The Penny vs Honcho
Which Community Is Right For You?
The Penny on College Main and Honcho are both new-construction towers opening in the Northgate District for Fall 2027. This guide walks through how each one is set up, so you can figure out which fits how you actually want to live.
If you've been searching for TAMU off-campus housing, chances are The Penny on College Main and Honcho have both come up. Both are new high-rise towers opening in the Northgate District for Fall 2027, and both offer fully furnished units with in-unit washers and dryers. From there, they're built around some genuinely different priorities. Here's what each one offers, so you can weigh them against what actually matters to you.
| What You're Comparing | The Penny | Honcho |
|---|---|---|
| Floor Plans | 17 plans, studio–5BR + townhomes | 199 units / 500 beds, studio–5BR + townhomes |
| Size Range | 437–2,035 SF | Not published per unit |
| Building Height | 20-story tower | 23-story tower |
| Management | Coastal Ridge Real Estate | Cardinal Group |
| Signature Structure | Bed-to-bath parity | Individual, by-the-bed leasing |
Where you live shapes your daily walk to class, and how close you are to Northgate's restaurants and nightlife.
Located at 415 College Main St, at College Main and Cherry in the heart of the Northgate District. An easy walk to TAMU's campus and to the Northgate Entertainment District's restaurants and shops.
Located at 250 Church Ave, positioned between Northgate and campus. Honcho's own site lists walk times to nearby Northgate spots: about 1 minute to Chimy's and Hurricane Harry's, 2 minutes to Dixie Chicken, and 3 to 4 minutes to the TXAg Store and Corner Bar & Grill.
Bedroom count and square footage affect both your monthly cost per person and how much room you'll actually have to spread out.
17 floor plans from studio through 5-bedroom, including two-story townhome options, all built with bed-to-bath parity so every bedroom gets its own bathroom. Sizes run from 437 SF (studio) up to 2,035 SF (5-bedroom townhome).
Studio, two-, three-, four-, and five-bedroom floor plans, plus select townhome units, across 199 units and 500 beds in a 23-story tower. Some units include private bathrooms, walk-in closets, patios or balconies, and courtyard views; Honcho notes these features are only available in select units rather than every floor plan.
What's bundled into your monthly installment, and what's billed on top of it, affects what else you'll need to budget for.
- Furnished bedroom: full-sized extra-long bed, study desk and chair, dresser, nightstand
- Furnished living room
- Full kitchen: refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, dining area
- Hardwood-style flooring and in-unit washer/dryer
- Community amenity access and after-hours lockout/maintenance support
- High-speed Wi-Fi and a fully furnished unit with designer furniture
- Full-size washer and dryer, and a 55" Smart TV
- Trash, 24/7 maintenance, nightly security, and community events
- On-site amenity access
- Electricity and water are billed separately; select floor/bedroom premiums, parking, and pet rent are optional add-ons on top of the base installment
The shared spaces are where a lot of day-to-day life happens between classes.
- Rooftop pool with a hot tub and cold plunge, plus a sundeck and grilling stations
- Pickleball court, outdoor yoga space, fire pit, hammocks, and an outdoor theater
- 137-inch CSEED outdoor TV and an Airstream food truck and self-service market
- 24-hour gym with a sauna, salt wall, and recovery room
- 10th-floor study lounges, Print With Me printing access, and coffee bars on the 1st and 9th floors
- Front desk and concierge service, package lockers, and a dog run with a dog wash station
- Pet washroom and relief area, EV chargers, and water bottle filling stations
- Resort-style pool and hot tub, plus a sky lounge and rooftop-style jumbotron
- 24-hour fitness center with a Peloton spin bike, dual cable functional trainer, and sauna
- Private study pods with smartboards and a welcome lounge cafe serving coffee and sparkling water
- Community clubroom with ping pong and a gaming area
- 24-hour package lockers, an oversized package room, and a bike storage room with a repair station
How you get from your unit to your car is worth knowing before you tour, since it's often billed differently than the rest of your rent.
Offers both reserved and unreserved on-site parking options for residents.
Offers reserved parking in a secure garage, with pricing based on space type and availability, billed separately from the base rent installment.
What Matters Most To You?
Use whichever list below matches your priorities as a starting point, then tour both to see the space in person.
The Penny Wins If You Want:
- Every bedroom with its own private bathroom, at every floor plan size
- More room to spread out at comparable bed counts, up to 2,035 SF in a 5-bedroom townhome
- A dedicated pet washroom and relief area
- EV charging and water bottle filling stations on residential floors
- Package lockers and an on-site automated market for late-night snacks
Honcho Wins If You Want:
- Built-in roommate matching through RoomSync
- A heavily-equipped 24-hour fitness center, down to a Peloton bike and a dual cable trainer
- A sky lounge, rooftop-style jumbotron, and hot tub alongside the pool
- A one- to two-minute walk to Northgate staples like Chimy's and Hurricane Harry's
Check Out Both If You Want:
- A fully furnished unit, down to the mattress and desk
- An in-unit washer and dryer, no shared laundry room
- On-site parking options
- A resident fitness center
- A pet-friendly community within walking distance of TAMU
The Penny on College Main is an Equal Housing Opportunity community.
Details for Honcho reflect that community's own published materials as of this writing and are provided for informational comparison only; confirm current terms, pricing, and availability directly with each leasing office before signing.
