Central Towers

Pros

• The staff are amazing.
• It offers an amazing view of Albany and a peaceful setting.
• There is a great view from the top floor.
• It is affordable, and the maintenance staff are good.
• It is just what one reviewer needed and fits their budget.
• One reviewer says they will be warm this winter.

Cons

• The rent is high for a small space and increases every year, including a recent $200 hike.
• Maintenance requests are ignored and tickets are closed the next business day.
• The apartment has mold and it is not fixed.
• The stove is not working and staff ignore the issue.
• Office staff are disrespectful and residents' complaints are not taken seriously.
• The building has black mold and pests (mice and roaches), with accusations that mold is being covered up.
• The complex is unsafe due to drug activity and frequent emergency responses.
• Security is lax and unauthorized entry is possible.
• The elevator is unreliable, with only one working elevator.

Review

Residents paint a picture of a building that many find unaffordable for the tiny spaces it offers, with complaints that stretch from price and upkeep to safety and management. A recurring thread is that rent keeps climbing even as the units feel smaller and less cared for. One reviewer notes that rent rises every year and a recent notice pushed the monthly bill up by $200, following a history of prices that used to be lower. They describe repeatedly submitting maintenance tickets that never seem to be honored, with tickets closed the next business day, leaving fix requests like a malfunctioning stove and other issues unresolved. The sentiment across many comments is that the financial burden has grown, while the quality of service and living conditions have not kept pace.

Maintenance and infestations emerge as some of the strongest themes. Reviewers describe a building plagued by mold - specifically black mold - that many caution to test for before moving in. Complaints extend to pests as well, with mentions of mice and roaches appearing throughout the property. In particular, a non-functional stove becomes a symbol of broader neglect, as tenants report telling the office about the problem and feeling ignored. Elevators also become a point of contention for at least one reviewer, who calls for a fix in order to improve daily life in a building where at least one elevator is not reliably in service. The combination of mold, pests, and slow or ineffective maintenance creates a sense of ongoing frustration for residents who feel their living conditions are not being treated with the care they expect.

Interactions with the office staff and management amplify the sense of dissatisfaction. Several reviews accuse the staff of disrespect and neglect when tenants raise concerns. One resident explicitly names Dawn, alleging racism and disrespect in the office, while others describe tickets being ignored and later closed without resolution. This sense of poor responsiveness compounds the practical problems - when a stove is broken or mold is present, the human element of receiving timely, respectful attention worsens the perception of a building that does not value its residents. In short, there is a clear call for better communication and accountability from the management team.

Safety and the surrounding atmosphere emerge as especially troubling in several accounts. A number of comments describe the building as unsafe or surrounded by troubling activity, including drug use and disorder. Reviewers say the building is "crawling with drug addicts, sex offenders, drug dealers, ex-cons and just unsavory people," with police, fire trucks, and ambulances seemingly a nightly routine. The severity of the environment leads some to claim that even homelessness recovery programs are reluctant to place clients there due to safety concerns. The contrast between this harsh reality and the idea of affordable housing adds to the sense of risk and unease about living in that community.

Yet the reviews are not monolithic in their tone. A few comments offer a counterpoint, highlighting positive aspects or moments of relief within the building. Some residents describe the complex as affordable and within budget, which they value highly in the context of winter warmth and general cost of living. Others speak of appealing views, noting "amazing view of Albany & peaceful" from the top floor, and even "amazing staff" in certain moments. A resident also notices quiet moments and a positive note about the property, suggesting that for some, the building delivers comfort and satisfaction despite the broader complaints. A few reviewers simply describe the place as acceptable or "okay," underscoring a spectrum of experiences across different units and days.

Taken together, the collection of reviews presents a complex portrait. On the one hand, residents describe rising rents, cramped or under-maintained units, and a maintenance and management experience that feels unresponsive at best. The presence of mold, pests, and at least intermittent safety concerns adds a tangible sense of risk to daily life, while the social environment around the property - drug activity, police activity, and neighborhood safety concerns - appears to influence perceptions of value and desirability. On the other hand, there are moments of relief and satisfaction: a perceived affordability for some, moments of staff competence or courtesy, and the lure of nice views and quiet stretches. For anyone considering living there, the reviews suggest weighing the potential cost savings and pleasant features against significant concerns about maintenance, management responsiveness, health risks, and safety.

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.1 miles)
• Casey Finn's Pub $ Grill (0.6 miles)
• Junior's (0.8 miles)
• Iron Gate Cafe (1.1 miles)
• The Albany Ale & Oyster (1.2 miles)
• McDonald's (1.4 miles)
• The City Beer Hall (1.6 miles)

Physicians

• Mohawk Amulance Central Ave - O2 Fill Station (0.3 miles)
• Industrial Medicine Associates (0.8 miles)
• Albany Family Medicine (1 miles)
• Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (1 miles)
• Capital Cardiology Associates (1.1 miles)
• LasikPlus Vision Center (1.3 miles)
• Albany New York LASIK & PRK Laser Eye Surgery - LasikPlus (1.3 miles)

Transportation

• CDTA Bus Stop (0.6 miles)
• Amtrak (2.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.3 miles)
• College Parkside Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.5 miles)
• Walgreens (2.6 miles)

Parks

• Washington Park (0.8 miles)
• Jennings Landing (1.9 miles)
• Collins Circle (2.7 miles)
• North Bethlehem Park (3.3 miles)
• Miracle Playground (3.5 miles)
• The Crossings of Colonie (3.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Albany Medical Center Hemophilia And Von Willebrand S Disease Tr (1 miles)
• Stratton VA Medical Center (1.2 miles)
• Albany Medical Center Pediatrics Developmental/Behavioral (1.4 miles)
• Albany Medical Center Endocrinology (1.5 miles)
• Albany Medical Center South Clinical Campus - Patient Billing Services, Human Resources (1.5 miles)
• Albany Memorial Hospital (1.5 miles)
• The Pain Management Center At Albany Memorial Hospital (1.5 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.1 miles)
• Stacks Espresso Bar (1.8 miles)
• Starbucks (2.8 miles)
• Starbucks (3.4 miles)
• Panera Bread (3.7 miles)
• Panera Bread (3.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• New Covenant Presbyterian Church (1.8 miles)
• Hindu Temple Society (2.3 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Colonie Center & RPX (3.6 miles)