Tanner Gardens in Phoenix, AZ

Pros

• The area turned out to be good with no problems, and the people and staff are great and helpful.
• The staff are friendly and welcoming to prospective residents.
• Ms. Willene and the staff are described as kind and helpful, making visitors feel welcome.
• The complex is nice and quiet, with a professional manager and good relations among staff and tenants.
• The residents describe the staff as friendly, and the environment feels comfortable.
• Manager Dane is very professional, and there is strong rapport among staff and residents.

Cons

• The reviewer states that the staff were too busy to assist and were rude and unprofessional.
• They have had some really bad luck trying to move in.
• The reviewer describes it as the worst place to live on the planet and notes bed bug infestations.
• The delivery driver was verbally abused and threatened for trying to deliver.
• The place is a dump, infested with bed bugs and cockroaches, and the staff are rude to residents.
• It feels like a landfill, with management rude and showing no interest in residents' wellbeing.
• It is sometimes depressing because it's the final place for many elderly residents.

Review

Tanner Gardens in Phoenix is best suited for budget-conscious seniors who want a quiet, close-knit apartment community where affordability is a primary feature and resident camaraderie carries weight. The complex operates as income-based senior housing, which makes it attractive to families or individuals prioritizing predictable, lower housing costs over upscale finishes or high-touch service. Those seeking polished, modern amenities, flawless consistency in resident services, or rigorous pest control may want to consider alternatives with higher ratings and more proactive management.

On the plus side, several residents report a warm, welcoming environment when staff and neighbors are engaged. Instances of professional, courteous management surface in multiple accounts, with a few staff members described as genuinely helpful and supportive. The sense of community is palpable, including dog-friendly policies and a generally quiet living experience that many tenants value. Even when issues arose, there are notes of staff or residents stepping up to assist, and repairs or improvements have been completed, signaling that the property is not passing into stagnation.

However, the most persistent and consequential concerns center on pest control, perceived customer service gaps, and inconsistent communication. The property is repeatedly described as infested with bed bugs and cockroaches by several reviewers, a severe health and comfort risk for seniors. Comments about rude or unprofessional front-office interactions, delayed or limited assistance, and difficulty accessing staff for urgent needs underscore a troubling pattern of service incoherence. One account documents a highly uncomfortable incident with a delivery interaction, underscoring a broader sense that frontline responsiveness can fail when attention is needed most. These threads weigh heavily against any positive impressions.

Ultimately, the key pros - affordability, a tranquil environment, and moments of genuine staff warmth - do not consistently offset the major cons for many potential residents. The pest issues are not cosmetic; they threaten health, sleep, and overall well-being, especially for older adults who may have heightened vulnerability. In addition, intermittent communication problems and frontline friction erode trust in daily operations and can impede timely help when emergencies or urgent needs arise. The strength of the community and the occasional professionalism of certain staff members matter, but the frequency and severity of the negatives create a risk profile that cannot be ignored.

This is a place to consider only if the budget and personal tolerance for risk align with the realities described. Families evaluating alternatives should prioritize communities with verifiable, robust pest control, consistently courteous customer service, and transparent, reliable communication. If those attributes are non-negotiable, Tanner Gardens may not meet expectations, and other options with stronger track records should be explored.

For those who proceed with Tanner Gardens, a practical due-diligence plan is essential. Arrive for an unannounced tour, inspect units and common areas for cleanliness and pest activity, and ask about the pest control schedule, treatment history, and guarantees. Speak with multiple current residents about their lived experience, especially regarding service responsiveness and maintenance turnaround times. Clarify the rent structure, what income-based means in practice, and any anticipated increases. Confirm access to on-site or nearby healthcare, transportation options, and social programming. With thorough vetting and clear expectations, the decision will rest on whether the value proposition - affordability and community - truly supports long-term comfort and safety, given the documented challenges.

Transportation

• Hertz Rent A Car (1.8 miles)
• Delta SkyClub (2.8 miles)
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) (2.8 miles)
• Terminal 3 (2.9 miles)
• Airport Rent-A-Car (3.1 miles)
• Terminal 4, Concourse D (3.2 miles)
• Concourse A (3.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.3 miles)
• Walgreens (2.8 miles)
• Walgreens (3.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.8 miles)

Physicians

• Cigna South Mountain (2.4 miles)
• Banner Family Medicine Center (4.1 miles)
• Momdoc-Women for Women (4.7 miles)
• SimonMed Imaging - Phoenix (5.3 miles)
• Dignity Health Peppertree Family Medicine (5.8 miles)
• Arizona Eye Specialists (5.9 miles)
• 20/20 Image Eye Centers (6.3 miles)

Restaurants

• Gallagher's (2.5 miles)
• Crown Public House (3.2 miles)
• Blanco Block 23 (3.4 miles)
• Thai Basil Signature (3.6 miles)
• Harumi Sushi (3.6 miles)
• McDonald's (3.7 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (3.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Primera Iglesia United Methodist Church (3.1 miles)
• Roosevelt Community Church (4.1 miles)
• Islamic Community Center of Tempe (6.2 miles)

Hospitals

• Arizona State Hospital (3.5 miles)
• Maricopa Medical Center (3.8 miles)
• Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix (4.2 miles)
• St Joseph's Hospital & Med Center: Deguzman Brian J MD (5.7 miles)
• St Josephs Neurological ICU (5.8 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (3.6 miles)
• Spoonz Cafe (3.6 miles)
• Songbird Coffee & Tea House (4 miles)
• Futuro (4.1 miles)
• Fair Trade Cafe (4.2 miles)
• Lola Coffee (4.3 miles)
• Starbucks (4.4 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Arizona Center 24 (3.7 miles)
• Arizona Mills 18 w/ IMAX (4.6 miles)

Parks

• Blue Sky Airport Parking (3.8 miles)
• South Mountain Park (4 miles)
• Margaret T. Hance Park (4.4 miles)
• Encanto Park (5.4 miles)
• Tempe Beach Park (6 miles)