St. Francis Court Apartments

Pros

• The place is great.
• The management is professional and provides excellent service.
• Maintenance staff are courteous and professional.
• The building is fantastic and rich with history showcased in its foyer.
• The view is lovely, with mountains, birds, and deer visible from the windows.
• The apartments are pristine with new appliances and carpet.
• There is convenient bus service in front of the building and nearby shopping.
• The place is loved by residents.
• The women of the Senior Center are loving and kind.
• Edwin Taylor is highly regarded by residents.
• St Francis Court Apartments are gorgeous.

Cons

• The place is decrepit and in disrepair, with unaddressed work orders.
• There is trash everywhere, including needles and crack pipes, creating an unsafe environment.
• Bed bugs are widespread and there is mold in the apartments.
• Management is described as horrible and unresponsive to repairs.
• Deferred maintenance is extensive and conditions are getting worse.
• The neighborhood is labeled as the worst kind of slum with crime and drug activity.
• The landlady is described as disrespectful of privacy and renter's rights.
• Potential residents are advised to stay away until improvements are made and things are under control.

Review

St Francis Court appears to be a place of strong contrasts, where moments of genuine warmth and pride sit side by side with troubling reports of neglect and risk. A number of residents describe the building as a charming, historic community with a lot of potential, while others paint a very different picture - one of deferred maintenance, unsafe conditions, and a neighborhood that feels off-putting to some. Taken together, the reviews sketch a property that elicits affection and loyalty from some occupants, even as it raises serious concerns for others.

For many who have actually lived there, the experience begins with the positive: a professional, attentive management team and courteous maintenance staff who stay busy keeping the place running. One resident notes living there for four months and praising the professional service and responsive maintenance personnel. The building's architecture and its historical ambiance are repeatedly highlighted, with its foyer described as a display of its rich past. Aesthetically, the units can be pristine, equipped with modern appliances and new carpeting, and some residents enjoy a particularly favorable location - the windows overlook a mountainside teeming with birds and deer, offering a serene and scenic escape amid urban living. The presence of bus service right in front of the building and nearby shopping adds to the convenience that many residents appreciate. In short, for some, St Francis Court checks the boxes for comfort, convenience, and character.

There is also a strong sense of community and social support in several accounts. A review focusing on the "charming old building" highlights darling apartments and the possibility of hearing birdsong and seeing deer depending on where one lives within the building. The "wonderful women" of the Senior Center, caregivers who donate their time and food, and other tenants who help each other navigate the layout all contribute to a welcoming, neighborly atmosphere. This perspective emphasizes a supportive, caring environment and gratefully acknowledges the role of the building in enabling meaningful social connections and assistance for residents who may need it.

There are hopeful voices as well. A prospective resident who hasn't yet lived there expresses high hopes after hearing many wonderful things and notes having already ventured into nearby areas and finding them lovely. This view captures a sense of potential and expectation - that St Francis Court could be a wonderful home to someone who visits, learns its rhythms, and experiences the positives noted by current residents.

Yet the picture is far from uniform. A sizable portion of the feedback is negative and urgent, portraying a building in distress. Some reviewers describe the property as decrepit with unresolved work orders, trash in hallways, and the presence of needles or crack pipes. Bed bugs and black mold are repeatedly cited as major problems, along with broader concerns about safety and overall living conditions. One account warned to "stay far away," painting a scene of significant neglect and risk. Another parent-sized concern notes parents reporting a lack of care from management and a building full of bed bugs, with mold in many apartments, framing the place as unsafe and unsanitary.

There are also pointed personal experiences that color the verdicts. One reviewer adds that their father lives there and that management has been horrible. The same account insists the building is infested with bed bugs and mold across multiple units, underscoring the severity of the problem and the impact on families. In contrast to these dire claims, another reviewer emphasizes a single standout improvement: Edwin Taylor's arrival. According to that account, the building was "?" before he started and is now clean overall. Edwin's work is described as transformative and indispensable enough to warrant a raise, with residents crediting him for elevating the building's cleanliness and operations.

The tension between these narratives continues with another comment that the property could be wonderful, but is currently hamstrung by deferred maintenance and inconsistent management. The sentiment is that the facility has potential, but ongoing issues - particularly around repairs and the behavior of staff - make it difficult to recommend or feel confident about the place in the near term. Yet other voices oscillate between optimism and skepticism: some say they "like it here," while others caution that the five-star reviews may be inflated by those who have not done a full tour or lived there, and that issues like drug activity and ongoing repairs plague the building.

A few shorter notes add a further texture: pithy acknowledgments of the place's looks - "Nice looking place," or "definitely not perfect" - paired with more pointed dosage of reality about crime and neighborhood conditions. One strongly negative entry portrays the property as crawling with drug users and bed bugs, accusing the landlord of privacy violations and expressing alarm at neighborhood crime, including robberies nearby. The reviewer even claims that a portion of such incidents involved residents themselves, painting a particularly bleak portrait of safety and trust in the surrounding area.

Taken as a whole, the reviews present St Francis Court as a historically appealing building with a strong sense of community, which many residents cherish deeply for its supportive environment, scenic views, and convenient location. At the same time, they reveal persistent and serious problems: maintenance delays, health and safety hazards, infestations, and concerns about management practices. A single advocate highlights a key staff member who has made a real difference, while others insist that more decisive action and accountability are needed to restore confidence across the community. The result is a complex portrait of a place that can be warm and fulfilling for some, but risky or unsatisfactory for others, depending on personal experience, unit, and the particular mix of management and maintenance realities at any given time.

This area of Cincinnati, Ohio, offers a variety of amenities that cater to the needs of seniors. With several restaurants within a short distance, such as Incline Public House and Frisch's Big Boy, residents have easy access to dining options. Pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS are also conveniently located nearby for any medication needs. In terms of healthcare, there are reputable hospitals like Good Samaritan Hospital and The Christ Hospital within a few miles, ensuring quality medical care is easily accessible. Additionally, the area boasts several parks for leisurely walks or relaxation, including Washington Dog Park and Ziegler Park. Coffee shops like The 86 Coffee Bar & Concert Venue provide a cozy atmosphere for socializing with friends or enjoying a peaceful cup of coffee. Places of worship like St Dominic Church and White Oak Chapel offer spiritual support to residents. Overall, this neighborhood in Cincinnati provides a well-rounded and convenient environment for seniors looking for a comfortable place to live.

Restaurants

• Incline Public House (1.5 miles)
• China Food (1.9 miles)
• Frisch's Big Boy (2.1 miles)
• Murphy's Pub (2.2 miles)
• Samuel Adams Cincinnati Taproom (2.3 miles)
• White Castle (2.4 miles)
• McDonald's (2.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• Hart Pharmacy (2.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• Walgreens (2.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.7 miles)
• Walgreens (2.7 miles)

Hospitals

• Good Samaritan Hospital (2.3 miles)
• The Christ Hospital (2.7 miles)
• Veterans Hospital (2.9 miles)
• University of Cincinnati Medical Center (3.1 miles)
• Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (3.3 miles)
• Mercy Health - West Hospital Campus (4.4 miles)
• Cincinnati Children's (4.6 miles)

Physicians

• Eye Care Associates (2.5 miles)
• University Hospital Outpatient Building (3.2 miles)
• Hand Surgery Specialists (3.3 miles)
• Seven Hills Women's Health Centers (4.2 miles)
• Beers, Ann, Md - St Elizabeth Healthcare Regl (4.3 miles)
• St. E Diabetes Center (4.5 miles)
• Western Family Physicians (4.8 miles)

Parks

• Washington Dog Park (2.6 miles)
• Washington Park (2.6 miles)
• Ziegler Park (2.9 miles)
• John G & Phyllis W Smale Riverfront Park (3.4 miles)

Cafes

• The 86 Coffee Bar & Concert Venue (2.7 miles)
• Coffee Emporium (2.9 miles)
• Deeper Roots Coffee (3 miles)
• York Street Cafe (4.5 miles)
• Starbucks (5.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Dominic Church (3.2 miles)
• White Oak Chapel (4.7 miles)

Transportation

• Government Square (3.2 miles)
• Metro Bond Hill Garage (5.4 miles)

Theaters

• Cinemark (5.5 miles)