The Towers of Jacksonville

Pros

• The Towers' new manager is great along with her excellent staff, bringing noticeable improvements to the building.
• There are many wonderful residents at the Towers and a wide range of activities.
• Management and staff are doing a great job.
• Long-term residents love living there, with management providing diverse activities, keeping the property well maintained, and responding quickly.
• The top-floor views from the Towers are loved by residents, especially at night.
• Some residents describe the Towers as paradise found.
• Residents enjoy living there and appreciate that management truly cares about tenants and keeps the Towers in great shape.
• Amenities such as the private bus, riverfront location, and coffee/snacks are appreciated by residents.

Cons

• The reviewer alleges mold and humidity from the building's A/C contribute to mold, and that reporting mold is discouraged by management.
• The reviewer criticizes ownership as being out of state and not reinvesting in the building, with repairs treated as patches.
• The reviewer warns that the place is "like rotten."
• The reviewer notes that nearly 200 Jacksonville senior residents struggle without hot water for days.
• The reviewer reports a friend suffered bed bugs after moving in, leading to homelessness.
• The reviewer says elevators frequently break down and parking is insufficient.
• The reviewer describes the facility as dirty and unkept.
• The reviewer recounts eviction by sheriff and denial of access to a loved one's belongings.
• The reviewer recalls that after Hurricane Irma, elevators and A/C were nonfunctional for a week, with no management help and cars towed.
• The reviewer claims theft from apartments is common and that management does not listen and treats residents as dirt.
• The reviewer asserts cars are stolen and vandalized by subcontractors during ongoing renovations.
• The reviewer notes constant changes in policy notifications about pets and dress code.
• The reviewer states the evacuation plan is inadequate.

Review

The Towers in Jacksonville stands as a place of undeniable contrast, where memories of community and comfort sit alongside urgent warnings about maintenance, safety, and administration. For many residents, it has been home for years, a hub of neighbors who share stories, routines, and a river-view backdrop that feels like a daily gift. Several reviewers speak warmly of the atmosphere: a supportive, active senior community with people who care, a new manager who has brought noticeable improvements in a relatively short time, and a staff that is described as excellent. The sense of belonging is palpable in remarks about the variety of activities, the presence of a private bus that runs several times a week, and the feeling that the management team genuinely cares about tenants. A few residents even call it paradise found, and the top-floor views at night are repeatedly praised as a highlight that makes the effort of living there worthwhile.

Yet, woven throughout these positive notes is a much louder current of frustration and concern. Several reviews underscore a longstanding pattern of systemic problems that, for many, have never fully gone away. The most persistent issue is mold, linked to humidity from the building's air-conditioning system and a climate-control dynamic that many feel has been mismanaged for years. One resident recounts the situation as "Mold, Mold, Mold," pointing to a history of frequent management and maintenance turnover (five managers and five maintenance crews over 8? years) and noting that owners based in California have not reinvested in the building. In this account, the new manager limits how residents can report mold, and the underlying HVAC humidity is blamed for mold and other issues. The sentiment is one of caution and fatigue, with some arguing that the situation has degraded enough to make other senior complexes in Jacksonville worth considering.

The tensions extend beyond mold to a broader sense of mismanagement and neglect. Several reviews describe a chronic lack of responsiveness, with repeated references to phone calls ignored, repairs delayed, and a perception that the property has been patching rather than solving structural or safety problems. Evictions and the removal of belongings by sheriff intervention are cited as examples of "sick management" and a culture that cares little for residents' stability. In one particularly alarming anecdote, a father is evicted, his belongings removed by deputies, and the family left to cope with the fallout - an account that underscores fears about treatment of residents and the fragility of residents' ties to their homes. Other residents recount vehicles being towed and fees charged to reclaim them, a sign for many that financial and administrative procedures at the Towers have grown punitive or opaque.

Health and safety concerns are not limited to mold and evictions. An especially troubling narrative describes an extended outage where seniors were without hot water for days, a situation that is hard to imagine for a population that includes many with limited mobility. The aftermath of storms is also a recurring theme: after Hurricane Irma in 2017, elevators and air conditioning reportedly failed for a full week, leaving elderly residents in dangerous heat and without adequate means of escape or relief. Complaints about parking add another layer of stress to daily life, with many visitors complaining of too few spaces and a sense that the parking situation compounds the difficulty of maintaining a normal family visit schedule. In some reviews, the overall impression is that safety and basic conveniences such as functioning elevators, reliable climate control, and tenant-friendly policies have often been sacrificed to a cycle of renovations and administrative changes that residents feel are not in their best interests.

The Towers' reputation for community is not erased by these criticisms, but the contrast is stark. Some residents speak to a strong sense of community spirit: families on waitlists who eventually manage to move in, residents feeling cared for by staff, and colleagues who relish the social and recreational aspects of life on the property. The river views, the nearby amenities, and even the occasional reliable bus service are cited as meaningful perks that enhance the day-to-day experience. There are also testimonies of personal joy and gratitude - the appreciation of a supportive neighbor, the comfort of a well-kept common area, and the presence of activities that keep seniors engaged. These voices remind readers that, for many, the Towers still functions as a place of warmth and connection despite its flaws.

What emerges from this mixed mosaic is a portrait of a senior living community that many want to call home and some feel compelled to leave. On the one hand, a capable and committed management team, actively changing the level of care and attention, and a lively resident culture offer genuine reasons to stay. On the other hand, unresolved issues around mold, maintenance turnover, emergency preparedness, and the harsh handling of administrative and legal matters create real, ongoing risks that prospective residents must weigh carefully. The stories about wait times, policy changes, and parking limitations further compound the decision for anyone considering moving in or visiting a loved one. The Towers can be a sanctuary for those who value community and views and are prepared to navigate its administrative maze; for others, the balance tips toward alternative options that may offer greater peace of mind.

Ultimately, the experience at the Towers seems to hinge on two threads: the undeniable sense of community and the undeniable concerns about safety, maintenance, and governance. Some residents sing its praises with affection and pride, emphasizing a new manager's positive impact and the continual activities that keep life engaging. Others warn with urgency, urging caution and underscoring experiences of mold, heat, outages, and punitive policy enforcement. As with many senior living choices, the Towers presents a spectrum of realities, where comfort, companionship, and convenience meet with frustration, fear, and distrust. For anyone evaluating a move there, the message is clear: visit thoroughly, ask pointed questions about maintenance and emergency readiness, and listen to a broad range of resident experiences to gauge whether the environment aligns with your own priorities and tolerance for risk.

This part of Jacksonville, Florida offers a convenient location with easy access to various amenities such as physicians, hospitals, pharmacies, cafes, restaurants, parks, and places of worship. The proximity to Nemours Children's Clinic and other healthcare facilities ensures access to quality medical care. Additionally, the presence of popular dining options like The Bearded Pig and Taverna provides a diverse culinary experience. Nearby parks like Riverfront Park offer opportunities for outdoor activities and relaxation. Overall, this area provides a well-rounded community suitable for senior living with its range of services and attractions in close proximity.

Physicians

• Nemours Children's Clinic (0.1 miles)
• Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute (0.2 miles)
• Jax Vision Care (1.2 miles)
• Carithers Pediatric Group (1.2 miles)
• Hortencia Espino, MD (1.4 miles)
• Southeast Orthopedic Specialists (1.7 miles)
• Jacksonville Pediatrics (1.7 miles)

Cafes

• European Street Cafe (0.4 miles)
• Southern Grounds (0.9 miles)
• European Street Cafe (1.9 miles)
• Casbah Cafe (2.7 miles)
• The Local - San J (2.7 miles)
• Starbucks (3.8 miles)
• Panera Bread (3.9 miles)

Parks

• Riverfront Park (0.5 miles)
• Adams Park (2.5 miles)
• Cortez Park (3.7 miles)

Restaurants

• The Southern Grill (0.6 miles)
• The Bearded Pig (0.6 miles)
• Bb's Restaurant And Bar (0.6 miles)
• St Johns Provision (0.7 miles)
• Taverna (0.8 miles)
• River & Post (0.9 miles)
• BurgerFi (0.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• Allen Chapel Ame Church (1.4 miles)
• Riverside United Church of Christ (2.2 miles)
• West Jacksonville Baptist Church (4.8 miles)

Hospitals

• Ascension St Vincent's Riverside (1.6 miles)
• Childrens Medical Services (1.7 miles)
• UF Health Jacksonville Towers (2.4 miles)
• UF Health of Jacksonville (2.5 miles)
• Baptist Primary Care (3.9 miles)
• Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital (4 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• Walgreens (2.5 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (3.8 miles)
• Walgreens (3.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.9 miles)
• Walgreens (4 miles)
• Walgreens (4 miles)