DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, Effect on Net Income from Properties Classified as Discontinued Operations (Details)
$ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 9 Months Ended
Jan. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Loan
Jan. 31, 2015
USD ($)
Jan. 31, 2016
USD ($)
Loan
Jan. 31, 2015
USD ($)
REVENUE [Abstract]        
Real estate rentals $ 50,277 $ 46,753 $ 142,526 $ 135,621
Tenant reimbursement 4,492 5,223 13,466 15,122
TOTAL REVENUE 55,772 52,939 158,998 153,342
EXPENSES [Abstract]        
Depreciation/amortization related to real estate investments 14,789 12,627 42,522 37,700
Utilities 3,427 3,564 9,757 9,533
Maintenance 5,821 5,033 16,979 15,081
Real estate taxes 5,029 5,284 14,948 15,052
Insurance 1,214 1,215 3,558 3,745
Property management expenses 4,676 3,825 13,182 10,970
Other property expenses 169 197 344 753
Amortization related to non-real estate investments 130 210 470 647
Impairment of real estate investments 162 540 3,320 4,663
TOTAL EXPENSES 39,344 36,562 117,603 111,373
Interest expense (10,540) (10,009) (29,867) (29,710)
Gain on extinguishment of debt 0 0 (106) 0
Other income 135 109 286 371
Gain on sale of discontinued operations     25,512 (811)
INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS 35,408 1,162 50,181 1,322
Default interest 1,600   4,700  
Non-recourse loan $ 122,600   $ 122,600  
Number of loan properties | Loan 9   9  
Mendota Joint Venture Entity [Member]        
EXPENSES [Abstract]        
Income from discontinued operations attributable to noncontrolling interest     $ 51,400 1,700
Discontinued Operations [Member]        
REVENUE [Abstract]        
Real estate rentals $ 3,576 13,687 21,966 40,780
Tenant reimbursement 718 6,290 8,268 18,309
TOTAL REVENUE 4,294 19,977 30,234 59,089
EXPENSES [Abstract]        
Depreciation/amortization related to real estate investments 0 4,207 4,239 12,146
Utilities 416 1,803 3,016 5,608
Maintenance 588 2,766 4,784 8,310
Real estate taxes 756 3,532 5,341 10,531
Insurance 58 264 462 815
Property management expenses 468 921 1,941 2,761
Other property expenses 0 30 0 30
Amortization related to non-real estate investments 105 706 1,002 1,981
Impairment of real estate investments 0 0 440 1,442
TOTAL EXPENSES 2,391 14,229 21,225 43,624
Operating income (loss) 1,903 5,748 9,009 15,465
Interest expense [1] (3,436) (4,586) (12,832) (14,148)
Gain on extinguishment of debt [1] 36,456 0 29,336 0
Other income 154 0 427 5
Income from discontinued operations before gain on sale 35,077 1,162 25,940 1,322
Gain on sale of discontinued operations 331 0 24,241 0
INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS [2] $ 35,408 $ 1,162 $ 50,181 $ 1,322
[1] Interest expense includes $1.6 million and $4.7 million for the three and nine months ended January 31, 2016, respectively, of default interest related to a $122.6 million non-recourse loan by one of our subsidiaries. Gain on extinguishment of debt in the three and nine months ended January 31, 2016, respectively, includes $36.5 million of gain on extinguishment of debt recognized in connection with our transfer of ownership to the mortgage lender of the nine properties serving as collateral for the $122.6 million non-recourse loan and the removal of the debt obligation and accrued interest from our balance sheet.
[2] Discontinued operations for the nine months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015 includes a noncontrolling interest for our Mendota joint venture entity. Income from discontinued operations attributable to us was $51.4 million and $1.7 million for the nine months ended January 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively