Lakeside Apartments

Pros

• Lakeside Apartments is described by residents as a great place to spend retirement.
• Donna, Jose, and the maintenance team are praised as awesome.
• Management is described as helpful, nice, and respectful.
• Residents feel safe living there and find the environment quiet.
• The views from the property are breathtaking.
• The duck pond is amazing for walks.
• The location on the waterfront at Woodcross Lake offers scenic walks and easy access to trails.
• The community is regarded as nice and friendly for older folks.
• The apartments are among the nicest in the Columbia area.
• The staff's customer service is described as going beyond transactional, showing heart and care.
• Maintenance is consistently praised as excellent.
• The walking trails and lake setting contribute to a peaceful, pleasant living environment.

Cons

• A resident described the place as filthy and the staff as rude, cocky, and ignorant.
• A reviewer called the staff's reaction horrible and described the director as disrespectful, suggesting the place should be sued for its attitude.
• A commenter said Donna was rude on the phone, hung up, and that residents deserve human decency.
• Several reviews criticized management as harsh and maintenance as lacking.
• A reviewer said they would not recommend the property to a family member due to disrespectful treatment.
• A reviewer stated "I have seen better" about the property.
• A reviewer complained that maintenance is not kept up.
• A review noted that "harsh management" and "lacking maintenance" characterize the experience.

Review

The collection of opinions about Lakeside Apartments paints a complex picture that blends warm appreciation for a tranquil, scenic senior community with sharp frustration over inconsistent management and troubling interpersonal interactions. At the heart of many comments is the sense that the property offers a genuinely pleasant place to live for older adults, especially those seeking a quieter lifestyle with convenient access to nature and nearby amenities. Several reviewers highlight the lakefront setting, the walking trails, and the abundance of wildlife - the ducks at the pond, the turtles, and the general peaceful ambiance. One resident praised it as "a great place to spend your retirement," noting that the views are breathtaking and the waiting list was worth the wait because the apartment itself is among the nicest in the Columbia area. The scenery, the safety, and the quiet pace are frequently cited as strong positives that make the senior living experience here feel worthwhile.

Beyond the setting, the human element - staff and maintenance - receives a sharply divided response. A recurrent theme is a tension between gratitude for some staff members who seem genuinely helpful and frustration with others who are perceived as rude or dismissive. On the positive side, several reviews single out Donna as a helpful, knowledgeable, and kind point of contact. One caller described Donna as delightful to speak with about an apartment for a family member, noting that she mailed an application and offered thoughtful guidance. Another reviewer from the same timeframe depicted Donna as "nothing but helpful, nice and respectful," praising her for taking the time to answer questions and discuss options, even when the information did not lead to an immediate sale. In these accounts, Donna's attentiveness embodies the level of service that residents feel is possible at Lakeside.

Yet the opposite is also present in the feedback. A number of residents recount interactions that feel disrespectful or even hostile, with some describing staff as rude, abrupt, or uncaring. One particularly harsh note recounts an encounter with a "whatever director" whose reaction to a simple question about a resident's relative was curt and unhelpful, leading to calls for accountability and even litigation. Another reviewer captured the sentiment that such behavior is not isolated, arguing that a lack of courtesy from staff translates into a broader pattern of poor customer service that would undermine trust in management. The disconnect between the warm, patient care some individuals experience and the harsh, dismissive behavior others report leaves prospective residents with a complicated impression of the property's culture.

Management and maintenance emerge as other focal points in the debates. Positive comments frequently acknowledge maintenance responsiveness and reliability, with one reviewer specifically praising the maintenance team as "awesome" and another noting that the management staff has been helpful and respectful in their experience. On the flip side, several entries mention ongoing maintenance shortcomings and neglect, describing it as "lacking" or failing to keep up with repairs and upkeep. A sense of inconsistency appears to run through these impressions: the same property that offers a serene environment and a docket of capable maintenance staff can also be seen as failing to address basic upkeep in a timely way. This split suggests that resident experience may depend heavily on which staff members are assigned to a given interaction, further underscoring the importance of uniform training and accountability across the management team.

The reviews do not shy away from discussing eligibility, income-based housing, and the practical realities of living in a HUD or Section 8 era community. Several voices mention that the property seems to cater to elderly residents and those receiving certain forms of assistance, which aligns with descriptions of the complex as a senior or low-income housing option. Questions about acceptance criteria - such as whether felons are allowed or how income and credit affect eligibility - are raised, alongside remarks about the convenience of the location, including notes about its proximity to shopping, restaurants, and the Harbison walking trail system. One candid question about policy - whether the property actively accepts felons or operates strictly on income-based criteria - reflects the broader concern about how transparent the admissions process is and how clearly policy is communicated to prospective renters.

Another thread running through the comments is the sense of a community that has potential but is currently hindered by communication problems and occasional neglect. Some residents emphasize that Lakeside is a strong option for older adults seeking safety, quiet, and a friendly neighborhood feel, with comments like "Good low income senior apartments!" and "Nice community for older folks." Others warn that the management's approach to information sharing and resident interaction can be inconsistent, and that a more customer-service-oriented mindset is needed to align expectations with reality. The presence of a waiting list, the emphasis on the senior/elderly demographic, and the occasional mention of "harsh management" together paint a portrait of a property that can be wonderful in theory and excellent in some hands, yet challenging in practice when it comes to day-to-day operations and resident relations.

Taken together, the reviews describe a property with undeniable appeal: a scenic, peaceful home that can feel like a sanctuary for seniors who value safety, quiet, and natural beauty. The apartments are praised as some of the nicest in the area, and the location offers easy access to trails, a lakefront setting, and nearby conveniences. However, there is a clear call for improved consistency in customer service and management conduct, with a need for more respectful, empathetic communication and more reliable maintenance. The dichotomy between the glowing, heartfelt testimonials and the sharp, critical voices suggests that Lakeside Apartments has significant upside for residents who encounter a supportive, well-trained staff and reliable upkeep, while also presenting real risks for those who encounter curt treatment or slow maintenance responses. For potential residents, this means doing due diligence: visit in person, speak with current tenants about their experiences, and verify current policies and who your primary contacts will be, to gauge whether the community aligns with your needs and expectations.

This part of Columbia, South Carolina offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors looking to settle in the area. With multiple restaurants including Dave & Buster's, McDonald's, McAlister's Deli, and more within close proximity, there are plenty of dining options to choose from. Additionally, there are several pharmacies nearby such as Walmart Pharmacy and Walgreens for easy access to medication and health supplies. The presence of hospitals like Palmetto Health Baptist Parkridge and clinics like Lexington Medical Center provide peace of mind in terms of healthcare services. For leisure activities, seniors can enjoy watching movies at AMC Harbison 14 or Regal Columbiana Grande theaters. Parks like Irmo Community Park and Saluda Shoals Park offer opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Overall, this area combines convenience, healthcare accessibility, entertainment options, and natural beauty making it a desirable location for senior living in Columbia.

Restaurants

• Dave & Buster's (0.5 miles)
• McDonald's (0.6 miles)
• McAlister's Deli (0.6 miles)
• Five Guys Burgers & Fries (0.6 miles)
• Carolina Ale House (0.6 miles)
• Fazoli's (0.6 miles)
• Rush's (0.7 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walmart Pharmacy (0.5 miles)
• Walgreens (1.3 miles)
• Walgreens (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2.4 miles)
• Alcohol & Drug Abuse (3.6 miles)
• Intramed Plus (4.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (5.8 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Harbison 14 (0.8 miles)
• Regal Columbiana Grande (0.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Palmetto Health Baptist Parkridge (0.8 miles)
• Palmetto Health Parkridge (0.8 miles)
• Urgent Care Center (1.8 miles)
• Lexington Medical Center Emergency Room (5.4 miles)
• Lexington Medical Center (5.5 miles)

Physicians

• Prisma Health Plastic Surgery – Parkridge (0.9 miles)
• Sc Internal Medicine (1.6 miles)
• Lexington Women's Care (1.7 miles)
• Lexington Family Practices (1.7 miles)
• Lake Murray Family Practice (2.2 miles)
• Advanced Pain Therapies (2.8 miles)
• Sandhills Pediatrics (2.8 miles)

Parks

• Irmo Community Park (1.8 miles)
• Saluda Shoals Park (2.7 miles)
• River Center At Saluda Shoals (2.7 miles)
• Saluda Riverwalk (6 miles)

Cafes

• Loveland Coffee (2 miles)
• Starbucks (2.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• First Baptist Church Of Irmo (2.6 miles)
• Cornerstone Presbyterian Church (3 miles)