Comprehensive Private Services

Pros

• Penny provided exceptional service.
• The apartments are in a great, convenient location.
• The apartments are spacious and the price is right.
• The support staff are friendly and excellent at their jobs.
• The staff are friendly, hospitable, caring, and competent.
• The neighbors are friendly and the place is dead-quiet and peaceful.
• There are lots of community activities, and the bus driver is awesome.
• The building is secure and mail is delivered inside the secure area.
• The no-smoking policy eliminated lingering indoor smoke issues.

Cons

• There is upkeep work that needs attention.
• There is currently no manager for Building 1 and 3.
• Corporate needs to get their act together.
• Dog noise issues are not addressed.
• Dog barking goes on all day at the doors and disturbs other tenants.
• The layout has engineering/design anomalies that waste space and are annoying.
• The electrical panel is placed in a way that it must be left exposed at all times.
• Outdoor seating areas are filled with the smell of tobacco due to outside smoking, reducing comfort.
• Sidewalk repairs are needed.

Review

In a set of thoughtful, experiences-from-the-ground reviews, residents paint a picture of a senior living property that delivers convenience, value, and a strong sense of community. A key thread running through the feedback is the way a proactive leasing agent named Penny can make a real difference. One reviewer specifically credits Penny with exceptional service that helped their family secure an apartment, noting that Penny was helpful with every question and contributed to a smooth, positive start. Beyond Penny, the broader impression is that the apartments are in a great, convenient location, with the units described as spacious and offered at a price that feels right for many seniors who are balancing independence with affordability. The support staff, from maintenance to housekeeping and the shuttle driver, are repeatedly called out as friendly and excellent at their jobs, contributing to a generally warm and supportive day-to-day experience.

Despite the recurring praise, the reviews don't shy away from notable operational hiccups that affect resident life. There is an explicit acknowledgment that the complex is currently without a manager for buildings 1 and 3, and the loss of a highly regarded manager after a short tenure has sparked concerns about corporate oversight and consistency. The reviewers emphasize specific upkeep needs that matter to daily living - most prominently sidewalk repairs and the addition of slopes at the ends of sidewalks - signals that while the property is well-regarded, there is room for improvement in maintenance infrastructure and building management to keep pace with resident needs.

One of the more detailed long-form reflections centers on Gentemann Manor II, where the resident expresses genuine enthusiasm about the community and affordability. They describe the property as well maintained and the amenities as generally satisfactory for a senior-housing setting. A notable tension they raise is around the pet-friendly policy, specifically dog barking. The reviewer describes a situation where dogs could bark all day at the doors of their owners, and they feel dog-barking issues aren't adequately addressed within the pet-friendly framework. This concern is balanced by an update: after a period of quiet, the dog issue eased, and the reviewer found themselves enjoying the apartment and location again, illustrating how experiences can shift with individual circumstances and timing.

Further continuity emerges in the review that began in late 2015 and extends into 2017. The resident notes consistent daily upkeep and rapid responses to maintenance requests, highlighting that the staff are "friendly, hospitable, caring, and competent." Yet they also acknowledge the age of the property - after roughly ten years, certain elements show their age. The reviewer expresses ongoing interest in how updates and renovations will unfold over time, signaling a balanced perspective that values both reliable service and necessary modernization as the complex matures.

The living environment itself is described as notably quiet and well-suited to a peaceful, residential lifestyle. Neighbors are portrayed as friendly, and the overall atmosphere is "dead-quiet and peaceful, especially at night." Even with proximity to a highway, the noise is minimal, with only occasional train sounds reported and rarely waking residents. The acoustics of the building are praised as favorable, with fireproof walls helping to keep foot traffic noise contained to a manageable level in lower units. The presence of a bus and a commendable driver adds a further layer of accessibility and opportunity for social outings, shopping trips, and occasional entertainment, all of which contribute to a sense of a well-integrated community.

Amenities and security features further reinforce the appeal of the property. Residents describe a hotel-like layout with wings and lobbies, complemented by on-floor amenities such as a gym, a library, a computer center, and a community room with a kitchen, plus accessible public bathrooms on select floors. The complex is noted for secure mail delivery and general safety, with packages arriving securely inside the building. For practical living, the insulation is described as effective, resulting in unusually low utility bills for a unit of that size, a point that enhances the perceived value of the housing. In Building 2, laundry facilities are organized by wing, with two washers and two dryers per wing and no reported conflicts or heavy waits, underscoring a thoughtful approach to shared amenities.

Policy changes and design critiques figure prominently in how residents assess value. A significant update is the no-smoking policy implemented building-wide, extending to tobacco and vaping, which effectively eliminates indoor smoke issues but shifts outdoor smoke to the common seating areas, where odors and residue can still be a nuisance. Several residents suggest designating a dedicated smoking area to balance cleanliness with resident preferences. On the design side, there are candid critiques of layout choices - specifically door placements and the exposure of electrical panels - which some residents feel inefficient or impractical. Despite these quibbles, the overarching sentiment remains affirmative: Gentemann Manor II is described as a very good deal for the price, particularly for seniors seeking safety, independence, and social opportunities.

Taken together, the collection of reviews presents Gentemann Manor II and its related buildings as a compelling option for seniors who value affordability, a solid core of maintenance and service, and a welcoming community. The experience is not without its faults - management continuity, sidewalk upkeep, and occasional noise considerations - yet the overall tone is one of satisfaction, strong endorsement, and a belief that the property offers real benefits for daily living and long-term residence. For prospective renters prioritizing location, ease of maintenance, and a built-in social framework, these reviews suggest a thoughtful, resident-centered living environment that, with continued attention to upkeep and management, can be a dependable home for many years.

Restaurants

• The Irish Gypsy (1.4 miles)
• Turtle Creek Pub And Grill (1.5 miles)
• Waffle House (1.7 miles)
• Burger King (1.8 miles)
• McDonald's (1.9 miles)
• McAlister's Deli (1.9 miles)
• Bleachers Bar and Franks (2 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Schnucks (1.9 miles)
• Wharf Pharmacy (2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• Wahrf Pharmancy (2.4 miles)
• Walgreens (3 miles)

Physicians

• Dawn Matschiner APN-BC (1.9 miles)
• Flick, Kathleen Ssm Health Medical Group Ofallon (1.9 miles)
• Family Medicine (1.9 miles)
• Sean P. Stoneking (2.3 miles)
• Esse Health (2.4 miles)
• Lake St Louis Dermatology (2.4 miles)
• Christina Lee Byron, MD (2.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center (2.2 miles)
• Progress West Healthcare Center (6.6 miles)
• CenterPointe Hospital (7.2 miles)

Places of Worship

• Chapel of the Lake (3 miles)
• St Joseph Church-Cottleville (6.2 miles)

Theaters

• Marcus Theatres (3.3 miles)

Parks

• O’Day Park (4.6 miles)
• Heartland Park (6.8 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (6.3 miles)