Upside Delray

Pros

• The staff and maintenance team have always been friendly and reliable.
• The maintenance crew was the only bright spot in the community.
• Tanja gave them such a great tour.
• Citation Club is a very spacious, comfortable place to live.
• The staff is GREAT.
• The facilities are very well maintained.
• The people here are great.
• There are plenty of green spaces and a well-loved dog park.

Cons

• It is unsafe, mismanaged, and a total nightmare.
• There are many aggressive dogs and irresponsible owners there.
• Two random people walked into the apartment in the middle of the day.
• The front gate was broken 99% of the time, leading to vehicle break-ins.
• Management ignored countless complaints and resident requests were routinely ignored.
• The dog park is in terrible condition, and the back pool is never clean.
• The office staff were terrible - unresponsive, careless, and hard to reach.
• Maintenance requests were routinely ignored or delayed, with no follow-up.
• The complex is overpriced for what is offered, with unreliable entry systems and a logistical nightmare for visitors.
• The nine-month roofing project was launched with little notice, leaving nails, tar, and debris around.

Review

Citation Club in Delray Beach presents a split personality, from a magnet for dog lovers and sun-seekers to a place many residents describe as unsafe and poorly managed. On the one hand, several tenants sing praises about the setting and the comforts that drew them to the community in the first place. They point to spacious floor plans, lake views, and ample green spaces perfect for strolling with dogs. The dog park is frequently called out as a social hub where people have made friends with fellow dog owners, and the overall location is repeatedly cited as a significant advantage. The grounds are described as clean, and many residents emphasize that the complex has a reflective, serene feel that makes it easy to settle in and feel at home. In these accounts, staff and maintenance teams are described as consistently friendly, reliable, and responsive, and some tenants note they have remained long enough to renew leases because the location and atmosphere suit them well.

In the more positive narratives, several particular testimonials stand out. A resident who had a tour with a staff member named Tanja recalls a thorough, knowledgeable walkthrough and feels the community's size and layout appealed to them. Others who have lived there for a while emphasize that the living spaces themselves are spacious and comfortable, with many praising the lake views and the overall aesthetic. A renter who has been there for six months highlights the strong social fabric - having met many new friends and seeing their dogs forge friendships as well. Positive remarks about the maintenance team frequently accompany these accounts, with several residents calling out specific staff members - describing them as friendly, helpful, and quick to address issues. Even as some amenities aren't top-tier, the sense of community and the responsive maintenance crew are repeatedly named as the bright spots that keep people feeling satisfied.

However, a substantial and vocal set of reviews paints a starkly different picture. The most persistent refrain across multiple accounts is safety concerns and what residents perceive as gross mismanagement. Allegations include aggressive dogs coupled with irresponsible dog owners, an incident where a sister's dog was seriously injured, and reports that random people could walk into units during the day. There are recurring claims about a broken entry gate that mostly functioned as if it were never fixed, creating opportunities for vehicle break-ins and a sense that security procedures were not adequately enforced. Several residents say management ignored numerous complaints about safety and security, and that there was little meaningful action or clear resolutions offered. The dog park's condition is another point of contention, with mentions of persistent disarray and neglect.

Maintenance issues are a common thread in the negative reviews, but with a caveat: while the maintenance team is repeatedly described as excellent, attentive, and the sole bright spot, many other aspects of the property are criticized for not being properly maintained. The nine-month roofing project is cited as a major disruption, launched with little notice and leaving nails, tar, and construction debris scattered around. Several residents report stepping on nails and job-related hazards, and some describe their attempts to document these hazards as going ignored. The general upkeep of common areas, including the back pool, is described as substandard in several accounts, with delays in addressing problems and a perceived lack of accountability on the part of the management team.

Office management, in particular, draws strong negative reactions. A frequent complaint is that emails and calls are ignored, and that the general manager is rarely available, making it feel nearly impossible to get issues resolved without showing up in person - a difficult proposition for full-time professionals. Deposits sometimes take a long time to be returned, and there are mentions of rent being misapplied and requiring multiple calls to correct. Some reviews describe a culture of pressure by management to post five-star reviews, which several readers interpret as deception or coercion. The doorway to access and visitor procedures is also described as unreliable and frustrating, further contributing to a sense that management is out of step with residents' needs.

Within the negative posts, specific staff criticisms stand out. Some reviewers call out particular individuals - citing disrespect, dismissiveness, or a lack of professionalism and accountability - while others emphasize the frustrating reality that phone calls go unanswered for days. In contrast, other reviews acknowledge positive interactions with staff members who were helpful and responsive. The tension between these polarized experiences illustrates a community where relationships with the office can swing dramatically depending on who is on site and when.

A separate, very emphatic warning voice - titled with strong language urging readers to AVIOD CITATION CLUB APARTMENTS AT ALL COSTS - captures a broader condemnation. This narrative frames the complex as overpriced for what it delivers, plagued by deteriorating facilities, neglectful customer service, and an overall toxic attitude from management. The writer describes entry systems as unreliable, criticizes the speed and quality of maintenance, and accuses management of being unresponsive and unprofessional. The tone suggests a perception that residents are under constant stress, with a sense that the property's leadership prioritizes appearances or expediency over genuine resident well-being. This perspective also highlights the claim that access control and visitor logistics are a continual hassle, reinforcing a broader sense of neglect.

Amid the strongly negative feedback, there are occasional notes of improvement and resilience. A resident who moved in recently describes a smooth transition and notes that office staff remained helpful, with a maintenance staff member going above and beyond to fix minor issues and share practical tips. Another resident reports that a meeting with a staff member named Sharon helped clarify a payment issue and affirmed that her decision-making was respected, suggesting that individual interactions can still be constructive and reassuring. A few testimonials emphasize that the community's layout and the views, pools, and ongoing development of amenities remain compelling reasons to consider the property, even if experiences vary widely.

Taken together, the body of reviews depicts a property with undeniable appeal for its setting, space, and social potential while also bearing a heavy burden of safety concerns, management challenges, and maintenance inconsistencies. For some residents, Citation Club feels like a comfortable, welcoming home with dedicated staff and efficient maintenance that respond rapidly to issues. For others, it is a source of ongoing stress - an environment where safety is questioned, communication breaks down, and basic expectations around upkeep and responsiveness go unmet for extended periods. The truth seems to lie in a spectrum: the right fit depends on what you value most in a community and how much weight you assign to security, responsiveness, and the provider's willingness to address concerns promptly. Potential renters would do well to visit at different times, talk to current residents, and weigh the trade-offs between the strong positives - location, views, social opportunities, and diligent maintenance - and the significant negatives that have left lasting impact on some tenants.

This area of Delray Beach, Florida offers a diverse range of amenities and services that cater to the needs of seniors looking for a vibrant community. With several restaurants including Mexican, Japanese, Italian, and American cuisine within close proximity, residents have plenty of dining options to choose from. In addition, there are multiple pharmacies nearby for easy access to prescription medications. For those looking to stay active, there are several parks in the area where one can enjoy outdoor activities and socialize with neighbors. The presence of various physicians' offices ensures convenient healthcare options for seniors. Furthermore, the presence of places of worship and theaters provide opportunities for spiritual fulfillment and entertainment. With reliable transportation options like the Boynton Beach Tri-rail Station nearby, residents have easy access to explore other parts of the city as well. Overall, this part of Delray Beach offers a well-rounded and convenient living environment for seniors seeking an active and engaging lifestyle.

Restaurants

• La Bamba Mexican Spanish (0.5 miles)
• Burger King (1.3 miles)
• Sakkio Japan (1.9 miles)
• McDonald's (1.9 miles)
• Tin Roof (1.9 miles)
• Elisabetta's Ristorante Bar Pizzeria (1.9 miles)
• El Camino (2 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Humana Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.4 miles)

Cafes

• The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. (1.3 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.4 miles)
• The Seed (4.6 miles)
• Starbucks (4.7 miles)
• Starbucks (6.7 miles)
• Starbucks (6.9 miles)
• Starbucks (7 miles)

Physicians

• National Spine & Pain Centers - Delray Beach (1.6 miles)
• Personal Physician Care PA (1.9 miles)
• Cohen Medical Associates (2.8 miles)
• Diagnostic Centers Of America (2.8 miles)
• Boynton Eye Institute PA (3.3 miles)
• Florida Eye Microsurgical Institute (3.9 miles)
• Imaging Center-Boynton Beach (4.5 miles)

Parks

• Caloosa Park (2.5 miles)
• Gulfstream Park (4.3 miles)
• Spanish River Park (4.8 miles)
• Boca Tierra Park (5.5 miles)
• Mizner Bark Dog Park (5.7 miles)
• Ocean Front Park (5.9 miles)
• Ezel H. Community Park (6.2 miles)

Places of Worship

• Congregation B'nai Israel (5 miles)

Theaters

• Cinemark (5.2 miles)
• Cinemark Premier (5.9 miles)

Transportation

• Boynton Beach Tri-rail Station (6.6 miles)