Cathedral Plaza in Spokane, WA

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Pros

• They describe the group as professional and like family.
• The people are very helpful.
• The places look gorgeous.
• The apartments are remodeled.
• The staff are very friendly and available.
• The location in downtown Spokane is great.
• It is an excellent place for that transition.
• There are tons of activities.

Cons

• The community is now made up of drug addicts, alcoholics, and people with severe mental health issues.
• It is located in a downtown area inundated with homeless people.
• Neighbors have been robbed at gunpoint and spit in the face by the homeless.
• The manager has spent thousands on security cameras but with no one assigned to monitor them, so they do not solve crime, they merely record it.
• The manager has a 40% or less approval rating among residents and is described as doing a horrible job of managing the property.
• Cathedral Plaza is not recommended for handicapped residents; the handicapped unit lacks any features to aid them and modifications are slow or inadequate.
• Residents must lug garbage onto an elevator and dump it into a heavy-lidded dumpster in the parking lot.
• A resident was threatened with physical violence by a mentally ill resident, and management offered no apology or follow-up.
• There is no handicapped accessible anything about the apartment, and modifications (like lowering a closet rod) took months.
• The hallway decor consists only of pictures of the cross, criticized as charity rather than support, described as hypocrisy and deception.

Review

This community is best suited for active, socially engaged seniors who want a downtown Spokane address and a robust program of activities, supported by a staff that reads as professional yet feels like a large, protective family. The strongest appeal lies in the lively vibe, convenient location, and the sense that residents are cared for by people who genuinely want them to enjoy their days. For those who prize a vibrant social calendar, easy access to downtown services, and a floorplan that supports movement and interaction, Cathedral Plaza can deliver a meaningful, transitional living experience.

Alternatives become worth considering for several reasons that recur across the reviews. Those needing stringent accessibility features or reliable, fully ADA-compliant accommodations may be disappointed, as handicapped units reportedly lack pivotal design elements and some adjustments were slow or incomplete. Safety and neighborhood concerns also loom large in multiple accounts, with complaints about an overwhelmed surrounding area and unmonitored security footage. Families prioritizing ultra-clean environments or a quieter, more controlled setting may prefer other options with stronger emphasis on safety, accessibility, and a calmer footprint.

The positives sit squarely in the people, the programming, and the urban advantages. Staff is described as welcoming and responsive, able to balance professionalism with a family-like warmth that helps residents feel seen. The location’s downtown character is repeatedly praised, and several reviews note a remodeled apartment stock that helps counterbalance the age of the building. The activity slate is cited as extensive, giving residents abundant opportunities to connect and stay engaged, which can offset some of the more routine maintenance concerns. For a resident who thrives on social interaction and who wants to live in the heart of the city, these factors can be decisive.

Yet the weight of the negatives cannot be ignored. The strongest red flags revolve around safety and accessibility. One resident recounts a deeply troubling experience with a violent incident that management did not appropriately follow up on, casting doubt on the level of on-site security and crisis response. Another review warns that areas outside the building are unsafe and that security cameras, while present, are not monitored, reducing the perceived safety net. On the accessibility front, several voices describe handicapped units as ill-equipped for real living, with awkward layouts, insufficient reach, and inconveniences that compound daily tasks. The result is a careful resident and family weighing whether urban life and programming justify the compromises on safety and accessibility.

Maintenance and upkeep enter the discussion as well. While not universal, there are persistent notes that the facility could be cleaner and more up-to-date in common areas, and that some aging infrastructure shows through despite remodelling in pockets. Parking is another friction point, with some reviews noting limited spaces and waiting lists, although there is a city-supported all-day parking program that can help. Taken together, these operational gaps temper the otherwise compelling appeal and demand a decisive check for anyone who wants a turnkey experience rather than a camp of compromises.

In practice, Cathedral Plaza rewards residents who want an active, urban-living environment and who can tolerate and tolerate addressing the trade-offs around safety, accessibility, and upkeep. For families and seniors who prioritize a strong sense of community, proactive staff, and ample daytime activities, it’s worth a serious look, provided the unit and the surrounding area meet essential accessibility and safety expectations. Those who require dependable ADA-friendly design, a consistently secure neighborhood, or a spotless, low-risk environment may want to examine alternatives or insist on a detailed, site-specific assessment before committing. The prudent path is to schedule a comprehensive tour, verify ADA features in the specific unit, tour nearby streets for security, and speak with current residents about how maintenance and safety requests are handled on a practical basis. Cathedral Plaza stands as a viable choice for the right resident, one who values connection and downtown access and can live with the highlighted imperfections.