Lutheran Residences of South Pasadena

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Pros

• Residents describe Lutheran Residences of South Pasadena as a "Little Paradise" and say they are happy there.
• The staff is highly praised, with a caring manager and assistant manager, and the building is kept very clean.
• The location is great and the rent is affordable.
• Residents note that the people there are very kind.
• Many reviewers consider it the best place to live.
• The community has many unique and socially friendly neighbors.
• The place is well-maintained and clean.

Cons

• The property is condemned and not renting.
• The building has been condemned and there is black mold, which residents fear will cause illness if they return to recover belongings.
• Utilities cannot be depended upon.
• There was no warning before evacuations, leaving residents to evacuate amid emergency responders.
• There are over 100 homeless residents with no help available.
• Management appears to want to return deposits but does not seem willing to have residents back.
• Bed bugs are widespread, with many apartments affected and ongoing spraying.
• The building routinely lacks hot water, and the heating stays on, making indoor temperatures uncomfortably hot.
• The first floor flooded during a storm, and residents were told to evacuate with little notice.
• The building has declined in condition: rotting pipes, black water, broken appliances, and chronically ignored work orders.

Review

Lutheran Residences of South Pasadena is best suited for budget-minded independent seniors who prize a walkable, convenient location and the sense of community that comes with a smaller, income-restricted building. For residents who want a straightforward, low-cost living option within reach of groceries, pharmacies, and casual social life, this campus offers an appealing anchor in South Pasadena. The strongest draw is the combination of affordable rent, a non-smoking environment, and social spaces that foster neighborly connections. When the building is operating smoothly, it can feel like a simple, comfortable home where daily routines stay affordable and familiar.

That said, serious caveats push some seniors to consider alternatives. Prospective residents who cannot tolerate ongoing maintenance failures, unreliable utilities, or unclear handling of crises should look elsewhere. The reviews reveal a pattern of structural and service fragility, hot water interruptions, heat that won’t abate, mold or pest concerns, and inconsistent responses from management. For anyone with significant health needs, mobility limits, or a demand for predictable safety and stable conditions, this community presents too much risk. The reality that some units have waited years for repairs and that communication with the front office can be unreliable further tilts the balance toward other options.

On the upside, where the operation functions well, the positives are tangible and meaningful. Several residents describe a genuine, long-standing sense of community, with staff that are attentive and caring. A long-tenured resident praises the managers and maintenance team, highlighting a clean campus, decent common areas, and a living environment that feels like a small, supportive village. The property’s amenities, a laundry room, library, a large fellowship room, and accessible first-floor gathering spaces, support social connectedness and independent living without sacrificing basic comfort. For people who value human-scale interaction and a true neighborhood feel, these elements can offset some daily hassles.

However, the counterweight of cons is substantial and frequently recurring. The most alarming concerns center on safety and habitability: buildings reportedly condemned or in disrepair, interrupted or substandard utilities, and infestations that require constant pest control. Evacuation episodes, elevator failures, and sudden, unplanned relocations have left residents anxious and disoriented. Water and heat outages, broken air conditioning, and delayed repairs translate into uncomfortable living conditions, especially for seniors with health vulnerabilities. The sense that management sometimes lacks timely, transparent communication compounds these risks and diminishes trust in the system’s ability to stabilize the resident’s day-to-day life.

For families weighing this option, the decision hinges on tolerance for risk and the weight given to social and financial benefits. The affordability and location are meaningful, but they must be weighed against the facility’s maintenance volatility and the potential for health and safety interruptions. If choosing to pursue this community, it is essential to enter with concrete, current answers about building status, service levels, and repair timelines. Verify the latest operating status with local housing authorities, request a written maintenance schedule, and insist on a tour of a currently occupied apartment to assess heat, water, ventilation, and pest control firsthand. Prepare a contingency plan in case major repairs disrupt daily life.

In the end, Lutheran Residences of South Pasadena serves a specific subset of seniors very well: those who can anchor their expectations to affordability, proximity, and sociability, and who can accept the possibility that conditions will improve intermittently but may deteriorate at other times. It is not a universal fit. For residents who require unwavering reliability, escalated maintenance responsiveness, or the certainty of regulated, hazard-free living, stronger alternatives exist. The prudent path is to treat this option as a potential anchor for a broader strategy: secure a solid backup plan, compare nearby options with a demonstrated track record of consistent maintenance, and insist on up-front commitments from management about repairs, safety upgrades, and timely communication. When matched to the right resident profile, the community can still feel like a “little paradise”; when mismatched, it becomes a destabilizing gamble that may undermine daily quality of life.

This part of South Pasadena, Florida offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors considering the area for living. The area is well-equipped with pharmacies such as Winn-Dixie, CVS Pharmacy, and Walgreens in close proximity, making it easy to access necessary medication and healthcare services. In terms of dining options, there are a variety of restaurants ranging from casual eateries like Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish to family-friendly establishments like Chuck E. Cheese's. For medical needs, there are reputable physicians and hospitals nearby including Pasadena Eye Center and All Children's Obgyn Specialists. Additionally, the area offers opportunities for relaxation and recreation with parks like Azalea Park and beaches like Treasure Island Beach within a short distance. Overall, this part of South Pasadena provides a well-rounded environment for seniors looking to enjoy a comfortable and convenient lifestyle.

Pharmacies

• Winn-Dixie (0.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.3 miles)
• Walgreens (0.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
• Walgreens (1.6 miles)
• Walgreens (1.6 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (2 miles)

Restaurants

• Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish (0.4 miles)
• Dead Bob's (0.7 miles)
• McDonald's (1.8 miles)
• Chuck E. Cheese's (1.9 miles)
• Woody's Waterfront (1.9 miles)
• Agave Restaurant (2 miles)
• McDonald's (2.1 miles)

Physicians

• Pasadena Eye Center (0.7 miles)
• Bay Area Family Practice (0.9 miles)
• Allergy Associates (1 miles)
• Pediatric Health Care Alliance (1.6 miles)
• Retina Vitreous Associates (2.6 miles)
• Bay Area Medical (3.2 miles)
• Central Neurology Sleep Disorders Center (4.3 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.8 miles)
• Bandit Coffee Co. (3.9 miles)
• Bula Kafe (4.2 miles)
• Mazzaro's Italian Market (4.2 miles)
• Kristina's Cafe (4.4 miles)
• Starbucks (5.9 miles)
• Kahwa Coffee (6.1 miles)

Hospitals

• All Children's Obgyn Specialists (1.3 miles)
• St Anthony's Hospital (5.2 miles)
• Bayfront Health St. Petersburg (5.6 miles)
• All Children's Hospital (5.7 miles)

Parks

• Azalea Park (1.6 miles)
• Northwest Park (2.5 miles)
• Treasure Island Beach (2.6 miles)
• Roser Park (5.6 miles)
• Crescent Lake Park (6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Christ The Cornerstone (4.9 miles)
• Allendale United Methodist Church (6 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Park Place & RPX (6 miles)
• AMC Sundial 12 (6.1 miles)