LEWISTON — Standing in a corner apartment overlooking the Androscoggin River, the flicker of holiday lights in New Auburn catches your attention. The steady stream of cars crossing the Bernard Lown Peace Bridge at rush hour is silent — because the massive new windows in the former cotton mill are virtually soundproof.

The front entrance to Picker House Lofts is an impressive and welcome sight. Just 17 months ago, it was a dilapidated 79,000-square-foot brick building in the center of the Continental Mill.

Starting the first week in January, the new apartments — a mixture of workplace and market-rate units — will start welcoming new tenants. Floors in the entranceway and in some apartments are original and refinished. New wood floors line the halls and apartments elsewhere.

Developer The Szanton Company has delivered an impressive start to the eventual redevelopment of the entire Continental Mill by Chinbrook Properties in the next two years — 377 additional market-rate apartments delivered in two phases.

“I think that having 550,000 square feet of space rehabilitated right here on the river in downtown has got to have a huge impact on downtown,” Szanton’s President Nathan Szanton said late Tuesday, referring to the total square footage of one of Maine’s largest textile mills.

There are 72 apartments, 46 are workforce or affordable housing, and the remaining 26 units are market rate. Workforce apartments range from $700-$854 for a one bedroom and $834-$1,020 for a two bedroom unit. The building is a mixture of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.

Market-rate units start at $1,295 for a one bedroom. Heat and hot water and internet are all included with all the units. Each apartment comes with one off-street parking space and there is a secure indoor bicycle storage area.

Other amenities include a gym, a rooftop deck with views of the river, a community room with games, a kitchenette and sitting area. There is a laundry facility exclusively for tenant use in the five-story building, which has elevators as well. There are indoor secure lockers for package delivery and mailboxes and an on-site property manager and an on-site resident service coordinator.

“You need people to create vitality,” Szanton said as he proudly showed off the different units. “You can’t have a vital city if you don’t have people living in it.”

“It’s exciting to see this housing development near completion in what was likely the largest empty building in Maine,” Mayor Carl Sheline told the Sun Journal on Wednesday. “The Szanton Company has been a great partner to work with and I appreciate their investment in Lewiston.”

Szanton credits Hebert Construction with what he called fantastic coordination of the subcontractors that allowed them to wrap the project up not just on time but early — something that doesn’t happen very often with housing projects in Maine.

Most of the apartments have 13.5-foot ceilings and all are unique. The bedrooms are on the small side, but the apartments overall are roomy with plenty of natural light.

There is even talk of a brewpub among the possible amenities for the overall complex in the next few years.

Saco Falls Management is handling the leasing of all the units. Applications are still being accepted and apartment-seekers can set up a showing through the company or call 207-228-8800.