, term	1 year
Net worth required to be maintained	$ 14,500,000
Area of land | ft²	97,500
One Mall North | LIBOR | Subsequent Event
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)	1.75%
Master Planned Communities
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 255,438,000	282,889,000
Debt refinanced											$ 15,200,000
Number of extension options | Option											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 | Bridgeland Credit Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								4.60%
Facility Amount																								$ 65,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								65,000,000	40,072,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin | Bonds
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Bond obligation																								$ 7,700,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S124
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								5.95%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 123,000	159,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S128
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								7.30%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 440,000	534,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S128C
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								6.05%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 4,600,000	4,856,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S132
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								6.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 1,268,000	1,676,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S151
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								6.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 4,159,000	4,534,000
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin South | S159
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								6.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 2,389,000	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
Master Planned Communities | Summerlin West | S812
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								6.00%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 27,459,000	28,328,000
Master Planned Communities | Woodlands Properties | Line of Credit
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Option to extend, term																							1 year
Maximum facility amount at first extension option																							$ 175,000,000
Maximum facility amount at second extension option																							$ 25,000,000
Net worth required to be maintained																								200,000,000
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
Master Planned Communities | Woodlands Properties | The Woodlands Master Credit Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								3.47%
Facility Amount																								$ 150,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								150,000,000	192,663,000
Operating Assets
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 1,497,216,000	1,383,621,000
Operating Assets | Millennium Six Pines Apartments [Member]
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								3.39%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 42,500,000
Operating Assets | Other
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 235,000
Operating Assets | Capital Lease Obligations
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								3.60%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 1,000	52,000
Operating Assets | Downtown Summerlin
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								2.97%
Facility Amount																								$ 311,800,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 302,981,000	289,804,000
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 yield to achieve the reduced maximum percentage recourse																			1.15%
Debt service coverage ratio to be achieved for 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
Time period of minimum level of tenant sales needed to achieve the reduced maximum percent recourse																			12 months
Number of extension options | Option																			2
Option to extend, term																			1 year
Debt instruments debt services coverage ratio																			1.25
Occupancy percentage																			90.00%					90.00%
Recourse on loan (as a percent)																			35.00%
Operating Assets | Downtown Summerlin | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis																			one-month LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																			2.25%
Operating Assets | Downtown Summerlin | Recourse Debt
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable																								$ 311,800,000
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%
Recourse on loan (as a percent)																								35.00%
Operating Assets | Downtown Summerlin | S108
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								5.95%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																									235,000
Operating Assets | Downtown Summerlin | S128
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								6.05%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 3,350,000	3,350,000
Operating Assets | The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								3.97%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross		$ 70,000,000																						$ 70,000,000	85,000,000					$ 85,000,000
Number of extension options | Option										2
Option to extend, term										1 year
Operating Assets | The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)										2.75%
Operating Assets | The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center | The Woodlands Master Credit Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Number of extension options | Option		2
Option to extend, term		1 year
Annual principal payment		$ 15,000,000
Operating Assets | The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center | The Woodlands Master Credit Facility | LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)		3.25%
Operating Assets | 10-60 Columbia Corporate Center
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								2.94%
Outstanding balance																								$ 40,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 80,000,000	80,000,000
Fixed interest rate per swap (as a percent)																								3.41%
Operating Assets | 70 Columbia Corporate Center
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								2.97%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 20,000,000	20,000,000
Number of extension options | Option																		2
Option to extend, term																		1 year
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
Operating Assets | 70 Columbia Corporate Center | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis																		one-month LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																		2.25%
Operating Assets | Columbia Regional Building
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								2.72%
Facility Amount																								$ 23,008,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 22,188,000	22,188,000
Operating Assets | Columbia Regional Building | Subsequent Event
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																											4.48%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																											$ 25,000,000
Operating Assets | Embassy Suites at Hughes Landing
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								3.22%
Facility Amount																								$ 37,100,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 29,461,000	20,064,000
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%
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	48,000,000
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable																															$ 41,200,000
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)																															4.20%
Operating Assets | Three Hughes Landing
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								3.07%
Facility Amount																								$ 65,455,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 35,053,000	23,268,000
Operating Assets | 1725-35 Hughes Landing Boulevard
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								2.37%
Facility Amount																								$ 143,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 105,647,000	89,677,000
Operating Assets | 1725-35 Hughes Landing Boulevard | Construction Loan Payable
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis																	one-month LIBOR
Option to extend, term																	1 year
Operating Assets | 1725-35 Hughes Landing Boulevard | Construction Loan Payable | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																	1.65%
Operating Assets | Hughes Landing Hotel | Construction Loan Payable
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Number of extension options | Option															2
Option to extend, term															1 year
Operating Assets | Hughes Landing Hotel | Construction Loan Payable | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis (as a percent)															2.50%
Variable rate basis															one-month LIBOR
Operating Assets | Hughes Landing Retail
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								3.50%
Facility Amount																								$ 35,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 35,000,000	28,726,000
Operating Assets | Hughes Landing Retail | Construction Loan Payable
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																												$ 36,600,000
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)																												3.50%
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
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)																																		5.81%
Operating Assets | Lakeland Village Center
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								3.07%
Facility Amount																								$ 14,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 9,979,000
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%
Facility Amount																								$ 7,000,000
Outstanding balance																								22,700,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 22,704,000	26,481,000
Fixed interest rate per swap (as a percent)																								5.21%
Operating Assets | 9303 New Trails
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								4.88%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 12,378,000	12,734,000
Operating Assets | One Lakes Edge
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								4.22%
Facility Amount																								$ 73,525,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross			$ 71,900,000																					$ 68,874,000	67,517,000
Operating Assets | One Lakes Edge | Construction Loan Payable
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis (as a percent)			3.50%
Annual principal payment			$ 3,000,000
Operating Assets | One Lakes Edge | Fannie Mae
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Debt refinanced			$ 69,400,000
Term of debt instrument			12 years
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)			4.50%
Interest Period			4 years
Amortization Period			30 years
Operating Assets | Outlet Collection at Riverwalk
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								3.47%
Facility Amount																								$ 56,100,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 55,778,000	56,100,000
Maximum percent recourse																								50.00%
Decrease in exposure of outstanding principal (as a percent)																								25.00%
Percentage of debt yield to draw additional loan proceeds																								11.00%
Recourse on loan (as a percent)																								50.00%
Operating Assets | Outlet Collection at Riverwalk | Construction Loan Payable
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 years
Number of extension options | Option				2
Option to extend, term				1 year
Recourse on loan (as a percent)																								50.00%
Operating Assets | Outlet Collection at Riverwalk | Construction Loan Payable | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis (as a percent)				2.75%
Operating Assets | 3831 Technology Forest
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								4.50%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 22,383,000	22,759,000
Fixed interest rate (as a percent)																																4.50%
Operating Assets | The Westin at the woodlands
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								3.37%
Facility Amount																								$ 69,300,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 58,077,000	33,361,000
Operating Assets | Ward Village
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								3.43%
Outstanding balance																								$ 119,400,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 238,718,000	238,716,000
Number of extension options | Option							2
Option to extend, term							1 year
Fixed interest rate per swap (as a percent)																								3.64%
Operating Assets | Ward Village | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)							2.50%
Operating Assets | Ward Village | Interest Rate Swap
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Outstanding balance							$ 119,400,000
Fixed interest rate per swap (as a percent)							3.64%
Undrawn and available borrowing capacity																								$ 0
Operating Assets | 20/25 Waterway Avenue
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								4.79%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 13,886,000	14,112,000
Operating Assets | 3 Waterway Square
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								3.94%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 51,590,000	52,000,000
Operating Assets | 4 Waterway Square
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								4.88%
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 36,249,000	37,293,000
Strategic Developments
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 189,858,000	27,817,000
Strategic Developments | Woodlands Properties
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Option to extend, term																1 year
Strategic Developments | Woodlands Properties | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis																one-month LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)																2.65%
Strategic Developments | Three Hughes Landing
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Number of extension options | Option													2
Option to extend, term													1 year
Strategic Developments | Three Hughes Landing | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis													one-month LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)													2.35%
Strategic Developments | Lakeland Village Center | Construction Loan Payable
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)												2.35%
Strategic Developments | Lakeland Village Center | Construction Loan Payable | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis												one-month LIBOR
Strategic Developments | Ae'o
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								4.72%
Facility Amount																								$ 230,000,000
Number of extension options | Option					2
Option to extend, term					1 year
Strategic Developments | Ae'o | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis					one-month LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)					4.00%
Strategic Developments | Ae'o | Floor
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)					4.50%
Strategic Developments | Ae'o | Cap
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)					2.50%
Strategic Developments | HHC 242 Self Storage Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								3.32%
Facility Amount																								$ 6,658,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 3,708,000
Strategic Developments | HHC 242 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
Strategic Developments | HHC 242 Self Storage Facility | Construction Loan Payable | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis																					one-month LIBOR
Strategic Developments | HHC 2978 Self Storage Facility
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								3.32%
Facility Amount																								$ 6,368,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 1,715,000
Strategic Developments | HHC 2978 Self Storage Facility | 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
Strategic Developments | HHC 2978 Self Storage Facility | Construction Loan Payable | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)									2.60%
Strategic Developments | Ke Kilohana
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								3.97%
Facility Amount																								$ 142,656,000
Variable rate basis					one-month LIBOR
Option to extend, term					1 year
Recourse on loan (as a percent)																								30.00%
Strategic Developments | Ke Kilohana | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate margin (as a percent)					3.25%
Strategic Developments | One Merriweather
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								2.87%
Facility Amount																								$ 49,900,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 23,588,000
Strategic Developments | One Merriweather | Construction Loan Payable
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Option to extend, term								1 year
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 | Two Merriweather
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								3.22%
Facility Amount																								$ 33,156,000
Strategic Developments | Two Merriweather | Construction Loan Payable
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Option to extend, term						1 year
Strategic Developments | Two Merriweather | Construction Loan Payable | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis (as a percent)						2.50%
Variable rate basis						one-month LIBOR
Strategic Developments | Waiea And Anaha Condominiums
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Interest rate (as a percent)																								7.47%
Facility Amount																								$ 410,000,000
Outstanding balance																								600,000,000
Mortgages, notes, and loans payable, gross																								$ 160,847,000	$ 27,817,000
Total mortgages, notes and loans payable														$ 600,000,000
Number of extension options | Option														2										2
Option to extend, term														1 year										1 year
Immediate advance on loan after modification of agreement																								$ 50,000,000
Maximum additional borrowing amount																								$ 113,000,000
Strategic Developments | Waiea And Anaha Condominiums | One Month LIBOR
Mortgages, notes and loans payable
Variable rate basis														one-month LIBOR
Interest rate margin (as a percent)														6.75%										6.75%