The Plaza Grande at Garden State Park in Cherry Hill, NJ

Pros

• The Plaza Grande is described as a welcoming 55+ community with beautiful, modern apartments.
• The staff are praised for their professionalism, friendliness, and responsiveness, making visits and move-ins smooth.
• The clubhouse and amenities are excellent, offering a resort-like lifestyle and numerous activities.
• The property is noted for well-maintained, immaculate grounds and a clean, inviting environment.
• On-site amenities include indoor and outdoor saltwater pools, a sauna, a fitness center, and a private movie theater.
• The 55+ community provides spacious layouts, accessible features, and a convenient location near shops and services.
• The management team is seen as dedicated and supportive, with leasing agents going above and beyond.
• The location is repeatedly praised for easy access to dining, entertainment, and daily conveniences.
• Units are highlighted for their large bathrooms, walk-in closets, and modern kitchens.

Cons

• The front desk and the property manager never pick up.
• Plaza Grande does not live up to its claim of premier apartments and a luxurious lifestyle; services are inadequate.
• The intercom system across multiple buildings has been out of order for over six months.
• Elevators are frequently out of order; there is only one elevator per building.
• Emergency maintenance calls go unanswered.
• The air conditioner has been broken since early September and remains unfixed into December.
• Water is pouring into the bathroom from the apartment above with no timely follow-up or repairs.
• Maintenance is unresponsive and management is indifferent; basic livable conditions are not being met.
• There is absolutely no security or cameras in any apartment building.
• Residents were not alerted to security breaches, including homeless persons found in the clubhouse.
• Kamson Property Management is not responsive and lacks effective communication.
• The new ownership is less responsive, with recurring elevator outages and a broken intercom, and handicapped parking is poorly planned.

Review

The Plaza Grande at Garden State Park in Cherry Hill is best suited for 55-plus adults who prize a resort-style lifestyle, vibrant social life, and the convenience of a modern, new-construction environment. Prospective residents who want expansive, bright apartments with open layouts, in-building garages, balconies, and access to a robust clubhouse will find the setting appealing. The community’s strongest draw is its extensive amenities: indoor and outdoor saltwater pools, a sauna, fitness facilities, tennis, a movie theater, and a calendar of events that fosters daily opportunities to connect with neighbors. For those who value proximity to shopping, dining, and entertainment, the location within the Garden State Park area adds to the appeal. When a person wants a turnkey, “lock-and-leave” lifestyle with social engagement baked into daily life, Plaza Grande stands out as a compelling option.

Those who should consider alternatives are residents who require consistently reliable maintenance, or who depend on seamless building operations for health or mobility needs. Reviews repeatedly flag intercom systems that fail, elevators that break down, and maintenance requests that languish, sometimes for months. Prospective renters with significant allergies or a need for stable airflow may also worry about delayed HVAC responses in this brand-new building. Additionally, managers and front-desk responsiveness appear uneven, and issues like water intrusion or unaddressed repairs can undermine confidence in a long-term commitment. For families or individuals who place a premium on steady service, transparent communication, and predictable problem-solving, a comparable community with a stronger track record of reliability may be preferable.

The strongest pro package, lifestyle and amenities, offsets many potential downsides when the emphasis is on social connection and leisure. Residents consistently praise the welcoming atmosphere, the breadth of activities coordinated from the clubhouse, and the quality of leasing teams and on-site staff who guide moves and tours with tact and expertise. The property’s modern apartments, generous layouts, pet-friendly policies, and options like garages contribute to a sense of value and comfort. When management teams are responsive and friendly, as several staffers across multiple testimonials demonstrate, the experience can feel almost vacation-like: easy access to events, dependable housekeeping-like upkeep of common areas, and a sense of belonging that reinforces the decision to stay long-term. In short, for lifestyle-driven buyers, the cons feel magnified only when operations are inconsistent.

On the other hand, the recurring operational concerns temper the enthusiastic case for Plaza Grande. Intercoms that fail to work for extended periods, elevators that frequently go offline, and an HVAC system with long-running issues in a newly built property are not minor annoyances; they strike at daily convenience and basic livability. Water pouring into a bathroom from an upper unit, and reports of unreturned emergency maintenance calls, cast doubt on the immediacy of the response system residents rely on. Even with upgrades and a renewed emphasis under new ownership, these reliability gaps create a tension between enjoying high-end amenities and fearing interruptions in essential services. The tension is especially acute for mobility-impaired residents who depend on elevators, secure entry, and prompt maintenance to preserve independence and safety.

That tension is where the value proposition either pays off or falls short. For residents who can tolerate occasional service delays in exchange for social vibrancy, location, and luxurious amenities, Plaza Grande remains attractive. The upside, clubhouse-led activities, strong community connections, and the perceived “country club” atmosphere in a 55-plus setting, can transform daily life into an engaging, supportive experience. Yet for those who cannot tolerate repeated maintenance bottlenecks or a perceived lack of urgency from management, the positives do not fully offset the risk. The reality is that the positive social environment and modern design offer substantial upside only if operational reliability catches up to the cosmetic and lifestyle strengths.

In evaluating Plaza Grande, the decisive factors come down to expectations around maintenance, communication, and safety, versus the lure of a luxury, amenity-rich 55-plus lifestyle. Prospective residents should demand concrete assurances: current status of elevator backups, a guaranteed maintenance response SLA, and a transparent plan for resolving intercom and security concerns. It is prudent to talk to a cross-section of residents about their real-time experiences, request a maintenance log, and press for a remediation timeline. If the goal is a carefree, service-forward environment with dependable operations, alternative communities with a more proven track record on core services may be worth a close comparison. If the choice is Plaza Grande, approach the decision with a clear expectation that the club-like lifestyle will be matched, or exceeded, only by a parallel commitment to steady, responsive property management.

Pharmacies

• Wegmans (0.6 miles)
• Walgreens (0.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Walgreens (1.9 miles)

Restaurants

• The Capital Grille (0.7 miles)
• Ponzio's Diner-Bakery-Bar (1.6 miles)
• Walt Whitman Service Area (3.5 miles)
• Bob Evans (3.8 miles)
• Yard House (3.8 miles)
• Auntie Anne's (4 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (4.1 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.7 miles)
• Jersey Java & Tea (2.1 miles)
• Starbucks (3.9 miles)
• ReAnimator Coffee (5.9 miles)
• La Colombe Coffee Roasters (6 miles)

Hospitals

• Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital (0.9 miles)
• Cooper University Hospital (4.4 miles)
• Episcopal Hospital (6.5 miles)
• Aria Health (6.6 miles)
• St Christopher's Hospital for Children (7.1 miles)

Transportation

• PATCO Westmont Station (1.8 miles)
• Jefferson Station (6.8 miles)
• PATCO/NJ Transit: Lindenwold Station (7 miles)

Physicians

• Advocare Heights Primary Care (3.7 miles)
• South Jersey Skin Care (5 miles)
• Rothman Institute (5.2 miles)
• Frankford Avenue Health Center (6.4 miles)
• Cooper Medical Building 1 (6.6 miles)
• Cooper Internal Medicine (6.7 miles)
• CHOP Specialty Care & Surgery Center (6.7 miles)

Parks

• Penn's Landing (5.8 miles)
• Race Street Pier (5.8 miles)
• Palmer Park Farmers Market (6.1 miles)
• Piazza Dog Park (6.1 miles)
• Palmer Doggie Depot (6.1 miles)
• Womrath Park (6.1 miles)
• Weccacoe Park (6.2 miles)

Theaters

• Landmark Theatres - Ritz Five (6 miles)