River Place, a 13-story, more than $80 million mixed-use project underway in downtown Wilmington, reached another milestone this week.

Officials with developer East West Partners of Chapel Hill, which is creating River Place as part of a public private partnership with the city of Wilmington, announced Tuesday that pre-leasing has begun for the 79 apartments in the development.

The studio, one- and two-bedroom units in the Overlook at River Place are expected to be move-in ready by May, according to a news release. Greystar Properties is taking tenant inquiries and apartment reservations.

Project manager Lucien Ellison of East West Partners stated in the release that his company looks forward to welcoming its first apartment residents this spring. The units range in size from 553 to 1,284 square feet, and rents start at $1,161 a month.

River Place encompasses an entire block along Front Street and Water Street. The apartment homes are along Grace Street and Water Street, with views of the Cape Fear River and the northern end of downtown Wilmington. 

"The first of 92 total condominiums will also be ready for occupancy by March 2020," the release stated. "The first to be released will be among the 58 homes along Water Street, with the remaining 34 condominiums surrounding the parking deck to be released shortly thereafter. The parking deck is on track for completion in conjunction with the first condominiums."

The release stated that the retail and dining businesses occupying the commercial portion of River Place began upfitting their spaces in January. Among those tenants are Circa Restaurant Group, Mellow Mushroom and Axis Fitness.