Florence Mill Apartments in Vernon Rockville, CT

Pros

• The property is very well maintained with responsive management and friendly residents.
• The lobby, community room, resident lounge, and grounds are beautiful.
• It is safe and convenient for residents.
• The apartments are clean and well kept.
• The building is absolutely beautiful with magical pine trees and a surrounding waterfall.
• It is an affordable elderly housing option for residents.
• The renovations are nice and the place is clean.
• Subsidized housing is kept in good condition.
• Residents are very nice and neighborly.
• The staff are extremely friendly and helpful, and the facility appears well maintained and secure.

Cons

• They waited three months to receive the application, with numerous phone calls requesting it.
• They were told to leave the application on a table outside the office, with no one to talk to.
• The office was behind blinds with no staff available to assist.
• They could not reach anyone by phone for weeks and received no callbacks.
• They felt ignored by the staff and that the process seemed designed to deter applicants.
• The elevator had no air and there were not enough elevators.

Review

Florence Mill Apartments is best suited for cost-conscious seniors and residents with mobility or health limitations who want affordable, independent living in a thoughtfully renovated historic building. The community is most appealing to those who value safety, a friendly, low-key social environment, and the aesthetic of a restored mill along the Hockanum River. It offers subsidized housing that has been kept in good condition, with a polished lobby, a community room, a resident lounge, and well-kept grounds. For occupants who prize a serene setting, easy access to outdoor spaces, and a sense of being part of a small, engaged senior neighborhood, Florence Mill delivers.

However, this option is not for everyone. Families needing a fast, transparent admissions process or responsive, proactive office management will find the experience frustrating. The waiting period can stretch into months; one reviewer described a three-month lag to receive an application and a pattern of unreturned calls. The difficulty reaching a live person, with instruction to leave messages and little follow-up, undermines confidence when housing needs are urgent. Those who require reliable elevator access - with enough units and cooling or reliable operation - should scrutinize building logistics, as a few reviews highlighted elevator limitations. And while exterior impressions are strong, some prospective residents want more certainty about interior tours versus guessing at space.

Even so, the strongest draw is the alignment of notable positives with the housing's core purpose. The building's pluses - handsome renovations, careful maintenance, and a sense of security - translate into a stable living environment. Residents report a warm, neighborly atmosphere and staff that come across as attentive and helpful, which matters when navigating daily routines or medical appointments. The location is convenient for commuting, and the subsidized rents make independence sustainable over the long term. These advantages meaningfully offset the friction in the admissions process, especially for households prioritizing affordability, safety, and a quiet, well-kept home base.

On the upside, Florence Mill shines as a physical space. A restored 1850 mill on the river offers memorable curb appeal and well-maintained interiors. The lobby, community room, and lounge feel inviting, and the grounds - complete with pines and a waterfall ambiance - contribute to a peaceful setting. Apartments themselves are described as clean and appropriately sized for single occupants, making independence practical without sacrificing comfort. The combination of affordable pricing, a perceived commitment from staff, and the historic charm creates a compelling value proposition for seniors who want to stay in their community without facing steep rents.

Yet the downsides must be weighed carefully. The admissions bottleneck is the clearest ongoing risk: a lengthy wait, opaque communication, and uncertain status updates can leave families without clarity when planning moves. Operational drawbacks include elevator concerns - no air in the elevator and insufficient numbers to service demand - which can complicate daily life for mobility-restricted residents and complicate emergency planning. While some experiences are positive, there are enough reports of miscommunication or perceived indifference to create a credibility gap for prospective residents who need assurance and predictable timelines. The contrast between friendly residents and a sometimes unresponsive office is a caveat that should temper expectations.

Bottom line: Florence Mill Apartments deliver affordable independence, a personable community, and an enviable setting, making it a strong option for seniors and disabled adults who prize safety, proximity to nature, and a well-appointed common space. It is prudent to pursue alternatives if rapid entry, consistent outreach from staff, or robust elevator reliability are non-negotiable. Prospective residents should plan to apply early, request concrete timelines, and seek inside tours when possible. In the right circumstances - long-term affordability, a welcoming social fabric, and a serene historic environment - Florence Mill is a practical, confident choice. For others, a closer look at other subsidized housing or assisted-living options with stronger administration may be warranted.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.1 miles)
• Big Y Tolland World Class Market (4.2 miles)
• Walgreens (5.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (5.8 miles)

Restaurants

• The Hidden Still (1.1 miles)
• Burger King (1.3 miles)
• McDonald's (1.4 miles)
• Vernon Diner (2.8 miles)
• Rein's New York Style Deli (2.8 miles)
• OKI Asian Bistro (2.9 miles)
• Taco Bell (3.2 miles)

Physicians

• Ellington Family Practice (2.1 miles)
• Myeyedr (2.2 miles)
• Northeastern Pulmonary Associates (2.7 miles)
• Vernon Internal Medicine (2.9 miles)
• Fieldstone Family Medicine of Tolland (4.9 miles)
• Ognjenka Nadazdin-Boskovic, MD (5.8 miles)
• Connecticut Eye Physician and Surgeons (5.8 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (3.2 miles)
• Starbucks (5.2 miles)
• Birdhouse Coffee (6.2 miles)
• Panera Bread (6.2 miles)
• Starbucks (6.6 miles)
• Starbucks (9 miles)

Places of Worship

• Second Congregational Church (6.1 miles)

Theaters

• Cinemark Buckland Hills 18 + Imax (6.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Johnson Memorial Hospital (8.6 miles)

Parks

• River Road Athletic Complex (8.9 miles)
• Gay City State Park (9.7 miles)