Teresa Village

Pros

• Tonya Kennedy guided the applicant through the application process with ease.
• She has been kind, available, and responsive to questions.
• Tonya Kennedy is incredibly knowledgeable about Bay Community Management properties.
• She turned what could have been a stressful process into an enjoyable experience.
• The reviewer highly recommends Tonya Kennedy and BCM.
• Teresa Village is a quiet 55+ community with accessible facilities.
• The community allows small pets.
• Basic cable and water are provided.
• Handicap rails in the bathroom are very helpful for wheelchair users.
• The staff at Teresa Village is described as very nice.
• The community center offers activities, including arts and crafts.
• Residents have their own patios or verandas, providing private outdoor space.

Cons

• The office staff are disrespectful and do not care about tenants who pay rent.
• There is no website to request a checkup on the home or apartment, which is described as ridiculous.
• The situation is unacceptable at the moment and needs improvement.
• The facilities are older because the building dates back to the 1970s, and there have been repeated issues with the dishwasher, the dryer, and the electrical.
• There is no pool or access to a workout room, and the rent is high.
• Management and owners are accused of having no respect for elders and of using curse words to deal with people.
• Communication is difficult because phones are busy, the office doors are often locked, and it seems no one is actively managing the apartments.

Review

Experiences at Bay Community Management and the Teresa Village community paint a tapestry of contrasts. On one hand, there are shining moments of accessibility, warmth, and efficiency from a single staff member who guided a hopeful resident through the entire application process. On the other hand, several voices describe a more frustrating reality that centers on communication gaps, mixed signals from management, and aging facilities. Together, the comments sketch a living situation where personal experiences can feel worlds apart depending on who you interact with and when.

The most favorable note comes from a resident who worked with Ms. Tonya Kennedy of Bay Community Management. This person describes Tonya as a model of professionalism: she walked them through the application process with ease, was consistently kind in every conversation, and was readily available to answer questions. The reviewer highlights Tonya's extensive knowledge of all Bay Community Management properties and credits her with transforming what could have been a stressful experience into something enjoyable. The sentiment is strong and unequivocal: Tonya Kennedy and BCM come highly recommended, with the implication that Tonya's guidance helped pave the way toward making Teresa Village their home.

In stark contrast, another set of comments complains about the office environment itself. A reviewer questions how someone can obtain help when they encounter what they characterizes as disrespectful people in the office. There is a frustration over the absence of a website or online system to request a checkup on a home or apartment, which is labeled as ridiculous and unacceptable. This perspective casts a shadow over the otherwise positive impression left by Tonya Kennedy, suggesting that while some BCM staff can be exemplary, the overall office culture and accessibility could benefit from substantial improvements.

Turning to the Teresa Village experience more broadly, multiple reviewers describe the community in favorable terms, especially for a 55+ setting. The area is depicted as quiet and accessible, with small pets allowed. Utilities are favorable in this context, as basic cable and water are included. The property is noted to have handicap rails in the bathroom, a helpful feature for wheelchair users, with the broader claim that, from the outside, the community feels navigable for those with mobility needs. The property itself is described as an older build, dating back to the 1970s, which means facilities are older and maintenance issues have arisen - dishwasher, dryer, and electrical concerns being cited as examples requiring attention. Nevertheless, the overall atmosphere is one of livability, with the sense that the home's layout and accessibility features remain workable for many residents.

Within Teresa Village, the staff are praised for their amiability, even if some services like meals are not included. The grounds are described as well kept, and a landscaper arrives regularly, sometimes at dawn. There's a fully functioning community center, outdoor seating areas, and private patios or verandas for each residence. Residents can participate in organized activities, such as arts and crafts, though participation is optional. The lack of a pool or fitness room is noted, and the question of the rent's value is raised - suggesting that while the environment is pleasant, some residents feel the price may not entirely align with the provided amenities.

A separate voice offers a strongly positive personal endorsement of life at Teresa Village, even as they acknowledge certain frustrations. This reviewer proclaims, "I live here and love it," praising the apartment itself and the grounds as beautifully kept. Yet, even amid affection for the living space, they criticize the management and owners for what they describe as a lack of respect for elders and the use of coarse language when dealing with residents. The critique hints at a deeper cultural issue within the management layer, indicating a desire for changes that would restore a more respectful, elder-centric atmosphere. It's a reminder that affection for the physical space does not automatically translate into satisfaction with leadership and communication.

Finally, several residents are seeking direct contact and clear, reliable information about the facility, including how to join waiting lists. One person, new to the Fort Walton Beach area, reports difficulty contacting anyone by phone and notes that doors to the office appear to be locked, making it hard to obtain information in person. The sentiment here underscores a recurring theme: while there are helpful, responsive staff like Tonya in the mix, there are also significant accessibility hurdles when trying to reach someone in authority or to gain basic information about the community. The sense is that there is someone who should be managing the apartments, but the channels for doing so are not consistently available.

Taken together, the reviews present a nuanced portrait of Teresa Village and its management. They reveal a community that offers quiet, accessible living for seniors, with pet-friendly policies, included utilities, and a host of social and leisure opportunities that can help residents feel connected and engaged. Yet they also highlight substantial room for improvement in management culture, communication practices, and the modernization of facilities and online accessibility. The standout positive experiences - especially the exceptional assistance from a BCM representative - coexist with concerns about respect, responsiveness, and ease of contact. For potential residents, the message is clear: personal interactions can make the difference between a welcoming, well-supported home and a more challenging experience where information and outreach are lacking.

Restaurants

• Corner Cafe (0.3 miles)
• Wendy's (0.7 miles)
• Burger King (0.7 miles)
• Stewby's Seafood Shanty (1.1 miles)
• AJ's on the Bayou (1.2 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (1.2 miles)
• Panda Express (1.2 miles)

Physicians

• Dress Cosmectic Surgery P.A. (0.5 miles)
• Family Eyecare Center (0.5 miles)
• Jason R Boole, MD (0.8 miles)
• Destin Family Medicine (0.8 miles)
• Dr Leo C. Chen, MD (0.8 miles)
• Northwest Florida Orthopedic Services (0.9 miles)
• Emerald Coast Urology (1 miles)

Parks

• Sunset Park (0.6 miles)
• Vesta Heights Park (1.5 miles)
• Ferry Park (1.8 miles)
• Liza Jackson Park (2.7 miles)
• Fort Walton Beach Landing (2.8 miles)
• John Beasley Park (3.9 miles)
• Mattie Kelly Park (7.7 miles)

Hospitals

• Kidney center (1 miles)
• Fort Walton Beach Medical Center OB OR (1.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (1.3 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (1.7 miles)
• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• Genoa-Qol Healthcare Co. (2.1 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.5 miles)
• Starbucks (1.8 miles)

Transportation

• Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) (5.5 miles)
• Hertz Rent A Car (5.6 miles)