Hershey Plaza Apartments

Pros

• The building is beautiful.
• The apartments are nice.
• The location is great and within walking distance of many businesses.
• The apartments offer a beautiful view of downtown Hershey.
• The building is very clean and well maintained.
• The service dog is happy there.
• Residents feel calmer and physically safer there, with no bed bugs, cockroaches, or mice.
• The complex is good for low-income families.
• The reviewer notes that living there is better than being homeless.

Cons

• Management is not professional, empathetic, or concerned with residents' well-being and targets residents who stand up for their rights.
• Residents are subjected to shame, bullying, and threats of eviction and suffering by staff.
• There is a lack of sensitivity training and effective problem-solving with older and disabled residents, leading to fear of homelessness.
• Maintenance requests go unattended, and the building suffers from mold, dirt, and general neglect.
• Bed bugs, cockroaches, and mice are present.
• Elevators have been out of service for extended periods, sometimes with both elevators down.
• The manager uses intimidation and threats about charges residents are not legally responsible for.
• Rent increases occur annually, with late fees charged even if residents are not late.
• There are reports of drug dealers around the building and frequent police presence on site.
• Renovation work is unfinished, pipes leak or break, and there are unsafe issues like an unlocked dumpster that can hit cars.
• Parking is inadequate, with only two visitor spots often in use and a sketchy resident lot; parcel delivery is restricted.
• The overall impression is of a dirty, poorly maintained building with an unresponsive or negligent manager.

Review

The collection of experiences described paints a troubling picture of life in two subsidized housing buildings that are meant to provide safety, stability, and community for older adults and people with disabilities. Residents speak repeatedly of a gap between potential and reality: a setting that could be a haven in a harsh world becomes, for many, a battleground where dignity is tested, management behavior is questioned, and basic needs - like clean living conditions, timely maintenance, and respectful communication - sometimes feel out of reach. The overarching thread is a sense that the people who live there are navigating not just rent and repairs, but a system that can feel punitive, opaque, and unresponsive to their most pressing concerns.

Across accounts, management emerges as the strongest source of distress. Several residents describe a pattern of intimidation, harassment, and threats rather than support. They recount being written up for issues that, in their view, should have been treated as legitimate maintenance or safety concerns rather than opportunities to discipline or threaten. One resident recalls a write-up that listed multiple issues, only to later believe that most of them were not enforceable or legitimate, a disparity that feeds a perception of selective or punitive enforcement. The fear of expensive charges or penalties for things residents feel they should not be responsible for appears as a common theme - a dynamic that many residents say creates a chilling effect, deterring them from speaking up or seeking help when problems arise. When residents reach out for repairs or questions, their communications sometimes trigger a cascade of intimidation tactics rather than collaborative problem-solving.

Maintenance and safety problems compound these tensions. The living environments described are frequently depicted as unsafe, unhealthy, or poorly maintained. Pests - bed bugs, mice, cockroaches - are a recurring grievance, with some residents reporting ongoing infestations that contribute to a sense of degradation and neglect. Problems with the physical infrastructure - mold, leaks, broken pipes, unfinished renovation projects, and aging facilities - appear alongside practical barriers like outdated or malfunctioning laundry machines and limited parcel delivery access. Elevators are a persistent point of frustration: in some buildings, one or both elevators have been out of service for extended periods, leaving residents - many of them elderly or disabled - struggling with mobility, access, and safety. Heating and climate control add another layer of discomfort: even on hot days, residents describe heat being kept on at inopportune times, suggesting a misalignment between building management policies and residents' comfort and health needs.

The personal stories embedded in these reviews underscore a larger human impact. One resident shared a harrowing personal history - an abusive marriage, a miscarriage, and a trauma-induced struggle with sanity that culminated in electroconvulsive therapy. That context helps explain why a safe, predictable living situation matters so deeply to at least one tenant: in a setting where instability has already taken a heavy toll, the added stress of eviction threats or aggressive management can feel unendurable. For this resident and others, the housing complex is not simply a place to live; it is a critical shelter where dignity and autonomy should be preserved. Yet the same environment is described as a source of fear and vulnerability because of how disputes are handled, how repairs are pursued, and how residents' rights are interpreted or ignored.

Beyond the walls of individual units, residents describe a community that is simultaneously vibrant and challenged. The buildings sit in regions with rich local amenities and strong neighborhood ties - walking-distance access to various businesses, a favorable location near Hershey Park and transit links, and a general sense that the area could be a lively, supportive place to age or recover. However, these positives are often overshadowed by practical realities: limited parking for visitors, a long wait list (often two years or more) for housing, and a perception that the sheer size of the building and the number of elderly residents stretch the staff and resources thin. Maintenance requests can languish, and although some residents do acknowledge that the area offers a quieter environment and a pleasant view, the quality of daily life is frequently defined by the inconsistencies of management and the ongoing struggles to keep the building clean and orderly.

The emotional tone across the feedback ranges from hopeful to angry, with a clear longing for basic fairness and humane treatment. Some residents acknowledge that the properties have desirable features - beautiful views, a generally clean aesthetic, and a sense of community among tenants. They note that the apartments themselves can be nice, with features like accessible layouts, service animals being accommodated, and, in some cases, a ready-made social fabric formed by neighbors who look out for each other. At the same time, the chorus of complaints about management practices - perceived harassment, unfair charges, punitive write-ups, and evasive or inconsistent responses to repairs - casts a long shadow over these positives. The juxtaposition is stark: a place that could be a sanctuary becomes, for many, a source of stress and conflict, especially for residents who are most vulnerable - older adults and people with disabilities navigating daily life with limited financial resources.

Community safety concerns also surface in a less formal but equally impactful way. Some reviews mention external disturbances - drug activity in the vicinity, neighborhood safety worries, and even the presence of gangs or violent crime - situating the housing complex within a broader social environment that can feel unpredictable or unsafe. Locking doors, securing common areas, and ensuring reliable mail delivery emerge as concrete issues that feed a sense of insecurity. The combination of interior management problems with exterior safety concerns can be overwhelming for residents who rely on stable, predictable routines to manage health conditions, medications, or mobility limitations. In this sense, the building's environment becomes more than a physical space; it is a continuing test of residents' resilience and their ability to advocate for themselves in the face of systemic friction.

In sum, the experiences shared depict two subsidized properties where the potential to provide stable, supportive living for older and disabled residents is undermined by governance challenges and operational shortcomings. The most pressing call from residents is for sensitivity, empathy, and better training for management to handle conflicts constructively - grounded problem-solving, clear boundaries, and a humane approach to repairs and charges. There is also a clear demand for more staff or better resource allocation to keep up with the scale of the buildings, the needs of a large elderly tenant population, and the maintenance demands of an aging infrastructure. While some residents recognize the inherent value of their locations and the apartments themselves, the prevailing sentiment is that without meaningful changes in how management engages with residents - listening, communicating clearly, and handling disputes with fairness and respect - the dream of secure, dignified housing remains just out of reach for too many.

This part of Hershey, Pennsylvania, offers a convenient and diverse array of amenities for seniors looking to settle in the area. With a variety of restaurants ranging from upscale dining options like Devon Seafood and Steak to more casual choices such as Wendy's and Starbucks, there is something to suit every taste. Additionally, there are several pharmacies and medical facilities nearby, including Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center, ensuring easy access to healthcare services. For leisure activities, residents can enjoy parks like Bullfrog Valley Park & Trail or catch a movie at Flagship Premium Cinemas Palmyra. Overall, this neighborhood provides a blend of convenience, dining options, healthcare services, and recreational opportunities that cater well to the needs of seniors looking for a vibrant community to call home.

Restaurants

• First Watch (0.1 miles)
• Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar Hershey (0.1 miles)
• Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant (0.2 miles)
• Devon Seafood and Steak (0.2 miles)
• Houlihan's (0.3 miles)
• Hershey's Chocolate World (0.4 miles)
• Wendy's (0.7 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.1 miles)
• Coaster Cafe (0.4 miles)
• Starbucks (0.7 miles)
• Desserts Etc By The Hershey Pantry (1.4 miles)
• Starbucks (1.7 miles)
• Panera Bread (2 miles)
• Lisa's Cafe (4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Rite Aid (0.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Penn State Hershey University Physicians Center Pharmacy (1.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.9 miles)
• Medicine Shoppe (3.5 miles)
• Palmyra Pharmacy & Gift (3.6 miles)
• Hershey Longterm Care Pharmacy (4.4 miles)

Physicians

• Penn State Medical Group - Psychiatry (0.6 miles)
• Tristan Associates (0.6 miles)
• Associated Otolaryngologists of PA (0.7 miles)
• Cocoa Family Medicine (1 miles)
• Hess, Stacy Penn State Hershey Pediatric Associates (1.1 miles)
• Penn State Hershey Surg Specs (1.6 miles)
• Rotunda Café (1.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank (1 miles)
• Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center Academic Support Building (1.4 miles)
• Good Samaritan Hospital Ambulatory Services Center (4.3 miles)
• Kcb Properties (5.2 miles)
• PinnacleHealth Community General Osteopathic Hospital (8.5 miles)

Parks

• Bullfrog Valley Park & Trail (2.4 miles)
• Shank Park (2.9 miles)
• Levitz Park (8.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Palmyra United Christian Church (3.6 miles)
• Lebanon Valley Brethren Home (4.4 miles)
• Colonial Park UCC (8.2 miles)
• Geyers United Methodist Church (8.2 miles)

Theaters

• Flagship Premium Cinemas Palmyra (5.1 miles)

Transportation

• Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) (8.1 miles)