Hiawatha Senior Village

Pros

• The board of housing has been notified, hopefully things will change.

Cons

• The company is terrible and not worth renting from.
• They take advantage of seniors' money.
• They raise rent in the middle of a contract.
• They threaten eviction for nonpayment.
• They refuse to lock the doors of the recreation room at night.
• Personal information is left unlocked in the recreation room.
• They no longer allow seniors to use the recreation room for gatherings.
• The owners are rude and disrespectful.
• They charge inflated amounts for cleaning and repairs upon move-out.

Review

A recurring thread through these accounts is the sense of a family tearing through a difficult and unsatisfactory situation after a loved one passes away, only to be met with a string of disappointments that never seem to resolve. In one account, a mother lived there for many years, and after her death the family cleaned and left the apartment in good order. They were assured the deposit would be returned, yet weeks passed with no sign of it. A call eventually yielded the number for the owner, whose receptionist proved to be shockingly rude, and promises were made that the deposit would be mailed. Once again, nothing arrived. The family is left with the impression that their money, intended to be a straightforward matter of returning the security deposit, vanished into a void, and they describe the company as terrible - unwilling to reciprocate the fairness they were told to expect.

Beyond the financial frustration, the reviews describe a pervasive ethos of taking advantage of seniors. One writer directly accuses the company of exploiting elderly tenants for money, pointing to rent increases in the middle of existing leases and even threats of eviction when rents are not paid. The negative sentiment expands into concerns about basic safety and privacy, with claims that the rec room and office doors are not locked at night, creating a troubling exposure of residents' personal information. The same thread of concern questions why a space intended for senior gathering remains unlocked, hinting at a broader pattern of lax security and neglect.

The accountability and oversight issues are another major fault line. Several reviewers point to a culture of intimidation and insufficient protection for residents who may not fully understand legal processes or who have limited literacy. They suggest that staff or managers expect family members to manage paperwork for seniors, accusing the organization of taking advantage when senior residents cannot navigate the system alone. There is even mention of the board of housing being notified and the expectation of an upcoming audit to address alleged theft from seniors, implying a belief that there is a systemic problem rather than a few isolated incidents.

There is a long-term perspective from someone who lived there for more than fourteen years, who witnessed a succession of changes that were mostly negative. The most recent evolution was an alleged "update" to the apartments, and the reviewer cites a lease clause that forbids any alterations or improvements to the unit or its fixtures. The sentiment is that reasonable improvements would be welcome, but the policy is framed as rigid and overbearing. This perspective emphasizes a sense of aging and alienation - "Makes you feel old living here" - and frames the complex as a place dominated by petty rules and busybodies, rather than a supportive community.

Another facet of the critique centers on maintenance and emergency responsiveness. The reviewers paint a picture of a place where management and maintenance are not readily available in emergencies, which can be especially distressing for seniors who may rely on prompt action in urgent situations. When tenants move out, the complaints intensify: inflated charges for cleaning and repairs, with no clear justification, are described as part of a broader pattern of unfair financial practices. The idea that even basic quality-of-life provisions - like keeping the space habitable - are compromised surfaces repeatedly in these accounts, contributing to a sense of dissatisfaction and mistrust.

Taken together, these reviews sketch a troubling portrait of a residential community that promises stability for seniors but delivers a range of unresolved, emotionally charged grievances. The deposit dispute, the rude interactions, and the perceived threats and security lapses frame a larger narrative of a system that many tenants feel fails to protect the most vulnerable residents. The combination of rent practices, restricted autonomy, and a perceived lack of responsive care culminates in a cautionary picture: a place where paperwork, privacy, and safety all require vigilant vigilance from families and guardians who must step in to shield their loved ones.

For anyone considering this community, the collective voice of these accounts suggests proceeding with extreme caution. The experiences warn prospective tenants and their families to be meticulous about paperwork, to document everything, and to seek to understand the legalities of leases and deposits before moving in. They also emphasize the value of staying engaged with management, maintaining a paper trail for any disputes, and being prepared for the possibility that security, maintenance, and emergency responsiveness may not meet expectations. The overarching message is clear: if you are tasked with caring for a loved one here, tightly manage the administrative side and question every rule, because the perception of fairness and respect may depend on it.

This part of Mount Vernon, Ohio offers a convenient and accessible location for senior living. With several physicians, pharmacies, and Knox Community Hospital nearby, residents have easy access to healthcare services. The variety of restaurants and cafes in the area provide plenty of dining options, while the close proximity to places of worship offers spiritual fulfillment. For leisure activities, there are parks like Memorial Park and Riverside Rotary Park within a few miles for outdoor enjoyment. Additionally, Premiere Theatres is available for entertainment. Transportation options such as U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer and Road Runner Transportation make it easy to get around the area. Overall, this neighborhood provides a combination of essential amenities and recreational opportunities suitable for seniors looking for a comfortable living environment in Mount Vernon.

Physicians

• Chandravadan P. Patel (0.3 miles)
• Avada Hearing Care Center (0.3 miles)
• Central Ohio Eye Surgeons (0.8 miles)
• Knox Community Hospital (0.8 miles)
• Knox Cardiology Associates (0.8 miles)
• Knox Gynecological Specialist (0.8 miles)
• Lee Steven Hornstein (0.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• Kroger Pharmacy (0.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.4 miles)
• Health Mart Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• Conway's Eastside Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• Foster's Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• Lonsinger Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Health Mart Pharmacy (1.4 miles)

Restaurants

• Chipotle Mexican Grill (0.3 miles)
• Papa John's Pizza (0.3 miles)
• Wendy's (0.5 miles)
• Burger King (0.5 miles)
• Fiesta Mexicana (0.6 miles)
• Ruby Tuesday (0.6 miles)
• Bob Evans (1.2 miles)

Cafes

• Tim Hortons (0.5 miles)
• Happy Bean (1.4 miles)
• Everlasting Cup - Oh (1.6 miles)
• The Brickhouse Grind (6.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Messiah Church (0.5 miles)
• General Conference Of Seventh-Day Adventists (0.7 miles)
• United Methodist Church (0.8 miles)
• Mount Vernon Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church (0.9 miles)
• Southern Baptist Convention (1.1 miles)
• First Presbyterian Church (1.2 miles)
• St Paul's Episcopal Church (1.2 miles)

Parks

• Mt Vernon City Park Department (1.3 miles)
• Memorial Park (1.6 miles)
• Riverside Rotary Park (2.1 miles)
• Rails To Trails (2.2 miles)
• Kokosing Nature Preserve (3.8 miles)
• Gambier Dog Park (4.4 miles)
• Gleason Family Nature Reserve (12.9 miles)

Theaters

• Premiere Theatres (1.3 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (1.6 miles)
• Road Runner Transportation (2.5 miles)
• U-Haul Neighborhood Dealer (9.7 miles)

Hospitals

• Knox Community Hospital (11.2 miles)