SEGMENTS (Summary of Segment Operating Results) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) ft²	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) ft² segment location	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Sep. 07, 2018 ft²
Segments reporting
Number of operating segments | segment									4
Total revenues	$ 284,161	$ 231,172	$ 431,316	$ 353,890	$ 464,693	$ 257,160	$ 181,005	$ 161,679	$ 1,300,539	$ 1,064,537	$ 1,100,120
Depreciation and amortization									(155,798)	(126,565)	(132,252)
Other income (loss), net									12,179	(936)	3,248
Equity in earnings from real estate and other affiliates									30,629	39,954	25,498
Gain (loss) on sale or disposal of real estate and other assets, net									22,362	(4)	55,235
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt									4,851		(46,410)
Gain on acquisition of joint venture partner's interest									0	0	23,332
Selling profit from sales-type leases									(13,537)
Segment EBT									103,540	73,218	120,822
Net income	(1,001)	30,043	13,328	31,925	37,924	23,847	(5,879)	1,834	74,295	57,726	166,623
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests									(339)	(714)	1,781
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ (1,100)	$ 29,758	$ 13,477	$ 31,821	$ 37,261	$ 23,365	$ (5,088)	$ 1,474	$ 73,956	57,012	168,404
Area of real estate property | ft²												258,000
Number of operating locations | location									2
Operating Assets revenues
Segments reporting
Total revenues									$ 400,131	348,242
Master Planned Communities revenues
Segments reporting
Total revenues									386,781	309,451
Seaport revenues
Segments reporting
Total revenues									$ 55,645	32,632
Area of real estate property | ft²	453,000								453,000
Number of primary locations | location									3
Strategic Developments revenues
Segments reporting
Total revenues									$ 457,948	374,212
Operating Segments
Segments reporting
Total revenues									1,300,505	1,064,537	1,100,120
Total operating expenses									(846,769)	(674,441)	(691,672)
Operating income									453,736	390,096	408,448
Depreciation and amortization									(147,777)	(119,309)	(125,638)
Interest expense (income), net									(50,554)	(25,865)	(11,825)
Other income (loss), net									2,552	(3,972)	3,293
Equity in earnings from real estate and other affiliates									30,629	39,937	25,953
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt									4,851	0	0
Gain on acquisition of joint venture partner's interest									0	0	23,332
Selling profit from sales-type leases									13,537	0	0
Gains on sales of properties									27,113	(4)	55,110
Segment EBT									334,087	280,883	378,673
Operating Segments | Operating Assets revenues
Segments reporting
Total revenues									400,131	348,242	317,296
Total operating expenses									(187,322)	(164,445)	(158,421)
Operating income									212,809	183,797	158,875
Depreciation and amortization									(115,499)	(103,293)	(117,835)
Interest expense (income), net									(81,029)	(71,551)	(61,583)
Other income (loss), net									1,142	(7,107)	(279)
Equity in earnings from real estate and other affiliates									3,672	1,994	3,735
Gain (loss) on sale or disposal of real estate and other assets, net									0	(4)	3,868
Selling profit from sales-type leases									13,537	0	0
Segment EBT									34,632	3,836	10,113
Operating Segments | Master Planned Communities revenues
Segments reporting
Total revenues									386,781	309,451	299,543
Total operating expenses									(189,727)	(169,474)	(159,895)
Operating income									197,054	139,977	139,648
Depreciation and amortization									(424)	(243)	(323)
Interest expense (income), net									32,019	26,919	24,292
Other income (loss), net									601	18	3,500
Equity in earnings from real estate and other affiliates									28,336	36,284	23,234
Segment EBT									257,586	202,955	190,351
Operating Segments | Seaport revenues
Segments reporting
Total revenues									55,645	32,632	10,259
Total operating expenses									(77,872)	(49,716)	(13,136)
Operating income									(22,227)	(17,084)	(2,877)
Depreciation and amortization									(26,381)	(12,466)	(6,270)
Interest expense (income), net									(12,865)	6,291	13,229
Other income (loss), net									(22)	102	(37)
Equity in earnings from real estate and other affiliates									(2,592)	(705)	(643)
Gain (loss) on sale or disposal of real estate and other assets, net									(6)	0	0
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt									4,851	0	0
Segment EBT									(59,242)	(23,862)	3,402
Operating Segments | Strategic Developments revenues
Segments reporting
Total revenues									457,948	374,212	473,022
Total operating expenses									(391,848)	(290,806)	(360,220)
Operating income									66,100	83,406	112,802
Depreciation and amortization									(5,473)	(3,307)	(1,210)
Interest expense (income), net									11,321	12,476	12,237
Other income (loss), net									831	3,015	109
Equity in earnings from real estate and other affiliates									1,213	2,364	(373)
Gains on sales of properties									27,119	0	51,242
Segment EBT									101,111	97,954	174,807
Corporate
Segments reporting
Corporate expenses and other items									$ (259,792)	$ (223,157)	$ (212,050)
Tin Building | Seaport revenues
Segments reporting
Area of real estate property | ft²	53,000								53,000