The developer of the $60 million Pier 33 apartments project on Nutt Street is in the process of seeking New Hanover County approvals to begin the project, an official with the firm said Monday.

Everett Daniels, president of Pier 33 apartments development firm DeWitt Carolinas Inc., said submitting documentation for a county building permit marks a major step for the 286-unit apartment complex, which will include a parking deck and 24,000 square feet of retail space.

Getting all the necessary approvals could take 30 to 60 days with proper review and response times by the DeWitt design team and the county agencies involved, he said.

"There's a lot of moving parts in a project of this size and scope, but it's still our intention to begin construction this year," Daniels said.

In May, after two years of no construction on the site, DeWitt Carolinas resubmitted plans to the city of Wilmington's technical review process. If all goes as planned, residents might be able to move into the complex, which will include luxury amenities and luxury unit finishes, as early as the first part of 2019, he said.

For the commercial space, Raleigh-based DeWitt Carolinas has been working with some potential tenants and anticipates hiring a commercial broker in the next couple of months, Daniels said.

Raleigh-based Clancy & Theys Construction Co., which has offices in Wilmington, has been in charge of pre-development and pre-construction for Pier 33 apartments. On Sept. 19, the company was awarded a $1.9 million construction manager at-risk contract by the Wilmington City Council for the city's new North Waterfront Park, another major project near the Pier 33 apartments site along the Cape Fear River in northern downtown Wilmington.

Crews finished construction of Sawmill Point, the only other apartment community along the northern riverfront, in May. Owner and developer Blair Booth of Symphony Properties said leasing has been going very well.

"We are nearly 70 percent leased and occupied," Booth said in an email Monday.

Booth said Sawmill Point's unique riverfront location "with fantastic outdoor spaces and the best-in-class amenity package" are contributing factors to the success of leasing at the new apartment community. He said he expects demand for apartments in the area to continue.

"There is a substantial interest in the downtown area," Booth said in the email, "and I believe there will be demand for more living options, particularly apartments."