Streetfront Development engaged Locus Architecture to design a new model of multi-family housing that challenges conventional large-scale apartment development. The project consists of two facing, three-story buildings containing twelve rental units each, conceived as a full-scale demonstration of the “Missing Middle” housing type within St. Paul’s rapidly evolving Merriam Park–Snelling–Hamline neighborhood.
Recently completed and fully leased, Montgomery Place offers an alternative to the oversized podium-style apartment buildings increasingly common in urban infill contexts. Rather than prioritizing ground-floor retail or expansive footprints, the project focuses on livability, neighborhood compatibility, and architectural clarity at a human scale. The paired buildings establish a residential presence that is intentional and contextual, reinforcing density without overwhelming surrounding fabric.
Given neighboring conditions that lacked strong street character, the design introduces its own internal urban framework. A north–south-oriented, inward-facing courtyard and landscaped rain garden sit between the buildings, serving as a shared entry sequence, stormwater management strategy, and informal gathering space for residents. This outdoor room fosters community while offering a transitional zone between private living and the evolving public realm.
Within the buildings, window placement and grouping are carefully composed to balance privacy, daylight, and visual connection. Fenestration functions both as a façade strategy and a means of fostering subtle social awareness among residents. The wood-frame structures are clad in a simply but dynamic metal tile panels that lend depth and rhythm to the façades.