SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 258,493	$ 251,721	$ 254,965	$ 263,078	$ 277,630	$ 262,636	$ 253,843	$ 260,909	$ 1,028,257	$ 1,055,018	$ 1,060,739
Property operating expenses									(281,456)	(283,345)	(293,897)
Interest expense									(216,318)	(229,343)	(239,824)
Other expense									(20,326)	(26,957)	(32,297)
Gain on sales of real estate assets					14,065		$ 14,173		29,567	32,232	5,342
Segment profit									539,724	547,605	500,063
Depreciation and amortization expense									(292,693)	(299,069)	(291,273)
General and administrative expense									(63,332)	(62,118)	(50,271)
Interest and other income									1,524	6,467	14,121
Gain on extinguishment of debt										256
Loss on impairment									(116,822)	(105,945)	(17,858)
Gain on investments								$ 16,560	7,534	16,560	87,893
Income tax benefit (provision)									2,063	(2,941)	(4,499)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates									117,533	18,200	14,803
Income from continuing operations									195,531	119,015	252,979
Total assets	6,104,640				6,479,991				6,104,640	6,479,991
Capital expenditures									267,803	424,813
Malls
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									928,214	944,553	933,736
Property operating expenses									(268,898)	(274,288)	(282,796)
Interest expense									(143,903)	(166,922)	(198,758)
Other expense									0	(19)	(20)
Gain on sales of real estate assets									481	264	3,537
Segment profit									515,894	503,588	455,699
Total assets	5,383,937				5,766,084				5,383,937	5,766,084
Capital expenditures									165,230	393,194
Associated Centers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									39,259	40,392	41,527
Property operating expenses									(8,246)	(9,364)	(9,500)
Interest expense									(5,972)	(7,285)	(7,959)
Other expense									0	0	0
Gain on sales of real estate assets									657	16,260	937
Segment profit									25,698	40,003	25,005
Total assets	259,966				252,188				259,966	252,188
Capital expenditures									5,705	5,186
Community Centers
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									17,393	19,944	18,600
Property operating expenses									(4,293)	(4,500)	(5,260)
Interest expense									(285)	(4,236)	(2,510)
Other expense									0	0	0
Gain on sales of real estate assets									3,239	5,071	107
Segment profit									16,054	16,279	10,937
Total assets	215,917				263,614				215,917	263,614
Capital expenditures									6,149	2,299
All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									43,391	50,129	66,876
Property operating expenses									(19)	4,807	3,659
Interest expense									(66,158)	(50,900)	(30,597)
Other expense									(20,326)	(26,938)	(32,277)
Gain on sales of real estate assets									25,190	10,637	761
Segment profit									(17,922)	(12,265)	$ 8,422
Total assets	$ 244,820				$ 198,105				244,820	198,105
Capital expenditures									$ 90,719	$ 24,134