dorm rooms for grownups
New Montrose apartments lure young professionals with discounted dorm-style living
Each unit offers private bedrooms and a shared common area.
With rents on the rise, many young professionals may be looking to save a little money by splitting an apartment with a roommate, but people may have difficulties finding the right person.
For example, a person who’s new to Houston may not have met someone they’re willing to live with. Other people may not want to enter into a lease with a friend knowing they’ll have to haggle over shared expenses like internet access and utilities.
Enter UNITi Montrose, a new, six-story apartment building opening in June at 701 Richmond Ave. Developed by Civitas Capital Group and The Shelter Companies, the new building aims to solve some of those challenges by offering “co-living spaces” — which are units with private bedrooms that share common areas such as a living room and kitchen.
The idea of co-living will be familiar to anyone who lived in a college dorm. Groups of two, three, or four bedrooms (each with its own bathroom) share a common living space that comes complete with a washer/dryer, kitchen, and a living room that’s equipped with furniture and a TV. The only thing a prospective tenant needs to move in is clothes to wear and sheets for the bed.
Each person pays rent for their individual bedroom — typically $1,200-$1,350 per month for 166 to 227 square feet, depending on factors such as size, view, and closet space. The rent for a bedroom includes utilities, cable, wifi, bi-weekly cleaning service, and restocks of common household items such as kitchen supplies, dishwasher detergent, and laundry pods. The building's other amenities include a pool, sky lounge, fitness room, EV charging areas, and a dog wash station.
Rooms are leased on a first-come, first-served basis, which means suitemates likely won’t know each other. However, UNITi requires all residents to pass a criminal background check, credit check, and fit certain income requirements. Each bedroom has a lock to ensure privacy, and a few even have their own balconies. Management plans to hold events that allow residents to get to know each other, a representative tells CultureMap.
All told, UNITi has 207 co-leasing bedrooms units along with 167 traditional apartments that are divided into studios and one-bedroom units. Those prices range from $1,400 to $1,800, which means the typical co-living tenant is saving $200 or more per month compared to renting a fully private unit. The property is managed by Common, which is part of Habyt, a firm that oversees over 30,000 units in 50 cities, according to a release.
"We are thrilled to introduce UNITi Montrose to the Houston community," said Mark Drumm, co-founder of The Shelter Companies, in a statement. "This development represents a new era in urban living, where convenience, community, and value converge. Our all-inclusive approach to amenities and utilities creates an attainable and adaptive living experience for professionals, students, digital nomads, and all seeking flexibility in their home life.”
The building is currently in pre-leasing. For more information, visit www.common.com/houston/montrose/uniti-montrose.
