The Renaissance in Richmond, VA

Pros

• The apartments are nice and have large rooms.
• It is a great place to live if you stay to yourself.
• The place is great.
• The reviewer praises Allah.

Cons

• They don't really recommend living there.
• They note that the hallway smells bad when walking to their mom's apartment.
• They describe the apartments as infested with bedbugs and say there is no real management.
• They report a musty smell in the halls.
• They observe that since 1998 the place has been overrun with bedbugs, roaches, drugs, and bad management.
• They acknowledge that Renaissance has its problems like everywhere else.

Review

The Renaissance in Richmond is best suited for independent seniors who want generous apartment space and are prepared to manage their own day-to-day needs with minimal on-site support. The concrete appeal here is the size and feel of the living spaces - large rooms that can accommodate a comfortable setup and offer a degree of privacy that more compact campuses struggle to match. That upside matters most for residents who prize autonomy and are not relying on frequent staffing or structured social programs. Yet this appeal sits beside a troubling pattern in the living environment: persistent odor, musty hallways, and a frequency of pest and maintenance issues that erode the comfort that large apartments should celebrate.

Families weighing this community should explicitly consider alternatives if reliable staff presence, clean common areas, and visible pest control are non-negotiables. Those with needs for regular assistance, vigilant health and safety oversight, or a community culture that prioritizes resident welfare will likely find better value elsewhere. Prospective residents who require proactive maintenance response, transparent management, and a living environment free of bedbugs, roaches, and pervasive smells may be better served by places with stronger on-site leadership and more robust operational discipline. In short, this is not a fit for anyone looking for a consistently well-run, resident-centered experience.

The core pros - ample living space and the potential for a private, low-stress environment if one keeps to themselves - do not meaningfully offset the central drawbacks. When corridors reek and hallways carry a musty odor, the appeal of roomy apartments quickly loses its shine, especially for residents with chronic illness or sensitivity to environmental conditions. The absence of reliable management compounds every other concern: when on-site staff are difficult to reach or visibly unavailable, issues from infestations to maintenance requests linger, undermining safety, comfort, and peace of mind. The strength of the apartments thus becomes a narrow beacon rather than a true counterbalance to a deteriorating overall experience.

The sentiment from multiple residents centers on a consistent decline since the late 1990s: bedbugs, roaches, and ongoing pest problems alongside drug activity and general management challenges. That combination creates an atmosphere where independent living feels fragile and uncertain, rather than reassuring. Some reviews acknowledge past quality, but the current trajectory is clear: problems persist, and the facility's ability to address core resident needs appears inconsistent. The contrast between an attractive floorplan and a frequently problematic living environment makes it difficult to rely on the Renaissance for long-term comfort, safety, and dignity.

For families visiting as part of a decision process, focus on concrete, verifiable factors. Ask to see pest control logs, maintenance response times, and a recent health-and-safety inspection report. Probe the management team's availability, accountability, and communication style; seek to understand how complaints are tracked and resolved. Inquire about the cadence of housekeeping, odor control, and air quality management, as well as the stability of staffing across shifts. Gather candid input from current residents about daily life, social programming, and how quickly needs are met. Use these data points to compare with communities that demonstrably maintain cleaner environments, proactive maintenance, and attentive management.

In the end, The Renaissance reads as a cautionary option rather than a preferred choice. It can serve as a baseline for families prioritizing space and independence but falls short on essential quality-of-life metrics that matter most to seniors and their loved ones. The prudent path is to place this community alongside stronger alternatives - and to demand evidence of consistent pest control, clean common areas, and a responsive leadership culture before making a move. If those assurances cannot be delivered, the recommendation is clear: pursue other options that provide steadier stewardship, predictable upkeep, and a safer, more inviting daily living experience.

Physicians

• Bhatti Jawad Dr Virginia Pain Network And Clinics Richmond (0.7 miles)
• OrthoVirginia - Chippenham (1 miles)
• NorthStar Community (2.8 miles)
• Midlothian Medical Care (3.1 miles)
• Primary Health Group (3.2 miles)
• Surgical Specialists of Richmond (3.5 miles)
• Richmond Ear Nose & Throat Specialists (3.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3 miles)
• Walgreens (3 miles)

Parks

• Forest Hill Park (2.1 miles)
• Barker Field Dog Park (2.2 miles)
• Dogwood Dell (2.2 miles)
• Byrd Park (3.6 miles)
• Lombardy Park Playground (3.7 miles)
• Monroe Park (3.9 miles)
• Brown's Island (4.5 miles)

Restaurants

• Cook Out (2.5 miles)
• McDonald's (3.1 miles)
• Sticky Rice (3.3 miles)
• Joe's Inn (3.5 miles)
• Little Mexico (3.5 miles)
• Papa John's Pizza (3.6 miles)
• Stella's Grocery (3.7 miles)

Hospitals

• Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center (2.8 miles)
• VCU Medical Center Emergency Department (4.1 miles)
• Vcu Health System Authority (4.4 miles)
• St Marys South Building (4.5 miles)
• Hospital Hospitality House (4.6 miles)
• CJW Medical Center (4.6 miles)
• Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU (4.7 miles)

Cafes

• Perk (3 miles)
• Lamplighter (3.1 miles)
• Starbucks (3.5 miles)
• Starbucks (3.8 miles)
• Blanchard’s Café (3.9 miles)
• Quench (4.1 miles)
• Starbucks (4.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• Christadelphian Chapel (3.1 miles)
• Tikvat Israel Congregation (3.3 miles)
• Remnant Church (3.4 miles)
• St Edward's Church (4.5 miles)

Theaters

• Bow Tie Movieland at Boulevard Square (4.2 miles)

Transportation

• GRTC Pulse - Convention Center (4.4 miles)
• Main Street Station (4.7 miles)