Parkway Gardens

Pros

• The front desk and office personnel were friendly and provided all the needed information.
• The building was clean, and the residents were friendly and happy with living there.
• Abigail was very helpful and provided an enjoyable tour.
• The maintenance staff did a good job, and were quick and polite.
• The tour and paperwork were handled professionally and efficiently.
• Problems were resolved promptly, often within an hour of request.
• Parkway Gardens is described as a beautiful place to live with many activities and friendly residents.
• The management team is responsive, professional, and genuinely dedicated to helping residents; the facilities are well-maintained and welcoming.

Cons

• The building was dirty and depressing.
• The noise complaint was ignored and the paperwork allegedly falsified.
• They could not be released from the lease and were charged about $900.
• The washers and dryers do not work properly.
• The lobby looks like a nursing home.
• The rent is way too expensive for seniors and not worth the price.
• There are too many non-seniors living there and an aggressive dog that has attacked two dogs, with poor management.
• The elevator broke again in a senior living community.
• The office failed to accommodate an appointment, with no staff present and poor directions.
• The owner was rude and disrespectful to residents, with no empathy and management showing poor customer service.

Review

Parkway Gardens emerges in these impressions as a place with a clear split between what residents and visitors love and what issues consistently frustrate them. On the plus side, several guests highlight a welcoming, helpful front desk and office staff. One reviewer notes that the front desk personnel were very friendly, providing all the information needed, while another praises Abigail for being very helpful during a tour. The tour and paperwork are described as professional and efficient, and multiple accounts emphasize that the community feels clean and well-kept. In fact, the overall mood conveyed by these voters is that the building itself has good bones, enriched by friendly, sociable residents and a responsive staff culture that makes first impressions favorable.

Maintenance and operational responsiveness show up as a mixed but often positive thread. Compliments frequently land on the maintenance crew for being quick, polite, and effective, with specific praise for someone who explained how to loosen the wheel inside an air conditioner and another who fixed a door lock promptly. A reviewer even notes that a problem was resolved within about an hour after a request. Yet alongside these success stories, there are persistent tensions around building systems that fail or underperform. The 4th-floor washers and dryers, for instance, are a frequent point of contention: one machine has been out of order for years, another set runs only part of the cycle, yet residents are still charged full price. Elevator reliability is also questioned, particularly in a senior-living context where downtime compounds frustration. Taken together, Parkway Gardens seems to have a capable maintenance team, even as some core systems require attention and overtime.

Noise and safety concerns thread through several reviews, painting a more challenging living experience for some residents. A recurrent issue is noise from neighbors - overhead disturbances that some say persisted for a year and were not adequately addressed by management. There are also concerns about safety and behavior on the property, including references to dog-related incidents and aggression that raise questions about pet management and space control. One resident describes the anxiety of encounters with a dog that lives on another floor and has reportedly attacked other dogs, and asks what steps will be taken to ensure resident safety. Add to this a mention of a senior living environment where an elevator breakdown is viewed as especially problematic, and you can see why quiet enjoyment and safety are top-of-mind concerns for families and seniors alike.

Affordability and apartment quality are another layer of the conversation, with a notable tension between value and cost. Some reviews frame Parkway Gardens as comfortable and sizeable without central air, in older or smaller configurations, and with amenities that do not always justify the price for a senior on a fixed income. One commenter describes the place as big but expensive for a senior, while another notes the lack of central air and the subpar lobby aesthetic. By contrast, a housing coordinator's perspective highlights affordability and well-maintained facilities as major strengths, suggesting there are options that balance quality and cost for those seeking a supportive, comfortable environment. These mixed sentiments reflect a broader reality: Parkway Gardens is seen by some as a solid, affordable option, while others feel pricing and certain features do not align with expectations or needs.

Community life and amenities contribute a strong positive counterbalance in many reviews. The property is described as beautiful and peaceful, with a broad slate of activities that can keep residents engaged. Observers mention a variety of social and recreational opportunities - Bingo, Christmas parties, Fourth of July celebrations, and a grocery truck amenity - that create a sense of community and purpose. The lobby, hallways, and common spaces are portrayed as welcoming and well-used, and residents often remark on the friendliness of neighbors and the overall vibe of a bustling but congenial community. For those who value social connection and a lively calendar, Parkway Gardens appears to deliver a rich, active living experience.

Management, staff dynamics, and customer service present the most polarizing dimension of these impressions. A number of reviews praise staff for professionalism, attentiveness, and courtesy, including notes about responsive and easy-to-work-with management. Some reviewers specifically commend the trustworthiness and professionalism of a housing coordinator and the general supportiveness of the office team. Yet other accounts describe poor customer service, discourteous or abrupt interactions, and frustration with office processes. One reviewer characterizes a building owner as rude, and several passages point to inconsistent experiences with management that undermine trust. A visit and appointment one reviewer describes ended up feeling chaotic and poorly coordinated, with doors left unlocked and unclear directions, underscoring how divergent experiences can exist within the same property.

Taken as a whole, these reviews sketch Parkway Gardens as a community with many strengths and a few nagging weaknesses. Residents repeatedly celebrate friendly staff, well-maintained common areas, and a robust slate of social activities that foster connection and belonging. They also report real challenges around noisy neighbors, safety concerns, maintenance gaps, and the sometimes uneven quality of management interactions. For prospective tenants, the message is nuanced: Parkway Gardens offers a welcoming atmosphere, a communal spirit, and responsive maintenance in many cases, but it also demands careful consideration of personal tolerance for noise, the realities of older building infrastructure, and the consistency of management practices. In short, Parkway Gardens can be a wonderful home for those who value community and are prepared to navigate occasional upkeep and service variability.

This area of St. Paul, Minnesota offers a convenient and diverse array of amenities for seniors looking to settle in a vibrant community. With several pharmacies within close proximity, accessing necessary medications and health supplies is easy. Additionally, there are multiple hospitals and clinics nearby for medical needs. Places of worship cater to various religious beliefs, providing spiritual support. The neighborhood also boasts numerous parks for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Several dining options offer a range of culinary experiences, from casual fast food to upscale dining. For entertainment, there are cafes for socializing and theaters for enjoying movies. Overall, this part of St. Paul provides a well-rounded and welcoming environment for seniors seeking a comfortable retirement lifestyle.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (3.4 miles)
• Walgreens (3.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.7 miles)
• Walgreens (4 miles)
• Mix Compounding Pharmacy (4.8 miles)
• Walgreens (5.1 miles)

Transportation

• Union Depot (1.8 miles)
• Minnesota State Fair Transit Hub (6.3 miles)

Restaurants

• The Bulldog Lowertown (1.8 miles)
• Citizen Supper Club (2.1 miles)
• White Castle (2.6 miles)
• Cossetta's Italian Market & Pizzeria (2.7 miles)
• Karen Thai food (2.9 miles)
• Burger Time (3.2 miles)
• Taco John's (3.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Regions Hospital Burn Center (2 miles)
• St Joseph's Hospital-St Paul (2.4 miles)
• United Hospital Joint Relacement Center (2.9 miles)
• Woodwinds Health Campus-Woodbury (4.5 miles)
• St John's Hospital-Maplewood (5 miles)

Physicians

• West Side Community Health Services (2.2 miles)
• Dakota Medical Solutions (3.2 miles)
• HealthPartners Clinic (3.5 miles)
• Healthpartners Clinics (3.7 miles)
• Retina Center (4.1 miles)
• Entira Family Clinics-West St Paul (4.3 miles)
• Aris Clinic (4.4 miles)

Places of Worship

• Cathedral of St Paul (2.8 miles)
• St Jerome Elementary School (3.2 miles)
• Transfiguration Catholic Church (3.5 miles)
• St George Greek Orthodox Church (4.7 miles)
• WW Studio (6.1 miles)

Parks

• Flicek Park (2.9 miles)
• Harvest Park (4.1 miles)
• Rotary Park (4.5 miles)
• Hazelwood Park (4.7 miles)
• Casey Lake Park (4.8 miles)
• Como Park (5 miles)
• Eastside Park (5.1 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (4.6 miles)
• Groundswell (5.1 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Inver Grove 16 (6.1 miles)
• Alamo Drafthouse Woodbury (6.2 miles)