B'Nai B'Rith Apartments

Pros

• The building is clean.
• The kitchen is described as cute.
• It is very close to the bus stop.
• It is a good place for seniors (55 and older).
• The kitchens are new.
• The property has good security monitoring at the front door and in the elevators.
• Maintenance staff are friendly.
• The view is nice, with views of the river and hospital.

Cons

• The staff are rude and ignore residents, even when told about a serious leak.
• The building has deplorable health and sanitary conditions.
• The majority of rooms are infested with roaches, and pest control is inconsistent or ineffective.
• Management invades privacy by using master keys and restricting guests.
• The elevators are unreliable and frequently break; heating and air conditioning are often not fixed.
• Rent is extremely high for a small studio, making living costs feel out of proportion to job prospects.
• Residents are harassed by other residents and the office does not help, with threats and intimidation reported.
• The application process is slow and mismanaged, with communications ignored and rejections after long delays.
• The building used to be peaceful and safe but is now dangerous.
• The property is described as a prison-like facility for seniors, with management isolating residents and restricting visitation.

Review

This building turns up in many voices as a place with a long history of being both cherished and challenged. Some residents describe it as a convenient, even charming home: a clean environment with a cute kitchen, close to the bus stop and a hospital, and a setting that feels secure for seniors who want to live independently in the heart of downtown. One person recalls a life there that lasted nearly a decade, fondly noting features like a bright kitchen and proximity to transit, while another highlights a peaceful past that has since given way to a sense of danger and intrusion. A different memory speaks to a place that once felt safe and welcoming, with a doorman, ID-sign-in procedures, and a calm atmosphere that made the location seem better than many others in the area. In short, for some, the practical upsides - location, accessibility, and certain security measures - make the building appealing.

But a divergent set of experiences runs through the same walls. Dozens of residents paint a starkly different picture: a place where neighbors are overly nosy, meddling in others' business, and where staff and management can feel unsympathetic, unresponsive, or outright rude. Several individuals describe a culture of harassment by other residents, with at least one resident's mother being targeted for intimidation and threats within the building. The sense of safety that once existed is repeatedly questioned, and some people say their attempts to get help from the rent office or management were ignored or dismissed. A sentiment that recurs is that the building used to be peaceful and safe but has since become dangerous, with ongoing concerns about who is watching whom and who gets informed about what.

Maintenance and health-and-safety issues add another layer of concern for many tenants. Complaints range from structural problems - holes in ceilings, leaky pipes, and improper or delayed responses from maintenance - to more pervasive infestations: roaches in multiple rooms, bedbugs, and mice that resist even routine preventative measures. One review characterizes roaches as multiplying behind the walls and in the underground, making a clean apartment feel like an ongoing battle. Elevators are described as unreliable, the air conditioning and heating can be inconsistent, and in some cases, residents report that leaks or other hazards persisted for months before any action was taken. The combination of ongoing maintenance failures and pest problems has led some residents to label the living conditions unsafe or unsanitary, with references to health codes and city inspectors appearing in their accounts.

The management experience, as described by many, is a central source of frustration. A number of reviewers recount encounters with staff who seem indifferent, unhelpful, or dismissive when problems are raised, including one account where a serious leak was met with a flat declaration that it wasn't the staff's problem. Others complain about being told untruths or misled about viewings and apartment sizes, and there are repeated warnings that attempting to live here means navigating a culture of threats and intimidation. Some accounts describe a sense that the property management operates with a heavy-handed, almost punitive style - treating residents with a "Gastapo"-like approach, citing invasions of privacy through misuse of master keys, limiting guests, or pushing eviction notices. There are even calls from tenants to consult state licensing departments and housing councils and to organize a class-action-style response to push back against what they describe as unfair practices.

For some residents, the building remains a place with real positives that justify the wait or the higher rent compared to alternatives. A number of voices emphasize the advantages of location: near public transportation hubs, the river, downtown shopping and dining, and even connections to a hospital. Some particularly highlight a senior-friendly environment, with references to dedicated activities, a sense of security monitoring at the front door and in the elevators, and a generally welcoming atmosphere for older adults who want to maintain independence. There are also anecdotes about a quieter, more comfortable life when the staff are friendlier or when certain neighbors are more cooperative, underscoring that the reality can range dramatically from one unit to another.

Another thread in the narrative focuses on the administrative and bureaucratic frustrations surrounding the property. A notable memory concerns a long delay in communicating about an application with B'nai Brith, where an applicant submitted in 2021 and was ultimately closed in 2023 for non-response after the applicant had already indicated disinterest and stopped engaging. The frustration over lost or misplaced correspondence - such as rent checks or official notices - appears repeatedly, reinforcing a sense that the administrative side of life here can be disorganized or opaque. The result is a mix of loyalty and caution: some residents feel attached to the location and the community while others warn prospective tenants to be prepared for a combative or frustrating bureaucratic experience.

Taken together, the collection of experiences paints a complex portrait. For some, this is a convenient, secure living space with a warm, active senior community, attractive proximity to transit, and a kitchen that makes daily life feel livable and pleasant. For others, it is a place of ongoing battles - against pests, leaks, and unreliable maintenance; against a management style that feels unresponsive or intrusive; and against a social environment where privacy and safety sometimes feel compromised. The strongest undercurrents urge caution: spoken warnings to "do not attempt to live here," a call to document every incident, and a push to consult local authorities if rights or safety appear to be at risk. If you're considering moving here, the stories suggest you should weigh the conveniences and community aspects against the potential for maintenance headaches, conflicts with staff, and concerns about privacy and safety, and you should seek out current residents' perspectives and a firsthand look at both the quiet and the busy times of the building.

Physicians

• Maternal Fetal Medicine of Central PA (0.1 miles)
• Premier Eye Care Group (0.4 miles)
• Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society (0.5 miles)
• Hamilton Health Center (0.8 miles)
• Internists of Central PA (1.1 miles)
• Community Check Up Center (1.4 miles)
• Miracle-Ear Hearing Aid Center (1.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Alex Grass Medical Sciences Building (0.1 miles)
• UPMC Pinnnacle Harrisburg (0.1 miles)
• Labor & Delivery (0.1 miles)
• Department Of Surgery (0.2 miles)
• Harrisburg State Hospital (1.7 miles)
• Polyclinic Campus (2.1 miles)
• Grandview Surgery & Laser Center (2.3 miles)

Restaurants

• El Sol Mexican Restaurant (0.1 miles)
• McGrath's Pub (0.3 miles)
• Tres Hermanos (0.6 miles)
• The Sturges Speakeasy (0.6 miles)
• Club XL (0.7 miles)
• The Millworks (0.9 miles)
• Shady McGrady's (0.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• County of Dauphin (0.2 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.6 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.9 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.7 miles)
• Rite Aid (3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.2 miles)

Parks

• City Island (0.6 miles)
• Riverfront Park Harrisburg (1.1 miles)
• Adams-Ricci Park (3.6 miles)

Cafes

• Little Amps Coffee Roasters (1.4 miles)
• Starbucks (2 miles)
• Starbucks (2.1 miles)
• Starbucks (3.2 miles)
• Tomato Pie Cafe (3.2 miles)
• Starbucks (3.3 miles)
• Panera Bread (3.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• Harrisburg Bic Church (1.5 miles)
• Trinity United Methodist Church (2.3 miles)
• Community Evangelical Free Church (3.1 miles)
• St Timothy's Lutheran Church (4.2 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Harrisburg (3.8 miles)