New Pilgrim Towers Apartments in Birmingham, AL

Pros

• The New Pilgrim building is very clean and has been upgraded, with independent rooms that are spacious and comfortable.
• The living quarters for the elderly are awesome, and the apartments are attractive and cozy.
• This building is a truly wonderful community; it is well managed and residents absolutely love living there.
• It is kept very clean, and the lobby presents a welcoming impression.
• It is great senior housing, described as a nice, clean place to live.
• The front desk and security contribute to a safe and secure environment.
• Residents feel privileged to live there and appreciate the caring atmosphere.
• The staff and residents alike are friendly, making the community inviting.

Cons

• They would give the place 0 stars if given the option.
• The hallways to the rooms have a foul odor.
• The facility has a roach problem.
• A family member has roach eggs in their clothes.
• The basement heat does not work.
• The exterior has been renovated, but the interior remains uninhabitable.
• It is not a suitable place for a senior to live.
• The female security officer is the worst.

Review

New Pilgrim Towers Apartments in Birmingham is best suited for independent seniors who want a clean, upgraded apartment community with a built-in social network and visible on-site security. It works for retirees who prize a pleasant lobby, spacious one-bedroom options, and a sense of neighborhood among residents who stay connected. The ideal resident is self-sufficient, values a well-kept building, and seeks the reassurance of a front desk presence and resident-driven camaraderie. This is not a facility built around daily medical care; it is an autonomous living environment that delivers a collective living experience with safety features and social opportunities. Families should be aware that those needing ongoing caregiving or strict maintenance standards may prefer alternatives.

Those who may want to consider alternatives are residents with strong needs for consistent housekeeping across all floors, pest control to a level where roaches and eggs are not part of daily life, or reliable heating in all areas, including basements. Individuals with significant mobility limitations or those who require regular assistance with daily activities may find the level of on-site care insufficient. Additionally, anyone who places a premium on an unvarying, turnkey cleanliness standard on every floor, or who wants a facility that feels entirely modern and non-prison-like in atmosphere, may want to survey other options. The sensibility of security and staff interaction can be a mixed bag, so those who demand a uniformly responsive management experience should test-drive this community before committing.

Key positives center on a strong impression of cleanliness in common spaces, upgraded exterior presentation, and a social, community-oriented vibe. Reviewers repeatedly describe the building as a comfortable, nice place to live with generous room sizes in the independent apartments and a sense of pride among residents. The lobby, when viewed positively, signals a well-managed property with attentive front desk presence and a feeling of safety from a staffed security presence. Many residents and families express gratitude for the friendly atmosphere, the feeling of privilege, and the satisfaction of having reliable neighbors and a like-minded retiree community. These factors create a solid foundation for daily life and social engagement, which matters a great deal for long-term satisfaction.

But the downsides are not trivial and cannot be dismissed. Odors in hallways, plus reports of a roach problem and even roach eggs on clothing, pose real health and comfort concerns that can erode the appeal of independent living. Maintenance gaps surface in discussions about floor cleanliness, and there are credible complaints that certain floors do not receive the level of cleaning expected. The basement heating can fail, which is a practical inconvenience in colder months, and the foyer and overall ambiance at times feel sterile or less welcoming than the renovated exterior might suggest. There are also mixed impressions about management responsiveness, and a sentiment that some staff interactions, while generally courteous, can veer toward overstepping boundaries for residents with physical limits. This combination of pest, cleanliness, and maintenance anxieties frames a risk profile that families should weigh carefully.

To make a well-informed decision, families should schedule in-person visits with a concrete checklist: inspect multiple units and floor areas for odor and cleanliness, request the latest pest-control records and action logs, verify the reliability of heating systems in all common areas and units (including the basement), and speak directly with current residents about daily living, accessibility, and what help is available if care needs increase. Ask about housekeeping schedules, the intensity of floor cleaning, and how maintenance requests are tracked and resolved. Inquire about security procedures, staff availability, and any recent changes in management or policy that might affect day-to-day life. This approach will reveal whether the pros, cleanliness in common areas, upgraded spaces, safety features, and a vibrant resident community, truly outweigh the cons for the specific needs of a prospective member.

Bottom line: for families prioritizing a safe, social, independent-living environment with a sense of community and well-kept public spaces, New Pilgrim Towers deserves serious consideration. It is less favorable for those with high care needs, stringent cleanliness expectations on every floor, or sensitivity to odors and pests. If choosing this community, enter with a clear plan: secure a current pest-control history, confirm heating reliability, tour during different times of day to assess cleanliness and atmosphere on all floors, and obtain a firm commitment from management on responsiveness and maintenance timelines. When aligned with the right expectations, this building can offer a warm, sociable home; when misaligned, the gaps become hard to overlook.

Located in Birmingham, Alabama, this area offers convenient access to a variety of amenities and services that cater to senior living needs. With several hospitals and medical facilities nearby, including Baptist Health System and UAB Hospital, seniors can easily access quality healthcare. Pharmacies such as Walgreens and CVS are also within close proximity for medication needs. Additionally, there are numerous dining options ranging from seafood to hot chicken, as well as cafes like Starbucks for a relaxing coffee break. The area boasts several parks for leisurely walks or outdoor activities, including Avondale Park and Railroad Park. Places of worship such as Galilee Baptist Church and Canterbury United Methodist Church are nearby for spiritual nourishment. Transportation options are available with the Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport just a short distance away. Overall, this area provides a well-rounded environment with essential services for seniors looking to settle in a vibrant community in Birmingham.

Physicians

• Baptist Health System (0.3 miles)
• Maria S. Prelipcean, MD (0.7 miles)
• UAB Center For Aging (1.4 miles)
• Pediatric Nephrology Of Alabama, PC (1.4 miles)
• Alabama Ophthalmology Associates PC (1.5 miles)
• Mark, Victor Dr-Spain Rehabilitation Center (1.6 miles)
• Children's of Alabama - Pediatric ENT Associates (1.7 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.3 miles)
• Birmingham Nuclear Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• Birmingham Apothecary (1.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.7 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (3 miles)

Restaurants

• Automatic Seafood and Oysters (0.6 miles)
• Hattie B's Hot Chicken (0.6 miles)
• Big Spoon Creamery (0.6 miles)
• Rojo (0.7 miles)
• Cahaba Brewing Company (0.8 miles)
• Fish Market Restaurant (1.2 miles)
• El Barrio (1.3 miles)

Cafes

• The Red Cat (0.6 miles)
• Continental Bakery (1.4 miles)
• Starbucks (1.4 miles)
• The Essential (1.4 miles)
• Revelator Coffee Company (1.7 miles)
• Starbucks (3.6 miles)
• Starbucks (4.8 miles)

Parks

• Avondale Park (0.6 miles)
• Rotary Trail (1.4 miles)
• Railroad Park (1.8 miles)

Hospitals

• Ascension St Vincent’s Birmingham (0.8 miles)
• UAB Spain-Wallace Building (1.4 miles)
• UAB Hospital (1.5 miles)
• Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital (1.6 miles)
• Women & Infants Center (1.6 miles)
• Benjamin Russell Hospital for Children (1.7 miles)
• Baptist Medical Center (4.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• Levite Jewish Community Center (1.5 miles)
• Galilee Baptist Church (2 miles)
• Canterbury United Methodist Church (2.4 miles)
• McElwain Baptist Church (3 miles)
• All Saints Episcopal Church (3.2 miles)
• Dawson Family of Faith (3.2 miles)
• Covenant Presbyterian Church (3.6 miles)

Transportation

• Concourse C (3.5 miles)
• Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM) (3.7 miles)
• Runway (3.9 miles)

Theaters

• AMC DINE-IN Vestavia Hills 1 (4.8 miles)