Mixed Use: Going Beyond the Buildings

Mixed Use: Going Beyond the Buildings
News| September 18, 2025| Amy Wolff Sorter
Apartment Buildings

Pictured: Avalon, Alpharetta, GA, developed by principals at Toro Development

Mention the real estate term “mixed use,” and what might come to mind are storefronts, apartment communities and mid-rise or high-rise office buildings.

According to Toro Development Company’s Mark Toro, many mixed-use projects get the buildings right. However, “far fewer get the ‘software’ right—the pedestrian flow, the plaza experience, the hospitality-level service, and all the subtle details that turn a mixed-use project into something more,” he wrote in a recent Urban Land Magazine article.

Which ones do get it right, then? Toro pointed to The Warf (Washington, DC), Legacy West (Plano, TX), Domain Northside (Austin, TX) and Americana at Brand (Glendale, CA). He also said that Toro-developed Georgia-based mixed-use communities (Avalon in Alpharetta, Colony Square in Atlanta and Medley in Johns Creek) are the result of “applying what we learned” in the study of non-building mixed-use elements.

Toro suggested some of the following requirements for success with mixed-use:

Operational expertise. Toro advised mixed-use developers and owners to hire a knowledgeable operations team to maintain the look and feel of a property. “Think daily cleanings so thorough you could eat off the floor, spotless common areas, and clear expectations for orderliness,” he added. “This consistent operational excellence fosters a sense of ease, comfort, and trust throughout the community.”

Shared mindset. Everyone involved in the project should have the same mindset and core values concerning the final product. Toro said that Avalon’s philosophy was to support community, wellness, families and walkability.

A main plaza. Toro said that a central greenspace offering 200-plus events a year is “the heartbeat of the community. The plaza might include an event stage, shade sails, comfortable seating and playful furniture.

Connectivity. “The ability to easily connect to the internet anywhere in a property is critical to today’s guest experience,” Toro said. Such connections allow for a frictionless transition between spaces.

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