Burlington Tower

Pros

• Mary Lou Barr was the best manager and was personable.
• Under her management, life there was a joy.
• The current manager is understanding, helpful, nice, and a loving person toward everyone; the staff are also nice.
• The retirement apartments are nice.
• The apartments are cute and of a nice size.
• There are great people and great staff.

Cons

• There are no cameras in the hallways to watch the elderly in case they fall.
• The elevators are constantly breaking down.
• Management enters apartments whenever they want, even when residents are not home.
• They enter apartments of hospice patients to take inventory, and after someone dies they take belongings for themselves or to sell.
• There are bed bugs and roaches.
• The place is a dump.
• The reviewer thinks HUD should intervene to address how the place is run.
• There has been a prolonged hot-water outage with no timely resolution.
• The building is old, with a very slow, outdated elevator and cheaply constructed apartments.
• The staff are unprofessional, use scare tactics to threaten eviction against elderly residents, and apply rules selectively.
• Groundskeepers drink alcohol on the job and fraternize with renters.
• The place is described as a dumping ground for seniors - drab, cold, and depressing.
• The management allegedly changed its name from Veridian to protect the guilty.

Review

Across the handful of reviews of this retirement complex, a strongly divergent set of experiences emerges, painting a picture of a property whose character shifts dramatically from resident to resident. On one end of the spectrum sits a sense of nostalgia and praise for a former manager who made living there feel almost like being cared for by a friend. On the other, there are accounts of a place that feels neglected, unsafe, or hostile, with frequent maintenance headaches, invasive management practices, and a troubling atmosphere among some staff. The result is a landscape of opinions that runs from glowing endorsements to outright condemnations.

Several comments center on Mary Lou Barr, who managed the building for six years and is remembered very fondly. Descriptions of her tenure emphasize a personable, friendly approach and a sense that living there was enjoyable under her leadership. When she retired in the summer of 2024 and a new manager arrived, one reviewer explicitly says they will wait a few more months to form a final judgment, hinting that the transition left a noticeable impression. The departure of a manager who was seen as a trusted caregiver apparently looms large in how people evaluate the place, suggesting that leadership style matters a great deal to residents.

Yet, the other end of the spectrum is starkly negative. A number of residents describe the property as a "dump," characterizing it as unsafe or poorly maintained. Specific complaints range from practical concerns - hallways without cameras to monitor elderly residents and monitor falls, elevators that are "constantly breaking down," and a chronic lack of hot water or reliable heat - to more troubling accusations about privacy and treatment. There are claims that management enters apartments at will, including while someone is in hospice, supposedly to take inventory, and that after a resident passes away, belongings are taken. Coupled with mentions of bed bugs and roaches, these sentiments create a sense of chaos and distrust around how the building is run and how residents' basics are addressed.

Interspersed with the heavy criticisms are voices of warmth and belonging. Several comments emphasize friendly neighbors and a generally pleasant social environment. One reviewer proclaims, "I can't wait to move in and meet my wonderful neighbors!!" Others offer simple affirmations like "My Home. Love my spacious apartment," "This is good place," "Nice retirement apartment," and "Nice place. Nice people." There's a recurring theme that the resident experience can be positive when personal interactions with staff and neighbors go well, and that the building supports a welcoming, accessible living environment for older adults and those with disabilities.

There are also practical, day-to-day concerns that repeatedly surface. One resident reports an ongoing lack of hot water since a Friday, with maintenance telling them it would be resolved by the following Tuesday, a delay that had persisted without sufficient follow-through from management. The sense in these accounts is that, even when issues do stem from infrastructure, the response from management or maintenance can be slow or insufficient, leaving residents in uncomfortable or inconvenient situations for extended periods.

A cluster of comments focuses on staff conduct and governance. One review accuses the staff of being unprofessional and applying rules unevenly, using scare tactics to threaten eviction against those who don't know the law. There are also troubling impressions about groundskeeping staff, including claims that grounds workers drink alcohol on the job and socialize with renters after hours. Taken together, these claims contribute to a perception of an inhospitable or unsafe environment, especially for the elderly who may feel they must walk on "eggshells" to avoid trouble. The emotional intensity of these claims underscores how trust in management can shape residents' day-to-day sense of security and well-being.

Finally, a few comments touch on branding and reputation, suggesting that the building has been stigmatized or misperceived by outsiders. One reviewer describes the complex as a "dumping ground for seniors" and uses the phrases "drab, cold and depressing," adding that the facility is known as Veridian and noting a name change to "protect the guilty." Such language indicates a perceived decline in atmosphere and pride in the building, further complicating residents' experiences with a sense that the property is not living up to expectations or its own branding.

Overall, what emerges is a complex, mixed portrait. For some residents, the community feels warm, neighborly, and well-suited to an older or disabled population, with supportive staff and a homey apartment that suits their needs. For others, the same building feels neglected, intrusive, and unsafe, with frequent maintenance issues, questionable staff conduct, and a deteriorating living environment. The transition in management since 2024 appears to have amplified these divides: Mary Lou Barr's era is remembered with affection, while the current leadership is scrutinized for accessibility, responsiveness, and overall treatment of residents. As with many senior housing experiences, the quality of life seems to hinge not only on the physical space but crucially on who is in charge, how quickly problems are addressed, and whether residents feel respected and protected in their home.

This area of St. Petersburg, Florida, offers a convenient and diverse array of amenities for seniors looking to enjoy a comfortable and active lifestyle. With multiple physicians specializing in allergy/immunology, behavioral health, heart care, and neurology located within close proximity, residents have access to quality healthcare services. Additionally, there are several well-known hospitals and pharmacies nearby for easy medical assistance. The neighborhood also boasts a variety of dining options ranging from Asian street fare to traditional Mexican cuisine, as well as cafes serving coffee and light bites. For leisure activities, there are theaters for entertainment and parks for outdoor recreation such as picnics or leisurely walks. Furthermore, places of worship like Allendale United Methodist Church offer spiritual fulfillment for those seeking a community connection. Overall, this area provides a blend of essential services and recreational opportunities suitable for seniors considering relocation to the St. Petersburg region.

Physicians

• Allergy/Immunology (0.2 miles)
• Suncoast Medical Clinic (0.3 miles)
• BayCare Behavioral Health - St. Anthony's Primary Care (0.3 miles)
• Bay Area Heart Center (0.5 miles)
• Price Hoffman Stone & Associates: Goodrum Aaron MD (0.7 miles)
• Central Neurology Sleep Disorders Center (1 miles)
• Northeast Family Practice (1.3 miles)

Restaurants

• Green Bench Brewing Company (0.2 miles)
• Hawkers Asian Street Fare (0.3 miles)
• Byte Federal Bitcoin ATM (Ferg's Sports Bar & Grill) (0.3 miles)
• Red Mesa Cantina (0.7 miles)
• Ford's Garage (0.8 miles)
• Tijuana Flats (0.8 miles)
• Grand Hacienda (0.9 miles)

Hospitals

• St Anthony's Hospital (0.4 miles)
• All Children's Hospital (0.8 miles)
• Bayfront Health St. Petersburg (0.8 miles)
• All Children's Obgyn Specialists (4.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• Octapharma Plasma (1.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (2 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (2.2 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.8 miles)
• Kahwa Coffee (0.8 miles)
• Bula Kafe (1.2 miles)
• Panera Bread (1.3 miles)
• Bandit Coffee Co. (1.3 miles)
• Mazzaro's Italian Market (2 miles)
• Kristina's Cafe (2.9 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Sundial 12 (0.8 miles)
• Regal Park Place & RPX (4.9 miles)

Parks

• Roser Park (0.9 miles)
• St Pete Pier Playground (1.2 miles)
• Crescent Lake Park (1.3 miles)
• Vinoy Park St Petersburg (1.4 miles)
• North Shore Park (1.5 miles)
• Fossil Park (4 miles)
• Northwest Park (4.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• Allendale United Methodist Church (2.3 miles)
• Christ The Cornerstone (5.4 miles)