Germin Apartments in Scranton, PA

Pros

• The location is great - downtown Scranton.
• The apartments are nice-sized.
• The party room on the first floor is included.
• A top-floor apartment overlooks the Times building lights.
• The staff are courteous and professional.
• The manager and maintenance team went above and beyond, even surprising tenants with furnishings.

Cons

• The building itself is dirty; the carpets are filthy and floors aren't vacuumed or mopped regularly except in the Community Room.
• The building has a severe infestation of rodents.
• The rent charged is far too high for the condition of the building and the apartments.
• The manager isn't a nice or decent person.
• She targets tenants and does the most awful things to them until they move out, or until they pass away.
• She sits in the Community Room crying and gossiping to her cronies about other tenants; not very professional.
• People should stay away from this building because life there would be controlled and miserable.
• The rodent issue can cause respiratory problems for residents.

Review

This community is best suited for budget-minded renters who want a central Scranton address and can tolerate uneven upkeep and a demanding on-site presence. Those who prize location and value-oriented rents may find appeal here, especially if a flexible, spin-with-the-room vibe and ready access to the downtown scene matter more than pristine interiors. It is not the right fit for residents who require consistent cleanliness, meticulous pest control, and a consistently professional management environment.

Pros are anchored in affordability and human-facing service. Several reviews highlight the storybook bonus of a great location downtown, with apartments that feel spacious for the price. Residents note that the first-floor party room is a usable perk and that some units come with thoughtful touches or furnishings, suggesting staff who want to help people settle in. The sentiment about the staff, when things run smoothly, is consistently positive: courteous, professional, and responsive in at least some situations. In practical terms, the strongest argument for considering Germin Apartments is that the rent can be affordable and the team can deliver tangible roommate- and resident-facing support when circumstances align.

The major red flags lie in the building's condition and the management dynamic. Critics describe dirty interiors - carpets that aren't regularly cleaned and floors that aren't vacuumed beyond the community area - and a concerning rodent problem that impacts health and comfort. The most troubling notes concern the on-site manager: claims of targeting a few tenants, making life feel strained or hostile, and gossip-predicated interactions that undermine a sense of safety. These issues are more than cosmetic; they shape daily experience, affect air quality, and color trust in the property management. Taken together, the negative aspects aren't mere inconveniences - they are potential barriers to a stable, long-term living situation.

These factors don't cancel out the upside entirely, but they do shift the risk calculation. The positives - centrality, size of units for the price, and occasional acts of genuine staff goodwill - do offset some concerns for renters who can compartmentalize cleanliness and management inconsistencies. Yet when the core living environment is compromised by pests, odor, or perceived hostility from leadership, the benefit of a low rent rapidly loses traction. For households or individuals with health constraints, allergies, or heightened sensitivity to pests and noise around management, the drawbacks become decisive.

Who should consider alternatives? Prospective tenants who require consistently clean, well-maintained interiors and predictable, respectful management should look elsewhere. Families with children or seniors who need a calmer, more stable environment deserve properties with stronger pest control, proactive housekeeping, and a track record of professional, non-confrontational residency support. If the downtown vibe is not a priority and last-minute maintenance delays or interpersonal friction are unacceptable, exploring other Scranton options with documented high standards for cleanliness and resident relations is wise.

Practical due diligence can prevent a costly misstep. Prospects should demand up-to-date pest-control histories, confirm recent cleaning schedules, and request a visit to the property at different times of day to assess routine cleanliness. Speak with current tenants about responsiveness to maintenance requests and the behavior of on-site staff across a typical week. Inspect hallways and common areas for carpet wear and dirt, verify the presence of a transparent process for complaint resolution, and read the lease closely for terms on rent increases and roommate policies. If the answers to these checks point to consistent upkeep and respectful management, Germin Apartments may work; if not, the search should continue until a property delivers reliable cleanliness, a non-threatening environment, and a management team that earns trust every day.

This area of Scranton, Pennsylvania is a bustling urban center with a variety of amenities within close proximity. Residents can enjoy a range of dining options including delis, cafes, and restaurants offering different cuisines. Additionally, there are several pharmacies nearby for convenience in accessing medication and healthcare needs. For recreational activities, there are parks within a short distance such as Steamtown National Historic Site and McDade Park. Seniors will also have access to healthcare facilities including hospitals and physicians' offices for their medical needs. Overall, this area offers a convenient and vibrant environment for senior living with access to essential services and entertainment options.

Restaurants

• Downtown Deli (0 miles)
• Bar Pazzo (0.1 miles)
• Bartari (0.2 miles)
• Osaka Restaurant (0.2 miles)
• Trax (0.3 miles)
• Sharon's Place (0.4 miles)
• Arby's (0.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Rite Aid (0.1 miles)
• Rite Aid (0.7 miles)
• The Medicine Shoppe Scranton (0.8 miles)
• Walgreens (1 miles)
• Omnicare Pharmacy (1.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Nockley Family Pharmacy (1.3 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.1 miles)
• Northern Light Espresso Bar (0.2 miles)
• Carmen's At The Radisson Lackawanna Station (0.3 miles)
• Mansour's Grocery & Coffee (1.2 miles)
• Zummo's Cafe (1.4 miles)
• Panera Bread (3.2 miles)
• Starbucks (3.2 miles)

Parks

• Steamtown National Historic Site (0.2 miles)
• McDade Park (2.2 miles)
• Sherwood Park (2.7 miles)

Physicians

• Albert A. Hazzouri, Jr (0.2 miles)
• Lackawanna Medical Group (0.6 miles)
• Thomas Dzwonczyk M.D., FACC (0.6 miles)
• Akash D. Agarwal, MD (0.6 miles)
• Great Valley Cardiology (0.7 miles)
• John Anthony Kutz, MD (0.7 miles)
• Joseph Patrick Bannon (0.7 miles)

Hospitals

• Regional Hospital Surgery Center (0.4 miles)
• Spirit of Mercy Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation (0.7 miles)
• Scranton Hospital Company (0.7 miles)
• Regional Hospital of Scranton (0.7 miles)
• Mercy Hospital Wound Care (0.7 miles)
• Moses Taylor Hospital (0.7 miles)
• Geisinger Community Medical Center (1.2 miles)

Places of Worship

• Saint Stanislaus Pncc-Church (1.1 miles)
• St Ann's Monastery Parish (1.4 miles)

Theaters

• Cinemark (3.4 miles)