Impairment Losses (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Impairment losses in cost and expenses on the statement of operations
Impairment Losses	$ 107,763	$ 2,554	$ 40,512
Impairment losses on investment in unconsolidated joint ventures
Impairment loss on investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	608		51,058
Other than temporary impairment losses within equity method investments
Other than temporary impairment losses within equity method investments	28,145	3,746	24,181
Temco [Member]
Impairment losses on investment in unconsolidated joint ventures
Impairment loss on investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	608		6,700
Other than temporary impairment losses within equity method investments
Other than temporary impairment losses within equity method investments	14,580		631
CL Realty [Member]
Impairment losses on investment in unconsolidated joint ventures
Impairment loss on investment in unconsolidated joint ventures			20,300
Other than temporary impairment losses within equity method investments
Other than temporary impairment losses within equity method investments	13,565	2,229	2,619
T200 [Member]
Impairment losses on investment in unconsolidated joint ventures
Impairment loss on investment in unconsolidated joint ventures			17,993
Other than temporary impairment losses within equity method investments
Other than temporary impairment losses within equity method investments			20,931
Glenmore [Member]
Impairment losses on investment in unconsolidated joint ventures
Impairment loss on investment in unconsolidated joint ventures			6,065
Pine Mountain Builders [Member]
Other than temporary impairment losses within equity method investments
Other than temporary impairment losses within equity method investments		1,517
Residential and land [Member]
Impairment losses in cost and expenses on the statement of operations
Impairment Losses	96,523
Operating properties [Member]
Impairment losses in cost and expenses on the statement of operations
Impairment Losses	7,632
Investment in Verde Realty [Member]
Impairment losses in cost and expenses on the statement of operations
Impairment Losses	3,508
60 N. Market/related note receivable [Member]
Impairment losses in cost and expenses on the statement of operations
Impairment Losses	100	586	1,600
Handy Road [Member]
Impairment losses in cost and expenses on the statement of operations
Impairment Losses		1,968
10 Terminus Place [Member]
Impairment losses in cost and expenses on the statement of operations
Impairment Losses			34,900
Company Airplane [Member]
Impairment losses in cost and expenses on the statement of operations
Impairment Losses			$ 4,012