SEGMENT INFORMATION - Summary (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands				12 Months Ended
		Nov. 02, 2020	Oct. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	[1]			$ 575,861	$ 768,696	$ 858,557
Property operating expenses	[2]			(187,879)	(230,652)	(252,612)
Interest expense				(200,663)	(206,261)	(220,038)
Other				(953)	(91)	(787)
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate assets				4,696	16,274	19,001
Segment profit (loss)				191,062	347,966	404,121
Depreciation and amortization				(215,030)	(257,746)	(285,401)
General and administrative				(53,425)	(64,181)	(61,506)
Litigation settlement				7,855	(61,754)
Interest and other income				6,396	2,764	1,858
Gain on extinguishment of debt				32,521	71,722
Loss on impairment				(213,358)	(239,521)	(174,529)
Prepetition charges			$ (23,883)	(23,883)
Reorganization items		$ (35,977)		(35,977)
Gain on investment/deconsolidation					67,242
Income tax benefit (provision)				(16,836)	(3,153)	1,551
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated affiliates				(14,854)	4,940	14,677
Net loss				(335,529)	(131,721)	(99,229)
Total assets				4,443,740	4,622,346	5,340,853
Capital expenditures	[3]			42,108	141,559	144,959
Malls
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	[1]			520,643	699,698	783,194
Property operating expenses	[2]			(177,531)	(216,771)	(236,807)
Interest expense				(79,380)	(86,152)	(103,162)
Other						(85)
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate assets				(25)	1,226	799
Segment profit (loss)				263,707	398,001	443,939
Total assets				3,702,523	4,180,515	4,868,141
Capital expenditures	[3]			36,425	130,502	132,187
All Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	[1],[4]			55,218	68,998	75,363
Property operating expenses	[2],[4]			(10,348)	(13,881)	(15,805)
Interest expense	[4]			(121,283)	(120,109)	(116,876)
Other	[4]			(953)	(91)	(702)
Gain (loss) on sales of real estate assets	[4]			4,721	15,048	18,202
Segment profit (loss)	[4]			(72,645)	(50,035)	(39,818)
Total assets	[4]			741,217	441,831	472,712
Capital expenditures	[3],[4]			$ 5,683	$ 11,057	$ 12,772

[1] Management, development and leasing fees are included in All Other category. See Note 4 for information on the Company’s revenues disaggregated by revenue source for each of the above segments.

[2] Property operating expenses include property operating, real estate taxes and maintenance and repairs.

[3] Includes additions to and acquisitions of real estate assets and investments in unconsolidated affiliates. Developments in progress are included in the All Other category.

[4] The All Other category includes associated centers, community centers, mortgage and other notes receivable, office buildings, self-storage facilities, corporate-level debt and the Management Company.