Senior Tower Apartments

Pros

• The reviewer loves being there.
• The complex provides more security.
• The apartment is great.
• The mom who lives there has a nice apartment.
• The maintenance guy is the best around.

Cons

• Maintenance refused to clean, leaving spit and vomit in the elevator despite knowing it was there.
• The situation is described as an extreme biohazard and a slip risk for residents.
• The maintenance man has screamed at elderly tenants and pointed in their faces.
• He cannot control his temper and has threatened to throw away residents' walkers, rollators, and wheelchairs.
• He has threatened to discard expensive durable medical equipment (DME).
• Forcing a building full of elderly residents to use an elevator with a biohazard for the entire weekend is neglectful.
• The elevator is too small to comfortably accommodate wheelchairs, making access difficult.
• There are many rules and regulations not in the lease, which many residents see as excessive.
• Some residents are shown favoritism by employees.
• The reviewer would not recommend the place.

Review

The set of reviews paints a complex and at times troubling picture of a subsidized, elderly-oriented housing complex. On one hand, residents speak of a place that offers security, a decent apartment for family members, and the overall appeal of subsidized housing. On the other hand, there are severe safety concerns that loom large over daily life, casting a shadow over the positive features and suggesting systemic problems in maintenance and management. Taken together, these perspectives create a portrait of a community that has some admirable strengths but is grappling with serious issues that threaten residents' health and safety.

A central and especially alarming thread centers on the elevator area and a looming biohazard. One reviewer describes an incident where spit and vomit were left in the elevator and, crucially, were not cleaned up promptly despite clear awareness of the problem. The failure to address what is described as a biohazard for an extended period - potentially over an entire weekend - transforms a routine nuisance into a dangerous risk for a building populated largely by elderly residents, many of whom rely on the elevator to move around with mobility aids such as walkers, rollators, or wheelchairs. The reviewer emphasizes that this neglect is not just unsightly but creates a real slip risk and a credible threat to residents' health, given the vulnerability of the population.

Linked to that health and safety concern is a troubling characterization of the maintenance staff, particularly one individual described as having an explosive temper. The reviewer claims this maintenance man has screamed at elderly tenants, pointed at them aggressively, and, more disturbingly, has threatened to dispose of residents' essential medical equipment. The mention of walkers, rollators, and wheelchairs - clear examples of durable medical equipment (DME) that many residents depend on - suggests that the environment could become dangerous not only due to neglect but due to outright hostility or intimidation by a staff member responsible for upkeep. The combination of a volatile temperament and threats to medical devices presents a scenario that could endanger residents who already face mobility and health challenges, intensifying fears about who is protecting residents' well-being.

Against this bleak backdrop, the reviewer underscores a moment of realization that "the throw up and spit in the elevators was my last straw." The emphasis here is on the cumulative weight of different problems, with this particular incident becoming a tipping point that highlighted broader neglect and safety risks. The concerns are framed not as isolated episodes but as part of a pattern that could affect the entire building's functioning, especially given the needs of an elderly population that depends on accessible, clean, and well-maintained facilities. The argument is that when a communal space used by vulnerable residents becomes a hazard, the entire building's safety and livability come into question.

Yet, the reviews do not present a uniformly negative verdict. Interspersed with the warnings and criticisms are personal affirmations of the property's positive attributes. One reviewer states, "I love being here from where I used to live," signaling a sense of improvement in overall living conditions or neighborhood feel compared to past experiences. The same review mentions "more security," implying that the building has features that provide a sense of safety and control, which can be particularly meaningful in a subsidized housing setting. The reviewer also notes that their mother lives there and has a "nice apartment," which adds a familial endorsement and humanizes the experience beyond abstract safety concerns. The phrases "subsided housing" and "best maintenance guy around" further complicate the narrative by signaling appreciation for structural stability and competent maintenance, even if other parts of the system are described as failing in specific instances.

A parallel thread in the collection of reviews is the sense that the management and governing rules shape residents' daily experiences in powerful ways. One reviewer explicitly says they would not recommend the place, citing "lots of rules and regulations to follow that's not in your lease." That sentiment points to an environment where administrative expectations feel inconsistent or opaque, potentially creating stress for residents who are already navigating health and mobility challenges. Another reviewer raises concerns about favoritism, noting that some residents are treated differently by employees, which calls into question the fairness and transparency of the building's operations. Taken together, these points suggest that, even when the physical facilities and security features are adequate or even commendable, the organizational culture can undermine residents' trust and satisfaction.

What emerges from these intertwined threads is a nuanced, multi-faceted portrait of a subsidized housing complex that offers undeniable advantages - security, a nice apartment for a family member, and generally stable housing for seniors - while also presenting serious, ongoing concerns about cleanliness, safety, staff conduct, and administrative fairness. The positive remarks about security and the quality of some maintenance experiences indicate that competent, respectful service can exist within the same environment where neglect and hostility have taken root in other moments. This juxtaposition highlights the essential tension between what the building provides in terms of physical infrastructure and community support, versus what residents perceive as a lack of consistent care, oversight, and organizational integrity.

In sum, the reviews reflect a living reality that is both hopeful and troubling. For some residents, the complex functions well enough to be considered a valuable home - especially given affordability and proximity to family. For others, however, the combination of unaddressed biohazards, threats to personal property (like medical equipment), and reports of temperamental staff behavior creates an environment that feels unsafe and unreliable. The strongest takeaway is that the building has meaningful strengths that should be preserved, but there is a pressing need for decisive action: to enforce rigorous cleaning and safety protocols, to address staff behavior and training, and to ensure fair, transparent management practices. Only by directly addressing these safety and governance issues can the positive aspects - security, accessibility, and affordability - be reliably realized for all residents.

This part of Martinsburg, West Virginia offers easy access to a variety of places of worship, pharmacies, restaurants, transportation options, physicians' offices, cafes, parks, and hospitals. The proximity to diverse religious institutions like St Joseph Catholic Church and Trinity United Methodist Church provides spiritual support within the community. With several pharmacies nearby such as Patterson's Drug Store and Martinsburg Pharmacy, residents have convenient access to healthcare services. There are plenty of dining options including Blue White Grill and Chili's Grill & Bar for socializing with friends and family. The availability of transportation services like Amtrak-Mrb and medical facilities like WVU Hospitals-East City Hospital ensure residents have access to essential resources. Overall, this neighborhood offers a mix of amenities and services that would benefit older adults looking for a senior living community in Martinsburg.

Places of Worship

• St Joseph Catholic (0.1 miles)
• Trinity United Methodist Church (0.4 miles)
• Martinsburg Seventh Day Adventist Church (1.8 miles)
• Butlers Chapel Umc (4.7 miles)
• Hedgesville United Methodist Church (7.1 miles)
• Trinity Episcopal Church (8.5 miles)
• F.O.C.U.S. (10.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Patterson's Drug Store (0.3 miles)
• Martinsburg Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• Martin's Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.6 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (6.8 miles)
• Patterson's Drug Store (7.6 miles)

Restaurants

• Blue White Grill (0.3 miles)
• Thai Martinsburg Restaurant (0.4 miles)
• Brix 27 (0.4 miles)
• Chili's Grill & Bar (1.3 miles)
• Applebee's (1.4 miles)
• Cracker Barrel (1.4 miles)
• Taco Bell (1.4 miles)

Transportation

• Amtrak-Mrb (0.4 miles)

Physicians

• Dermatology Associates (1 miles)
• Bogaert Maria A MD (1 miles)
• Hahn Medical Practices, Inc. (1.2 miles)
• Dr Jerry M. Hahn, MD (1.2 miles)
• Martinsburg Family Health Care (1.4 miles)
• Martinsburg Radiology Associates (1.4 miles)
• Ramirez Rodriguez, Sheila Novus Healthcare (1.5 miles)

Cafes

• Daily Grind (1.3 miles)
• Panera Bread (1.3 miles)
• Starbucks (1.3 miles)
• A.M. Brews (5.6 miles)
• The Black Dog Coffee Company (8.2 miles)
• Lost Dog Coffee (8.6 miles)
• Panera Bread (11.1 miles)

Parks

• War Memorial Park (1.3 miles)
• Poor House Farm Park (4.1 miles)
• Morgan's Grove Park (7.9 miles)
• Riverbend Membership (10.5 miles)

Hospitals

• WVU Hospitals-East City Hospital (1.9 miles)