<p>South-facing units in the three-story Yacht Club Apartments provide views of Youngs Bay.</p>

Construction workers are putting the finishing touches on the outside of the Yacht Club Apartments, Astorias newest source of high-density housing, while others start decorating the 24 units within.

The entire complex, a project of Edgewater at Mill Pond developer Richard Dick Krueger, is expected to be finished by mid-May and is already taking applications.

I think right now its materializing fairly quickly, said Laurie Willey, the on-site manager at the Yacht Club Apartments, Edgewater at Mill Pond and the Elk Creek Terrace in Cannon Beach for Cascade Management Inc.

The modern, three-story building at 1310 W. Marine Drive, with brick facades and corrugated siding and a subdued red, white and blue color scheme, sits in between the U.S. Coast Guard Exchange and the Bayshore Apartments. Its the first phase of a 60-unit complex, the second phase of which will start once the first fills with tenants.

Portland-based Silco Commercial Construction Inc. is the general contractor, and Hillsboro-based Partin & Hill Architects designed the building.

Rooms with a view

The 24 apartments at the Yacht Club, still drywall shells at the moment, are all two bedrooms, two bathrooms, averaging around 900 square feet and starting at $900 a month. They will come with most amenities, including washer and dryer hook-ups, refrigerators, microwaves and garbage disposals.

The top two floors of the complex offer sweeping views of Youngs Bay. Willey said they wont have full balconies to start, although the sliding glass doors open onto small terraces that can fit plants and other small items.

The complex will allow pets of 20 pounds or less, including dogs, for an additional $300 deposit. It includes 1.5 uncovered parking places per apartment.

Willey said shes already had 14 applicants, mostly people from Portland either retiring or moving back to Astoria. Contact her in the Edgewater at Mill Pond office at 503-325-4155 or on her cellphone at 503-741-5111 to schedule a tour. The apartments can also be found online at http://www.forrent.com/apartment-community-profile/1000464211.php

Second phase

The owner is doing some walking paths to the water, said Willey about the complex, the first phase of which sits slightly below Marine Drive.

The second, 36-apartment building will be at a lower grade, closer to Youngs Bay and will likely include one-bedroom apartments.

In addition to apartments, said Krueger, the lot will include temperature-controlled personal storage. And all the buildings will have elevators.

Edgewater at Mill Pond, which opened Feb. 10, 2012 to residents 55 years old and older, was financed by West Coast Bank. At the time, Krueger said that once it reached 75 percent capacity, he would move forward with what was then known as the Buoy 10 Apartments, now the Yacht Club Apartments.