Willows Senior Apartments

Pros

• Residents love the one-bedroom apartments.
• It offers a lovely view of the flower garden in summer from the balcony with spectacular sunsets.
• Residents can choose their own activity level.
• Shar, the manager, plans many activities with input from all.
• Tom and Gene keep the building running and the grounds looking great.
• Pets are an active part of the community and contribute to residents' well-being.
• It's described as a great community.
• The apartments are very clean and modern.
• Char, the property manager, is excellent, available, and responsive.
• Prospective residents describe the area as beautiful, clean, and quiet.

Cons

• The management allegedly changed the qualification criteria from 55+ to 62+ after two years and discarded the family member's application without notifying them.
• They refused to refund the application fee, despite the applicant's request.
• They failed to provide follow-up communications or updates; district and regional managers offered no response.
• They are accused of lying to applicants and misrepresenting the qualifications, inflating expectations about when an apartment would be available.
• The overall assessment is that management needs to improve.

Review

This community comes across as a welcoming, sunlit haven for singles or couples who value a peaceful daily rhythm, a pleasant view, and a sense of belonging. Reviewers paint a picture of a tidy, modern one-bedroom layout with a flower garden visible from the balcony, delivering both natural beauty and a stage for spectacular summer sunsets. The environment feels intimate and well-kept, inviting residents to linger on their balcony to enjoy the changing colors of bloom and light. It's the kind of setting where neighbors note that your activity level is entirely up to you, reinforcing the feeling that this is a place that supports personal choice and a calm, comfortable pace of life.

At the heart of this community are the people who keep it running and the activities that bring everyone together. Shar, the manager, is highlighted as taking an active role in planning events and shaping a lively, inclusive atmosphere with input from residents. In some notes, Char is identified as the property manager who is excellent, available, and highly responsive to communications, with a strong sense that resident feedback matters. Tom and Gene are recognized for maintaining the building's operations and the grounds, contributing to a neat, well-managed campus that residents feel proud to call home. Pets are not only tolerated but celebrated as an integral part of the fabric of life here, reinforcing a sense of warmth, companionship, and well-being among neighbors.

Several reviewers emphasize the overall quality of the living spaces themselves. The apartments are described as very clean and modern, with a layout that suits everyday living while presenting a polished, comfortable aesthetic. The combination of a pleasant interior and a garden-facing balcony creates an appealing daily backdrop for residents, who repeatedly express genuine satisfaction with their homes and with the sense of community that forms around shared spaces and outdoor areas. The impression is one of thoughtful design, reliable upkeep, and a welcoming atmosphere where residents feel encouraged to participate in communal life without sacrificing privacy.

Positive experiences with management are a recurring theme, especially when it comes to communication and responsiveness. Char's accessibility and prompt replies are singled out as a strong point, with several notes recommending the property management team for their attentiveness. This responsiveness appears to reinforce a broader confidence in the community, helping residents feel heard and supported as they navigate daily needs, questions, and upcoming activities. The sense that management keeps the flow of information open and ongoing contributes to a feeling of trust and stability in day-to-day life.

Yet beneath the warm portrait, there is a palpable tension around the eligibility process and the administration of applications. One reviewer recounts a troubling experience involving an application tied to a family member, initially described as 55-plus plus income qualifications. After paying the application fee, they allege, they were told two years later that openings existed and that their family member would be next on the list, only to discover that the qualifications had changed to 62-plus, rendering the application invalid. The paperwork, they claim, still stated 55-plus, creating a mismatch that they say persisted for years. The reviewer reports contacting multiple levels of management and receiving little follow-up, with a claim that younger residents were already living on-site and would need to move out to make way for older residents, a situation they describe as untrustworthy and confusing. They describe a long wait with no clear notice of the qualification shift and ultimately request a refund of the application fee, which was denied. They threaten to pursue external oversight, including county and state agencies, and express disappointment that the process felt opaque and miscommunicated, eroding trust in the system.

Not every voice here centers on controversy, though. Another reviewer, speaking from outside the community but with an application in hand, notes that the place appears beautiful, clean, and quiet. They express hope and patience about hearing back about an apartment when one becomes available, presenting a more hopeful counterpoint to the frustration voiced by the other reviewer. This perspective suggests that despite administrative hiccups, the site remains an attractive option for prospective residents who are drawn to the setting, amenities, and the overall vibe of a well-maintained, friendly community.

In the end, this collection of observations presents a nuanced picture: a desirable, well-kept living environment backed by a responsive and involved management team, a strong sense of community, and a pet-friendly culture that enhances daily life. It also carries cautionary notes about confusion or miscommunication around eligibility requirements and application processes, especially when the rules appear to change without clear, timely updates for those waiting in line. For current and prospective residents, the stories highlight both the strengths to celebrate and the administrative gaps to address - reminders that even a beloved, well-loved place can benefit from transparent, proactive communications and a consistent, fair approach to admissions and refunds.

Restaurants

• McDonald's (0.1 miles)
• Snitz Creek Brewery (0.7 miles)
• Chen's House (0.7 miles)
• Down Town Lounge (0.8 miles)
• Hidden Still Spirits (0.9 miles)
• Burger King (1 miles)
• Taco Bell (1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Loehle Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Rite Aid (0.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.1 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.1 miles)
• WellSpan Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• Weis Markets Fuel (1.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)

Cafes

• Fresh Donuts (0.7 miles)
• The Bagel Rack (0.9 miles)
• Swatara Coffee Company (5.1 miles)

Physicians

• Jeffrey Arthur Yocum (0.7 miles)
• Lebanon Family Health Services (0.9 miles)
• Neurology Center Of Lebanon (1 miles)
• WellSpan Pediatric Medicine - Cornwall Road (1.4 miles)
• Dr Donald D Diverio Jr DO (1.5 miles)
• Lebanon Treatment Center (1.5 miles)
• Balaci Alexandre DMD (2.3 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Lebanon Valley (1.2 miles)
• Flagship Premium Cinemas Palmyra (7.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Physician Hospital Organization (1.2 miles)
• Gsh Dialysis (1.3 miles)
• Valley View Surgical Center (2.4 miles)
• Lebanon VA Medical Center (2.9 miles)
• Good Samaritan Health System (4.9 miles)
• Kcb Properties (7.7 miles)

Parks

• South Sixth Street Playground (1.3 miles)
• Stoever's Dam Park (1.4 miles)
• Cleona Playground (2.3 miles)
• Avon Playground (2.6 miles)
• South Hills Park (2.8 miles)
• Jackson Recreational Park (5.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Lebanon Valley Brethren Home (8.1 miles)