Hickory Hollow Cooperative in Wayne, MI

Pros

• The place is nice to live, and Joy, the property manager, is very nice.
• The grounds are kept well and the place looks great in the community.
• Maintenance comes right away when something breaks and fixes it.
• The new secretary is very nice and helpful.
• The area is somewhat peaceful and quiet.
• This is a nice place for families; the neighbors are nice; overall it is a great place.

Cons

• They don't repair the units or perform upgrades.
• Black mold appears in bathrooms and ventilation is poor.
• People have died in the units due to carbon monoxide poisoning.
• They are slumlords.
• The property manager is unprofessional and disrespectful to tenants.
• Many units are infested with carpenter ants and mold.
• They do not refund deposits and automatically charge for painting and carpet.
• Maintenance is slow, unresponsive, and often ineffective.
• They charge for non-emergency visits and issues go unaddressed for long periods.
• The owners/managers are negligent and problems accumulate instead of being fixed.
• The complex looks worn and uninspiring, and tenants feel taken advantage of.
• Parking is poorly managed and policy-enforced penalties are common.

Review

Best suited for budget-conscious families and seniors who want a quiet Wayne setting and a sense of community, Hickory Hollow Cooperative trades polish for practicality. The grounds are often described as well kept, and some residents value the feeling of ownership that a cooperative environment promises. For households prioritizing affordability, proximity to services, and a neighborhood vibe over luxury finishes, this community can feel like a straightforward place to settle. The catch is clear: reliability of service and safety come with caveats. Prospective residents must accept a property that works hard to keep costs down while offering a modest but real trade-off in upkeep and response times.

Those weighing alternatives should focus on safety and maintenance reliability. Reviews repeatedly raise red flags about carbon monoxide dangers, mold in bathrooms, and pests, along with long-standing maintenance gaps. A pattern of unresponsive management and disputed deposit practices further complicates the picture. While a handful of tenants report helpful staff or periods of better service, the prevailing tone centers on risk: safety incidents, unit neglect, and inconsistent accountability. Families with vulnerable members - older adults, young children, or anyone with respiratory sensitivities - will likely need to compare this option against properties with stronger safety records and clearer repair commitments.

On the plus side, some residents describe a pleasant living environment when units are in decent condition and maintenance is timely, and a sense of community emerges in the shared spaces and grounds. The price point relative to other Wayne options is a meaningful advantage for households on tight budgets. The presence of a generally quiet atmosphere and the opportunity for children to play outside in a low-key setting also matter for families seeking stability. Yet these positives are routinely overshadowed by recurring problems: heating failures in winter, persistent leaks, and delayed repairs that stretch from weeks to months. The overall experience reads as inconsistent rather than reliable.

Operationally, the biggest pain is the management and maintenance cycle. Tenants report repeated work orders, often with little visible progress, and some describe gaps in basic systems that should not be allowed to deteriorate. Basic unit upgrades appear sporadic, while older fixtures and infrastructure age together with ongoing weather-related wear. The situation is compounded by strict or opaque policy enforcement, parking disputes, and periodic safety concerns that have left residents feeling unprotected. For households with dependents or mobility challenges, the risk of unresolved maintenance translates into practical costs and daily stress - an added burden that can negate any initial savings from the lower rent or buy-in structure.

Financial mechanics amplify the decision risk. The buy-in model promises a sense of ownership, but several reviews describe deposits that are not refunded and fees billed for painting or carpet regardless of tenure. The value of the buy-in appears volatile, tied to occupancy and management turnover, producing uncertain recapture at move-out. Staff changes contribute to inconsistent service, leaving residents negotiating with new faces who may have different priorities. Prospective residents should demand a transparent, written agreement detailing repair SLA, allowable expenses, and the precise terms of any buy-in or refund. Without that clarity, the financial gamble can overwhelm any perceived budget-friendly benefits.

In short, Hickory Hollow Cooperative serves a niche audience: those who prioritize affordability, a quiet environment, and a community feel while accepting frequent maintenance hurdles and management volatility. For anyone with strong safety concerns, or who cannot tolerate inconsistent repairs and opaque financial terms, alternatives are advisable - well-maintained rental properties, other cooperatives with robust maintenance guarantees, or markets with transparent ownership structures. If choosing to stay, conduct a thorough, unit-by-unit inspection, insist on current CO detectors and functional heating, and seek a firm maintenance timetable before signing. Weigh the long-term costs, not just the initial price, to determine whether a more dependable option exists nearby.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.3 miles)
• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.9 miles)
• Walgreens (3.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4 miles)

Hospitals

• Oakwood Annapolis Hospital (0.6 miles)
• Beaumont Dearborn Hospital (7.3 miles)
• DaVita Belleville Dialysis (7.4 miles)

Transportation

• Avis Rent A Car (1.3 miles)
• Budget Rent A Car (2.4 miles)
• Hertz Rent A Car (2.4 miles)
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (2.5 miles)
• National Car Rental (2.6 miles)
• DTW Delta Cargo (2.6 miles)
• Concourse D (2.9 miles)

Cafes

• Tim Hortons (1.6 miles)
• Biggby Coffee of Westland (4.6 miles)
• Tim Hortons (5.5 miles)
• Starbucks (6 miles)
• Qahwah House (6.2 miles)
• Panera Bread (6.9 miles)
• Starbucks (7.3 miles)

Restaurants

• Jimmy John's (1.7 miles)
• Mezza Mediterranean Grille (4 miles)
• Plum Market (4.2 miles)
• Cat Cora Tap Room - 16 (4.2 miles)
• Sora Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Bar (4.3 miles)
• Andiamos (4.3 miles)
• The Halal Guys (4.8 miles)

Parks

• Garden City Park (3.9 miles)
• Schemansky Park (6 miles)
• Heritage Park (6.3 miles)
• Ford Field Park (6.4 miles)
• Paul Revere Park (7.1 miles)
• Heritage Park (7.1 miles)

Physicians

• Dearborn Obstetrical & Gynecological Assoc PC (4.2 miles)
• Ophthalmic Specialists of Michigan - Dearborn Office (4.6 miles)
• Garden City Hospital Medical Office Building (4.9 miles)
• Botsford Primary Care Physician (5.5 miles)
• Pinkney, Greenbaum, MacFarland, and Timpner, DDS (5.9 miles)
• Partners In Internal Medicine (6 miles)
• Allen Park Family Physicians (7.2 miles)

Places of Worship

• Muslim Community of Western Suburbs (4.7 miles)
• Church of the Divine Child (5.2 miles)

Theaters

• Emagine Theatres (5.1 miles)