Columbia Colony

Pros

• Jada White is heaven-sent, and her spirit, energy, and timely, professional responsiveness address residents' concerns.
• Jada White's leadership makes Columbia Colony Senior Apartments a promising place for residents.
• The property management at Columbia Colony Senior Apartments is amazing - professional, friendly, and responsive.
• Okame Downing is a great asset to the senior community; she is caring, courteous, and goes the extra mile.
• Kim Hector relates well to seniors and their concerns.
• The new management is great and attentive to residents, and the building is cleaned regularly.
• The assistant manager is wonderful - patient, detail-oriented, and professional; the place looks clean and quiet.
• Sheila Washington is an amazing manager - warm, informative, and keeps the property well cared for.
• The staff are wonderful, and management handles requests and concerns promptly.
• The community is safe and well maintained, with residents feeling cared for like family.
• Maintenance staff, including Samuel Chase, are great and promptly address problems.
• The amenities are excellent and foster independence and opportunities to meet new people.
• The facility is beautiful, with professional and helpful management, and it comes highly recommended.

Cons

• The reviews claim poor management under Peak Living ownership.
• The property manager Sheila is described as cursing at residents, raising her voice, and being extremely rude.
• There are roaches throughout the complex.
• Rent has increased by almost 30 percent, causing financial strain for residents.
• The desk staff is described as impatient and rude.
• The reviewer would not recommend the property until management is replaced.
• A countertop replacement produced a strong smell that forced asthmatic residents to stay away from their units for days.

Review

Columbia Colony Senior Apartments comes across as a community with a wide range of resident experiences, but with a strong through-line: the management team matters deeply to how people feel about living there. Across several years of residency and many interactions with the staff, residents describe a place that can be both welcoming and well organized, with a palpable emphasis on safety, cleanliness, and resident well-being. Long-term residents who have been there for seven years or more speak about continuity and the positive changes that new leadership has brought, even as they acknowledge that opinions about management have varied over time.

At the heart of the current appreciation is the new manager, Jada White. Reviewers consistently describe her as "heaven sent" and characterize her spirit, energy, and responsiveness as exactly what the community needed. Statements such as "Her professionalism and timely handling of concerns are what I've asked for" reflect a sense that Jada's leadership has introduced a fresh level of attentiveness. Praise often focuses on how she addresses resident concerns promptly and with courtesy, and several residents express real optimism about the future of Columbia Colony under her guidance. One resident even notes an immediate sense of reassurance and a belief that the future at Columbia Colony looks promising with Jada in place.

Equally prominent in the praise is Sheila Washington (often called Shelia in the varied notes), who many residents regard as an outstanding manager. Shelia is depicted as warm, friendly, and incredibly informative, with a knack for making residents feel comfortable and confident in their decisions. Numerous testimonials describe her as "amazing," "very professional," and "on point" when it comes to keeping the property well run and responsive to residents' questions. Families and individual residents alike recount experiences where Shelia walked them through the process, answered questions thoroughly, and kept activities and daily operations flowing smoothly. The impression is that Shelia's personal touch - her accessibility, patience, and clear communication - has become a defining feature of what people value about living at Columbia Colony.

Beyond the top two managers, the community's staff earns consistent praise for competence and care. Okame Downing, noted as a great asset, is described as caring, courteous, and willing to go the extra mile for residents. Kim Hector, Okame's assistant, is consistently praised for relating well to seniors and for handling concerns with care and tact. The maintenance front is also highlighted positively, with Samuel Chase and the maintenance team described as reliable and responsive; residents commonly say problems are addressed promptly and effectively. Taken together, the staff network - ranging from management to maintenance - creates a sense of reliability and supportive engagement that residents value highly.

The environment at Columbia Colony is frequently described in terms that go beyond mere facility features. Residents speak of a building that is well kept, clean, and quiet, with regular housekeeping and upkeep that contribute to a sense of safety and comfort. The property's emphasis on activities and social opportunities is another recurring theme; residents' families note on-site programming that helps keep residents active and engaged. The sense that families can trust that their loved ones are safe, well cared for, and treated with respect is repeatedly echoed in the testimonials, and many families describe the experience as allowing their relatives to maintain independence while still receiving attentive support.

Yet, the picture is not uniformly rosy. A contrasting set of voices cautions about negative experiences under different management conditions. One reviewer explicitly labels the management as "poor under Peak Living ownership," signaling that changes in ownership or administrative approach can significantly affect residents' perceptions. A particularly troubling voice describes a manager who curses at residents, raises her voice, and is visibly rude, with other staff members described as impatient or unhelpful. Additional concerns include pest issues and steep rent increases - claims of roaches throughout the complex and rent hikes of nearly 30 percent within a year. These criticisms paint a picture of a community where, for some residents, the transition in leadership or organizational priorities has created real, tangible stress and dissatisfaction.

Despite the mixed feedback, there are many deeply moving, personal stories that reinforce why people choose Columbia Colony in the first place. One family recounts traveling from Florida to find a safe, comfortable, and respectful home for their uncle, who was initially reluctant to move. They describe Shelia as pleasant, knowledgeable, and even funny, contributing to a sense of reassurance during a stressful transition. Another narrative describes a year of steadily improving service and a community atmosphere so inviting that people talk about "50 stars" in appreciation. For many families, Shelia's guidance and the community's overall atmosphere have translated into confidence that their loved ones will be treated with care and dignity.

In the end, Columbia Colony Senior Apartments emerges as a place defined by strong leadership, responsive service, and a community-first approach, tempered by concerns that some residents still associate with past management practices. The voices agree on several core strengths: approachable leadership, staff who know residents by name and needs, a clean and well-maintained living environment, and a robust sense of community through programming and daily interactions. They also remind us that, like any senior living setting, experiences can be highly subjective and influenced by changes in ownership or management strategy. For prospective residents and their families, the takeaway is clear: the living environment here can be deeply fulfilling when leadership is engaged, communicative, and attentive, but it's important to understand how varied experiences can be and to weigh both the praised, hands-on care and the concerns raised by others.

This area of Atlanta, Georgia offers a variety of amenities and services that cater to seniors looking for convenience and accessibility. With numerous dining options such as Captain D's, Wendy's, Chick-Fil-A, and more within a few miles radius, residents can easily enjoy a meal out without having to travel far. Additionally, there are several medical facilities nearby including Premier South Medical Group and Atlanta Gastroenterology for healthcare needs. Those looking to stay active can visit Trammell Crow Park or Anderson Park for outdoor recreation. Transportation options are also plentiful with bus stops, MARTA station, and rental car centers in close proximity. Places of worship like Bethel United Methodist Church are available for spiritual fulfillment. Overall, this part of Atlanta provides a comfortable and convenient living environment for seniors.

Restaurants

• Captain D's (0.5 miles)
• Wendy's (1.9 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (2 miles)
• McDonald's (2 miles)
• Zaxby's (2.1 miles)
• McDonald's (2.8 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (3 miles)

Physicians

• Premier South Medical Group (1.9 miles)
• Atlanta Gastroenterolgy (2 miles)
• Southwest Atlanta Vascular Care (2.1 miles)
• Berkeley Medical & Rehab Center (3.9 miles)
• Arnika Dawkins (4.2 miles)
• Eye Specialists of Georgia (4.6 miles)
• Atlantic Premier Obgyn (5 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.1 miles)
• Starbucks (2.8 miles)
• Starbucks (4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (2.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.1 miles)
• Wayfield Foods (4.6 miles)
• Walgreens (4.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (5 miles)

Transportation

• Bus Shed #1 (3.1 miles)
• Bus Shed #3 (3.3 miles)
• MARTA - College Park Station (3.4 miles)
• SkyTrain Station: Rental Car Center (3.5 miles)
• Hertz Rent A Car (3.5 miles)
• Rental Car Center (3.5 miles)
• Avis Rent A Car (3.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• Bethel United Methodist Church (3.7 miles)
• East Point Church (4.4 miles)

Parks

• Trammell Crow Park (4.7 miles)
• Anderson Park (5.5 miles)
• Stonewell Park (5.8 miles)