Watauga Square Apartment

Pros

• The manager and staff are caring, compassionate, and efficient.
• Residents describe Watauga Square as a great place to live overall.
• The community is friendly and feels like a big family.
• The apartments are large and attractive, with spacious rooms and good natural light.
• There are emergency pull cords in every apartment, and EMS respond quickly.
• The property provides safety features such as key-card entry and security cameras.
• Senior amenities include bingo, potluck meals, and occasional free food deliveries.

Cons

• The roaches, bedbugs and mold in the building are out of control.
• The manager is one of the snobbiest, most apathetic people.
• Repairs often consist of putting a band-aid on a festering wound.
• The building is infested with roaches and has a broken elevator.
• The place is like living in a nursing home.
• A lot of residents are just plain rude and unfriendly.
• This place is an obvious drug den, with a lingering smell.
• The place needs to be shut down and condemned.

Review

Watauga Square comes across in many readings as a place of stark contrasts: a senior-oriented complex that is simultaneously praised for some features and deeply criticized for pervasive problems. A sizable portion of reviews center on an overwhelming sense of infestation and deterioration - roaches, bed bugs, and mold regularly surface as the most persistent and distressing issues. One long-time resident bluntly claims the pest problems are "out of control," while others complain that even when extermination efforts occur, they amount to band-aids on festering problems. The consensus is that the building's physical conditions have eroded over time, and for many, the result is a living environment that feels unsafe and unpleasant.

Pest difficulties color everyday life for many tenants. A number of reviewers describe cockroaches as a daily nuisance, with one person noting they "kill about 4 roaches everyday," while acknowledging that some roaches evade treatment and that monthly sprays help only a little. Bed bugs are mentioned as well, and mold is cited as part of a broader picture of unhealthy conditions. Given these issues, some residents feel the apartments are not just uncomfortable but uninhabitable, and several explicitly say the situation has deteriorated over the years. The presence of pests often dovetails with other signs of decay - odor, unclean hallways, and an overall sense that the building is not being adequately cared for.

Maintenance and repairs are another major source of frustration. Reviews describe repairs as little more than "band-aids on a festering wound," suggesting that substantive fixes are rare or slow to come. Elevators are flagged as faulty, and hallways are described as poorly lit, contributing to a sense of neglect and compromise in safety. A few residents acknowledge improvements in some areas, but the prevailing tone is that responsiveness is inconsistent - if an issue is acknowledged at all, it may take months or longer to see meaningful action. The end result is a lingering impression that the building's infrastructure is unreliable and decays more quickly than it is repaired.

Management is a central theme in many critiques, with the manager repeatedly singled out for a combination of snobbery and apathy. Comments range from "the manager is one of the snobbiest, most apathetic people" to allegations that management does not enforce rules or address problems unless there is extreme incentive. Some reviews touch on policy enforcement that feels out of step with residents' needs, including disputes over service dogs and federal law. A few accounts imply that some rules are inconsistently applied or even used to frustrate tenants. However, not every view is uniformly negative about management - there are mentions of care and responsiveness in specific instances, but they are clearly outnumbered by complaints about attitude and effectiveness.

Security, safety, and neighborhood behavior form another complicated thread. Several reviews describe ongoing concerns about crime, drug activity, and intimidation: "drug dealers going up and down the floors," constant dog barking, package theft, and general unruliness among some residents. A number of posts push the idea that the building is unsafe or lawless, with remarks about needing to "shut down" the place or relocate tenants. Yet there are counterpoints: other residents emphasize that the building can feel like a tight-knit community, with friendly staff and residents who look out for one another. Some notes highlight the building's safety features - emergency pull cords in each apartment, security cameras, and a key-card entrance - though these are often weighed against reports of insufficient security or inconsistent enforcement.

The social fabric inside Watauga Square is a study in contrasts as well. For some, the building functions like a big family, with friendly residents and helpful staff who strive to make life workable despite other issues. There are mentions of senior-focused activities and amenities, such as Bingo, potluck meals, and limited free food deliveries on certain days, which create moments of community and care. In other reviews, however, the same social environment is described as tense or even hostile, with a sense that not everyone follows the rules and that conflicts can arise in shared spaces like the meeting room. Several accounts specifically warn others to stay away from communal areas where arguments or misunderstandings flare.

Amid the mixed experiences, a handful of reviews offer pointed praise that stands apart from the rest. Some residents describe the apartments themselves as spacious and light-filled, with large rooms and attractive layouts. A few visitors and healthcare workers express positive impressions, noting clean rooms, accessible spaces for seniors and disabled residents, and appreciative remarks about the staff's willingness to help where possible. There are also voices from veterans and other long-term tenants who speak highly of certain aspects - quiet neighborhoods, friendly reception by some staff, and a sense that the complex can be a good fit for those who prioritize affordable, senior-friendly living and are willing to navigate its rough edges.

In the end, Watauga Square presents a multi-layered picture: a building that can offer some practical benefits for seniors and disabled residents - ample apartment space, accessibility features, pull cords, security measures, and a semblance of a community - while simultaneously showing serious flaws in pest control, maintenance responsiveness, safety, and overall property management. For prospective renters, the choice appears highly contextual. If you prioritize stability, a strong sense of community, and are prepared to tolerate or mitigate ongoing pest and maintenance issues, the positives may be enough to make it work. If, however, you require reliable pest-free living, swift repairs, and consistently respectful management, this complex might not meet your expectations. For current residents, the range of experiences invites ongoing dialogue with management and peers about how to reconcile the realities of daily life with the desire for a safe, clean, and welcoming home.

This part of Johnson City, Tennessee offers a variety of amenities and services that may be attractive for seniors looking to relocate. With several restaurants within close proximity, including Atlantic Ale House and Wild Wing Cafe, there are plenty of dining options to choose from. Additionally, there are pharmacies such as The Compounding Lab Johnson City and Hillcrest Drug Store nearby for convenience in accessing medication. For medical needs, there are physicians like Appalachian Family Care and Etsu Family Medicine Associates as well as hospitals like James H. Quillen VA Medical Center and Woodridge within a short distance. Places of worship such as St Mary's Church and Covenant Presbyterian Church offer spiritual support, while theaters like AMC Johnson City 14 provide entertainment options. Overall, this area of Johnson City provides a mix of essential services and recreational opportunities for seniors looking to settle in the area.

Restaurants

• Atlantic Ale House (0.3 miles)
• Wild Wing Cafe (0.3 miles)
• Yee Haw Brewing Co. (0.3 miles)
• Go Burrito (0.4 miles)
• Holy Taco & Cantina (0.4 miles)
• The Firehouse (0.4 miles)
• McDonald's (0.6 miles)

Physicians

• Appalachian Family Care (0.4 miles)
• Etsu Family Medicine Associates (0.8 miles)
• Watauga Medical Clinic (0.8 miles)
• Appalachian Neurosurgical Clinic (1.4 miles)
• Regional Cancer Center (1.6 miles)
• Appalachian Radiation Oncology Associates, PC (1.6 miles)
• Ask-A-Nurse (1.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• The Compounding Lab Johnson City (0.6 miles)
• Hillcrest Drug Store (0.6 miles)
• Walgreens (1.1 miles)
• West Towne Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• Walgreens (1.6 miles)
• Walgreens (1.6 miles)
• Ballad Health Pharmacy (1.7 miles)

Cafes

• Dos Gatos Coffee Bar (0.6 miles)
• Open Doors Coffeehouse (0.6 miles)
• Starbucks (0.7 miles)
• Starbucks (1.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Mary's Church (0.6 miles)
• Covenant Presbyterian Church (2 miles)
• Grace Fellowship Church (2.4 miles)

Hospitals

• James H. Quillen VA Medical Center (0.8 miles)
• Woodridge (1.7 miles)
• Franklin Woods Community Hospital (2.8 miles)
• Center For Women's Health (3 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Johnson City 14 (1.5 miles)

Transportation

• U-Haul Moving & Storage (3.1 miles)