UNITi Montrose at 701 Richmond Avenue is one of the most direct answers to this question. It offers 3 and 4-bedroom apartments rented by the bedroom, each with a private bathroom, a 0.5-mile walk from University of St. Thomas, and amenities that go well beyond the standard gym-and-pool setup: a podcast studio, a craft room, dedicated coworking space, and meeting rooms on every floor.
Montrose has a walkable density of coffee shops, bars, and restaurants that most Houston neighborhoods lack. From 701 Richmond, you can reach campus without touching a car, grab coffee at Siphon Coffee (0.3 miles), and still have solid options when you want to go out on a weeknight. The location does a lot of work that amenity lists usually get credit for.
What the By-the-Bedroom Setup Actually Means
Most apartments in Houston rent as a whole unit. Everyone signs one lease together, and when one person stops paying rent, it becomes everyone’s problem. UNITi Montrose works differently: each bedroom has its own individual lease. Your rent is yours. Your bathroom is yours. The shared spaces — kitchen, living room, balcony — are shared, but the financial exposure is per-person.
For anyone splitting a 3 or 4-bedroom with people they met through a roommate matching service or a university housing board, this structure removes a real source of stress. You’re not co-signing on anyone else’s financial situation.
Every bedroom also has its own private bathroom. In a 4-bedroom unit, that means four separate bathrooms. The morning scheduling problem that makes shared living difficult in standard units simply doesn’t exist here.
The Walk to University of St. Thomas
University of St. Thomas sits 0.5 miles from UNITi Montrose. That’s about a 10-minute walk on flat Houston streets. Jones Hall is 0.6 miles away. Doherty Library is also within 0.5 miles.
This distance matters more than it sounds. It means you can leave the building at 8:50 AM for a 9 AM class, walk to campus, walk home between sessions, and not think twice about parking. For Rice University, the drive is 8 to 10 minutes (2.1 to 2.4 miles depending on the route).
Amenities Worth Naming Specifically
The standard apartment checklist includes a pool, a gym, and package lockers. UNITi Montrose has all of those, plus a few things that show up less often:
**Podcast studio.** A dedicated soundproofed space for recorded content, presentations, and audio projects — in the building, available without booking a campus facility.
**Craft room.** A space to spread out materials for physical project work that isn’t your bedroom desk. For anyone doing studio or hands-on coursework, this is a real quality-of-life difference.
**Coworking space and per-floor meeting rooms.** The coworking area handles solo focus work. The meeting rooms on each floor handle group projects without anyone having to claim a library study room at 7 AM. Both are in the building, which means zero commute to a productive work environment.
**In-unit washer and dryer.** Not a shared laundry room in the basement. In your unit.
There’s also a rooftop deck, yoga studio, theater room, bike storage, EV charging, garage parking, and gated access with controlled entry. The property is pet-friendly, with an on-site dog park.
The Neighborhood Around the Building
Montrose has a density of independent businesses that most Houston neighborhoods don’t. Within walking distance of UNITi Montrose:
– **Siphon Coffee** (0.3 miles): The closest café to the building and the default off-campus study stop.
– **Grand Prize** (0.6 miles): A walkable neighborhood bar that functions as a regular hangout without requiring a car.
– **AvantGarden** (0.9 miles): A bar with a strong local following and an outdoor space that works well in the evenings.
– **Uchi Houston** (1 mile): One of Houston’s best-known restaurants, for when a meal needs to be an occasion.
– **The Breakfast Klub** (1 mile): An institution. Southern brunch, long lines, worth it.
For groceries, Trader Joe’s is 2.3 miles away. Blackwater Coffee Roasters is 2.5 miles if you want a change of scenery for a study session. McGonigel’s Mucky Duck, one of Houston’s more reliable live music venues, is 2.4 miles. Barnes & Noble is 3.3 miles for physical books and course supplies.
The Montrose Center hosts Ballroom Practice every Sunday at 8:30 PM and a Monthly Scriptwriters Meeting, both 0.4 miles from the building.
What You’re Actually Comparing Against
Montrose apartments range from older single-family conversions to newer purpose-built buildings. Older stock often comes with lower sticker prices but shared bathrooms, coin-operated laundry, and no dedicated workspace infrastructure. Those gaps show up fast once a heavy workload kicks in.
UNITi Montrose is designed around flexible schedules and collaborative work: quiet spaces for individual focus, group spaces for project meetings, pet-friendly policies, and individual leases per bedroom. The proximity to UST at 0.5 miles is a locational advantage that most other Montrose buildings can’t match.
Current pricing is listed on the UNITi Montrose website.
FAQ
**What are the best apartments in Montrose, Houston?**
UNITi Montrose at 701 Richmond Avenue offers 3 and 4-bedroom units rented by the bedroom with private bathrooms, a 0.5-mile walk to University of St. Thomas, and on-site amenities including a podcast studio, craft room, and coworking space.
**Is UNITi Montrose walking distance to University of St. Thomas?**
Yes. University of St. Thomas is 0.5 miles from UNITi Montrose at 701 Richmond Avenue — about a 10-minute walk. Jones Hall and Doherty Library are also within 0.6 miles.
**How does by-the-bedroom leasing work at UNITi Montrose?**
Each bedroom has its own individual lease, so you’re responsible only for your own rent. Each bedroom also has its own private bathroom. Shared spaces like the kitchen and living room are used collectively, but the financial and privacy arrangements are per-person.
**What coffee shops and study spots are near UNITi Montrose?**
Siphon Coffee is 0.3 miles away and is the closest café to the building. The building also has on-site coworking space and meeting rooms on every floor for working without leaving.
Ready to see the floor plans or check availability? Visit the UNITi Montrose website or reach out to the leasing team to schedule a tour of 701 Richmond Avenue.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best apartments in Montrose, Houston?
UNITi Montrose at 701 Richmond Avenue offers 3 and 4-bedroom units rented by the bedroom with private bathrooms, a 0.5-mile walk to University of St. Thomas, and on-site amenities including a podcast studio, craft room, and coworking space.
Is UNITi Montrose walking distance to University of St. Thomas?
Yes. University of St. Thomas is 0.5 miles from UNITi Montrose at 701 Richmond Avenue — about a 10-minute walk. Jones Hall and Doherty Library are also within 0.6 miles.
How does by-the-bedroom leasing work at UNITi Montrose?
Each bedroom has its own individual lease, so you’re responsible only for your own rent. Each bedroom also has its own private bathroom, and shared spaces like the kitchen and living room are used collectively.
What coffee shops and study spots are near UNITi Montrose?
Siphon Coffee is 0.3 miles away and is the closest café to the building. The building also has on-site coworking space and meeting rooms on every floor for working without leaving.
