MORTGAGE AND OTHER INDEBTEDNESS (Fixed Rate Loans Repaid) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended								3 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jul. 31, 2015	May. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Oct. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jan. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt												$ 256	$ 87,893	$ (9,108)
Columbia Place
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt						$ 27,171			$ 27,171
Balance of Non-recourse Debt						$ 27,265
Chapel Hill Suburban
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt							$ 18,296			$ 18,296
Balance of Non-recourse Debt							$ 68,563
Citadel Mall
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt								$ 43,932			$ 43,932
Balance of Non-recourse Debt								$ 68,169
Financing method obligation | Columbia Place
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate at Repayment Date (percent)						5.45%
Financing method obligation | Chapel Hill Suburban
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate at Repayment Date (percent)							6.10%			6.10%
Financing method obligation | Citadel Mall
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate at Repayment Date (percent)								5.68%
Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate at Repayment Date (percent)		5.87%
Principal Balance Repaid	$ 38,112
Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg | Non-Recourse Mortgage Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Balance Repaid		$ 38,450
Eastland Mall
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate at Repayment Date (percent)		5.85%
Principal Balance Repaid	$ 59,400
Brookfield Square
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate at Repayment Date (percent)			5.08%
Principal Balance Repaid			$ 86,621
CherryVale Mall
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate at Repayment Date (percent)			5.00%
Principal Balance Repaid			$ 77,198
East Towne Mall
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate at Repayment Date (percent)			5.00%
Principal Balance Repaid			$ 65,856
West Towne Mall
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate at Repayment Date (percent)			5.00%
Principal Balance Repaid			$ 93,021
Imperial Valley Mall
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate at Repayment Date (percent)				4.99%
Principal Balance Repaid				$ 49,486
Janesville Mall
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate at Repayment Date (percent)	8.38%											8.38%
Principal Balance Repaid					$ 2,473
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt					$ (257)
Mall del Norte
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate at Repayment Date (percent)						5.04%
Principal Balance Repaid						$ 113,400
St. Clair Square
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate at Repayment Date (percent)								3.25%
Principal Balance Repaid								$ 122,375
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt								$ (1,249)
Columbia Place, Chapel Hill Mall and Citadel Mall
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt												$ 89,399	89,399
Balance of Non-recourse Debt												$ 163,997	$ 163,997