Apartment over Commercial housing involves apartments located above commercial spaces, with residential units potentially occupying part of the ground floor as well. These buildings typically contain 25-100 units across 3-5 floors, with a net site density of 26-84 units per acre. Careful interior unit, building access, parking, and outdoor space design is needed to balance the residential and commercial uses and ensure safety, sociability, and livability. High density apartment over commercial developments can provide good neighborhood amenities and access to services if pedestrian environments and shared open spaces are incorporated.

1. Metropolitan Design Center | College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture | University of Minnesota
1 Rapson Hall, 89 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455 www.designcenter.umn.edu
of 10
Housing Types
Originally prepared for the Northwest Corridor Development Approach
Revised June 2005
Apartment over Commercial
data
25-100 units/building
3-5 floors/building
interior or exterior entry
net site density:
26-84 units/acre
common names
Vertical mixed use
Home design
• Interior unit layout is critical for livability.
• Shared entries, hallways, elevators, and stairs
require careful design for safety and sociability.
• Unit individualization occurs mostly at interior
unit entrance.
• Wide variety of outdoor spaces if rowhouses are
below, much narrower range if commercial.
• Distinct building uses require careful design
to separate or integrate pedestrian access,
parking, deliveries, and trash pick-up.
variations
Lyndale Avenue, Minneapolis, MN St. Louis Park, MNNorth Quadrant, St. Paul, MN
Site design
• Parking needs careful attention to balance day
and evening uses.
• May exist in street-frontage situation or, more
rarely, walk-up options.
Neighborhood amenities
• High density allows for good access to
services and facilities, including transportation,
recreation, education, shopping, etc.
• An active pedestrian environment and shared
parks are required for livability.
Apartment units above a commercial space.
Residential can also occupy part of ground floor.
9

2. Metropolitan Design Center | College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture | University of Minnesota
1 Rapson Hall, 89 Church St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455 www.designcenter.umn.edu
of 10
Housing Types
Originally prepared for the Northwest Corridor Development Approach
Revised June 2005
Holyoke, MA
Boston, MA
34th & Hennepin, Minneapolis, MNHennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, MNNorth Loop, Minneapolis, MN
North Quadrant, St. Paul, MN Boston, MA
Apartment over Commercial
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