Victoria Towers

Pros

• Victoria Tower has spacious, comfortable, and well-priced apartments.
• The building interior is immaculate.
• A unit viewed by a guest was gorgeous.
• The building is very secure.
• The staff are pleasant and professional.
• The apartment is quiet, clean, and nice to live in.

Cons

• One of the two elevators is out of commission and parts have been awaited for three months.
• The pool is closed at odd times and frequently appears cloudy.
• There is a faint smell of mildew in the air.
• The staff's communication with prospective tenants is poor and promised callbacks are not kept.
• There are concerns of discrimination based on last name and unexplained delays.
• Personal information is mishandled; residents' details are collected but follow-up is not provided.
• The lobby looks unprofessional/neglected.
• Trash is scattered on the grounds and no one seems to clean it up.
• The building is starting to look shabby.

Review

Victoria Tower presents a mixed picture to would-be residents. On the one hand, the building and some of its units are described as clean, quiet, spacious, and secure, offering interiors that many find attractive and well-priced. Reviewers repeatedly note that the interior apartments can be very nice - accompanied by testimonies of a clean, immaculate building interior and a sense of security. One person even described touring a unit as "gorgeous," and others praised the overall apartment quality as "quite, clean, nice living." The positive impressions extend to safety and staff demeanor in some accounts, with phrases like "very secure building," "staff pleasant and professional," and "clean quiet friendly" capturing the favorable side of the experience.

Despite these bright spots, a thread of operational and management concerns runs through the feedback. A persistent issue is the state of the building's amenities and the reliability of service utilities. Two elevators are out of commission, with a reported three-month wait for parts so far. The swimming pool, meanwhile, is closed at odd hours and is subject to inconsistent operation - sometimes closed when sunny, other times when cloudy, with a general sense that the pool is not being managed smoothly. In addition, reviewers report a faint smell of mildew in the air, which raises concerns about air quality and overall maintenance standards. These conditions contrast with the clean common areas and the quick response of maintenance staff to leaks, painting a picture of a building that can be well-run in some respects while lagging in others.

Communication gaps emerge as a major theme for prospective tenants. Several reviewers recount a disappointing experience in the outreach process: promises of contact within a couple of weeks that never materialize, staff asking visitors to leave personal information on a piece of notebook paper, and a general sense that information is not being relayed effectively. One account notes that they were told by a front-desk staff member that there would be a call by the end of the day, but that call never came. The staff's communication, particularly around when they'll be contacted and who is in charge, appears inconsistent and sometimes frustrating for those trying to evaluate the building before moving in.

There are mentions of potential discrimination concerns that add another layer of unease. A reviewer suggests there was an implication that backlogs could be related to their last name being common, a claim attributed to a staff member named Hada. This claim, even if anecdotal, contributes to a perception of uneven treatment or privacy concerns in handling applicant information. The practice of collecting personal data and the lack of timely follow-up amplify worries about how prospective tenants are prioritized and treated, reinforcing the call for clearer, more respectful communication and privacy practices.

On the management and staff front, opinions are split. Some reviewers describe the staff as pleasant, professional, and helpful, reinforcing the positive impression of the building's security and interior. Others, however, wish for more accountability and better governance - someone in charge who can provide clear timelines, better overall communication, and a tighter approach to handling prospective tenants' information and inquiries. The contrast between a welcoming interior and a less reliable administrative experience suggests a building that functions well in some areas but struggles in others, particularly in setting expectations and delivering timely updates.

The grounds and exterior presentation also contribute to the mixed impression. While the building's interior is praised, there are concerns about the exterior environment as trash is reported to be littering the grounds, with a sense that there isn't a steady staff presence cleaning up. This contrast - pristine interiors with neglected common exterior spaces - adds to the sense of inconsistency in property management and upkeep. The overall sentiment seems to be that the potential living experience could be excellent if the building could align its maintenance, cleanliness, and communication practices more consistently with the high quality seen inside the apartments.

In sum, Victoria Tower offers appealing interior space, solid security, and generally favorable pricing that could attract tenants who value a quiet, clean, and well-kept apartment environment. However, the experience is tempered by significant operational hurdles: long delays for essential elevator repairs, irregular pool access, a puzzling mildew smell, and noticeable gaps in communication with prospective tenants. The property's exterior environment further betrays the interior's polish, with litter and a lack of visible cleanup contributing to a sense that maintenance and management are not fully aligned.

For anyone considering moving in, the decision may come down to priorities. If you place a premium on a well-appointed unit, a secure building, and a generally quiet, clean interior, Victoria Tower could be a strong candidate - so long as you are comfortable navigating or demanding better communication and a clear plan for critical maintenance issues. If timely updates, reliable access to amenities, and transparent handling of prospective tenant information are non-negotiable, it would be wise to seek explicit assurances from management about elevator restoration timelines, pool hours, and a concrete improvement plan for both interior and exterior upkeep before signing a lease.

Meriden, Connecticut offers a variety of amenities for seniors looking to settle in the area. With several parks such as Washington Park and Hubbard Park nearby, residents can enjoy outdoor activities and nature walks. There are also numerous dining options ranging from fast food chains like Burger King and Chick-Fil-A to ethnic restaurants like the Caribbean Restaurant and Tabaq Masala Restaurant. Access to pharmacies like CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens ensures convenient access to medications and healthcare needs. In terms of healthcare, MidState Medical Center is close by for medical emergencies, while various physician offices like Cloverleaf Family Medicine offer primary care services. For leisure activities, there are cafes like Starbucks and Provision State Coffee within driving distance, as well as theaters like AMC Starplex Cinemas Southington 12 for entertainment. The presence of Amtrak at 7.2 miles provides convenient transportation options for seniors looking to explore beyond Meriden.

Parks

• Washington Park (0.5 miles)
• Hubbard Park (2.5 miles)
• Sage Park (5.7 miles)
• Lock 12 Historical Park (7.9 miles)
• Northford Park (8.6 miles)

Restaurants

• Caribbean Restaurant (0.7 miles)
• Burger King (0.8 miles)
• Frida Restaurant And Grocery (1.1 miles)
• Tabaq Masala Restaurant & Banquet Hall (2.5 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (2.7 miles)
• Sonic Drive-In (3 miles)
• Sliders Grill & Bar (3.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• Health Mart Pharmacy (1.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.8 miles)
• Rite Aid (4.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (5.8 miles)
• Walgreens (6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (6.1 miles)

Hospitals

• MidState Medical Center (1.2 miles)
• Family Birthing Center (1.2 miles)
• Gaylord Specialty Healthcare/Gaylord Hospital (5.5 miles)
• Hospital Of Central Connecticut At Bradley Memorial (6.2 miles)
• Connecticut Valley Hospital (8.3 miles)
• Middlesex Hospital Cancer Center (8.7 miles)

Physicians

• Cloverleaf Family Medicine (1.2 miles)
• Dr Francescon's Office (2 miles)
• Hartford HealthCare Medical Group (3.4 miles)
• The Women's Center Of Southern New England (3.7 miles)
• Walmart Garden Center (4 miles)
• Connecticut Orthopaedics (4.5 miles)
• Masonic Health Center (5.2 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (3.7 miles)
• Starbucks (5.7 miles)
• Starbucks (6.6 miles)
• Provision State Coffee (7.1 miles)
• Starbucks (7.1 miles)
• Perkatory Coffee Roasters (7.3 miles)
• Starbucks (8.1 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Starplex Cinemas Southington 12 (6.5 miles)
• Picture Show at Berlin (7 miles)

Transportation

• Amtrak (7.2 miles)