Patten Towers

Pros

• The public transportation was terrific.
• The new management company has made many improvements, including remodeling the building and improving pest control, with no more fights or police calls.
• Residents have come to enjoy living there.
• She was very happy there.
• Grandfather really likes living there.
• It is right downtown with markets and free venues.
• The view from the 9th floor apartment is good.
• It is a nice place to people-watch from the bar across the street.
• It is much better now, with no more bugs.

Cons

• The place was riddled with roaches and bedbugs.
• The air conditioning didn't work in 95-degree weather.
• There were horror stories of bathrooms backing up and not being addressed for months.
• Someone threw their toilet contents out of a window onto the street below.
• Everyone who stays there is either elderly or disabled.
• The room across from them smelled like ammonia and trash.
• The place is infested with bedbugs; bedbugs could be seen crawling on people in elevators.
• A resident was evicted after having to call an ambulance and was not refunded the rent.
• The lobby and elevator are infested with bedbugs.
• It is not safe for residents; only cleaned during inspection times.
• Residents beg management for working cameras and protection.
• Management refuses to listen to residents' claims of dead bodies creating a smell in the halls.

Review

A steady thread running through a group of reviews about a public-housing complex in Chattanooga paints a troubling, at-times alarming picture. The common strands are hard to miss: pervasive pests, foul odors, and serious sanitation issues; occasional but real safety concerns fueled by drug activity and fights; ongoing problems with maintenance and utilities; and a sense that the residents, many of whom are elderly or disabled, are not receiving reliably attentive management or city-level accountability. Taken together, the comments describe a place that many visitors and tenants find hard to defend, with brief bursts of improvement often followed by new rounds of complaints.

Pest problems sit at the center of many accounts. Several reviews insist the property is infested with bedbugs and roaches, and some specify that infestations are visible even in common areas like the lobby and elevators. One visitor describes seeing bugs "crawling all over people in elevators," while another notes roaches on their own floor and in their unit. The pest problem appears to be tied in many minds to broader maintenance gaps - unresolved plumbing issues, damp and musty hallways, and trash odors that seem to linger rather than be quickly addressed. A resident recounts an ammonia-like smell on a 5th-floor corridor near a unit associated with a cat, suggesting that cleaning and odor control are inconsistent and sometimes overwhelmed by other problems in the building.

Sanitation and odor issues are repeatedly highlighted as well. Reviewers mention garbage odors, trash and dirty conditions in living spaces, and even claims that feces and urine are part of the daily ambient problems. Some writers describe the sense that human waste and other filth are not promptly cleaned up, creating an environment that feels unsafe or intolerable, especially for elderly or disabled tenants who may not be able to navigate or report problems as quickly as others. One post recounts a shocking incident in which the waste contents of a toilet were thrown from a window, and multiple reports reference entrances and hallways that reek of decay or refuse. Across accounts, the impression is that sanitation is uneven at best and dangerously neglected at worst, with residents feeling compelled to tolerate conditions that would be unacceptable in many private apartments.

Safety concerns add another layer of alarm. A number of reviewers describe drug activity in the building, including mentions of meth and fentanyl, with resident fear and the sense that cameras and protections are insufficient or inconsistently enforced. There are frequent mentions of fights, police calls, and a general perception that safety is compromised. One particularly unsettling claim asserts that when a body is found in the building, the hallway smells and the window is propped open with the deceased person's food items - an image that underscores how some residents feel exposed to danger and neglected by the management's response. The combination of drug-related activity, occasional violence, and a perceived lack of robust security or emergency response amplifies the sense that this is not a safe or stable place for vulnerable residents.

Management, inspections, and financial practices emerge as major points of contention. Several posts imply that management is slow to respond, inconsistent in addressing complaints, or preoccupied with appearances. There are anecdotes about months-long plumbing backups, repeated calls for emergency maintenance, and inspections that fail to catch ongoing hazards. Financial disputes surface as well: some residents recount paying rent well in advance and then facing eviction or being unable to recover prepaid money; others recall rejections of applicants on account of credit checks, even when the broader community relies on subsidies and public housing programs. In short, residents feel there is a disconnect between what is promised by public housing policy and what actually happens on the ground, with a sense that the burden of advocacy falls on tenants who may already be struggling with health or mobility issues.

Not all the voice here is uniformly negative, however. A counterpoint appears in at least a couple of reviews that acknowledge older realities and note improvements over time. One account recalls that years ago the place was acceptable, with praise for nearby public transportation and a sense of community convenience. More recently, another post highlights a marked improvement after a new management company took over, pointing to remodeling, enhanced pest control, and fewer fights or police calls. The same review claims that drug dealers have become more discreet or driven out, and the overall experience has improved significantly. A different writer even says the view from a high floor is pleasant and that the building is in a good location, suggesting that the physical environment and surrounding amenities still have redeeming qualities when maintenance and safety are addressed effectively.

The overall impression is a complex mosaic: a housing complex that can be harsh, even cruel in its daily realities for those who live there or visit, but with pockets of progress that show what sustained, attentive management and well-resourced maintenance can accomplish. Several narratives emphasize the vulnerability of residents - many are elderly or disabled - and express a strong hope that the city, the housing authority, and the private management partners will heed these warnings and enact meaningful, consistent improvements. The recurring call is for comprehensive improvements in pest control, sanitation, reliable heat or cooling, safe and respectful supervision, accessible reporting channels, and transparent handling of financial and legal concerns.

In the end, the reviews converge on a stark assessment: the property bears serious, documented flaws in cleanliness, safety, and resident well-being that demand urgent, sustained attention. While there are glimmers of progress and at least one clear example of meaningful improvement under new leadership, the majority of voices convey a cautious, if not urgent, appeal for more robust oversight, more effective maintenance, and a living environment that truly respects the dignity and needs of its most vulnerable residents. For families or individuals considering this housing option, the shared experience urges careful scrutiny, direct conversations with current tenants, and a clear plan for how ongoing issues will be resolved before making any commitment.

This area of Chattanooga, Tennessee offers a variety of amenities and services that would be beneficial for seniors looking to settle down in a vibrant community. With a wide selection of restaurants such as Pickle Barrel, Public House, and Tupelo Honey, seniors can enjoy diverse dining options within walking distance. Additionally, there are several cafes like Goodman Coffee Roasters and Cadence Coffee Company where they can socialize with friends or relax with a good book. For their spiritual needs, nearby places of worship like Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church and First-Centenary United Methodist Church provide opportunities for spiritual growth and community engagement. Access to medical care is also convenient with physicians such as Chattanooga Allergy Clinic and Tin Laser Vision Center in close proximity. Parks like Bluff view river walk entrance and Coolidge Park offer serene outdoor spaces for leisurely walks or picnics. Lastly, pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS ensure easy access to medication and healthcare supplies if needed. Overall, this part of Chattanooga provides a well-rounded environment for seniors seeking a comfortable and fulfilling lifestyle.

Restaurants

• Pickle Barrel Restaurant (0 miles)
• Public House Restaurant (0.1 miles)
• Tupelo Honey (0.1 miles)
• Two Ten Jack (0.1 miles)
• Community Pie (0.1 miles)
• Bridgeman's Chophouse (0.2 miles)
• Sekisui (0.2 miles)

Cafes

• Goodman Coffee Roasters (0.1 miles)
• Cadence Coffee Company (0.3 miles)
• Mean Mug Coffeehouse (0.5 miles)
• Rembrandt's Coffee House (0.7 miles)
• Velo Coffee Roasters (0.8 miles)
• Starbucks (3.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church (0.2 miles)
• First-Centenary United Methodist Church (0.3 miles)
• The Wesley Center (0.5 miles)

Physicians

• Chattanooga Allergy Clinic (0.6 miles)
• CHI Memorial Integrative Medicine Associates - Chattanooga (0.7 miles)
• Paul M Holliday, DDS (0.8 miles)
• Tin Laser Vision Center (1 miles)
• Academic Urologists at Erlanger (1 miles)
• Miriam Pa Edwards C (1 miles)
• Cardiac & Vascular Associates (1.1 miles)

Parks

• Bluff view river walk entrance (0.7 miles)
• Coolidge Park (1.2 miles)
• Renaissance Park (1.2 miles)
• Stringer's Ridge Park (2 miles)
• Red Bank Dog Park (2.9 miles)
• Missionary Ridge Tunnel (3.1 miles)
• Lookout Mountain Battlefield (3.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Erlanger NICU (1.1 miles)
• Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute (2 miles)
• Diabetes Care Center (2.4 miles)
• Alton Park Cmmnty Health Center (2.6 miles)
• Memorial Health Care System (2.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• Surgery Pharmacy Services (2.6 miles)
• CHI Memorial Hospital Chattanooga Outpatient Pharmacy (2.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.2 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (3.7 miles)