Note 6 - Impairments (Details) - Asset Impairment Charges (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Real estate	$ 59,600,000
Marketable securities and other investments* (4)	10,700,000	[1]		[1]	1,600,000	[1]
Investments in real estate joint ventures* (9)	1,100,000	[2]		[2]	5,100,000	[2]
Impairment charges	190,218,000		59,569,000		32,763,000
Income tax benefit	34,520,000		16,922,000		25,789,000
Impairment Charge [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Income tax benefit	(22,400,000)		(10,600,000)		(4,500,000)
Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interests	(10,600,000)		(400,000)		700,000
Operating Expense [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairment charges	91,400,000		10,300,000		13,100,000
Net [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Impairment charges	157,200,000		48,600,000		29,000,000
Discontinued Operations [Member] | Property Carrying Values [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Real estate	98,800,000	[3]	49,300,000	[3]	19,700,000	[3]
Discontinued Operations [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Real estate	49,300,000
Impairment charges	98,800,000
Property Carrying Values [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Real estate	76,700,000	[4],[5],[6],[7],[8]	7,600,000	[4],[5],[6],[7],[8]	3,100,000	[4],[5],[6],[7],[8]
Other Real Estate Investments [Member]
Impaired Long-Lived Assets Held and Used [Line Items]
Real estate	$ 2,900,000	[10],[11],[9]	$ 2,700,000	[10],[11],[9]	$ 3,300,000	[10],[11],[9]

[1] During 2013, the Company reviewed the underlying cause of the decline in value of a cost method investment, as well as the severity and the duration of the decline and determined that the decline was other-than-temporary. Impairment charges were recognized based upon the calculation of an estimated fair value of $4.7 million using a discounted cash flow model.

[2] During 2011, the Company exited its investment in a redevelopment joint venture property in Harlem, NY. As a result, the Company recognized an-other-than-temporary impairment charge of approximately $3.1 million representing the Company's entire investment balance. Additionally, during 2011, the Company recorded an other-than-temporary impairment of $2.0 million, before income tax benefit, against the carrying value of an investment in which the Company held a 13.4% noncontrolling ownership interest. The Company determined the fair value of its investment based on the estimated sales price of the property in the joint venture.

[3] See Footnotes 4 & 5 above for additional disclosure.

[4] During 2013, the Company was in advanced negotiations to sell several operating properties within its Mexico portfolio. Based upon the allocation of the estimated selling prices, the Company determined that the estimated fair values of certain of the properties were below their respective current carrying value. As such, the Company recorded impairment charges of $58.2 million relating to these assets. This amount is subject to change based upon finalization of contract terms, closing costs, additional cash amounts received as earn outs and fluctuations in the Mexican Peso exchange rate (see Footnote 22).

[5] During 2013, the Company recorded $18.5 million, before an income tax benefit of $6.4 million and noncontrolling interests of $1.0 million, in impairment charges primarily related to two land parcels and four operating properties based upon purchase prices or purchase price offers.

[6] During 2012, the Company recognized an aggregate impairment charge of $7.6 million, before income tax benefit of $2.9 million, relating to its investment in four land parcels. The estimated aggregate fair value of these properties was based upon purchase price offers.

[7] During 2011, the Company recognized an aggregate impairment charge of $3.1 million, before income tax benefit of $1.1 million, relating to a portion of an operating property and four land parcels. The estimated aggregate fair value of these properties was based upon purchase price offers.

[8] See Footnote 15 for additional disclosure on fair value.

[9] Based upon a review of the debt maturity status and the likelihood of foreclosure of the underlying property within one of the Company's preferred equity investments, the Company believes it will not recover its investment and as such recorded a full impairment of $2.6 million, before an income tax benefit of $1.1 million, on its investment during 2013.

[10] Based upon a review of the debt maturity status and the likelihood of foreclosure of the underlying property within one of the Company's preferred equity net leased investment, the Company believed it would not recover its investment and as such recorded a full impairment of $2.7 million on its investment during 2012.

[11] During 2011, two properties within two of the Company's preferred equity investments were in default of their respective mortgages and received foreclosure notices from the respective mortgage lenders. As such, the Company recognized full impairment charges on both of the investments aggregating $2.2 million.