Crestview Terrace

Pros

• The building is very wonderful and well maintained.
• The staff are helpful when questions arise.
• The neighbors are very friendly and easy to visit with throughout the day.

Cons

• The ownership and management are shameful and show no regard for tenants or the building.
• It can take months to fix even simple issues like a leaky faucet.
• When cleaning the AC unit, they sprayed moldy water all over the bedroom due to carelessness.
• Getting in touch with management is nearly impossible.
• None of the residents have anything good to say about the place; the owners are described as "slum lords."
• A vacant apartment was shown but not available, wasting time and fuel and indicating disorganization.
• The apartment was tiny, dark, and drab and not cheap.
• The building is overpriced for mediocre quality with no amenities.

Review

The collection of impressions from residents paints a picture of a building that evokes wildly different experiences. One long-time occupant, whose mother lived there for at least ten years, describes a pervasive sense of neglect among the ownership and management. The tone is accusatory and frustrated: "no one cares about the tenants or the building here," with a clear accusation that the management is shameless. This perspective frames a broader pattern of dissatisfaction, where complaints about maintenance are met with slow, if any, action. The reviewer paints a troubling scenario where even a simple issue like a leaky faucet can linger for months, underscoring what feels like systemic inertia rather than isolated incidents. The most alarming anecdote shared involves an air-conditioning service visit that was careless and dangerous: moldy water sprayed over a bedroom, a potent image of how mishandling maintenance can affect residents' health and comfort. The sentiment is reinforced by the claim that contacting management is nearly impossible, leaving residents feeling unheard and unheard.

In this same narrative, there is a palpable sense of dismay directed at the ownership structure. The reviewer sums up a fearsome reputation with a harsh label: "slum lords," suggesting a belief that the people who own and manage the property prioritize profit over people. The emotional weight of this critique is amplified by the desire for accountability - an implicit call that owners and managers should suffer consequences for the way they conduct - or neglect - their responsibilities. The language implies a community-wide frustration: if the same complaints are echoed by many residents, it hints at a consistent failure to respond to maintenance requests, address safety concerns, or communicate effectively about the status of repairs and improvements.

Against this heavy backdrop of negativity, there are brief but vivid counterpoints within the same set of reviews. One resident recounts wasting time and fuel to view a vacant apartment that, in truth, was not available. The rant is sharp and personal: "How do these people get paid to SCREW up is beyond me." The apartment itself is described as not cheap, and the dissatisfaction goes further to label it "tiny and dark and drab." The implication is clear: the experience of tour and inquiry was not only unhelpful but also disappointing in terms of value, suggesting that mismanagement of viewings and listings contributes to a frustrating overall impression of the property.

Yet the picture isn't uniformly bleak. Another voice offers a starkly different takeaway: "It's a very wonderful building well maintained helpful staff if you have questions very friendly neighbors to visit with all throughout the day." This perspective highlights a sense of community, supportive staff, and accessibility that contrasts sharply with the more negative accounts. A shorter, equally positive note - "Super nice!" - adds to the sense that for some residents, the environment is friendly, safe, and livable. The juxtaposition of such praise with the harsher criticisms underscores that individual experiences can diverge dramatically within the same property.

There is also a pragmatic critique that threads through these reviews: price and amenities. One resident complains about "high price for a mediocre apt, no amenities, but big rent," quantifying discontent with a specific example of "890 for.1.bm." This line points to a common tension in rental markets: paying a premium price without commensurate features or conveniences can fuel ongoing dissatisfaction even among those who otherwise appreciate the building's social aspect or its staff. The combination of high rents with a perceived lack of amenities becomes another axis along which residents measure value and satisfaction.

Taken together, the reviews reveal a complex and uneven experience across residents. A subset of long-term tenants feel neglected by owners and management, citing safety hazards, slow repairs, and poor communication as routine failures. They express a shared fear that the owners' priorities lie with profit rather than people, a sentiment aimed at the institution that runs the property rather than at the day-to-day staff who, in some accounts, are described as helpful and friendly. On the other hand, a number of residents speak to a well-maintained building, a supportive community, and a responsive staff that makes living there pleasant and enjoyable. The tension between these viewpoints suggests that the building's reality is not monolithic but rather a patchwork of experiences dependent on time, unit, and perhaps the particular staff members engaged at any given moment.

Ultimately, the narrative that emerges is one of conflicting experiences and polarized impressions. For some, the residence is a warm, welcoming community where neighbors mingle, questions are answered, and everyday life proceeds smoothly. For others, the same walls symbolize neglect, mismanagement, and financial pressure - an environment where even small maintenance issues can become prolonged struggles, and where the relationship with management feels fractured and opaque. The inconsistent accounts leave prospective residents and current tenants alike with a mixed expectation: a place that can be wonderful and well-run in some contexts, yet difficult and frustrating in others, depending on whom you ask and when you ask.

This part of West Des Moines, Iowa, offers a variety of amenities and services that may be of interest to seniors looking for a comfortable and convenient living environment. With several physicians' offices nearby, including a travel clinic and dermatology center, residents have easy access to healthcare services. In terms of dining options, there are a number of restaurants within a short distance, from casual pubs like Sully's Irish Pub to well-known chains like Olive Garden. Nearby cafes such as St Kilda Collective and Starbucks provide opportunities for socializing and enjoying a cup of coffee. Pharmacies like MedPharm Iowa and Walgreens are also close by for any prescription needs. Additionally, the area features parks like Lions Park and Kawanis Park for outdoor recreation, as well as theaters such as Flix Brewhouse Des Moines for entertainment options. Overall, this part of West Des Moines offers a mix of amenities that cater to the diverse needs and interests of seniors considering the area for living.

Physicians

• Passport Health West Des Moines Travel Clinic (0.4 miles)
• Allergy Institute, PC (1.4 miles)
• Dermatology & Dermatologic Surgery Center (1.5 miles)
• Eyton Young MD (1.6 miles)
• Iowa Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons, PC (1.6 miles)
• Iowa Health Physicians - Dr Stahl (2.1 miles)
• Woodard Hearing Centers (2.1 miles)

Restaurants

• Barn Town Brewing (0.5 miles)
• Sully's Irish Pub (0.6 miles)
• G. Mig's 5th Street Pub (1 miles)
• Jethro’s BBQ n’ Bacon Bacon (1.3 miles)
• Valley West Mall (2 miles)
• The Keg Stand (2.1 miles)
• Olive Garden (2.1 miles)

Cafes

• St Kilda Collective (0.8 miles)
• Starbucks (0.9 miles)
• Starbucks (2.4 miles)
• Panera Bread (2.6 miles)
• Caribou Coffee (2.8 miles)
• Starbucks (3.4 miles)
• Starbucks (3.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• MedPharm Iowa (1.1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• Walgreens (2.7 miles)
• Dahl's Pharmacy (2.7 miles)
• Walgreens (3.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• Covenant Presbyterian Church (1.3 miles)
• Shepherd Of The Valley (2.1 miles)

Parks

• Kawanis Park (1.4 miles)
• Lions Park (3.5 miles)
• Gray's Lake Park (3.8 miles)

Hospitals

• Spay Clinics (2 miles)
• Iowa Methodist Medical Center (2 miles)
• Mercy Franklin Center (2.5 miles)
• Mercy Medical Center West Lake (3.9 miles)

Theaters

• Flix Brewhouse Des Moines (3.3 miles)