The Waterfalls in Lake Ronkonkoma, NY

Pros

• The Waterfalls is a great place with a beautiful ballroom and an amazing garden.
• The community is well maintained, exquisitely landscaped, well lit, and inviting.
• Lidia, the property manager, is professional, accommodating, helpful, and patient, helping residents find apartments they truly love.
• The apartments feature open floor plans, clean finishes, new appliances and flooring, and large closets with a California Closet system.
• The clubhouse is lovely, offering two pool tables and a large TV, and the on-site laundry showcases exotic plants with a view of the waterfalls.
• The grounds are beautiful, and the overall setting feels quiet and well kept.
• Residents praise the staff for professionalism and friendliness, and describe their neighbors as wonderful.
• For those 55 and over, The Waterfalls is a clean, neat, and well-managed place to live.

Cons

• The office staff is not nice and shows no respect for anyone.
• The management is terrible, with discriminatory practices and unkept promises about repairs.
• Repairs are rarely done in a timely manner; maintenance is slow to respond.
• The apartments themselves are not well cared for, despite the grounds looking nice.
• The rental office staff is rude, unprofessional, and unhelpful to prospective tenants.
• There is no kitchen on the premises, which limits usability for residents.
• Snow removal is slow, and residents often end up paying others to clear it.
• Maintenance response time is pathetic; residents have to go to extremes to get repairs.

Review

The Waterfalls is a strong fit for active, independent seniors aged 55 and up who want beauty plus a built?in social life. The grounds are consistently praised as serene and well kept, delivering a resort?like ambience with a ballroom, welcoming common spaces, and thoughtfully designed outdoor areas that invite daily interaction. Open floor plans, modern appliances, and generous storage meet practical needs, while the community's social fabric - clubs, gatherings, and easy access to neighbors - gives day-to-day life a sense of purpose. For residents who value a capable on-site manager who helps move things along and keeps newcomers oriented, this setting often feels like a reliable home base that balances elegance with comfort.

Pros are tangible and frequent. The Waterfalls presents a consistently well?kept environment, with landscaping that feels premium and lighting that supports a safe, comfortable feel after dark. A capable on-site manager - most notably Lydia - has guided many move?ins, helped residents pick apartments they actually love, and stayed accessible through routine questions. The residences read as modern and practical: open plans, new appliances, and expansive closets. The social spine - the clubhouse, two pool tables, a large TV, and a ballroom - creates ongoing opportunities for connection. On?site barbecue areas and a waterfall?view laundry space add charm to everyday routines, while friendly neighbors and a quiet, secure atmosphere make the experience pleasantly low?stress for many residents.

Cons emerge when expectations collide with management realities. A subset of reviews describes friction with office staff and uneven responsiveness, painting a picture of a management experience that can swing from highly professional to inconsistent. Maintenance is a persistent sticking point: work orders are frequently reported as slow, with several residents lamenting repairs that drag on for weeks or months. Snow removal can be tardy, and multiple accounts suggest a lack of predictable follow?through after problems are reported. A few postings raise more serious concerns, including claims of discriminatory treatment or aggressive behavior from ownership, which clouds day?to?day life for those who rely on stable, respectful operations. Taken together, the less reliable threads challenge the otherwise polished surface.

Whether these negatives matter hinges on priorities. The strikingly beautiful grounds, safe, quiet setting, and the social framework offered by a robust clubhouse often offset slower maintenance and occasional miscommunication for residents who prize ambiance and community over turnkey service. When Lydia is actively involved, moves go smoothly and new tenants settle in with confidence, which gives the Waterfalls a dependable anchor for many households. For those who want a lifestyle that feels welcoming and active, the positive side can easily outweigh the negatives. At the same time, practical frictions - such as the absence of in?unit laundry in some units and the lack of a kitchen on site - represent nontrivial compromises for cooks and those who appreciate fully self-contained living.

Alternatives become reasonable considerations for residents who require consistently swift maintenance, equally predictable staff behavior, or more comprehensive on-site conveniences. Families with seniors who need frequent repairs, tighter response times, or a more gated, highly structured environment may prefer other Long Island options. Prospective renters who rely on in?unit laundry or a kitchen inside the apartment will want to compare offerings where these features are guaranteed. The Waterfalls can still be the right choice, but its appeal tends to rise for those who can tolerate occasional service variability in exchange for a refined, sociable setting and a landscape that feels designed to be lived in and enjoyed.

In the end, the Waterfalls delivers a lifestyle that many active seniors will prize: beauty, safety, and a thriving sense of community anchored by a capable on-site manager. The strongest verdict comes down to whether the priority is daily social life and aesthetic calm or unwavering maintenance reliability and uniform day?to?day service. Those who fit the former profile will likely see the investment as worthwhile, especially if they verify consistent access to a responsive manager and reserve judgment on the more transient maintenance hiccups. For anyone weighing this choice, commit to multiple visits, probe maintenance timelines, and speak with several residents about current management responsiveness before deciding to make The Waterfalls home.

Lake Ronkonkoma, New York offers a variety of amenities and services for seniors looking to settle in the area. With multiple theaters nearby such as Regal Ronkonkoma and Island 16 Cinema de Lux, entertainment options are easily accessible. There are also several restaurants within a short distance including Taco Bell, McDonald's, Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill, and Denny's providing convenient dining choices. For medical needs, there are several pharmacies in the vicinity such as CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens, as well as physicians' offices like AdvantageCare Physicians and Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group. Transportation options include the LIRR Ronkonkoma Station and Long Island MacArthur Airport for easy access in and out of the area. Additionally, there are cafes like Nesconset Bagel Cafe and Starbucks for a quick bite or coffee break. Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy parks like Selden Dog Park and Avalon Park & Preserve nearby. In terms of healthcare facilities, the Main Lobby hospital is within reach for any medical emergencies. Overall, Lake Ronkonkoma provides a range of services and conveniences ideal for seniors considering senior living in this area.

Theaters

• Regal Ronkonkoma (0.4 miles)
• Island 16 Cinema de Lux (2.4 miles)
• AMC Stony Brook 17 (3.1 miles)

Restaurants

• Taco Bell (0.6 miles)
• McDonald's (0.9 miles)
• Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill (1.7 miles)
• Denny's (1.7 miles)
• Golden Buffet (1.9 miles)
• McDonald's (2 miles)
• Applebee's (2.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.5 miles)
• Walgreens (1.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.7 miles)
• Selden Pharmacy (2.8 miles)
• Duane Reade (3 miles)

Physicians

• AdvantageCare Physicians (0.8 miles)
• First Choice Medical (1.8 miles)
• Stony Brook Extended Care (2.1 miles)
• Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology (3.2 miles)
• Island Medical Care (3.6 miles)
• Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group (3.7 miles)
• Endocrine Associates of Long Island (3.8 miles)

Transportation

• LIRR - Ronkonkoma Station (2 miles)
• TSA Security Check Point (3.2 miles)
• Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) (3.3 miles)
• Baggage Claim (3.3 miles)
• Mid Island Air Service (3.4 miles)
• Suffolk Transportation Coram (5.4 miles)

Cafes

• Nesconset Bagel Cafe (2.7 miles)
• Starbucks (3.1 miles)
• Starbucks (3.8 miles)
• Starbucks (5.2 miles)
• Starbucks (5.3 miles)
• Starbucks (5.4 miles)
• Student Activities Center (5.6 miles)

Parks

• Selden Dog Park (4.1 miles)
• Avalon Park & Preserve (6 miles)

Hospitals

• Main Lobby (5.1 miles)