Park Plaza

Pros

• The manager is a very nice woman, and the maintenance man is very nice as well.
• The price was great, and management was always friendly and helpful.
• The maintenance team is incredible; they are fast and get the job done in a timely manner, even on weekends.
• The building has an elevator, which is a plus.
• There is an underground garage.
• The updated apartments are beautiful.
• The units are spacious and fairly soundproof.
• The complex is near SCSU.
• Cats and dogs are allowed.
• The reviewer loved leasing there for 2 years.

Cons

• The apartment looked nothing like the advertised pictures.
• There was an immediate cockroach infestation upon move-in.
• The plumbing backed up multiple times, causing sewage to flood the showers.
• They were told to clean it up because it was their poop.
• There was no heat in the unit.
• The underground garage did not prevent theft; the vehicle was broken into and items were stolen.
• The neighborhood was described as ghetto and unsafe.
• The marketing photos were misleading and digitally altered.

Review

Park Plaza apartments elicit a wide spectrum of opinions, with many residents recounting a string of serious problems that plagued their time there, while others balance the negatives with some redeeming perks. A recurring theme in the harsher portrayals is a sense of misrepresentation and persistent maintenance failures. Several tenants describe moving into units that looked nothing like the promotional photos, with some reporting a quick descent into a cascade of issues as soon as they settled in. One reviewer paints a picture of a unit that bore hardly any resemblance to what they had been shown, followed by a roach infestation that seemed to originate from plumbing in neighboring apartments. Plumbing backs ups, including showers and sewers, are described as a recurring nightmare, with management telling occupants to clean up after repairs because the mess was supposedly their own. This sequence - unmet promises about what the apartment would be, followed by repeated sanitation problems and a sense of being left to handle what should have been the landlord's responsibility - appears repeatedly across multiple accounts.

Heat and safety are other major flashpoints. In several accounts, residents report having no heat for extended periods, a situation especially troubling for families with children. Noise and disruption from neighboring tenants exacerbate the sense of an unsafe, poorly managed environment: kids on the floor playing with door handles and triggering dogs to bark, with complaints not always resolved when brought to management. Security concerns extend to the property's garage, where at least one tenant experienced a break-in and theft, and where the property's cameras were reportedly not helpful, with management saying they could not locate footage even when the vehicle in question was plainly visible on a camera. Beyond that, incidents described outside the building - such as encounters with people shooting up drugs near the dumpsters - add to a narrative of a place that feels unsafe and inadequately policed.

Against these stern condemnations, other residents offer a more favorable perspective, especially those who stayed longer or who had different unit conditions. Some reviewers praise Park Plaza for reasonable pricing given the location near the university, with management described as friendly and consistently helpful, and maintenance teams praised for promptness and reliability - even noting weekend responsiveness. In these accounts, when units are in decent shape, the property can feel well maintained: new carpet and vinyl on move-in, well-functioning elevators, and units that are relatively soundproof, with only hallway activity as a noticeable disturbance. Positive experiences often highlight a sense of community and the fact that the property is not the most up-to-date but still offers solid value, including a decent set of on-site amenities like an underground garage and in-unit or on-site laundry facilities.

Another layer of complexity arises from the contrast between the marketing imagery and what renters actually encounter. A number of reviewers urge readers not to trust the pictures used by apartment sites, insisting that interiors can be cluttered or misrepresented and that hallways show wear - carpets stained and apparently rarely replaced. Yet within the same corpus of opinions, there are comments that the updated units are genuinely appealing, with many praising the design and finishes once a unit has been renovated. The dual reality of "some updated spaces are beautiful" alongside "the hallways and some common areas look tired" emerges as a recurring theme, underscoring the variability from unit to unit.

The property's practical conveniences are cited by several occupants as strong points. Proximity to campus, access to public transit, and the presence of an underground garage are consistently noted as major advantages. Some residents value the size and layout of their apartments, acknowledging that rent remains a significant chunk of the budget but that the overall package - space, pet-friendly policies, and amenities - justifies the cost for many. The fact that the complex allows cats and dogs, and the presence of amenities like on-site laundry and elevator access, are repeatedly highlighted as bright spots in otherwise mixed experiences. In contrast to the more alarming narratives, these positives hint at a complex calculus for would-be renters: the price-to-perceived-value ratio can be favorable, but only if the unit and building conditions align with expectations.

A troubling cluster of extreme incidents - mold in the apartment and serious health concerns for pets - further stains the overall picture for some residents. One account links a mold issue to the tragic death of a cat, and another alleges neighbors poisoned a dog with antifreeze in a parking-lot puddle, with little action taken by management despite reporting. Such stories underscore fears about the building's environmental health and the effectiveness of management in addressing life-threatening concerns. An additional grievance concerns lease and notice terms that seem punitive: one reviewer mentions paying three extra months' rent for not providing written notice of move-out, a detail that amplifies a sense of mistreatment and financial stress in an already challenging situation.

In sum, Park Plaza emerges in these narratives as a place of stark contrast. For some residents, it delivers value, convenience, and responsive service when conditions are favorable, particularly in well-maintained units and with reliable maintenance support. For others, the experience is shaped by persistent pest and plumbing problems, unreliable heat, safety concerns, and a sense that the marketing did not reflect the lived reality. The property's outcome seems closely tied to the unit, the building's specific management team, and the luck of the draw regarding neighborhood noise and security incidents. Prospective renters would be wise to scrutinize the exact unit and building, ask current tenants about recent pest and heat issues, and weigh the price and campus proximity against the potential for recurring maintenance and safety concerns.

This part of Saint Cloud, Minnesota offers a variety of amenities that could be appealing for senior living. There are several restaurants within a short distance, ranging from casual eateries like Shooters Saloon and Eatery to more upscale options like The White Horse Restaurant & Bar. Additionally, there are places of worship nearby for those interested in maintaining their spiritual practices. Medical services are easily accessible with multiple physicians' offices and pharmacies in the vicinity, including St Cloud Hospital for more serious medical needs. For recreational activities, Hester Park provides a peaceful outdoor space for leisurely walks or picnics. Overall, this area boasts a convenient location with a good mix of dining options, healthcare facilities, and green spaces to enjoy in retirement years.

Restaurants

• Shooters Saloon And Eatery (0.8 miles)
• Sawatdee Thai Restaurant (0.9 miles)
• The White Horse Restaurant & Bar (1 miles)
• Green Mill Restaurant (1.1 miles)
• McDonald's (1.2 miles)
• Lincoln Depot (1.3 miles)
• Giliberto's Mexican Taco Shop (1.4 miles)

Places of Worship

• Calvary Community Church (0.8 miles)
• Living Way Church (3.2 miles)
• Harvest Fellowship (3.3 miles)

Physicians

• Avada Audiology & Hearing Care (0.9 miles)
• Edgewater Natural Family Medicine (1.5 miles)
• Cura Center (1.5 miles)
• Midwest Vision Centers (1.6 miles)
• Centracare Bariatric Center (2 miles)
• Centracare Neurosciences Pain Center (2 miles)
• St Cloud Hospital (2 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• Guardian Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• Centracare Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• CentraCare Pharmacy at St Cloud Hospital (2.1 miles)
• Hapeth Prescription Shop (2.1 miles)
• Southside Pharmacy (2.1 miles)

Cafes

• Caribou Coffee (1.5 miles)
• Brigitte's Cafe (1.8 miles)
• Caribou Coffee (2.6 miles)

Transportation

• St Cloud Station (1.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Talahi Care Center (1.6 miles)
• CentaCare (2.4 miles)

Parks

• Hester Park (1.8 miles)