Afton View in Saint Paul, MN

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Pros

• Eric Turner is a great maintenance man who communicates well.
• He fixed the bathroom issue, and the bathroom now looks better and is comfortable to use because of him.
• Under new management, everything is new and they have cleaned up a lot.
• Aftonview was nice, clean, and a safe place to live.
• The property was free of mice and roaches for years when people lived there.
• People who grew up there love it and miss it, and some are considering moving back.

Cons

• The reviewer dislikes rats or mice and notes they run around everywhere.
• The apartment has been getting worse day by day, with a sink that won’t drain and insufficient heat, making it feel freezing inside.
• The reviewer laments that the complex has deteriorated and now has a sudden rodent and roach problem that has worsened.
• The reviewer calls the place nasty, warns that roaches can cause disease, and notes they personally became ill.
• The place is horrible, full of roaches and tons of mice, not clean, and not recommended.
• The building is filled with bugs, roaches cover the walls, making it unsuitable to raise a child.
• The rodent and roach problem appeared suddenly and just got worse.

Review

Afton View in Saint Paul is best suited for independent seniors who prize an established, neighborly feel and a lower-cost housing option, even if that means coping with significant upkeep and pest-related challenges. The community has long-tenured residents and a sense of place that some families find comforting, especially for those who value staying in a familiar neighborhood. For seniors who are content with basic apartment living, occasional maintenance, and the idea of living among people who have a history there, Afton View can feel like a reasonable fit.

However, families should clearly consider alternatives if cleanliness, pest control, and dependable comfort are priorities. This community tends to be less suitable for seniors who require consistently sanitary spaces, medical-grade maintenance responsiveness, or reliable climate control. Those who cannot tolerate recurring roaches, mice, and visible cleanliness gaps should look elsewhere, particularly if health concerns or frequent mobility assistance are involved. Prospective residents with children or grandchildren visiting regularly may also find the environment less reassuring due to ongoing sanitation and nuisance issues.

On the upside, maintenance responsiveness exists as a real, tangible benefit when problems arise. A maintenance professional cited in the reviews, Eric Turner, demonstrates solid communication and effective fixes, improving bathroom functionality and overall livability in the moment. There are mentions of a shift under new management and clean-up efforts, suggesting some operational improvements and attention to upkeep. For residents who value a quick, practical fix and a direct line to a dependable tradesperson, these are meaningful advantages that can reduce day-to-day frustration.

Yet the bright spots are consistently tempered by stubborn, pervasive drawbacks. The most dominant concern is a sustained pest problem, roaches and mice, that appears to permeate multiple units and common areas. Images and anecdotes of infestations undermine the sense of safety and sanitary living, particularly for seniors who are more vulnerable to infection or significant discomfort. In addition, issues with plumbing (kitchen sinks not draining) and heating inadequacies compound the daily stress of living in these apartments, especially during colder months. Such fundamentals, pests, drainage, and warmth, directly impact quality of life and long-term well-being.

What these factors mean when weighed together is a clear risk-reward calculus. The prospects for visible improvements from new management and occasional maintenance wins are real, but they are uneven and not guaranteed to translate into a pest-free, consistently clean environment. For residents who can tolerate a rough edge to maintenance, a sense of community, and a willingness to adapt around ongoing issues, Afton View offers an affordable option with familiar routines. The cons, however, are not easily offset by the positives, and they tend to dominate the decision for families prioritizing health, safety, and predictable daily comfort.

In making an informed choice, families should conduct a thorough, first-hand assessment before any commitment. Inspect each unit’s cleanliness, verify the pest-control schedule, and ask for a detailed plan on heating capacity and plumbing reliability. Speak with current residents about the consistency of maintenance responses and the reality of living with pests. If peace of mind, predictable comfort, or a pest-free environment are non-negotiables, alternatives in the same market, those with proven, robust pest control, stronger housekeeping standards, and stable climate control, will likely serve better in the long run.