Governor Hotel Apartments in Harrisburg, PA

Pros

• The staff are great and management is the best.
• Ms Diaz really makes sure things get done.
• The manager is a kind person.
• The property is safe.
• Governors Square Apartments is a good place.
• The staff delivered and installed the stove.
• The office staff are professional, helpful, and polite.

Cons

• The complex is accused of discriminating against low-income tenants and charging twice the rent.
• The property is alleged to have not paid for contracted services, totaling over $19,000.
• Residents report multiple appliance and safety issues, including a nonfunctional stove, water damage, and mold.
• The unit reportedly has a rodent infestation, with mice found in the residence.
• The staff and management are described as unresponsive and poorly communicative, with maintenance requests going unaddressed.
• A roach infestation is persistent, with little to no timely extermination.
• Eviction notices are described as bullying and criminal.

Review

Governor Square/Governor Hotel Apartments in Harrisburg is best suited for older adults who want an affordable, community-focused living environment and can function largely independently with supportive, personally engaged on-site staff. The clearest strength is the human element: managers and maintenance personnel who know residents by name and are willing to go the extra mile to get things done. Reviews repeatedly highlight individuals such as Ms. Diaz, Yasmin Days, Dee, John, Damaris, and other team members as the heartbeat of the property, delivering appliances, arranging service, and keeping lines of communication open. For someone who values a familiar, neighborly atmosphere and is willing to work with a responsive staff, this property can feel like a sturdy harbor in a tight budget.

There are clear reasons to consider alternatives, especially for families evaluating more comprehensive senior living options. If daily care services, predictable maintenance, and rigorous building upkeep are non-negotiables, this community may fall short. Several residents report persistent maintenance delays, unaddressed repairs, and inconsistent responsiveness from management. More troubling are references to roach infestations, mold, water damage, and unsafe conditions stemming from ongoing plumbing and electrical issues. For seniors who require on-site caregiving, regular medical support, or consistently pristine safety standards, a facility designed around assisted living or independent senior living with robust maintenance operations would be a wiser fit.

On the upside, the pros create meaningful value that can offset some of the drawbacks for the right resident. The staff's attentiveness stands out in practical terms: quick, courteous responses when they show up, personal follow-through on requests, and a willingness to deliver appliances or arrange fixes that residents value. The ability to deliver a stove and set it up, replace a filter promptly, and maintain a friendly, professional front office can translate into real daily relief for tenants who manage with limited resources. A sense of community remains tangible, with longtime residents and persistent employees contributing to a stable, if imperfect, living experience. These relational strengths are not trivial; they can reduce the stress of apartment life and provide an accessible support network.

Yet the main cons drive the bottom-line assessment. Recurrent maintenance failures - patchwork repairs, slow or missing responses to work orders, and delays in essential services like extermination - undercut trust and safety. Reports of holes in ceilings, water intrusion, mold, and pests point to underlying infrastructure and housekeeping shortcomings that simple kindness cannot fully compensate. The rhythm of emails or calls that yield no reply, or tasks that are promised but not completed, creates a sense of fragility in day-to-day living. Additionally, there are alarming notes about aggressive collections or eviction actions for past due balances, and at least one account of perceived discrimination related to rent structures, all of which can seriously complicate life for a resident and their family.

The key question for families is whether the positives can sustain a reasonable lived experience in light of the consistent maintenance and safety concerns. When staff are reliable, residents experience quicker problem resolution, personalized attention, and a greater likelihood of staying aligned with family expectations. The human touch - staff who remember names, deliver promised fixes, and communicate openly - can soften the blow of aging-in-place challenges. However, in a setting where roaches, mold, leaks, and incomplete repairs are recurring themes, those positives may be insufficient to ensure peace of mind over the long term, especially for seniors who cannot manage their own advocacy or who require more predictable service levels.

In the end, this community offers a credible, budget-friendly option for seniors who prize staff relationships, a neighborhood feel, and the possibility of responsive, person-to-person service, provided neither safety nor core maintenance concerns escalate. For families weighing alternatives, it is essential to verify current pest control schedules, inspect for visible mold or moisture, demand written repair timelines, and talk directly to several current residents about response times. Consider other independent living or assisted living communities with demonstrated, consistent maintenance programs and clearer, non-predicated eviction policies. If choosing here, approach with clear expectations, formal service agreements, and ongoing family involvement to counterbalance the building's structural and process weaknesses.

This part of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania offers a diverse selection of amenities that cater to various interests and needs. With a range of restaurants such as El Sol Mexican Restaurant, McGrath's Pub, and The Millworks, residents can enjoy a variety of dining options within close proximity. Additionally, there are several healthcare providers in the area including Maternal Fetal Medicine of Central PA and Premier Eye Care Group for medical needs. Hospitals like UPMC Pinnacle Harrisburg and pharmacies like Rite Aid provide convenient access to healthcare services. For recreation, parks like City Island and Riverfront Park offer beautiful outdoor spaces for leisurely walks or relaxation. There are also cafes like Little Amps Coffee Roasters and Starbucks for socializing or enjoying a hot beverage. Places of worship such as Harrisburg Bic Church and Trinity United Methodist Church offer spiritual support for those seeking community connections. Overall, this part of Harrisburg provides a well-rounded environment that may be appealing for seniors looking to relocate to the area.

Restaurants

• El Sol Mexican Restaurant (0.1 miles)
• McGrath's Pub (0.2 miles)
• The Sturges Speakeasy (0.5 miles)
• Tres Hermanos (0.7 miles)
• The Millworks (0.7 miles)
• Club XL (0.8 miles)
• Shady McGrady's (0.8 miles)

Physicians

• Maternal Fetal Medicine of Central PA (0.2 miles)
• Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Society (0.4 miles)
• Premier Eye Care Group (0.6 miles)
• Hamilton Health Center (0.8 miles)
• Internists of Central PA (1.2 miles)
• Community Check Up Center (1.5 miles)
• Miracle-Ear Hearing Aid Center (1.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Alex Grass Medical Sciences Building (0.2 miles)
• UPMC Pinnnacle Harrisburg (0.3 miles)
• Labor & Delivery (0.3 miles)
• Department Of Surgery (0.3 miles)
• Harrisburg State Hospital (1.6 miles)
• Polyclinic Campus (1.9 miles)
• Grandview Surgery & Laser Center (2.3 miles)

Pharmacies

• County of Dauphin (0.3 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.5 miles)
• Rite Aid (2 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.9 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.1 miles)

Parks

• City Island (0.7 miles)
• Riverfront Park Harrisburg (1 miles)
• Adams-Ricci Park (3.5 miles)

Cafes

• Little Amps Coffee Roasters (1.3 miles)
• Starbucks (2 miles)
• Starbucks (2.3 miles)
• Starbucks (3.1 miles)
• Tomato Pie Cafe (3.3 miles)
• Starbucks (3.3 miles)
• Panera Bread (3.4 miles)

Places of Worship

• Harrisburg Bic Church (1.6 miles)
• Trinity United Methodist Church (2.4 miles)
• Community Evangelical Free Church (3 miles)
• St Timothy's Lutheran Church (4.3 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Harrisburg (3.7 miles)