Phil Mays Interview: Inside the Vision and Future of Halcyon
Halcyon is the pioneering destination in the Alpharetta – Forsyth County area that, in just a few short years, has woven itself into the very fabric of the community. It’s a place where a morning bike ride on the Big Creek Greenway can seamlessly turn into an afternoon of shopping, and where a casual weeknight dinner can lead to a fun game of cornhole with friends and family. Halcyon is more than a collection of shops and restaurants; it has become a true town center and a backdrop for both everyday moments and major milestones.
The visionary behind this meticulously crafted environment is RocaPoint Partners. The company saw the potential in a stretch of land off GA-400 and transformed it into a vibrant, walkable village that feels both excitingly new and deeply authentic. At the heart of this success is a core philosophy that values community, curation, and connection above all else.
We had the pleasure of sitting down with Phil Mays, a principal at RocaPoint Partners, to discuss the Halcyon blueprint. In our conversation, he pulls back the curtain on the initial vision for the property, the “people-first” approach that became Halcyon’s heartbeat, and the key lessons that are now being exported to the company’s other developments.
Halcyon was a pioneering project for the Alpharetta and Forsyth County area. What did you see in this specific location that made it a perfect fit for the Halcyon development?
“We were seeing strong development both before and after Exit 12, but nothing of this scale or character directly off this GA-400 interchange. The site offered incredible potential, especially with its connection to the Big Creek Greenway. That access was a major driver for the Halcyon concept. It allowed us to envision a destination that was both active and social, where people could start with a run or bike ride and then effortlessly transition into dinner, shopping or an event. We also recognized Forsyth County’s rapid growth and the community’s desire for a thoughtfully curated, high-quality mixed-use district. The acreage gave us the flexibility to preserve more than 50 acres of greenspace while still delivering a vibrant, walkable village experience.”
How has the way the public actually uses Halcyon, whether it’s certain events or spaces they flock to, surprised you or differed from your original expectations?
“We always believed Halcyon would become a community hub, but the level of engagement has exceeded even our highest expectations. Signature programs like Halcyon Kids Club every Wednesday and our seasonal Cornhole and Bocce Ball leagues have become weekly traditions that consistently draw big crowds. The most pleasant surprise, though, is how organically people use the Village Green and public spaces. Families picnic, coworkers gather after the office and cyclists meet up before rides. That everyday, informal use is the greatest sign that a place has woven itself into the fabric of the community. Halcyon has become a backdrop for life’s everyday moments and its milestones. Families come for dinners after baseball practice, employees walk over from on-site companies for lunch, and the community returns every Halloween and Mother’s Day. We’ve seen prom photos, proposals, birthday celebrations, anniversaries – you name it. It’s incredibly rewarding to see people make Halcyon their own.”
The selection of tenants in Halcyon feels very intentional. Can you walk me through RocaPoint's strategy for choosing tenants and balancing local concepts with established national brands?
“Our goal is to create a tenant mix that reflects the community’s tastes while introducing experiences you can’t find anywhere else. More than 60% of Halcyon’s restaurants and retailers are local or small businesses, many of which are minority- or woman-owned. We pair those with best-in-class national brands to strike the right balance between familiarity and discovery. Everything is curated around quality, authenticity, and community connection. A great example is BRASH Coffee Roasters’ vintage truck, “The Beast,” which joined Market Hall this spring. It brings a distinctive local flavor to the property and strengthens Halcyon’s walkable, social atmosphere. We don’t fill space for the sake of filling space. Every tenant must add something meaningful to the overall experience.”
Can we expect to hear about any new restaurants or retailers joining the Halcyon community in the near future?
“Halcyon continues to see strong interest from both local concepts and regional operators. While we can’t share specifics today, we are actively in discussions with several tenants who would be exciting additions to the property. As we move into future phases, our focus remains the same: best-in-class dining, experiential retail and brands that reinforce Halcyon’s sense of place.”
What key lessons did you learn from the process of developing Halcyon that you are now applying to other RocaPoint projects across the Southeast?
“Three lessons continue to guide our work:
1. Trail connectivity is transformative. Greenway access shaped Halcyon’s identity and usage patterns. We’ve carried that philosophy into projects like our Greenville Downtown Redevelopment, where multimodal connectivity anchors the master plan.
2. Programming is as important as design. A place becomes a destination through activation. Halcyon hosts more than 100 events each year, from live music to family festivals, and that model has informed our approach in Greenville, Downtown Pompano Beach and beyond. Tying much of that programming to local nonprofits is also essential; giving back is a core part of being a good community partner.
3. Curated tenant mix matters. Rather than chase volume, we focus on tenants who help build community. That principle guides every RocaPoint project.”
Halcyon’s event calendar is one of the most active in the entire metro Atlanta area. How important have the consistent on-site events been for the success of this mixed-use development?
“Events are central to Halcyon’s DNA. They create weekly rhythms that keep guests coming back, not just for major holidays, but for signature programs like Groovin’ on the Green, Family Dance Parties, Kids Club, 5Ks and seasonal festivals. Programming has been instrumental in transforming Halcyon from a mixed-use development into a true community gathering place. Over the years, our events have also raised more than $350,000 for local nonprofits, reinforcing Halcyon as both an economic engine and a committed community partner.”
Could you speak on Halcyon's residential opportunities? How has the development's mix of townhomes, single-family homes, luxury apartments, and the senior living community contributed to the overall vision for Halcyon?
“From day one, we set out to make Halcyon a complete community. Offering a mix of residential options, including townhomes, single-family homes, apartments and active-adult living, creates a multigenerational environment that feels balanced and authentic. Residents truly are the heartbeat of Halcyon. They’re on-site early in the morning walking their dogs and grabbing coffee or a smoothie, throughout the workday for lunch in the Market Hall and into the evening for a wine tasting or just listing to the free music on the Green. Their consistent presence supports retailers and restaurants, fuels event attendance and contributes to the lived-in, welcoming atmosphere that defines the village.”
With each development phase of Halcyon being a clear success, are there any plans for future expansion of the property or additional RocaPoint projects in the Metro Atlanta area?
“Metro Atlanta remains a core market for us. In addition to Halcyon, we’re advancing major local projects such as Campus 244 in Dunwoody, and we’re continually evaluating opportunities across the region that align with our placemaking approach. While we can’t share details yet, future phases of Halcyon will continue our commitment to delivering meaningful, community- centric development.”
