New Pilgrim Towers Apartments

Pros

• New Pilgrim is a clean and upgraded residential building, a nice place for retirees with spacious and comfortable independent rooms.
• The living quarters for the elderly are awesome, and families report that their loved ones love living there.
• The building is a truly wonderful community; it is well managed and the residents absolutely love living there.
• It is kept very clean and the lobby is inviting.
• A very nice place to live, with everything clean.
• Great senior housing place to live.
• Residents feel privileged to live there.
• The building has a front desk and security, contributing to safety.
• One-bedroom apartments offer plenty of room, and the reviewer looked forward to living there.

Cons

• 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 facelift does not mask the interior's uninhabitable conditions.
• It is not a suitable place for seniors to live.
• The female security officer is the worst and oversteps boundaries.
• The foyer is sterile and unappealing; it is not the New Pilgrim Tower it once was.
• Not the best senior living; units need scrubbing and maintenance, and there's a bad odor in hallways.
• This is a senior living facility that is more like a prison.

Review

The collection of reviews paints a picture of a senior living option that inspires strong opinions - both very positive and deeply critical. On the one hand, several residents and families describe a community that is clean, well managed, and comfortable for retirees who want independence. They point to upgraded facilities, spacious one-bedroom or independent living arrangements, and a sense of pride in the building. For these commentators, the place feels like a welcoming place to call home, with many noting that the apartments are attractive, the lobby and common areas are nicely kept, and that the overall atmosphere is friendly and respectful.

A number of reviewers emphasize the positive, concrete aspects of daily life there. They describe exceptionally clean spaces, including the lobby and common areas, and speak highly of the residents themselves and the social atmosphere. Some say the building is a truly wonderful community, with well-managed operations and residents who genuinely love living there. Personal testimonies reinforce this sentiment: a grandma who "loves it here," a sister who says a family member finds it nice, and a number of comments about the safety and the presence of a front desk and security that help residents feel protected. In several accounts, the independent living spaces are praised for being spacious and comfortable, with remarks about how nice and cute the apartments can be, and how retirement living can be enhanced by attentive staff and a sense of belonging.

Family anecdotes contribute to the sense that this is a place where elders are cared for with attention and affection. Reviewers talk about relatives who live there, or who visit frequently, calling out the importance of a supportive environment for aging loved ones. The presence of security, a front desk, and a well-maintained exterior are seen as reassuring details that contribute to a feeling of safety. Some comments highlight social support, noting friendly interactions among residents and the importance of communal spaces where family events like repasts can be hosted. For many, these elements combine to create an atmosphere of care and community that makes the idea of living there appealing.

Yet, alongside the praise, there are persistent and specific criticisms that cannot be ignored. Several reviewers report unpleasant odors in hallways, an issue that several times appears tied to overall maintenance and upkeep. There are explicit mentions of a roach problem, with one account even alleging roach eggs in a family member's clothes, which is a troubling image that strongly affects perceptions of hygiene and safety. Other practical concerns surface as well, including a basement heating system that does not work, leaving residents uncomfortable or worried about winter conditions. Some descriptions suggest that the exterior has been upgraded while the interior remains problematic, giving the impression of a facelift without addressing deeper interior needs.

Additional negative themes focus on cleanliness inconsistencies and accessibility issues. Reviewers note that not all floors are equally clean and that, in some cases, staff appear inattentive to people with physical limits. There are criticisms about the foyer feeling sterile and unappealing, and a sense that the place has degraded from what it once was. Some residents describe limitations on what they can do or how they move through the building, with remarks about restrictions on motorized vehicles in the lobby and a perception that the environment can feel more like a prison than a senior living community. The sentiment that it is "not the New Pilgrim Tower it once was" appears in some reviews, signaling disappointment with changes over time and a sense that improvements are uneven.

The experience with management and security is mixed as well. While some praise the building's management and the overall sense of safety, there are explicit complaints about the conduct of a female security officer who is described as overstepping boundaries. This thread suggests a tension between feeling secure and feeling constrained or disrespected, depending on the interaction. Overall, the reviews present a complex picture: a place that can be welcoming, clean, and safely staffed, but that also struggles with serious maintenance and pest issues, inconsistent cleanliness on individual floors, and a sense that some policies or conditions are out of step with what residents expect from a high-quality senior living facility.

Taken together, the reviews reflect a spectrum of experiences that can vary dramatically from unit to unit and from floor to floor. For some families, the community offers spacious, attractive living spaces, friendly neighbors, and a secure environment that supports independent living with a sense of belonging. For others, the realities of odors, pests, maintenance gaps, and interior upkeep create a stark contrast to the exterior improvements and to the hopeful stories of residents who feel privileged to live there. Prospective residents and their families are advised to visit, tour individual units, and assess cleanliness on each floor, inquire about heat and pest control, and speak directly with current residents about their day-to-day experiences. Only through firsthand observation and dialogue can one determine whether this particular senior living environment will align with expectations for comfort, safety, and quality of life.

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)