MIAMI—A $600 million mixed-use development took one step closer to reality this week. North American Properties (NAP) just broke ground on Avalon, an 86-acre, resort-inspired, mixed-use development in Alpharetta, GA. The project is scheduled to open in Aug. 2014.

Avalon is expected to bring more than 4,500 jobs to the area. When completed, the mixed-use project will generate an estimated $21 million in annual sales tax revenue, $4.5 million annually in new property taxes and $1.1 million annually in hotel taxes for Alpharetta.

“Alpharetta is an affluent community and locals want and deserve a luxury shopping experience they can't currently find in the Southeast,” says Mark Toro, managing partner at NAP. “We are thrilled that the Alpharetta community has embraced our vision for Avalon.”