Golden Ridge

Pros

• The maintenance team is praised for A+ service and quick repairs.
• The online rent payment and request portal is easy to use.
• The new property manager is professional and courteous.
• Cats are allowed with a pet deposit.
• The location is great, within a short walk to groceries and near Red Rocks park.
• Hot water in the shower is reliable and plentiful.
• The bathroom is spacious with a large mirror.
• A garage parking space is included.
• Washer/dryer hookups are available in the apartment.
• There is an abundance of wildlife and green spaces with picnic tables for children.
• The area remains quiet with minimal traffic noise from Shelburne Road.

Cons

• The property manager Linda Wurst is described as a miserable human being, absolutely unpleasant to talk to, and rude.
• The move-out process allegedly required paying for an extra four days to enforce a two-month notice, which frustrated the tenants.
• The deposit was deducted despite the apartment being spotlessly clean, with a suggestion that nationality may have played a role.
• The complex experienced thefts, with cars and bikes being stolen.
• Tenants frequently violated rules, leaving furniture by dumpsters and blocking hallways with shoes, strollers, and bikes.
• The community coin-operated washer and dryer did not effectively clean or dry clothes, and the issue was never fixed.
• The elevator is old and sketchy, sometimes stopping or malfunctioning.
• Parking space was repeatedly usurped by another tenant despite requests not to.
• The building had extremely loud children not adequately controlled by their parents.

Review

Olde Orchard Park comes across in these accounts as a place of contrasts: a setting many residents found comfortable and convenient, but with management experiences that range from professional and helpful to difficult and frustrating. On the plus side, tenants consistently praise the practical perks that make day-to-day living easier, while on the downside there are persistent headaches around noise, parking, rule enforcement, and how some managers handle leases and security deposits. Taken together, the picture is nuanced: a place with real strengths, but with real caveats depending on who you interact with and what your expectations are.

Several reviews highlight a straightforward, tenant-friendly experience when it comes to maintenance and payments. Folks describe "A+" maintenance that responds quickly, and an online portal that makes paying rent and submitting requests simple. A newer property manager is singled out as more professional and less abrasive than the predecessor, and the building is noted as cat-friendly with a pet deposit. The physical layout and amenities are also well-regarded: hot water that doesn't run out, a spacious bathroom, a garage parking space, and washer/dryer hookups in the unit. The location itself gets frequent praise - close to the grocery store and near Red Rocks Park - together with a sense of a green, leafy environment and an abundance of wildlife. Green spaces and picnic areas are mentioned as kid-friendly, and the absence of highway noise from Shelburne Road is a recurring positive note for some units.

Yet a substantial portion of the feedback centers on negatives that affect daily life. Noise is a common complaint: extremely loud children in the hallways during winters, with parents not keeping them under control, which many residents found disruptive. Parking is another sore point, with reports of one tenant usurping a space and others noting that rules and courtesy sometimes go unenforced. Theft and vandalism are cited in some accounts - cars broken into and bikes stolen - adding a layer of security concern. Shared amenities like the coin-operated laundry occasionally fail to work effectively, and there are mentions of inconsistent rule enforcement by neighbors - things like furniture left by dumpsters, shoes or strollers blocking hallways, or kids' bikes cluttering common areas. One reviewer even characterizes the broader security and safety climate as not particularly reassuring.

Interwoven with these general cons are intense experiences with specific managers. One reviewer singles out Linda Wurst as a particularly unhappy and rude point of contact. The critique includes a claim that she wouldn't allow a mother-in-law to be on a lease due to a seven-year-old late payment on a credit card, necessitating a co-signer. The same reviewer recounts a dispute over a move-out window, where they were charged extra days to satisfy a "two months notice" timing, and a deduction from the security deposit after a move-out that left the apartment "spotlessly clean." The reviewer also suggests a bias they perceived toward non-Americans, which, whether factual or impression-based, colored their experience of dealing with this manager. The takeaway for some readers is that while the property itself may be solid, their experience with a particular property manager can drastically affect overall satisfaction.

Other tenants offer a more balanced or even positive view of the same place, emphasizing the peacefulness and the quality of some interactions. One account describes the property as beautiful and quiet, suitable for visits with family or friends, and notes that the landlord and maintenance teams could be quick to fix issues and easy to communicate with. Neighbors are described as generally nice, reinforcing a sense of community that makes some residents feel comfortable enough to recommend the place. Still, not every review maps onto this positive frame; other voices lament shortcomings like limited security, carpeting that looks worn or stained, an older elevator with reliability issues, and difficulties with temperature regulation in the apartments. These mixed reactions suggest that different units or buildings within the same complex can vary in quality and comfort.

There are additional nods to the variety of property-management experiences in the broader set of reviews. Some comments refer to other names in the Larkin Realty family or related outfits and hint at ongoing tensions around deposits and charges. One reviewer explicitly claims being "screwed out of my security deposit" after breaking a lease early, despite a contract that envisioned a straightforward process (a 30-day notice minus certain fees). The implication across these narratives is that deposit disputes can be a significant risk, depending on which management company is handling the property and how closely the lease terms are followed or interpreted. Combined with the previous notes about fees and move-out charges, prospective tenants may want to scrutinize lease language carefully and seek clarity on what counts as allowable deductions.

Overall, Olde Orchard Park presents a picture of a place that can be comfortable, convenient, and family-friendly, with strong maintenance support and appealing amenities. It also presents a cautionary tale about the human side of tenancy: management styles vary, interactions with managers can seriously color the experience, and deposit-related issues can become a source of lasting frustration. For someone considering moving in, the decision may hinge on the specific manager or property encountered, the unit's noise and parking realities, and a careful review of lease and deposit terms. The sentiment of one reviewer - recalling a tearful but fond moment at moving out - encapsulates the complexity: a place that can feel like home for years, yet still carry the sting of difficult conversations and the sting of financial disputes when things don't go as expected.

This area of Burlington, Vermont offers a convenient and vibrant location for senior living. With close proximity to various healthcare facilities such as UVM Medical Center Ophthalmology and Burlington Primary Care, residents have easy access to medical services. Additionally, there are numerous dining options including Union Jacks and Five Guys Burgers & Fries nearby for enjoyable meals out. For those who enjoy outdoor activities, parks like Oakledge Park and Red Rocks Park provide beautiful natural spaces to explore. The presence of pharmacies such as Walgreens and Kinney Drugs ensures easy access to medications. Overall, this neighborhood offers a mix of amenities that cater to the needs of older adults looking for a comfortable and well-connected community in Burlington.

Physicians

• UVM Medical Center Ophthalmology - Shelburne Road (0.1 miles)
• Burlington Primary Care (0.4 miles)
• Avada Hearing Care Center (0.5 miles)
• Howard Center (0.5 miles)
• Retina Center of Vermont (0.6 miles)
• Hagan, Rinehart, & Connolly Pediatricians (0.7 miles)
• Vermont Natural Family Medicine (1.2 miles)

Restaurants

• Union Jacks (0.1 miles)
• Five Guys Burgers & Fries (0.3 miles)
• The Spot (0.4 miles)
• Koto Japanese Steakhouse (0.6 miles)
• The Old Post (0.6 miles)
• Burger King (0.8 miles)
• Burlington Bagel Bakery & Cafe (0.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.2 miles)
• Kinney Drugs (0.2 miles)
• Hannaford Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• Lunaroma Aromatic Apothecary (1 miles)
• CSL Software Solutions (1.5 miles)
• Hannaford Supermarket & Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.7 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.3 miles)
• Panera Bread (1.1 miles)
• Kestrel Coffee Roasters (1.4 miles)
• Muddy Waters (1.6 miles)
• Vivid Coffee Roasters (1.8 miles)
• Kru Coffee Collective (1.9 miles)
• Starbucks (1.9 miles)

Parks

• Oakledge Park (0.9 miles)
• Oakledge Park and Beach (0.9 miles)
• Red Rocks Park (1 miles)
• William Szymanski Park (1.3 miles)
• City Hall Park (1.6 miles)
• Waterfront Park (1.9 miles)

Hospitals

• UVM Medical Center Registration (1.9 miles)
• The University of Vermont Medical Center (2 miles)
• UVM Medical Center McClure (2 miles)
• UVM Medical Center Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (2 miles)
• Vermont Regional Genetics Center (2 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Joseph Church (2.1 miles)