Josephinum

Pros

• The historic building is beautiful and a must see.
• The staff are very nice and take the time to show visitors the building.
• The building, built in 1908, has beautiful stained glass artwork in the lobby.
• The architecture is amazing and spellbinding.
• It is worth stopping by for a visit.
• It is a magical place to live.
• The front desk staff are amazing, and guest services treat residents with warmth and graciousness.
• Excellent management.

Cons

• The building is infested with roaches, and the problem worsens weekly despite extermination.
• Michael at the front desk is extremely rude and has allegedly made racist comments about the speaker's skin color.
• Marco, a supervisor, makes it almost impossible for the rest of the team to help residents; he is rarely in the office and exercises a harmful ego.
• The hallways have cockroaches running up and down, making residents feel devalued.
• The apartments are teetering on the brink of being condemned; the staffing is petty and unqualified, and tenants are treated with disrespect.
• The hallway carpets are decades old, dirty, and rotting; tenants receive a refrigerator that cannot hold a gallon of milk; maintenance is third-rate; staff are unprofessional and take zero responsibility for dangerous tenants.
• The place is horrible and not safe; visitors are told not to go there, and donations to Catholic Community Services are called into question as theft.

Review

This downtown historic building, once known as The New Washington Hotel and built in 1908, holds a proud place on the National Register of Historic Places since 1989. Its longevity is part of its allure: a marble lobby, stained-glass artwork, and a sense of stepping back in time greet visitors and residents alike. Many speak to the architecture as a standout feature, describing it as spellbinding and worth a visit for its grand, timeless charm. The property is described as visually impressive, with views that would command thousands of dollars in a private setting, and residents often remark on how the building's historic character remains a striking backdrop to daily life.

Inside, the layout is substantial but practical. The complex rises to 14 floors with roughly 25 apartments per floor, though the first two levels aren't residential. The studio apartments are said to be decently sized for their category, contributing to a sense of comfortable living space despite the building's age. Several people praise the lobby's beauty and the artistic flourishes that still captivate a visitor's eye. In short, the property's historic grandeur is repeatedly called a major draw, a kind of architectural awe that makes the place feel special and unique in the Capitol Hill neighborhood.

Yet behind the grandeur lies a stark contrast in daily living conditions. A pervasive issue across multiple accounts is a roach infestation that has grown worse over time, despite routine extermination visits. Descriptions paint a troubling picture of cockroaches running through hallways and even something resembling "roach food" being used by exterminators - an image that underscored a sense of ongoing neglect and discomfort for residents. Complaints extend to the practicalities of daily living, with reviewers mentioning aging hallway carpets, undersized refrigerators that can't even fit standard milk jugs, and maintenance standards that feel third-rate. The contrast between the building's aesthetic beauty and the reality of living conditions has contributed to a growing sense of unease among residents.

The staff and the broader Catholic Community Services (CCS) are frequently highlighted as a bright spot amid the challenges. Several residents commend the front-desk staff and guest services for their warmth, politeness, and willingness to help within the limits of the program. Phrases like "amazing staff" and "warm heart and gracious smile" appear repeatedly, suggesting a culture of care and support from some CCS employees. In this frame, the organization's mission - hope for the hopeless - resonates for many who feel they benefit from the interpersonal kindness and the sense that someone is listening to their struggles.

However, there is also a clear voice of frustration with leadership and management at the property. One strong critique centers on Marco, described as a higher-up who creates a barrier between residents and the rest of the team. The accusation is that his absence from the office, combined with an overly centralized decision-making process, leaves residents with little recourse for complaints. The critique goes further, alleging an ego-driven, harmful approach that discourages the very support system CCS aims to provide, leaving vulnerable tenants feeling neglected and overlooked. This portrayal of management dynamics paints a picture of an administrative culture that makes it difficult for frontline staff to help residents effectively.

Intertwined with these concerns is a troubling personal experience recounted about a staff member named Michael. One reviewer describes Michael as "extremely rude," and alleges a racist comment about color skin, cast in the context of an interaction over help for a friend. This narrative adds to a sense of disquiet about the quality and inclusivity of service at the front desk, suggesting that, for some residents, bias and hostility compound the stress of already challenging living conditions. Such individual incidents, whether corroborated by others or not, contribute to the perceived unpredictability of the environment and underscore the importance of consistent, respectful treatment for all residents.

Overall sentiment among the reviews is deeply mixed and intensely polarized. Some call the place magical or magical in its potential, praising its architectural splendor and the feeling of belonging they claim to experience - statements like "Magical place to live" or "Excellent Management? A+" appear alongside harsher verdicts. Others warn that the apartments are on the brink of condemnation, that staff are petty or unqualified, and that tenants are treated with disdain and exposed to dangerous, unsafe conditions. Some residents even suggest avoiding donations to the Catholic Community Services, framing the organization as theft-prone or untrustworthy. Another dramatic line - "Abandon All Hope Those who Enter" - captures the extreme distress felt by some residents who feel trapped by their circumstances and the building's failures.

In the end, the Josephinum - already praised for its architectural grace and its historic presence - stands as a symbol of a place with two very different lives: one of timeless beauty and community support, and another of persistent, systemic challenges that threaten to overwhelm the very people CCS intends to help. For some, the building embodies a remarkable home with caring staff and a storied past; for others, it represents an unsafe, frustrating, and disheartening living situation where roaches, aging infrastructure, and inconsistent leadership overshadow the advantages of location and design. The range of experiences makes the Josephinum a place of complex realities, where beauty and hardship coexist in unequal measure for the residents who call it home.

This part of Seattle, Washington, offers a diverse range of amenities and services that cater to seniors looking for a convenient and vibrant neighborhood to call home. With an abundance of restaurants, cafes, pharmacies, theaters, parks, transportation options, hospitals, and physicians in close proximity, residents have easy access to everything they may need for a comfortable and fulfilling lifestyle. The area is known for its cultural attractions such as the Space Needle Park and Seattle Center Playground, providing opportunities for leisurely walks and engaging activities. Additionally, top-notch medical facilities like Swedish Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center ensure quality healthcare within reach. Overall, this neighborhood combines urban convenience with a welcoming community atmosphere ideal for seniors seeking an active and enriching living experience.

Restaurants

• Piroshky Piroshky (0.1 miles)
• Le Panier (0.1 miles)
• Ben Paris (0.2 miles)
• Yard House (0.2 miles)
• Japonessa (0.2 miles)
• Elephant & Castle (0.3 miles)
• Top Pot Doughnuts (0.3 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.1 miles)
• Seattle Aquarium Cafe (0.3 miles)
• Fulcrum Coffee (0.4 miles)
• La Parisienne French Bakery (0.5 miles)
• Nana’s Green Tea (0.5 miles)
• Starbucks (0.6 miles)
• Portage Bay Cafe (0.7 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.2 miles)
• Bartell Drugs (0.2 miles)
• Bartell Drugs - Ebt (0.5 miles)
• Bartell Drugs (0.5 miles)
• Walgreens (0.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.8 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Pacific Place 11 (0.3 miles)
• Regal Meridian & 4DX (0.3 miles)

Parks

• Space Needle Park (0.7 miles)
• Seattle Center Playground (0.8 miles)
• Kerry Park (1.5 miles)
• Little Howe Park (1.8 miles)
• Blue Dog Pond (2.5 miles)
• Madison Park (3.2 miles)

Transportation

• Seattle Center Monorail (0.8 miles)
• King Street Station (1 miles)
• Capitol Hill LINK Station (1.1 miles)
• Stadium Station (1.5 miles)
• Mount Baker Station (3.1 miles)
• University of Washington LINK Station (3.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Swedish Medical Center (0.9 miles)
• Harborview Medical Center (0.9 miles)
• Uw Medical Center Cafeteria (3.1 miles)

Physicians

• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (1.3 miles)
• Queen Anne Eye Clinic (2 miles)
• Seattle Gastroenterology Associates (2.7 miles)