All Hollows Community in San Francisco, CA

Pros

• The staff are super neat and tidy, and very supportive and friendly.

Cons

• The elevator has been out of order for months, forcing residents to climb stairs.
• Washing machines are always out of order.
• The stairwell is extremely hot and residents are suffocating.
• There is no air to breathe inside the hallways.
• The building has a stench of recycled items dragged down the hallway, pervading everywhere.
• Management is a joke.
• All Hallows should be renamed All Hallows Cemetery, a place where seniors come to die.

Review

All Hollows Community in San Francisco is best suited for seniors who want affordable, apartment-style living with a small, service-oriented on-site presence and a tidy, straightforward interior. It appeals to residents who can navigate stairs, tolerate an older building, and value a quiet, minimal-frills environment over high-end amenities. Those who rely on reliable elevator service, consistent in-building laundry, or continuously well-maintained common spaces should see this as a red flag rather than a fit. The trade-off is clear: supportive staff and a clean look can be enough to anchor daily life, but the building’s aging infrastructure can disrupt routines and mobility.

Those considering alternatives should focus on communities that guarantee elevator access and dependable maintenance. If mobility depends on a functioning lift, or if laundry, hall-air quality, and odor control are non-negotiables, a larger, more modern senior living option or another Mercy Housing property with stronger service records may be preferable. For families seeking highly proactive management and fewer sudden disruptions to daily living, there are facilities in the same city that aim to minimize the kind of outages and aroma concerns noted here.

On the upside, residents describe All Hollows as well-kept and orderly, with staff who are supportive and friendly. A clean, orderly environment can significantly ease daily stress, and responsive, considerate staff can help residents feel cared for even when other systems falter. The positive impression of the staff’s approach and the overall tidiness of the interiors provide a sense of dignity and routine that many seniors value highly. These strengths matter, especially when daily logistics are imperfect and the building is older.

The major drawbacks lie in critical infrastructure and management responsiveness. Elevator outages, bearing in mind one outage lasted seven months in 2023 and another has persisted into 2024, drastically limit access for mobility-restricted residents and complicate transfers, appointments, and emergency egress. Laundry facilities are frequently out of order, compounding the inconvenience and forcing residents to adapt or improvise. A hot stairwell and persistent hallway odors from recycling materials further undermine comfort, signaling underlying maintenance and ventilation issues. When management is perceived as unsupportive or ineffective, the cumulative impact can erode trust and increase safety concerns.

The key question for families becomes: do the potential gains in cleanliness and staff warmth offset the repeated, substantive service gaps? If independence in mobility and basic in-building conveniences are non-negotiable, the answer is likely no. But if a resident can function around occasional outages, values a friendly, approachable staff, and places priority on a well-kept living space over uninterrupted access to every amenity, All Hollows can still offer a reasonable living arrangement at a more accessible price point. The decision hinges on tolerance for disruption and the weight given to human-scale service in a building with aging infrastructure.

Practical next steps are clear. Arrange a visit focused on practical access: verify current elevator status and expected repair timelines, test the laundry facilities during peak times, and inspect common areas for fresh ventilation and odor control. Engage with current residents about how outages were managed and how quickly maintenance requests were resolved. Review the lease terms to understand maintenance commitments and any penalties for prolonged outages. If these checks align with priorities, clean surroundings, approachable staff, and acceptable resilience to outages, All Hollows becomes a defensible choice. If not, families should pursue alternatives that guarantee steadier mobility access, more reliable laundry, and more proactive building management.

This part of San Francisco, California, offers a variety of amenities and services that cater to seniors looking for a comfortable and convenient living environment. With multiple parks within a short distance, residents can enjoy outdoor activities and beautiful green spaces. The presence of several pharmacies ensures easy access to necessary medications and healthcare needs. Additionally, the abundance of cafes, restaurants, and theaters provides opportunities for socializing and entertainment. For medical care, there are reputable physicians' offices nearby, as well as hospitals for more serious health concerns. Public transportation options like the Caltrain Station and MUNI Metro Station offer convenient ways to get around the city. Overall, this area is well-equipped to provide a fulfilling lifestyle for seniors looking to make San Francisco their home.

Parks

• Bernal Heights Park (1.3 miles)
• Precita Park (1.3 miles)
• Potrero Hill Recreation Center (1.4 miles)
• Holly Park (1.5 miles)
• McKinley Square (1.8 miles)
• Esprit Park (1.8 miles)
• Crane Cove Park (2 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (1.7 miles)
• Walgreens (1.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2.5 miles)
• Walgreens (2.6 miles)
• Walgreens (2.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2.9 miles)

Cafes

• Sightglass Coffee (1.9 miles)
• Four Barrel Coffee (2.7 miles)
• SPRO Coffee Lab (2.7 miles)
• Le Marais Bakery (2.7 miles)
• Neighbor's Corner (2.9 miles)
• Sightglass Coffee (3 miles)
• Cafe Réveille (3.3 miles)

Restaurants

• True Laurel (1.9 miles)
• Garden Creamery (2.2 miles)
• Good Good Culture Club (2.4 miles)
• SF Eagle (2.6 miles)
• Hi Tops (3 miles)
• Deli Board (3 miles)
• Twin Peaks (3.2 miles)

Theaters

• Alamo Drafthouse New Mission (2 miles)
• AMC Metreon 16 (3.4 miles)
• Alamo Square (3.5 miles)
• AMC Kabuki 8 (4 miles)
• Regal Stonestown Galleria Screenx, 4Dx, & RPX (4.6 miles)

Physicians

• Noe Valley Pediatrics (2.1 miles)
• One Medical (3.1 miles)
• Golden Gate OBGYN (4.8 miles)

Places of Worship

• Church of the Epiphany (2.7 miles)

Transportation

• San Francisco Caltrain Station (2.8 miles)
• West Portal MUNI Metro Station (4 miles)

Hospitals

• Laguna Honda Hospital & Rehabilitation Center (3.7 miles)