Cedarlake

Pros

• The office and maintenance staff are friendly.
• The property is maintained very well.
• The lake is right there for swimming and recreation.
• Maintenance responds quickly to issues.
• Cedar Lake is described as a welcoming and warm community.
• The leasing staff are friendly, helpful, and easy to work with.
• The location is convenient, close to grocery stores and the university.

Cons

• The management delayed addressing a mold issue after the pipe burst, plastering over the hole rather than treating the mold.
• The landlord Brenda Bott was described as snobby and hostile during interactions.
• Tenants felt they overpaid for an outdated apartment that had mold growth.
• There were repeated plumbing failures with repairs that were slow or inadequate.
• The property was accused of prioritizing money, enforcing strict and punitive rules and fines.
• A HUD discrimination complaint was filed, with claims of illegal eviction and failure to provide a reasonable accommodation (ESA).
• The washers and dryers were never functional.

Review

Cedar Lake, managed by Toonen Properties, inspires a wide range of opinions from its residents. For some tenants, it's a place they loved and considered home for years, thanks to a welcoming staff, well-kept grounds, and a lake that offered a pleasant backdrop for daily life. Others had experiences that soured quickly: repeated maintenance issues, disputes with management, and strict rules that felt punitive or inconsistent. Taken together, the collection of reviews paints a surprisingly paradoxical portrait of the same property.

On the negative side, several reviews describe a troubling pattern of maintenance problems and slow or incomplete responses. In one account, a hot water heater pipe burst, causing mold growth in the laundry room and extending illness-like symptoms throughout the building. The tenant claims management not only delayed addressing the issue but also attempted a cosmetic fix - plastering over the hole - without proper mold remediation. The odor of mildew allegedly lingered, and the tenant reports ongoing respiratory problems as a result. There are further complaints about the property's leadership, including a direct confrontation with a landlord figure named Brenda Bott, who allegedly downplayed the mold problem with remarks that "mold takes years to grow" and claimed there had been no smell after a visit. The rapport with Brenda Bott is described as hostile, with the reviewer ultimately ending the call in frustration.

Billing and rent issues feature prominently in several narratives as well. One renter describes signing a bi-monthly lease that planned for a near $200 monthly rent increase, only to see the first month of the higher amount not charged. The tenant and their partner initially assumed the absence of the increase was tied to the mold situation, but a subsequent management message demanded payment for an outstanding balance related to the month they hadn't been charged correctly. The conclusion, from this perspective, is that they overpaid for an older, underspecified unit and were left with a sense that the financial administration at Cedar Lake was unreliable.

There are stronger accusations of discrimination and unlawful treatment in at least one strongly worded review. The tenant claims to have filed a housing discrimination complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) related to an emotional-support animal (ESA). According to this account, the management eventually signed an agreement through HUD to return the security deposit in full in exchange for dropping further legal action, but the reviewer maintains the process was "sketchy" and governed by a desire to avoid clarity about why the accommodation for the ESA would not be renewed. The same reviewer describes stringent rules around the ESA and even more stringent rules for other aspects of tenancy - such as prohibitions on certain uses of common spaces, heavy penalties for minor issues, and a general sense that the property is primarily profit-driven rather than tenant-centered. The implication is that disability and accommodation concerns were met with resistance and a lack of transparent communication.

Despite these darker threads, plenty of reviewers share distinctly positive experiences. Several accounts praise the office and maintenance staff for their friendliness and responsiveness. The property is described as clean and well maintained overall, with near-universal praise for the lake, grounds, and the sense of community that develops around the outdoor spaces. A recurring sentiment is that maintenance requests were handled quickly, and the lakeside setting created a lifestyle that many tenants found appealing, especially in the heat of summer when people took advantage of the swimming and outdoor areas. Some reviewers highlight specific staff members - such as those who helped with tours, leases, or move-ins - whose hospitality and efficiency stand out as a reason to stay.

A number of comments touch on the social atmosphere and the sense of home Cedar Lake can foster when everything runs smoothly. Several residents recount long tenures, with tenants who have lived there for a decade or more and speak gratefully about the stability and friendly neighbors. The positive stories emphasize not only the quality of the units, but also the ease of securing a tour, the variety of floor plans (including lakeside views and features like in-unit laundry), and the overall convenience of location - close to grocery stores and universities, with ample parking and accessible amenities.

There are also nuanced takes that acknowledge aging infrastructure and the need for careful management, especially in a property that sits near a university and attracts a range of tenants with different needs. Some reviewers note that the buildings show signs of wear but argue that those flaws are balanced by reasonable rents, attractive outdoor spaces, and the convenience of a lakefront lifestyle. Others call attention to the importance of consistent and fair enforcement of rules, the value of transparent communication, and the impact that property leadership has on the tenant experience.

In sum, the Cedar Lake experience appears to depend heavily on individual interactions with management and the specific maintenance trajectories at any given time. For some residents, the combination of responsive maintenance, practical amenities, and a welcoming community makes Cedar Lake a strong living option, worth recommending to others who can handle the occasional bureaucratic frustration. For others, negative encounters with management, disputes over mold and safety, and concerns about discrimination or opaque billing cast a long shadow, leading them to warn future renters away and to seek housing elsewhere. The lake, the staff, and the sense of home are undeniable positives for a number of people, while repeated complaints about safety, health, and inconsistent treatment remind readers that not all experiences align with the idealized image of a resort-like community.

This part of Green Bay, Wisconsin offers a variety of amenities and services that cater to a senior lifestyle. With a range of restaurants including Subway, Taco Bell, and Kroll's East within close proximity, seniors can enjoy convenient dining options. Additionally, there are several pharmacies such as Walgreens and Aurora Pharmacy nearby for easy access to medications. For healthcare needs, there are reputable physicians like Forefront Dermatology and Prevea Clinic, as well as hospitals like Brown County Community Treatment and Aurora BayCare OB/GYN in the vicinity. The area also boasts parks like Farlin Park and Christa McAuliffe Park for leisurely outdoor activities, as well as cafes such as Julie's Cafe & Catering for social gatherings. Overall, this part of Green Bay provides a well-rounded environment for seniors looking to reside in a convenient and comfortable neighborhood.

Restaurants

• Escapades (0.2 miles)
• Subway (0.6 miles)
• Taco Bell (0.6 miles)
• McDonald's (1.7 miles)
• Kroll's East (1.7 miles)
• Pauly G's (1.9 miles)
• McDonald's (1.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.7 miles)
• Aurora Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.4 miles)
• Streu's Pharmacy Bay Natural (2.6 miles)
• Aurora Pharmacy (2.7 miles)
• Walgreens (2.8 miles)

Physicians

• Milo C Huempfner Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic (0.7 miles)
• Nicolet Psychiatric Center (1.5 miles)
• Forefront Dermatology Green Bay, WI - Superior Road (2.1 miles)
• Donald Massenburg, MD, PhD (2.3 miles)
• Prevea Clinic (2.3 miles)
• Rai Ashok Prevea Orthopedics (2.3 miles)
• Northeast Wisconsin Community Clinic (2.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Brown County Community Treatment (0.8 miles)
• Aurora BayCare OB/GYN (2.2 miles)
• Pediatrics Intensive Care Unit At St Vincents (2.7 miles)
• Aurora BayCare Emergency Department (2.9 miles)
• Abmc - Nicu (2.9 miles)
• Bellin Health Cardiology Associates - Green Bay (3 miles)
• ABMC Resource Library (3 miles)

Parks

• Dog Walking Street (1.4 miles)
• Farlin Park (1.5 miles)
• Christa McAuliffe Park (2 miles)
• Leicht Memorial Park (3.2 miles)

Cafes

• Julie's Cafe & Catering (1.7 miles)
• Panera Bread (2.1 miles)
• Kavarna (3.3 miles)

Theaters

• Green Bay East Cinema Green Bay, Wi (2.4 miles)