Florence Mill Apartments

Pros

• The restored 1850 mill on the Hockanum River provides housing for seniors.
• The facility is very well maintained, with responsive management and friendly residents.
• The lobby, community room, resident lounge, and grounds are beautiful.
• The property is safe and convenient.
• Renovations are nice and the property is clean.
• Subsidized housing is kept in good condition.
• The apartments are clean.
• The exterior of the building is absolutely beautiful, with magical pine trees and a surrounding waterfall.
• The staff are warm and accommodating, and extremely friendly and helpful.
• Residents find it an affordable option for elderly housing.

Cons

• It took three months to receive the application, with numerous phone calls, and the staff were unresponsive and failed to provide updates.
• After delivering the application, the office told them to leave it on a table outside, with the blinds closed and no one available to talk to.
• They could never speak with anyone; they could only leave messages and received no callbacks, making them feel ignored and frustrated.
• There was no air in the elevator and there were not enough elevators.
• The overall experience was frustrating due to a lack of communication and perceived neglect of those needing housing.

Review

A restored 1850 mill on the Hockanum River has been repurposed into a senior living community that blends historic charm with practical conveniences. The property is described as well maintained, with a management team that is responsive and a resident population that feels friendly and welcoming. Inside, residents and visitors find a bright lobby, a well-equipped community room, a comfortable resident lounge, and thoughtfully kept grounds. Safety and convenience are repeatedly highlighted, making it feel like a dependable place for seniors or handicap-accessible living.

Several comments emphasize the visual and architectural appeal of the building. Even among those who hadn't yet stepped through the doors, the exterior was praised for its beauty - an absolutely beautiful building set among magical pine trees and a waterfall that lends a serene, almost magical atmosphere. One reviewer noted the exterior impressed them greatly, even though they hadn't had a chance to see the interior. For others, renovations and clean, updated interiors reinforced a sense that the community takes pride in its appearance and upkeep.

The day-to-day experience for residents and their families is largely described in positive terms. People consistently call the place nice, with renovations and cleanliness receiving frequent kudos. Subsidized housing is noted as being kept in good condition, and the apartments themselves are described as clean and of a comfortable size for individual living. The staff are often singled out as warm, accommodating, and helpful, and the facility is repeatedly described as well maintained and secure. Several residents mention friendly neighbors and a supportive, homelike atmosphere, underscoring a sense of community that comes with long-term occupancy.

There are, however, important caveats related to accessibility and logistics that temper the overall glow. One reviewer pointed to the lack of air in the elevator and an insufficient number of elevators, a practical concern for a building serving seniors and disabled residents. While the facility is described as secure, the same review highlights the real-world implications of limited elevator access in a place designed for easy, everyday mobility. These notes remind prospective residents that, beyond aesthetics and staff friendliness, operational details like elevator capacity can significantly impact daily life.

The most challenging portion of the experience, as shared by at least one reviewer, centers on the housing application process and communication. It took three months to receive the application, with numerous phone calls required to chase it down. The reviewer, who helped their legally blind and disabled son complete the form, describes a visit where they were told to leave the application on a table outside the office. They found the office closed, with blinds drawn and no one to speak to. Over the following month, calls to the office went unanswered or produced only messages, leaving them uncertain about whether the application reached the waiting list. The sentiment is one of frustration and disappointment, with a sense that the most vulnerable people - those who truly need affordable housing - are being inadvertently sidelined by a sluggish, unresponsive intake process.

Individual anecdotes also reflect a broader appreciation for what the community offers, even as they acknowledge administrative gaps. One person notes that their grandmother lived there and found it to be an affordable elderly housing option, while another mentions a mother-in-law who enjoyed a well-kept home with friendly neighbors. The sentiment is positive about the living environment itself: spacious apartments suitable for single occupancy, a peaceful and respectful resident community, and a place that residents want to recommend to others. In this thread of feedback, the common thread is that the property has real merit - beautiful architecture, clean renovations, and a supportive atmosphere - but the path to securing a unit can be frustrating without more consistent communication.

Taken together, the reviews paint a picture of a property with many strengths and a few notable challenges. The restored mill setting offers aesthetic appeal, a sense of history, and practical amenities that many seniors value: safety, convenience, and well-kept common spaces. The people who live there tend to highlight warmth, friendliness, and neighborliness, along with staff members who are welcoming and helpful. Yet the experience of pursuing housing can be fraught with delays and a lack of timely communication, particularly for those who rely on accessibility and timely assistance. For prospective residents, it's worth visiting to experience the building's charm and to talk with staff about the application process, timelines, and accessibility provisions, while also planning for the possibility of some administrative delays.

In sum, this housing community offers a compelling combination of historic ambiance, clean and comfortable living spaces, and a friendly, supportive atmosphere. The exterior beauty and the sense of a tightly knit resident community stand out as strong positives, while the real-world process of getting in can feel heavy and opaque for some applicants. If you're considering this place, you'll likely find a welcoming home with well-maintained facilities and considerate neighbors, tempered by the reality that navigation of the waiting list and application communications may require persistence and proactive follow-up.

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)