Mount St James Apartments

Pros

• The staff are professional, friendly, and responsive to maintenance requests.
• The building is nice, courteous, clean, and secure, with polite and professional management.
• Maintenance and appliances are well kept.
• The security deposits are returned fairly.
• The property is well maintained.
• Residents find the building peaceful and quiet.

Cons

• There was no management on premises.
• There was no hot water.
• There was no response to emergency maintenance calls.
• The property was unsafe, dirty, and unprofessional.
• The reviewer claimed drug dealers and crackheads frequented the building all day and night.

Review

What emerges from these tenant voices is a property that inspires a wide range of experiences, from serious safety and maintenance concerns to praise for affordability and professional management. The most vocal critiques describe a scene of neglect and risk: no on-site management, no hot water, water leaks, and a pattern of slow or absent responses to emergency maintenance calls. In these accounts, the building feels unsafe and dirty, with a sense that urgent issues are not prioritized. One reviewer even pulls a stark distinction into view by alleging ongoing drug activity in and around the property, a claim that makes the lived reality seem chaotic for some residents. Taken together, these comments sketch a picture of a property where basic functions and oversight can feel severely lacking for certain tenants.

Against that bleak backdrop, other tenants present a markedly different set of experiences. For several residents, the property is a practical choice for budget-conscious living. They emphasize that the place remains affordable, which makes it appealing to people who need to stretch limited resources without sacrificing certain conveniences. While there is occasional criticism that maintenance responses can be slow when submitting requests remotely, these same voices describe in-person requests as being addressed promptly, painting a contrast between different modes of communication and timeliness. The affordability factor, then, is repeatedly highlighted as a major strength that helps offset or counterbalance some of the building's more troubling shortcomings.

On the maintenance and management front, there is a recurring thread about professionalism and responsiveness when contact is made in person or through direct channels. Several reviewers characterize the staff as professional, friendly, and accessible, and they recount positive experiences after living in the building for extended periods - one reviewer notes a two-year tenancy with consistent, courteous service in dealing with maintenance requests. This suggests that the property can function smoothly when management and staff are present and engaged, reinforcing the idea that the experience may vary significantly depending on the day-to-day dynamics of the property's management.

The compliments about staff extend to impressions of the building's upkeep. Multiple accounts describe the property as well maintained, with clean surroundings and a sense of order that reflects careful management. The combination of a well-kept building, a courteous and professional manager, and staff who are perceived as responsive to maintenance needs contributes to a positive impression for those who place a premium on a tidy, orderly living environment. Alongside this, positive notes about maintenance and appliances indicate that, for some tenants, the infrastructure and day-to-day living conditions meet expectations and are kept in good repair.

Another thread in the collective voice is the sense of security and overall atmosphere. Some reviewers praise the building as nice, courteous, and secure, underscoring a feeling of safety and controlled access that helps residents feel comfortable. The manager and staff are described as polite and professional, reinforcing the value of respectful, well-managed interactions in shaping a tenant's daily experience. Coupled with these sentiments is a remark about peace and quiet - two years of residence with only occasional disturbances from neighbors above - that frames the building as a relatively calm place to live for those who can tolerate occasional noise.

Taken together, these comments depict a property with a broad spectrum of lived realities. For some tenants, serious negatives - absences in management, health and safety concerns, leaks, and delayed responses to emergencies - dominate their view, making the building feel unsafe and poorly maintained. For others, the equation tips toward affordability, responsive in-person service, professional staff, clean and secure premises, and a peaceful environment. The gap between these experiences suggests that outcomes may hinge on factors like the particular unit, the days when management is on site, the channels tenants use to report issues, and the individual expectations of residents.

For prospective renters weighing their options, the message that emerges is nuanced. If budget-friendly housing with reliably courteous staff and well-kept common areas is a priority, and you can navigate the potential for slower response in certain scenarios or communication channels, this property can be a strong candidate. However, if you rely on immediate, consistent on-site management, or if you require flawless water service and rapid handling of major issues without exception, the negative experiences reported by some residents warrant careful consideration. In any case, the range of reviews underscores a vital reality: the living experience here is not monolithic. It depends on a mix of management presence, maintenance responsiveness, and the personal expectations and tolerance of each resident.

Places of Worship

• Islamic Society of Central New York Mosque (0.7 miles)
• May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society (2.9 miles)
• Apostolic Church (3.2 miles)
• Holy Cross Church (3.2 miles)
• St Elias Orthodox Church (3.5 miles)

Physicians

• The Vision Center (1.1 miles)
• Haxton Frances G MD (1.2 miles)
• Syracuse Gastroentrological Associates (1.2 miles)
• Dr Ray T. Forbes, MD (1.2 miles)
• Infectious Diseases (1.3 miles)
• Frameology Optical (1.3 miles)
• University Surgical Associates (1.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Syracuse VA Medical Center (1.1 miles)
• Suny Upstate Medical University University Hospital (1.1 miles)
• Crouse Promptcare (1.2 miles)
• Crouse Hospital: Human Resources (1.3 miles)
• University Hematology/Oncology (1.4 miles)
• Bio Essex & Humanities (1.4 miles)
• Specialists One Day Surgery (1.5 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• Kinney Drugs (1.3 miles)
• Syracuse Community Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• Kinney Drugs (1.5 miles)
• Walgreens (1.7 miles)
• Gifford & West Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Wegmans (2.9 miles)

Restaurants

• Pfohl's Tavern (1.5 miles)
• Gannon's Ice Cream (1.7 miles)
• Luigi's Restaurant (1.7 miles)
• Strong Hearts Cafe (1.7 miles)
• Eleven Waters (1.7 miles)
• John H Mulroy Civic Center (1.7 miles)
• XO Taco (1.8 miles)

Transportation

• Centro Transit Hub (1.6 miles)
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (2.5 miles)

Cafes

• Cafe Kubal (1.8 miles)
• Original Grain (2 miles)
• Tous Les Jours (2.9 miles)

Parks

• Clinton Square (2.1 miles)
• Burnet Park (2.8 miles)
• Clark Reservation State Park (2.8 miles)