Laurel Oaks in Greenville, SC

Pros

• The location is gorgeous.
• The rates are superb and the staff are very friendly.
• It is very nice senior housing with a great location between Cherrydale and downtown.
• The apartments are pretty with great windows.
• There are planned activities and Bible study offered.

Cons

• The new manager is disrespectful.
• The office never answers the phone and calls go to a recording.
• Applications are denied for nothing more than a misdemeanor.
• The reviewer suspects the denial was racially biased.
• The elevator is often out of service, forcing residents to climb stairs.
• Old appliances are not being replaced.
• Bed bugs and erroneous charges are ongoing problems.
• The management should be fired or penalized.
• They allowed a flooded apartment due to negligence.
• The management holds residents hostage to stay or pay and does not return calls or keys.

Review

Laurel Oaks in Greenville is best suited for budget-conscious seniors who prize location and affordability over flawless service. The community sits in a desirable corridor between Cherrydale and downtown, offering an approachable price point that draws residents who want practical housing without premium pricing. This is not a place for those who demand consistently responsive management, seamless communications, or guaranteed elevator reliability. The right resident here accepts irregular office contact, delays in processing applications, and a willingness to navigate maintenance quirks with patience. In short, Laurel Oaks serves as a value-forward option for seniors who want to stretch a modest budget while staying in a convenient urban setting.

On the positive side, the draw is undeniable: meaningful cost savings paired with a neighborly social fabric. Several reviewers note the rates are competitive and the people are friendly, helping create a workable community atmosphere. The location earns high marks for proximity to downtown and the surrounding area, and some apartments are described as pretty with sizeable windows that brighten daily life. Planned activities and Bible-study programs add structure for residents who value engagement and organized social opportunities. When these elements align, Laurel Oaks can feel like a solid, affordable option rather than a bare-bones rental.

However, the downsides dominate the experience. The new manager is described as disrespectful, and a pattern emerges of stalled communication: offices unresponsive by phone, inconsistent call-backs, and lines that disappear or go to recordings. Maintenance problems compound the frustration: elevators frequently out of service, forcing residents, often those with health concerns or mobility limitations, to climb stairs. Reports of aging appliances, malfunctioning systems, and, in some cases, flooded units due to neglect underscore a culture of neglected maintenance. Rent charges and billing accuracy are recurring concerns, with residents alleging unfair treatment and a lack of accountability from management. These are not minor irritants but core reliability failures that erode confidence in daily living.

Do the pros offset the cons? For a resident who can tolerate administrative friction and is content on a lower floor, some value can still be salvaged: the price and the social programming provide tangible benefits that matter to cost-conscious occupants. But the balance tips decisively toward the negative for anyone prioritizing safety, predictable operations, and professional leadership. Elevator downtime is more than an inconvenience; it directly affects accessibility for the very residents most in need. Flooded units and slow responsiveness point to a maintenance culture that undermines comfort and trust. In combination, these factors dilute Laurel Oaks’s appeal as a long-term home unless price and location are the sole criteria guiding the decision.

Families and individuals who should consider alternatives are those requiring dependable mobility infrastructure, consistent billing practices, and transparent, accountable management. If peace of mind around scheduling, timely repairs, and responsive office support matters, exploring other Greenville options is prudent. Prospective buyers should scrutinize current management stability, request a tour focused on elevator reliability and maintenance history, and speak candidly with residents about day-to-day experiences. Any red flags around communication or safety warrant moving on to communities with stronger track records in service and upkeep.

Bottom line: Laurel Oaks offers affordability in a favorable Greenville location and potential for social engagement, but it carries a heavy load of management and maintenance risks that can overwhelm the benefits. This is a choice for budgets and social needs more than for expectations of consistent service or safety-critical reliability. families weighing options should conduct due diligence, visit in person, verify elevator operation, confirm billing practices, and gauge the office’s responsiveness during peak times. For most, a community with proven responsiveness and stable leadership provides greater peace of mind, even if it means accepting a higher price point.

Theaters

• Regal Cherrydale (0.8 miles)

Parks

• North Main Rotary Park (0.9 miles)
• Cleveland Park (2.4 miles)
• Paris Mountain State Park (3.6 miles)

Restaurants

• Joy of Tokyo (0.9 miles)
• Jack In The Box (0.9 miles)
• Golden Corral (1 miles)
• Burger King (1 miles)
• Cook Out (1 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1 miles)
• Five Guys Burgers & Fries (1 miles)

Physicians

• Superior Healthcare Physical Medicine (0.9 miles)
• Greenville Free Medical Clinic (1.9 miles)
• New Horizon Family Health Services (2.8 miles)
• Professional Healthcare Services (2.8 miles)
• Greenville Free Medical Clinic (2.9 miles)
• New Horizon Family Health Services: Administrative Services Office (3 miles)
• Greenville Dermatology (3.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Ingles Market (0.9 miles)
• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.8 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• Parker Road Drug Store (2.2 miles)
• Epic Pharmacies (2.2 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.9 miles)
• Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery (1.7 miles)
• Green Fetish (2.1 miles)
• Grateful Brew (3.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• The Church at Cherrydale (1.1 miles)
• Earle Street Baptist Church (1.2 miles)
• Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (1.8 miles)

Hospitals

• St Francis Health System, Rehab Services (3.1 miles)
• Greenville Hospital System Peds Obesity (4 miles)
• Patewood Memorial Hospital (4.2 miles)
• Greenville Hospital System (4.2 miles)
• Prisma Health Marshall I. Pickens Hospital (4.2 miles)
• Patewood Medical Campus (4.2 miles)
• Prisma Health Roger C. Peace Rehabilitation Hospital (4.3 miles)