The Port of Everett has selected a Mercer Island development firm to build two apartment buildings along the city’s waterfront.

American Classic Homes agreed to pay $7 million to purchase 5.44 acres in Fisherman’s Harbor District, the first part of a planned makeover of Everett’s central waterfront area.

The company is expected to construct the buildings with 254 apartments next year. Each building will be between 35 to 45 feet high. The apartments will range in size from 550 to 1,300 square feet, according to American Classic Homes proposal.

“Our design approach will reflect Everett’s past waterfront industries while looking to the future of this new, exciting mixed-use neighborhood,” said John Shaw, director of multi-family acquisitions at American Classic Homes, in a statement.

The company is led by a strong team with experience at delivering successful projects on time, said Terrie Battuello, chief of business development for the Port of Everett, in the statement.

“The American Classic Homes team provided a vision for the Fisherman’s Harbor residential that was creative, high-quality and consistent with the overall historical theme of the Waterfront Place Central development,” she said.

The port is looking to remake 65 acres along the central waterfront into a place where people can live, work and shop.

The first phase is called Fisherman’s Harbor District, which is on 12 acres just west of West Marine View Drive. In addition to the apartment buildings, the port hopes a 140-room hotel, five commercial buildings and several shops and restaurants will be built in the area.

Also planned are a continuous public trail, a dock walk for people to get to the water and a Pacific Rim Plaza, including several water fountains.

Interwest Construction and Bergerson Construction are building new roadways — Seiner Drive and 14th Street — the Esplanade trail system in Fisherman’s Harbor and the plaza. The firms were paid $12 million for the infrastructure work.

American Classic Homes expects to start construction next fall of the two apartment buildings. The first building aims to have features that celebrate Everett’s waterfront’s history as a timber mill town. The second expects to highlight the city’s maritime roots.

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