Belmont Place Senior Apartments

Pros

• Belmont Place has a great property management team.
• The building manager, Sylvia, is awesome with great customer service and professionalism.
• Tim, the maintenance technician, is outstanding and handles needs promptly.
• There is a great team of staff at Belmont Place and it's a wonderful place to live.
• The manager is understanding and nice, according to long-term residents.
• The new furniture is pretty, and residents enjoy the parties.

Cons

• Sylvia is not friendly and always has an attitude.
• Sylvia is described as the most unpleasant, unprofessional, and rude staff member.
• Maintenance requests take forever, including unresolved lock problems.
• Lobby and patio furniture changes are framed as luxury to justify rent increases.
• Management is accused of showing favoritism toward certain residents.
• The facility is accused of scamming seniors out of their security deposits.

Review

Belmont Senior Apartments on Belmont Ave is described by its residents as a place of real community and warmth, where many people feel lucky to have found a home after years of living there. Several reviews gush about being "over 5 years" or even "14 years" in residence, stressing that the property management team and the building feel like family. The sentiment is that, when things run smoothly, the experience is excellent: the staff works hard to keep things orderly, and there is a strong sense that people are cared for. In particular, residents repeatedly praise the building manager and the maintenance crew as pivotal to a positive living environment.

A recurring thread of praise centers on Sylvia (also spelled Silvia in some notes) and Tim. Sylvia is repeatedly described as the backbone of good customer service and professionalism, someone who "goes above and beyond to get things taken care of." Tim, the maintenance man, is hailed as outstanding and reliable, able to "complete our maintenance needs" and respond effectively to problems as they arise. Coupled with these frontline staff, residents describe an overall impression of a capable team keeping operations smooth, with praise for the recent furniture updates that brighten common spaces and for community events and parties that foster social connection.

There is, however, a clear split in experiences. While many residents see Sylvia as an asset and feel well-supported by the management team, others report troubling interactions. A number of reviewers describe Sylvia as unfriendly, not friendly at all, or even "the most unpleasant person to deal with" - accusations of unprofessionalism and a tendency to respond with attitude. Some residents say repairs and fixes take too long, and problems with the locks persist even after requests to fix them. There are also critiques of what some perceive as wasted time in residents' meetings and concerns about changes to lobby and patio furniture being used to justify rent increases, raising questions about equity and security for residents who may be more vulnerable.

Security and fairness concerns appear with notable frequency. One client emphasizes that "the locks should be more important because [they are] security for the residents," especially when residents may venture out alone. This sentiment is paired with a claim that there are preferences shown to certain residents, which fuels a sense of inequity within the community. Some reviews imply that the management's approach to updates or changes - such as furniture replacements - may be used as leverage to justify higher rents, a worry that feeds broader mistrust about how decisions are made and who benefits from them.

The most sobering voices come from residents who have experienced financial and personal distress related to the handling of move-out matters. One review recounts the death of a family member and the family's efforts to settle the apartment: keys were returned to a building manager, but the security deposit was not returned promptly, with months passing and promises made by Martha, the building manager, to mail a check that never arrived. The reviewer describes feeling overwhelmed by grief and then confronted with administrative delays and a lack of support, even suggesting legal avenues as a next step. Another story recounts a pattern of delays, video-taped checks and receipts, and a sense of being left without timely financial closure after a loved one's passing, leaving the family feeling exploited rather than supported.

A separate, stronger cautionary note comes from a review advising others not to place parents in this building. The writer alleges a pattern of deposit-related disputes and punitive charges after move-out, with Esmeralda handing over keys later than expected and charges assessed for a week when the tenants were no longer living there. The review paints a picture of a facility that may be exploiting seniors financially, a claim that, whether fully verifiable or not, clearly leaves potential residents and their families with a sense of vulnerability and mistrust toward the property's management.

Taken together, Belmont Senior Apartments presents a complex picture: many residents speak lovingly of the community, the long-tenured managers, and the responsive maintenance team who work to keep life comfortable and organized. At the same time, a subset of residents raise serious concerns about interpersonal dynamics with management, the pace and quality of repairs, and the handling of deposits and move-out charges. The contrast underscores the importance of consistent, respectful communication and transparent processes in a setting that serves older adults who value safety, reliability, and fair treatment as much as they value any amenities. For current and prospective residents, the experience at Belmont seems to hinge on which staff members you interact with most, how issues are addressed, and how financial matters are managed and communicated.

This part of Chicago, Illinois, offers a variety of amenities that cater to senior living needs. With multiple Walgreens pharmacies in close proximity, access to medication and healthcare services is convenient. Additionally, there are several restaurants and cafes nearby for dining options. The area is also surrounded by numerous parks, providing opportunities for leisurely walks and outdoor activities. For transportation, there are several CTA stops within a few miles, making it easy to get around the city. In terms of medical care, there are hospitals and physicians' offices in the vicinity for any health concerns that may arise. Overall, this neighborhood provides a mix of essential services and recreational options that would make it an ideal location for seniors looking to settle down in a well-equipped community.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.3 miles)
• Walgreens (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2.1 miles)

Restaurants

• Culver's (1.1 miles)
• Longman & Eagle (2 miles)
• Parson's Chicken & Fish (2.6 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (3.6 miles)
• McDonald's (3.9 miles)
• Big Star (4 miles)
• Will's Northwoods Inn (4.4 miles)

Parks

• Independence Park (1.4 miles)
• Portage Park (1.5 miles)
• Unity Playlot Park (1.8 miles)
• Logan Boulevard (2 miles)
• The 606 — Western Terminus (2.1 miles)
• Palmer Square Park (2.4 miles)
• Horner Park (2.8 miles)

Transportation

• Jefferson Park Bus Terminal (2.3 miles)
• Cta (2.4 miles)
• CTA - Belmont (4.6 miles)
• Cta (4.7 miles)
• CTA - Fullerton (4.8 miles)
• Cta (4.8 miles)
• CTA - Kedzie-Homan (4.8 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.9 miles)
• Starbucks (3.1 miles)
• Starbucks (3.8 miles)
• Starbucks (3.8 miles)
• Starbucks (4.8 miles)
• Starbucks (5.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Swedish Covenant Hospital Cancer Care (3.4 miles)
• Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center (4.7 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Webster Place (4.2 miles)
• AMC Village Crossing Theatre (5 miles)

Physicians

• Resurrection Medical Center Professional Building (5 miles)
• University of Illinois Mile Square Health Center: Near West Side (5.1 miles)