Alberta Simmons Plaza

Pros

• They love this place.
• The place is clean, well managed, and mellow.
• The maintenance staff were very amazing and helpful.
• The place is lovely.

Cons

• The management is among the poorest the reviewer has experienced.
• The property had mice and was not a good place to live.
• The extermination efforts were inadequate, with infrequent visits and minimal measures.
• The maintenance staff were hampered by management, undermining effective rodent control.
• Management allowed the rodent problem to get out of hand and was racist.
• The reviewer would not recommend this place for elderly family members, especially minorities.

Review

There is a striking mix of praise and critique in the account of this place. On one hand, the reviewer opens with affection: a genuine love for the property, noting that it is clean, well managed in normal terms, and a mellow environment. The tone suggests a setting that feels orderly, safe, and comfortable in everyday life, where the surfaces are kept up and the atmosphere remains calm. The emphasis here is not on flashiness or spectacle, but on the quiet reliability of a place that respects residents' day-to-day rhythms. In short, it is a place that can feel like a home because it is orderly and clean, and because the ambiance itself tends to a peaceful, unhurried pace.

But beneath that favorable surface lies a starkly different assessment of the management, one that sharply challenges the leadership of the property. The reviewer calls management "among the poorest" they have ever experienced, a claim that carries with it a warning to others: "Hold on to your wallet." This is not a casual complaint about minor inefficiencies; it is a frontal indictment of how the management operates and what the author believes tenants should expect - or fear - when dealing with them. The contrast between a clean interior and a poorly run administration creates a jarring tension: a place that can feel welcoming in appearance but disappointing in leadership and policy.

The rodent problem becomes the clearest flashpoint in this mixed portrait. The reviewer recounts a situation involving their mother, who had lived in the building for many years and had not previously faced infestations. The moment a mouse is seen in the apartment is described not merely as an annoyance but as a symptom of broader neglect. The initial response is slow and unsatisfactory: a hired exterminator that visits infrequently, with minimal impact - often just a single sticky trap per visit and little effort to address the root causes. The reviewer insists that management did not truly care about the tenants or the severity of the issue, suggesting that the problem was allowed to fester rather than promptly and effectively eradicated.

Against this backdrop of inaction, the reviewer asserts personal agency and perseverance. They themselves placed a substantial number of traps - 24 in total - and actively sought out where the rodents were entering the building, reporting these findings to management. The narrative paints a picture of proactive tenants who bear the burden of protective action because the official response is inadequate. The management's one corrective measure - an outside trap placed near what the reviewer identified as a hole - was deemed insufficient because the holes themselves were not sealed. The account emphasizes that meaningful, lasting change would require more than quick fixes; it required fixing entry points and investing in prevention, which the reviewer felt management failed to deliver.

Nevertheless, the maintenance staff emerge in the story as a positive, admirable force. The reviewer consistently credits maintenance personnel with being amazing and helpful, a bright spot within a dysfunctional management structure. This dichotomy - dedicated, capable on-the-ground workers hampered by top-level decisions - paints a nuanced portrait: you can have excellent, responsive maintenance staff, but their effectiveness is constrained by the policies and priorities set by the managing office. The writer makes a clear distinction between those who perform the day-to-day care and those who set the rules, suggesting that the real barrier to resolving the rodent problem lay with management's authority, not with the maintenance team's competence or willingness.

A further layer of complexity arises from the reviewer's comments on race and a historically significant namesake. They describe the management as "extremely (Racist)" and connect this behavior to a broader sense of inhospitality toward tenants who might be vulnerable or marginalized. The review points out that the building is named after Alberta Simmons, an African American woman who is portrayed as a pioneer in Oregon for the People of Oregon, and the author indicates a deep respect for Simmons' legacy while simultaneously accusing current management of failing to live up to that legacy. This juxtaposition of reverence for a notable historical figure with a charge of contemporary racism casts the property in a troubling moral light and raises questions about how leadership ought to treat its residents, particularly those who are elderly or belong to minority groups.

The closing sentiment underscores the ambivalence that dominates the review. While the reviewer would not recommend the place for elderly family members - especially if they are minorities - the overall tone also circles back to a more affectionate conclusion: "Lovely place." This final note captures the paradox at the heart of the account: a facility that can feel like a welcoming home in terms of cleanliness, atmosphere, and even certain staff interactions, yet simultaneously fall short in critical areas of governance, safety, and equity. The narrative suggests that the property's strengths are real but are overshadowed by failures in management and a troubling pattern of discriminatory rhetoric or behavior.

In sum, the story is one of a place that can be pleasant on the surface and very well kept, a setting that offers comfort and calm. Yet it is also a place where management decisions and attitudes appear to undermine resident wellbeing, particularly in how pests are managed, how preventive measures are prioritized, and how inclusive, respectful treatment is practiced. The maintenance team stands out as a bright exception within a system perceived as flawed, and the history embedded in the building's name amplifies the expectation that leadership should strive to honor that legacy through fairness and vigilance. The reviewer's final takeaway is a complicated verdict: a lovely place in some respects, but with serious caveats that potential residents - especially elderly or minority families - should weigh carefully before choosing to call it home.

This part of Portland, Oregon is a convenient and bustling area with a variety of amenities nearby. The proximity to several pharmacies, hospitals, and medical offices makes it an ideal location for seniors who prioritize easy access to healthcare services. Additionally, the abundance of parks and cafes provide opportunities for outdoor activities and socializing. The nearby transportation options, including Amtrak and the Portland International Airport, offer ease of travel for visiting family members or exploring beyond the neighborhood. With theaters, restaurants, and places of worship also in close proximity, there are plenty of opportunities for entertainment and community engagement in this vibrant area.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.3 miles)
• Nectar - Mississippi (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (1.6 miles)
• Walgreens (1.7 miles)
• Kaiser Interstate East Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.8 miles)

Parks

• Woodlawn Park (0.5 miles)
• Peninsula Park and Rose Gardens (0.6 miles)
• Arbor Lodge Park (1.5 miles)
• Gammans Park (1.6 miles)
• Irving Park (1.7 miles)
• Overlook Park (1.9 miles)
• Vanport Park (2.5 miles)

Restaurants

• The Bye and Bye (0.9 miles)
• El Burrito Azteca (1.2 miles)
• Eem (1.4 miles)
• Por Que No (1.7 miles)
• Island Cafe (2.2 miles)
• Blossoming Lotus (2.5 miles)
• McDonald's (2.6 miles)

Physicians

• To Summy Od Myoptic Optometry Dr Summy To Optometrist Portland (1.4 miles)
• Harpers Playground (1.5 miles)
• Legacy Medical Group-Emanuel (2 miles)
• Family Medical Group, PC (2.5 miles)
• Legacy Medical Group (2.6 miles)
• ZoomCare (2.6 miles)
• Good Samaritan Building 1 (3.3 miles)

Cafes

• Posies Cafe (1.4 miles)
• Cyclemaster Coffee (1.7 miles)
• Peet's Coffee and Tea (2.5 miles)
• Starbucks (2.6 miles)
• Dutch Bros Coffee (3.1 miles)
• King's Hookah Lounge (3.6 miles)
• Compass Coffee (3.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Legacy Emanuel Burn Center (1.9 miles)
• Randall Children's Hospital (1.9 miles)
• Legacy Emanuel Childrens Hospital (2 miles)
• Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center (3.3 miles)

Transportation

• Amtrak (3 miles)
• TriMet Hollywood/NE 42nd Ave Transit Center (3.3 miles)
• Alaska Airlines Lounge - PDX (3.4 miles)
• Concourse D (3.5 miles)
• Portland International Airport (PDX) (3.5 miles)
• Concourse C (3.5 miles)
• TSA Checkpoint A/B/C - Portland International Airport (3.5 miles)

Theaters

• Hollywood Theatre (3.2 miles)
• Regal Pioneer Place (3.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Rose Catholic Church (3.3 miles)