Kelly Assisted Living Svc in Pittsburgh, PA

Pros

• Essex House is a great place to live.
• Its location is fantastic.
• The staff are always friendly and helpful.
• The apartments are large and have balconies that residents love.
• The place is loved, with a great location, a nice doorman, and a friendly neighborhood.
• The building is older but very well maintained.
• The building seems well managed.
• It is one of the best apartments in Pittsburg with reasonable prices.
• The doormen are very friendly and nice.

Cons

• The reviewer notes that residents must pay for others’ parking in their assigned spots, and weekend towing help is unavailable, leaving them stuck until the office reopens.
• The place isn’t recommended for those who want prompt help with toilet water leaking from the ceiling at 3 am and no compensation offered.
• The manager is described as extremely unhelpful, claiming flooding happens across all properties they manage.
• The reviewer warns that people may lose important documents (e.g., work permit cards), and that video surveillance could aid food delivery thieves if deliveries aren’t picked up promptly.
• The apartment manager may be too shy to open the office door and instead uses a speaker to apologize.
• Only about 40% of the security deposit was returned, with charges for every small bit of dirt.
• Calls from prospective tenants were left unanswered for days, and a staff member said it wasn’t her job to return calls, indicating poor service.
• The office is no help on weekends due to no officer being present.

Review

This community is best suited for seniors who prize a central Pittsburgh location and value frontline staff that feel genuinely accessible and responsive. The reviews consistently spotlight friendly, communicative team members and a doorman who adds a sense of neighborhood security. In addition, residents describe the apartments as large with desirable outdoor space, such as a balcony, and they note the building’s maintenance infrastructure tends to keep common areas well-kept. For someone who wants ease of access to services, a walkable urban setting, and a socially engaging environment, this property checks several important boxes.

At the same time, a clear segment should consider alternatives. Families and residents who cannot tolerate gaps in management coverage or uncertain after-hours support will want to shop elsewhere. Weekend office hours appear unreliable in practice, and the policy that only the office can arrange towing creates potential delays and friction during emergencies or parking disputes. The combination of parking disputes, occasional communication gaps, and a track record of handling significant maintenance issues through the office rather than directly with on-site staff is a meaningful red flag for those who require ironclad responsiveness.

On balance, the strongest positives, location, a friendly front-line team, and well-maintained common spaces, do offset several everyday conveniences. The welcome presence of a doorman and the sense of security that comes with a walkable, well-connected neighborhood contribute to a livable atmosphere. Quick responses to maintenance requests in many cases also matter, particularly for an older building where timely fixes can prevent small problems from escalating. For residents who prioritize social accessibility, an active neighborhood, and the basics of comfortable living without requiring constant intervention, the pros form a solid core.

However, the material drawbacks are hard to overlook for seniors who rely on predictable service. Parking arrangements can become a frequent friction point, including assigned spots paid for by residents themselves, with limited removal options when issues arise and restricted weekend access to management. Structural incidents, such as leaks or flooding at odd hours, have been reported, with some accounts describing slow or inadequate responses. These incidents underscore a vulnerability in emergency handling that can disrupt daily living and peace of mind. Additionally, there are notable concerns about management’s responsiveness and transparency, including disputes over deposits and charges for minor cleaning, which erode trust over time.

In practical terms, the pros and cons must be weighed against the resident’s care needs and tolerance for administrative variability. The location and social fabric remain compelling, but the risk of delayed maintenance, ambiguous after-hours support, and financial ambiguities suggest that this community is not the best fit for someone who requires unwavering, 24/7 operational reliability. Prospective residents should probe the management structure directly: who handles after-hours calls, what is the escalation path for urgent maintenance, and how are parking and vehicle-towing issues resolved outside business hours? Clarify deposit policies, what qualifies for charges, and whether there is a clear, written protocol for handling emergencies and document security.

The bottom-line recommendation is clear: this community can deliver a comfortable, engaging living environment for seniors who can work within a management framework that is friendly but imperfect. It suits those who value location, apartment size, and a welcoming staff, and who can tolerate some operational quirks without compromising safety or predictable service. For anyone who requires rigorous, consistent on-site management, reliable after-hours response, and transparent financial practices, a careful comparison with other Pittsburgh options is essential. Before choosing, demand concrete commitments on after-hours maintenance, parking and towing procedures, and a written outline of deposit handling to ensure that the positives do not get eclipsed by recurring logistical headaches.

Pharmacies

• Rite Aid (0.1 miles)
• Walgreens (0.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1 miles)
• Stanton Negley Drug Company (1 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.1 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.5 miles)

Restaurants

• 5801 Video Lounge & Cafe (0.2 miles)
• Wendy's (0.2 miles)
• Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar Penn Ave (0.5 miles)
• Spork (0.5 miles)
• McDonald's (0.5 miles)
• East End Brewing Company (1.1 miles)
• The Porch at Schenley (1.5 miles)

Cafes

• Arriviste Coffee Bar (0.2 miles)
• Redstart Roasters (0.5 miles)
• Starbucks (0.8 miles)
• Bakery Square (0.9 miles)
• Trace Brewing (1.1 miles)
• The Abbey on Butler Street (1.7 miles)
• Brooklyn Bagel At Arsenal (1.7 miles)

Physicians

• Aiken Medical Building (0.3 miles)
• Bellissimo Plastic Surgery & Medi Spa (0.7 miles)
• Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC (1.7 miles)
• Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (1.8 miles)
• Kaufmann Medical Building (1.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Hillman Cancer Center (0.5 miles)
• Western Pennsylvania Hospital labor and delivery (0.7 miles)
• Western Pennsylvania Hospital (0.7 miles)
• UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh (1.2 miles)
• VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System (1.7 miles)
• UPMC Presbyterian (1.8 miles)
• University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (1.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Calvary Episcopal Church (0.6 miles)
• First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood (3.1 miles)

Parks

• Arsenal Park (1.6 miles)
• Schenley Park (1.7 miles)
• Leslie Park Field (1.7 miles)
• Frick Park (2 miles)
• Frick Park Blue Slide Playground (2.2 miles)
• Aspinwall Riverfront Park (2.6 miles)
• Filmet Park (3.6 miles)

Transportation

• Amtrak - Pittsburgh Station (3.2 miles)
• Bus Station (3.3 miles)