Unconsolidated Affiliates, Redeemable Interests, Noncontrolling Interests and Cost Method Investments (Unconsolidated Affiliates) (Details) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) extension_option entity	May 31, 2016 USD ($)	Feb. 29, 2016 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) extension_option entity	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) extension_option entity	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2016
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Number of entities - equity method of accounting | entity	19				19		19
ASSETS
Investment in real estate assets	$ 2,184,268				$ 2,184,268		$ 2,184,268		$ 2,357,902
Accumulated depreciation	(549,935)				(549,935)		(549,935)		(677,448)
Real estate investment net, before development in process	1,634,333				1,634,333		1,634,333		1,680,454
Developments in progress	17,709				17,709		17,709		59,592
Net investment in real estate assets	1,652,042				1,652,042		1,652,042		1,740,046
Other assets	241,951				241,951		241,951		168,540
Total assets	1,893,993				1,893,993		1,893,993		1,908,586
LIABILITIES
Mortgage and other indebtedness	1,333,293				1,333,293		1,333,293		1,546,272
Other liabilities	56,261				56,261		56,261		51,357
Total liabilities	1,389,554				1,389,554		1,389,554		1,597,629
OWNERS' EQUITY
The Company	236,005				236,005		236,005		184,868
Other investors	268,434				268,434		268,434		126,089
Total owners' equity	504,439				504,439		504,439		310,957
Total liabilities and owners' equity	1,893,993				1,893,993		1,893,993		1,908,586
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Total revenues					62,854	$ 63,111	127,058	$ 125,583
Depreciation and amortization					(22,248)	(19,641)	(42,858)	(39,122)
Interest income					332	335	668	667
Interest expense					(14,181)	(18,589)	(27,670)	(37,383)
Operating expenses					(18,333)	(17,468)	(38,405)	(36,774)
Gain on extinguishment of debt					63,294	0	63,294	0
Income from continuing operations before gain on sales of real estate assets					71,718	7,748	82,087	12,971
Gain on sales of real estate assets					60,377	619	141,336	1,434
Net income					132,095	8,367	223,423	14,405
Long-term debt	$ 4,540,479				$ 4,540,479		$ 4,540,479		4,710,628
Debt instrument, option extension term (in years)							24 months
Number of extension options available | extension_option	1				1		1
Interest Rate Swap
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Derivative, Notional Amount									101,151
Ambassador Infrastructure, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	65.00%				65.00%		65.00%
Ambassador Town Center JV, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	65.00%				65.00%		65.00%
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Amount Financed or Extended							$ 47,660
Ambassador Town Center JV, LLC | LIBOR
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Stated Interest Rate (as a percentage)	3.22%				3.22%		3.22%
Ambassador Town Center JV, LLC | Interest Rate Swap
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Derivative, Notional Amount	$ 47,660				$ 47,660		$ 47,660
Derivative, amount after amortization	38,866				38,866		38,866
Ambassador Town Center JV, LLC | Construction Loans
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Long-term debt	$ 41,900				$ 41,900		$ 41,900
CBL/T-C, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	50.00%				50.00%		50.00%
CBL-TRS Joint Venture, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	50.00%				50.00%		50.00%
El Paso Outlet Outparcels, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	50.00%				50.00%		50.00%
Fremaux Town Center JV, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	65.00%				65.00%		65.00%
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Amount Financed or Extended							$ 73,000
Fremaux Town Center JV, LLC | LIBOR
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Stated Interest Rate (as a percentage)	3.699%				3.699%		3.699%
Fremaux Town Center JV, LLC | Interest Rate Swap
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Derivative, Notional Amount	$ 73,000				$ 73,000		$ 73,000
Derivative, amount after amortization	52,130				52,130		52,130
Fremaux Town Center JV, LLC | Construction Loans
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Long-term debt	$ 71,125				$ 71,125		$ 71,125
G&I VIII CBL Triangle LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	10.00%				10.00%		10.00%
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Debt instrument, option extension term (in years)							1 year
Number of extension options available | extension_option	2				2		2
Governor’s Square IB
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	50.00%				50.00%		50.00%
Governor’s Square Company
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	47.50%				47.50%		47.50%
High Pointe Commons, LP
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	50.00%				50.00%		50.00%
High Pointe Commons II-HAP, LP
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	50.00%				50.00%		50.00%
JG Gulf Coast Town Center LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	50.00%				50.00%		50.00%
Kentucky Oaks Mall Company
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	50.00%				50.00%		50.00%
Mall of South Carolina L.P.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	50.00%				50.00%		50.00%
Mall of South Carolina Outparcel L.P.
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	50.00%				50.00%		50.00%
Port Orange I, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	50.00%				50.00%		50.00%
River Ridge Mall JV, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	25.00%				25.00%		25.00%			25.00%
West Melbourne I, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	50.00%				50.00%		50.00%
York Town Center, LP
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	50.00%				50.00%		50.00%
Port Orange
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Amount Financed or Extended							$ 58,628
Port Orange | LIBOR
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Stated Interest Rate (as a percentage)	2.00%				2.00%		2.00%
Hammock Landing Phase I
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Amount Financed or Extended							$ 43,347		$ 39,475
Hammock Landing Phase I | LIBOR
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Stated Interest Rate (as a percentage)	2.00%				2.00%		2.00%
Hammock Landing Phase II
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Amount Financed or Extended							$ 16,757
Hammock Landing Phase II | LIBOR
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Stated Interest Rate (as a percentage)	2.00%				2.00%		2.00%
Triangle Town Center, Triangle Town Commons and Triangle Town Place
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Amount Financed or Extended							$ 171,092
Triangle Town Center, Triangle Town Commons and Triangle Town Place | LIBOR
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Stated Interest Rate (as a percentage)	4.00%				4.00%		4.00%		5.74%
Port Orange and Hammock Landing - Phase I and II
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Percentage Guaranteed by the Operating Partnership			20.00%	25.00%
Debt instrument, option extension term (in years)							1 year
The Outlet Shoppes of Laredo, once development is complete and certain debt and operational metrics are met | LIBOR
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Stated Interest Rate (as a percentage)	2.25%				2.25%		2.25%
Laredo Outlet Shoppes, LLC
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Amount Financed or Extended							$ 91,300
Percentage Guaranteed by the Operating Partnership							100.00%
Laredo Outlet Shoppes, LLC | LIBOR
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Stated Interest Rate (as a percentage)	2.50%				2.50%		2.50%
The Company/Partners' Capital
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Total revenues					$ 29,836	32,958	$ 60,100	65,793
Depreciation and amortization					(9,156)	(10,303)	(18,334)	(20,620)
Interest income					256	257	512	512
Interest expense					(7,093)	(9,587)	(13,678)	(19,272)
Operating expenses					(8,421)	(9,045)	(17,183)	(18,873)
Gain on extinguishment of debt					0	0	0	0
Income from continuing operations before gain on sales of real estate assets					5,422	4,280	11,417	7,540
Gain on sales of real estate assets					58,927	601	85,322	1,164
Net income					$ 64,349	$ 4,881	$ 96,739	$ 8,704
Corporate Joint Venture | G&I VIII CBL Triangle LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property			90.00%
ASSETS
Land			$ 14,421
Buildings and improvements			132,230
Tenant improvements			1,206
Above-market leases			11,599
In-place leases			22,538
Below-market leases			(7,994)
Net assets acquired			174,000
Total assets			$ 181,994
Corporate Joint Venture | River Ridge Mall JV, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property										75.00%
Corporate Joint Venture | Triangle Town Center, Triangle Town Commons and Triangle Town Place
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property			50.00%
Corporate Joint Venture | Laredo Outlet Shoppes, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	35.00%	35.00%			35.00%		35.00%
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Cash contributed by third party		$ 10,686
Parent Company | G&I VIII CBL Triangle LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property			10.00%
Parent Company | River Ridge Mall JV, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property										25.00%
Parent Company | Triangle Town Center, Triangle Town Commons and Triangle Town Place
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property			50.00%
Parent Company | Laredo Outlet Shoppes, LLC
Schedule of Equity Method Investments [Line Items]
Percentage of equity interest in real estate property	65.00%	65.00%			65.00%		65.00%
Equity Method Investment, Summarized Financial Information, Income Statement [Abstract]
Contribution amount	$ 15,493	$ 7,714
Cash contributed		2,434
Interest in note receivable contributed		$ 5,280
Capital contribution, percentage until pro rata basis is reached	100.00%				100.00%		100.00%
Amount remaining to be funded by company to reach pro rate contribution level	$ 4,353				$ 4,353		$ 4,353