CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash Flow From Operating Activities:
Net loss for the period	$ (8,104)	$ (46,603)	$ (67,098)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss applicable to common shares to net cash used in operating activities:
Gain or (loss) on sale of land	(6,935)	(17,011)	15,155
Gain on sale of income producing properties	(5,217)	(18,300)	(10,781)
Depreciation and amortization,	22,488	23,034	28,302
Provision on impairment of notes receivable and real estate assets	4,730	37,002	22,579
Amortization of deferred borrowing costs	2,428	2,365	2,613
Earnings due to non-controlling interest,	0	0	0
Earnings from unconsolidated subsidiaries and investees,	11	(695)	754
Increase (decrease) in assets:
Accrued interest receivable,	(5,517)	(4,050)	(1,869)
Other assets,	157	(799)	8,971
Prepaid expense,	(236)	2,083	551
Escrow,	1,157	18,837	8,476
Earnest money,	235	1,385	850
Rent receivables,	(1,094)	(6,158)	(2,276)
Increase (decrease) in liabilities:
Accrued interest payable,	(7,498)	8,743	1,764
Affiliate payables,	(7,408)	(29,795)	(2,902)
Other liabilities,	(10,316)	717	(14,210)
Net cash provided by used in operating activities	(21,119)	(14,119)	(7,198)
Cash Flow From Investing Activities:
Proceeds from notes receivables	11,993	16,924	3,967
Originations of notes receivables	13,477	(22,421)	(29,455)
Acquisition of land held for development	(18,948)	(43,193)	(4,937)
Acquisition of income producing properties	0	6,526	0
Proceeds from sales of income producing properties	31,751	29,628	119,123
Proceeds from sale of land	36,648	104,093	44,419
Proceeds from sale of investments	132	586	0
Investment in unconsolidated real estate entities	780	(319)	458
Improvement of land held for development	(184)	(1,562)	(4,834)
Improvement of income producing properties	(2,201)	(3,657)	(2,277)
Acquisition of non-controlling interest	(69)	0	0
Sale of controlling interest	113	4,019	22
Investment in marketable equity securities	0	0	(89)
Construction and development of new properties	(5,683)	(46,774)	(38,346)
Net cash provided by investing activities	67,809	43,850	88,051
Cash Flow From Financing Activities:
Proceeds from notes payable	139,459	117,441	182,849
Recurring amortization of principal on notes payable	(21,541)	(16,383)	(10,655)
Payments on maturing notes payable	(163,553)	(120,922)	(242,795)
Deferred financing costs	(3,305)	(1,555)	(3,539)
Distributions to non-controlling interests	(8)	0	(46)
Common stock issuance	0	1,530	0
Preferred stock dividends - Series C	(212)	(210)	(210)
Preferred stock dividends - Series D	(901)	(900)	(863)
Net cash used in financing activities	(50,061)	(20,999)	(75,259)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(3,371)	8,732	5,594
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	19,991	11,259	5,665
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	16,620	19,991	11,259
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	44,737	56,641	61,439
Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds	0	0	(48)
Schedule of noncash investing and financing activities:
Affiliate payable/receivable for ARL cost basis sales adjustment	10,445	(34,234)	0
Acquisition of land for ARL cost basis sales adjustment	(10,445)	34,234	0
Note receivable allowance	0	0	(1,937)
Notes receivable received from affiliate	6,000	20,387	28,554
Sale of notes receivable to affiliate	$ (20,387)	$ 0	$ 0