Village Square Co-Operative

Pros

• The food is always great, attributed to a great chef and friendly staff.
• The area has awesome schools.
• It is close to main roads and various stores.
• There are community activities throughout the year.

Cons

• They described the office staff as harassing residents with rules and being rude every time they were contacted.
• They lived there eight years and experienced nothing but problems from the office staff.
• The unit was said to be covered in mold with water leaks, causing serious health concerns for their child.
• Management allegedly brushed off concerns after extensive contact (emails, letters, voicemails) and only applied band-aid fixes.
• A refurbished antique swing was taken by groundskeeping and discarded without notice.
• The community gardens stopped being cared for as volunteers were driven away, leading to neglect.
• There was trash everywhere with no public trash cans, forcing residents to pick up litter.
• Val and Rodger Hall from Kirkpatrick were said to never respond to emails or phone calls.
• Inspections were claimed to be conducted by someone not licensed by the state, with the manager confirming the inspector's opinions.

Review

The collection of experiences shared by residents paints a complex portrait of a community that has its notable strengths but also significant, ongoing challenges. On the positive side, several reviewers highlight appealing amenities and service in certain areas, notably the food. Compliments about the kitchen emphasize a great chef and friendly staff, and one reviewer even notes that the food is "awesome" and that the team is "friendly." For those who value proximity to everyday conveniences, the location is described as convenient - close to main roads and a variety of stores - without being uncomfortably close to them, and there are mentions of year-round community activities that add a social element to living there.

However, beneath these favorable notes lies a persistent current of everyday problems that appear to recur across multiple residents' experiences. A recurring theme concerns the office staff and property management. One reviewer urges that, whenever dealing with office personnel, conversations should be recorded and thoroughly documented, signaling a lack of trust and a belief that communication with management can be difficult or unsatisfactory. This sentiment is echoed by another speaker who describes frequent harassment over "the rules and regulations" and characterizes interactions as rude whenever contact is made with the office. The sense of frustration is clear: after eight years of residence, this individual feels targeted and disagrees with how rules are enforced and communicated.

Another major thread centers on the condition and upkeep of the community itself, especially the outdoor spaces and the environment around the property. There is strong dissatisfaction with the community gardens: they "used to be quite lovely," but the gardens are not tended anymore, volunteer engagement has dwindled, and the result is a noticeable decline in upkeep. The broader outdoor area is also described as less cared for, with trash described as "everywhere" and a lack of public trash cans contributing to a litter problem. The reviewer repeatedly notes constantly picking up litter - items like pop cycles sticks and paper - indicating that maintenance of common areas has become a problem and a personal burden for residents who care about the neighborhood's appearance and cleanliness.

Personal anecdotes further illustrate the complex experiences of residents. One homeowner recounts a specific incident: after refurbishing an antique gliding swing, they placed it outside their back door, only to have groundskeeping remove the item and compact it as trash before providing any notice. This experience, followed by moving shortly after, shapes a sense of being undervalued and misunderstood by management. The sentiment is stark: these actions contributed to a feeling of decision-making being disconnected from residents, and the eventual move was framed as a relief, with an apparent sense of improvement in life after leaving the property.

There is also a striking division of opinion when it comes to health and safety. A separate, vehement entry details a unit with mold and water leaks, with the resident asserting that management and the property's operator - specifically a named firm and individuals - failed to address the problem adequately. The resident describes prolonged exposure to mold spores, a chronic cough in a toddler, and a two-year-old living in an environment they say is unsafe. Communication attempts - emails, letters, voicemails - are said to have gone unanswered; their assessment is that management offers only temporary fixes rather than addressing the root cause. Names surface in this account: Val and Rodger Hall from Kirkpatrick as points of contact who allegedly do not respond, and there is a claim that inspections are conducted by someone who is not licensed by the state of Michigan, with "Lynette the manager" used to confirm opinions. Mold tests from two separate mold companies confirmed the presence of spores, and the resident reports being displaced from their home with no satisfactory resolution.

In addition to mold and licensing concerns, the same reviewer describes a broader pattern of neglect and disruption, including earwig infestations inside the unit. The combination of health hazards, perceived neglect, and unresponsiveness from the management team paints a picture of a property where serious maintenance and safety issues feel sidelined or insufficiently addressed. The reviewer's final judgment - "Place is a joke, run and keep running!" - caps a narrative of deeply troubled experiences that stand in stark contrast to the moments of praise for location, amenities, and even some staff.

Despite these heavier concerns, the community does show evidence of ongoing social and educational benefits when viewed through the lens of other residents. The mention of "awesome schools" reinforces that the area offers strong educational opportunities, and the proximity to major roads and stores provides practical convenience. The presence of year-round community activities also suggests a culture of engagement and social life that could be appealing to families and long-term residents alike. Taken together, these notes hint at a community with real strengths in education and social programming, offset by serious, persistent issues in management, maintenance, and residential well-being.

In the end, the reviews present a nuanced portrait: a place that can be quite appealing - thanks to its food, a supportive local environment, and convenient location - yet one that is marred by ongoing problems with management responsiveness, maintenance, and health/safety concerns. For potential residents, the picture is not one-dimensional. It may come down to weighing the value of the social and culinary perks against the seriousness of the reported mold, the perceived lack of accountability from the management company, and the daily reality of living in an environment where community upkeep and open communication appear to be inconsistent.

Restaurants

• Dave & Buster's (0.2 miles)
• National Coney Island (0.5 miles)
• McDonald's (0.5 miles)
• Taco Bell (1.1 miles)
• McDonald's (1.2 miles)
• Wendy's (1.2 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1.3 miles)

Parks

• Whispering Woods Park (0.5 miles)
• Dodge Park (2.7 miles)
• Mae Stecker Park (3.5 miles)
• Waldenburg Park (4.3 miles)
• Earl E Borden Park (4.8 miles)
• Clinton Township Parks & Recreation (5 miles)
• Bloomer Park (5.8 miles)

Cafes

• Panera Bread (1.5 miles)
• The Hot Spot Coffee (1.7 miles)
• Starbucks (3.6 miles)
• Starbucks (5.2 miles)
• Panera Bread (5.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
• Walgreens (1.7 miles)
• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.9 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• Shelby Bible Church (2.3 miles)
• St Peter Lutheran Church (4.9 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Forum 3 (2.4 miles)
• Emagine Macomb (3.5 miles)
• MJR Partridge Creek Digital Cinema 14 (3.6 miles)
• Emagine Rochester Hills (5.8 miles)

Physicians

• Michigan Surgery Specialists - Shelby Township (2.5 miles)
• Henry Ford Shelby Ob/Gyn (2.9 miles)
• Midwest Center For Dermatology (3.3 miles)
• Mmi Dr M Chen (3.3 miles)
• Ascension Stonebridge Orthopedic Urgent Care (3.7 miles)
• Partridge Creek Center For Womens Health (3.7 miles)
• Partners In Family Medicine (4 miles)

Hospitals

• St John Medical Center (4.4 miles)