Danish Village in Rochester Hills, MI

Pros

• The residents are friendly and the common areas are beautiful.
• The grounds are stunning and the location offers affordable living.
• The apartment is quiet and the community feels welcoming.
• The staff is friendly and helpful, with Laura singled out for assistance.
• On-site amenities like the big screen TV, kitchen, pool table, and small library are appreciated, and there are plenty of on-site events.
• Maintenance staff are responsive and show care and compassion for residents.

Cons

• There is no real management or communication since Redwood Housing bought the building.
• Managers quit after about two weeks.
• The office is run solely by the former manager's assistant, who is expected to interview and hire new staff by herself, and it is unclear how long she can last.
• There is no official maintenance staff.
• Maintenance is provided only by two former and now-retired maintenance workers who come in as volunteers.
• The company does not seem to want to hire staff or meet with residents to explain anything.
• The building is very dirty, with dirt marks on floors and stairways, and the washing machines and dryers aren't cleaned regularly.
• Promised improvements, such as reopening the trash chute and proper disposal of furniture, are not being addressed.
• The fire alarm system has been broken for a while, leading to the presence of security guards.
• There is no management and the property is not up to code.
• Some residents complain that views are marred by overflowing dumpsters and a visible generator.
• The security deposit has not been returned promptly, causing frustration.
• The facility feels old and outdated.
• Office staff treat residents and their families as an inconvenience, have zero compassion, and send threatening letters.

Review

Danish Village, now operating as Samaritas in Rochester Hills, is best suited for budget-conscious seniors who want a community feel, dependable security, and easy access to shopping and local amenities, provided they can tolerate aging infrastructure and some management instability. The appeal lies in friendly neighbors, quiet apartments, well-kept grounds, and a lively common area with regular activities. The place also accommodates emotional-support needs and accessibility advantages, including on-site transportation options and a generally warm, low-income senior housing vibe. For residents who prize sociability, stability within a modest budget, and a sense of belonging, this community delivers value where money matters most.

Those who should consider alternatives are families or individuals expecting highly professional, consistently reliable leadership, pristine upkeep, and up-to-date facilities. The current experience at Danish Village/Samaritas contains notable gaps: no dedicated on-site maintenance staff, reliance on a former manager's assistant to juggle responsibilities, and a pattern of communication breakdown since the ownership transition. The result is a building that can feel neglected - dirty floors, unaddressed equipment issues, and a visible lack of timely repairs. If prompt, proactive maintenance and strongly organized management are non-negotiables, this is likely not the right fit, even if the monthly cost remains appealing.

The best-supported positives - lovely grounds, attractive common spaces, and quiet, comfortable living quarters - do provide meaningful counterbalance to the downsides for many residents. The grounds are described as beautiful; the apartments offer quiet privacy; residents mingle in a well-used social hub that features activities and a sense of community. The staff, when present and responsive, are praised for warmth and helpfulness, and the facility accommodates pets with proper documentation, a significant perk for many seniors. Transportation buses, basic safety features, and a secure entry system add practical peace of mind. In short, the social fabric and affordability can make a rough operating environment tolerable, especially for those prioritizing connection and budget.

Yet the cons are substantial and persistent enough to tilt decisions for many families toward alternatives. Management turnover has left a leadership vacuum, with no stable on-site maintenance team and a reliance on volunteers to handle repairs. There are concrete reliability concerns: the fire alarm system has been down for an extended period, and there are reports of dirty common areas and improper waste disposal. Residents face long waits for appointments and slow responses to service requests - eight months for an initial appointment, and lengthy timelines for problems that affect daily living. The sense that some office staff treat residents as inconveniences only compounds the frustration and undermines trust.

Other material concerns compound the decision calculus. The property's age and outdated feel - dusty vibes and limited storage - are frequently noted, and some residents report imperfect water cleanliness and climate control issues that can make units uncomfortable. Communication gaps are common, with reports of threatening correspondence and, in some cases, a chilling tone from the administrative side. Waiting lists can be protracted (18?24 months is not unusual), and the onus falls on prospective residents to endure a long wait with limited assurance of timely entry. Taken together, these factors suggest that even with the better days, this community remains a potential risk for those who require predictability and scrupulous upkeep.

For families evaluating options, the recommended approach is practical and investigative: verify the current management structure and turnover status, tour unannounced, and speak with multiple residents about response times for maintenance and the quality of daily life. Inspect the unit for humidity, airflow, and storage, and ask pointed questions about the fire alarm status, the dumpster area, water quality, and access to reliable transportation. Clarify the pet policy in writing and confirm the process for deposits and refunds, given anecdotes about security deposits and administrative friction. Finally, compare the cost-to-value balance against newer, better-maintained facilities nearby to determine whether the lifestyle fit justifies the risk.

In the end, Danish Village/Samaritas offers a pragmatic option for seniors prioritizing affordability and social connectedness over pristine facilities and flawless administration. It serves a distinct segment: residents who can tolerate irregular maintenance, slower systems, and the realities of a building in transition, yet who still want a welcoming community with accessible amenities. For those who insist on steady, proactive management, consistently clean upkeep, and modern infrastructure, it is prudent to explore other communities first. Prospective movers should arm themselves with current, candid information, prepare for a process that can take time, and enter with a clear plan for contingencies if the on-site experience falls short of expectations.

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.5 miles)
• Shake Shack (0.5 miles)
• Rochester Brunch House (2.5 miles)
• R J's Pub (2.5 miles)
• Paint Creek Tavern (2.5 miles)
• Main Street Billiards (2.6 miles)
• Rochester Mills Beer Co. (2.7 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
• Walgreens (1.6 miles)
• Ascension Providence Rochester Pharmacy (1.7 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.7 miles)
• Walgreens (2.7 miles)
• Walgreens (3.3 miles)
• Walgreens (3.3 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2 miles)
• Panera Bread (2.9 miles)
• Antonio's Cafe & Grill (3.3 miles)
• Starbucks (4.1 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.1 miles)
• LEGOLAND Discovery Center Michigan (5.9 miles)
• Avon Donuts (6.4 miles)

Parks

• Rochester Municipal Park (2.2 miles)
• Innovation Hills (2.2 miles)
• River Woods Park (3.3 miles)
• Avondale Park (3.6 miles)
• Bloomer Park (3.6 miles)
• Riverside Park (3.8 miles)
• Earl E Borden Park (4.5 miles)

Physicians

• Balian Eye Center (2.3 miles)
• Paint Creek Ob/Gyn (2.7 miles)
• Dr Mahjoub (3 miles)
• Barclay Medical Center (3.8 miles)
• Summit Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (4 miles)
• Millman-Derr Center For Eye Care (4 miles)
• Orion Family Physicians (6.2 miles)

Places of Worship

• Oakland Christian Church (2.9 miles)
• Church Of The Holy Redeemer (3.3 miles)
• Kensington Orion (3.8 miles)
• St Hugo of the Hills Church (7 miles)

Theaters

• Emagine Rochester Hills (4 miles)
• AMC Forum 3 (7.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Beaumont Hospitals Departments (6.2 miles)
• McLaren Oakland (6.2 miles)
• Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital (7.6 miles)