Investment in Unconsolidated Joint Ventures (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014		Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION:
Total Assets	$ 657,432			$ 657,384
Total Debt	423,994			428,153
Total Equity	211,071			210,460
Company's Investment	84,121			84,322
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	25,612		38,387
Net Income (Loss)	4,253		7,263
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	1,286		1,652
Terminus Office Holdings [Member]
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION:
Total Assets	295,983			297,815
Total Debt	215,378			215,942
Total Equity	67,253			69,867
Company's Investment	34,534			35,885
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	9,662		5,606
Net Income (Loss)	(114)		1,062
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	(79)		529
EP I LLC [Member]
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION:
Total Assets	87,752			88,130
Total Debt	57,755			57,092
Total Equity	28,587			29,229
Company's Investment	24,837			25,319
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	2,952		1,169
Net Income (Loss)	678		(519)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	508		(389)
Cousins Watkins LLC [Member]
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION:
Total Assets	50,838			51,653
Total Debt	27,570			27,710
Total Equity	22,366			23,081
Company's Investment	17,050			17,213
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	1,276		1,286
Net Income (Loss)	112		(29)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	567		580
Charlotte Gateway Village, LLC [Member]
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION:
Total Assets	135,042			135,966
Total Debt	48,290			52,408
Total Equity	84,882			82,373
Company's Investment	11,243			11,252
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	8,363		8,294
Net Income (Loss)	2,811		2,581
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	294		294
EP II LLC [Member]
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION:
Total Assets	17,480			12,644
Total Debt	1			1
Total Equity	14,662			11,695
Company's Investment	11,869			9,566
Temco Associates, LLC [Member]
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION:
Total Assets	8,288			8,474
Total Debt	0			0
Total Equity	8,096			8,315
Company's Investment	3,978			4,083
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	60		69
Net Income (Loss)	(18)		(13)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	(5)		(6)
CL Realty, L.L.C. [Member]
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION:
Total Assets	7,292			7,602
Total Debt	0			0
Total Equity	7,292			7,374
Company's Investment	3,537			3,704
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	368		428
Net Income (Loss)	229		236
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	33		118
MSREF Terminus Two Hundred LLC [Member]
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	0		1,256
Net Income (Loss)	0		(115)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	0		(35)
Wildwood Associates
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION:
Total Assets	21,113			21,127
Total Debt	0			0
Total Equity	21,084			21,121
Company's Investment	(1,708)	[1]		(1,689)	[1]
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	0		0
Net Income (Loss)	(38)		(42)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	(19)		(21)
Crawford Long CPI LLC [Member]
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION:
Total Assets	31,833			32,042
Total Debt	75,000			75,000
Total Equity	(44,759)			(44,295)
Company's Investment	(21,277)	[1]		(21,071)	[1]
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	2,927		2,958
Net Income (Loss)	682		725
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	374		360
Cp Venture Five LLC [Member]
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	0		7,843
Net Income (Loss)	0		1,435
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	0		315
CP Venture Two LLC [Member]
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	0		4,926
Net Income (Loss)	0		2,724
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	0		281
CF Murfreesboro Associates [Member]
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	0		3,291
Net Income (Loss)	0		(633)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	(387)		(383)
Other Equity Method Investee [Member]
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL POSITION:
Total Assets	1,811			1,931
Total Debt	0			0
Total Equity	1,608			1,700
Company's Investment	58			60
SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS:
Total Revenues	4		1,261
Net Income (Loss)	(89)		(149)
Income (Loss) from Equity Method Investments Gross of Impairment Charges	$ 0		$ 9

[1] Negative balances are included in deferred income on the balance sheets.