Clockmaker's Hill

Pros

• The units have beautiful exposed brick and duct work.
• The place itself isn't too bad.
• The units offer good-sized rooms and a walk-in closet.
• The property is pet-friendly.
• Most neighbors aren't bad.
• The place has a lot of potential.
• There are very nice apartments.

Cons

• The management is incompetent and unprofessional.
• The units are drafty, smoky, hard to heat, and neighbor noise is easily heard.
• The new management company are slumlords and ignore maintenance requests, including major problems like leaks and infestations.
• Snow removal is a joke; a couch has sat outside since spring and has not been removed.
• Walls are very thin; occupants can hear neighbors clearly.
• Electric heat is very expensive in winter.
• Ventilation systems are connected per floor, so smoke from other units can drift into individual apartments.
• There is no on-site property manager; management is in NY and the property is poorly maintained.

Review

This property has a decorative appeal that can draw in curious renters, with its exposed brickwork and visible duct work hinting at character and history. Yet beneath that attractive surface lies a consistently negative tenant experience shaped by mismanagement, recurring maintenance failures, and a sense that living there comes with ongoing compromises. Numerous residents describe management as incompetent and unprofessional, a problem that seems to color every interaction, from routine requests to larger safety and upkeep issues. The majority of voices are clear: the current situation makes the building feel more like a liability than a home, and the transformation in management has only deepened the frustration.

In terms of daily living, the building presents several concrete inconveniences that compound over time. Rooms are described as drafty and difficult to heat, while the air also carries smoke from neighboring units, sometimes permeating entire apartments via shared ventilation. The problem is not just comfort; it becomes a cost issue and a health concern when smoke leaks into living spaces. The walls are reported to be thin, with the unfortunate byproduct that tenants can hear neighbors in adjacent rooms - literally hearing someone brushing their teeth in another unit. These acoustic and climate problems create a sense of perpetual discomfort and make even ordinary activities feel intrusive and poorly contained.

Parking and guest accommodations add another layer of difficulty. There is almost no guest parking, and overall parking availability is a frequent complaint. The logistical strain of finding a place to park, coupled with the ongoing maintenance and management concerns, compounds the stress of living in a building that often feels mismanaged rather than well cared for. The frustration is tangible in the tone of residents, who describe a space where simple comforts and conveniences - like space for visitors or a predictable, efficient service response - are elusive.

A turning point, for many, came with a change in management. New ownership or management companies have been labeled as "SLUMLORDS" by residents who feel betrayed by promises of improvement that never materialize. Complaints slash across the spectrum: from minor fixes to major issues ignored or mishandled. Leaky faucets get temporary, cosmetic attention while more serious problems - such as a leaking roof or a carpenter ant infestation - are apparently ignored despite repeated requests. The contrast between surface-level repairs and neglected structural or health hazards is stark: one resident describes carpenter ants falling from the ceiling, and the management's reaction is depicted as dismissive toward a potentially dangerous situation for a newborn. These anecdotes underscore a fear that the management prioritizes appearances or quick fixes over substantive, ongoing safety and livability.

The physical condition of the building reflects an ongoing neglect that stalls any sense of potential being realized. The unit interiors may squeeze out a few pleasing features - the space perhaps feels roomy, with walk-in closets and some good-sized rooms - but these positives are undercut by outdated finishes, cheap carpet, and a lack of storage options. No storage units seem to be available, and these interior shortcomings are amplified by structural and environmental concerns: ventilation systems are reportedly connected per floor, which can spread odors and smoke, and the heating system - electric - can be prohibitively expensive in winter, with monthly bills climbing into three or four hundred dollars at modest thermostat settings. The property's exterior and public areas also bear scars from neglect: snow removal can be inconsistent, stairs are not always plowed, and a couch sat unattended outside for months, a grim visual of how seriously maintenance is treated.

Residents also point to a broader culture of neglect and poor communication. The building reportedly lacks an on-site property manager, with oversight remote or essentially absent, spinning the sense that the property is being run from afar and not with a tenant-first mindset. Rent and billing issues surface as well: managers some days seem unsure about who lives where or what each renter pays, and inaccurate bills are not uncommon. This disconnect is not merely annoying; it feeds a growing narrative of distrust and frustration among tenants who feel they must chase responsive answers rather than having them proactively offered. Compounding the problem, some tenants recount receiving threatening letters, a troubling management behavior that further destabilizes the sense of community and safety within the building.

Despite the acknowledged potential of the building, the lived experience of residents makes the future feel uncertain. The units themselves are seen as tolerable but dependent on a degree of patience that many do not want to extend. There is no outdoor space for pets, and while the building is pet-friendly, the lack of green space or a proper yard makes everyday life more restrictive. The absence of a dedicated on-site manager, the ongoing maintenance deficiencies, and the overarching perception of cavalier attitude toward tenant needs all contribute to a difficult decision for prospective residents: endure the ongoing inconvenience and risk, or seek a move to a community where management demonstrates accountability and a real commitment to resident welfare.

In sum, this place possesses a certain promise - character, roominess, and the potential for a comfortable home - but that promise is repeatedly undercut by persistent management failures and chronic maintenance neglect. The chorus of tenants describes a cycle of complaints that go unmet or partially addressed, a disjointed response to major hazards like leaks and infestations, and a general feeling that the building's care has fallen into someone else's hands without the accountability a responsible management team would provide. For anyone considering moving in, the balance of factors leans heavily toward caution, with many residents already planning to move out as soon as circumstances permit, hoping to leave behind the headaches and unlock the genuine potential they once saw in these spaces.

Hospitals

• Riverside Medical Center (0.7 miles)
• Winsted Health Center (1.4 miles)
• Hungerford Emergency & Medical Care Mammography (1.4 miles)
• Charlotte Hungerford Md (7.5 miles)
• Charlotte Hungerford Hospital (7.5 miles)
• Charlotte Hungerford Child Guidance Clinic (8.3 miles)
• Gambro Healthcare Torrington (10.5 miles)

Parks

• East End Park (0.7 miles)
• Winsted Advg & Photography (0.9 miles)
• People's State Forest (3.2 miles)
• Burr Pond State Park (4.4 miles)
• Viliage Green (8.7 miles)
• Robertson Plaza (8.8 miles)
• Tobey Pond (9.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (7.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (8.8 miles)
• Walgreens (10.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (11.1 miles)
• Walgreens (12.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (12.5 miles)

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.8 miles)
• Monaco's Ristorante (1.2 miles)
• Log House Restaurant (3.2 miles)
• Pleasant Valley Drive-In (3.5 miles)
• Dining Hall (3.6 miles)
• Parrott Delaney Tavern (4.7 miles)
• New Hartford Diner (6.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Joseph Roman Catholic Church (0.9 miles)
• Redeemer's Ridge Ministries (6.2 miles)
• St Paul's Lutheran Church (7.8 miles)
• Immaculate Conception Church (9 miles)
• Joseph's House (9.6 miles)
• Saint Mary Parish (13.3 miles)

Physicians

• MyEyeDr (1 miles)
• Torrington-Winsted Pediatric Associates PC (1.3 miles)
• Winsted Internal Medicine Associates PC (1.4 miles)
• Hartford HealthCare Medical Group (1.4 miles)
• Visiting Nurse Services - Torrington Branch (7.7 miles)
• Northwest Connecticut Medical Walk-In (7.7 miles)
• Endoscopy Center of Northwest Connecticut (7.8 miles)

Cafes

• Panera Bread (7.6 miles)
• Station Place Cafe (8.8 miles)
• Angie's Coffee & More (9 miles)
• Starbucks (12.4 miles)
• Dom's Coffee (13.9 miles)
• The Coffee Trade (13.9 miles)
• Meraki (14.8 miles)

Transportation

• Simsbury Airport (4B9) (14.1 miles)