Tucker House

Pros

• The staff are nice and helpful.
• The building and common areas are clean.
• The units are newly renovated and feel fresh.
• HUD-subsidized senior apartments offer safe, basic accommodations at a fair price.
• Residents appear to like the place and are happy living there.
• The facility provides pull-up bus transportation for those who need it.
• Movie nights and bingo nights are offered for residents.
• The environment is peaceful and conducive to a comfortable living space.
• The staff are friendly, and the community is generally viewed positively.
• Tucker House is described as a great place to live.

Cons

• The receptionist was extremely rude and disrespectful.
• Maintenance reportedly enters apartments without 24 hours' notice and leaves doors unlocked, invading residents' privacy.
• The building's air conditioning had been broken for months.
• The unit smells awful and the property is dirty, dingy, and faded, needing repairs.
• Desk staff are nosy, do not assist wheelchair users, and spread gossip.
• The apartments can be unbearably hot, with roaches reported in the building and AC not being turned on for residents.
• Bed bugs are present.
• The GM is described as unfriendly.
• There is a long waiting list to get in, with entry often requiring someone to leave.

Review

Tucker House presents itself as a HUD-subsidized senior living option in Norfolk that draws a wide range of experiences from its residents and visitors. Some reviews paint a picture of a friendly, welcoming community where staff and neighbors are largely pleasant, and where the building itself has appealing features like clean common areas and opportunities for social activity. Others describe a string of ongoing problems, from maintenance and odor issues to pest concerns and personnel behavior, which color the overall impression in a much more mixed way. The reviews collectively suggest a place with potential benefits - affordable living, location benefits, and social programming - but with notable rough edges that can affect daily life.

Several posts emphasize the positive side: the facility is described as senior-friendly and in Norfolk, with plenty of goodwill among residents and staff. People mention that the staff can be helpful and that the building has pleasant moments, such as movie nights, bingo, and pull-up bus transportation for those who need it. There are remarks like "Great staff and common areas clean," "Friendly staff, except the GM!" and "Very nice and clean," as well as a sentiment that residents appear to like the place. For some families, Tucker House is a place worth considering because of its affordability, the sense of community, and the support services that accompany senior living.

But amid the praise, there are persistent complaints that touch on several core issues. One reviewer recounts a rude encounter with the receptionist and notes that the building is currently under remodeling, which seems to have reinforced a perception of disorganization or strain in service delivery. Another comment highlights a longer-standing concern about maintenance - specifically, that maintenance staff do not always provide 24 hours' notice or communication, and that there have been intrusions into residents' apartments without permission, which understandably causes anxiety and anger in the lobby. A pointed call to action - "Get it together Tucker house" - captures the sense that some reviewers feel management mishandles privacy and procedures.

The physical environment also garners mixed feedback. Several posts reference air-conditioning problems: one reviewer says the building's AC has been broken for months, with individual apartments faring better than the common areas, while another update notes that the air conditioning in the building had been problematic, though apartments themselves were reportedly fine. There are harsher notes about odors and general repairs needed, with one comment describing the place as "dinghy and faded" and another mentioning "bed bugs" and roaches, painting a less flattering portrait of the building's maintenance and pest control status. A few experiences explicitly mention that some residents endure heat during the summer, with fear for those with medical conditions, and there are calls to escalate issues to management or city channels when necessary.

Finances and access are another recurring theme. Several posts reference the waiting list reality for senior housing, underscoring that admission can be highly competitive and time-consuming. Yet there is also acknowledgment of practical benefits: the facility offers a structured, affordable housing option, and residents can have pets and access shared amenities. The comment that "they only take a percentage of your income" underscores the financial model, while other remarks celebrate the availability of transportation services and social programming as valuable components of senior living. Some reviewers express hope or intent to become tenants, signaling perceived potential despite the drawbacks.

Personal anecdotes add texture to the overall picture. Some reviewers describe family members who are happy there and appreciate the care provided to the elderly residents, while others recount experiences that are far less favorable, including the influence of a strong, chaotic, or unresponsive management presence. There are mentions of "nosy desk people" who don't assist wheelchair users at the outside door and who contribute to gossip in the community, which suggests a culture that some perceive as unprofessional or intrusive. In contrast, other remarks praise the staff's kindness and helpfulness, illustrating a diverse set of experiences that can hinge on individual interactions and moments in time.

In the end, Tucker House emerges as a place with definite upsides and significant caveats. On the positive side, it offers a family-like community feel, with social events, accessible transport, and a generally helpful staff that some residents rely on and appreciate. On the negative side, reports of rude staff interactions, privacy concerns, maintenance communication gaps, persistent AC and pest issues, and occasional cleanliness or odor problems temper the otherwise favorable attributes. For anyone considering Tucker House, the decision seems to rest on weighing the affordability and potential social support against the practical realities of maintenance responsiveness, building conditions, and the consistency of respectful, professional staff interactions.

This particular area of Norfolk, Virginia offers a convenient and accessible location for seniors looking to retire in a bustling yet manageable community. With several pharmacies nearby such as Rite Aid, Walgreens, and CVS Pharmacy, access to medication and healthcare services is easily within reach. Additionally, there are various cafes and restaurants like Starbucks, Panera Bread, and Chili's Grill & Bar for socializing and dining out. Places of worship including Tabernacle Church Of Norfolk and Third Presbyterian Church offer spiritual support and community engagement. Nearby physicians at De Paul Medical Atrium and Southern Eyecare Associates provide medical care, while hospitals like Chkd and Naval Medical Center Portsmouth offer advanced healthcare facilities. For outdoor recreation, Bay Oaks Park and The Pagoda & Oriental Garden are ideal spots for leisurely walks. Transportation options are also available with The Tide MacArthur Square Station and Norfolk International Airport close by for easy travel access.

Pharmacies

• Rite Aid (0.9 miles)
• Walgreens (0.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.7 miles)
• Walgreens (3.2 miles)
• Rite Aid (3.3 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1 miles)
• Starbucks (1.1 miles)
• Panera Bread (2.4 miles)
• Coalescence Coffee (3.2 miles)
• Panera Bread (3.2 miles)
• Starbucks (3.3 miles)
• Cafe Stella (3.4 miles)

Places of Worship

• Tabernacle Church Of Norfolk (1.2 miles)
• Third Presbyterian Church (2.8 miles)
• Twine Memorial Holy Temple (5.9 miles)
• Westhaven Baptist Church (6.9 miles)

Physicians

• De Paul Medical Atrium (1.3 miles)
• Southern Eyecare Associates (1.8 miles)
• Ghent Family Practice (3.1 miles)
• Galan-Dejesus Mariam Np (3.4 miles)
• Willis, Erica Pediatric Associates (3.5 miles)
• Dr Robert F. Castle, MD (3.8 miles)
• Duncan Yoder M.D. (3.9 miles)

Restaurants

• Dodge's (1.7 miles)
• Chili's Grill & Bar (2 miles)
• Hank's Filling Station (2.3 miles)
• Perfectly Frank (2.3 miles)
• Taco Bell (2.5 miles)
• Handsome Biscuit (3 miles)
• Tap House Grill At Ghent (3.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Chkd (3.5 miles)
• Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (5.1 miles)
• Portsmouth General Hospital (5.3 miles)
• Maryview Medical Ambulatory Surgery Recovery (6.4 miles)
• Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center (6.4 miles)

Parks

• Bay Oaks Park (4.5 miles)
• The Pagoda & Oriental Garden (4.6 miles)

Transportation

• The Tide MacArthur Square Station (4.8 miles)
• Norfolk Airport USO (4.8 miles)
• Norfolk International Airport (ORF) (4.9 miles)
• American Airlines Ticket Counter (4.9 miles)
• The Tide-Newtown Road Station (6.7 miles)