Lutheran Residences of South Pasadena

Pros

• The staff are caring and attentive.
• A long-time resident describes Lutheran Residences of South Pasadena as a Little Paradise and has been a happy camper for 16 years.
• The location is great and rents are affordable.
• The residents are very kind.
• The building is kept very clean and maintenance is excellent.
• The building offers convenient amenities, including a laundry room and a library.
• Many residents consider it the best place to live.

Cons

• The building is condemned and is not renting.
• Residents had to remove belongings from the highrise without access to elevators, and word spread that the roof caved in.
• Utilities are unreliable and cannot be depended on.
• There was no warning during evacuations, leaving over 100 people homeless with no help.
• The building has black mold and is letting people back in to retrieve belongings, risking illness.
• Communication between management and residents is poor; the air conditioning is often broken and hot water has been unavailable for weeks.
• The first floor flooded during the storm, and residents were told to evacuate with only a half-hour notice and little to no updates.
• Bed bugs are widespread, with pest control inconsistent and many apartments affected.
• Maintenance is neglected, with rotting pipes, leaking air conditioners, and longstanding infrastructure issues.

Review

Lutheran Residences of South Pasadena is best suited for independent seniors 62 and older who are financially constrained, value a walkable, neighborly setting, and want active social life in a convenient South Pasadena locale. This community shines for residents who prize an affordable, non-smoking environment with on-site basics and a genuine sense of community. It is not a fit for those needing consistent hands-on care, rapid maintenance responses, or a modern, hazard-free infrastructure. Those requiring reliable utilities, readily available elevator service, and advanced safety features should look elsewhere.

Potential residents should consider alternatives if reliability and safety are non-negotiables. The history here includes serious maintenance and infrastructure questions - hot water outages, recurring heating issues, and aging pipes - as well as pest concerns and occasional mold hazards. Long wait times for a one-bedroom unit amplify the decision for anyone hoping to move quickly. For families with someone who depends on stable, up-to-date amenities or who require higher levels of care, exploring newer, better-supported communities with on-site services is prudent.

On the upside, the community's location remains a strong selling point. Residents can walk to groceries, pharmacies, and nearby eateries, which sustains independence and everyday convenience. The staff ethos, particularly the manager and assistant manager praised in multiple notes, is consistently highlighted as a core strength, along with cleanliness and reliable maintenance when it is performed. On-site amenities - a laundry room, a library, a large fellowship room, and well-used common spaces - support daily life without frequent trips off-site. For many, these features translate into a practical, livable atmosphere and a sense of belonging.

Yet the most consequential drawbacks are hard to overlook. Reviews recount episodes of building condemnation, evacuations, and protracted outages, with alarming mentions of black mold and bedbugs. Communication gaps between residents and management deepen concern during crises, and ongoing failures - leaking air conditioning, broken hot-water systems, rotting pipes, and pests - point to a structural fragility that cannot be ignored. The overall experience can swing between a warm, friendly community and a concerning environment depending on the moment, which is not ideal for seniors who prioritize safety and predictability.

In practical terms, the positives - the affordable rent, central location, and a palpable community spirit - offer meaningful value for the right resident who can tolerate episodic service gaps and aging infrastructure. The praise for staff hints at capable leadership, and the social fabric is clearly strong; these factors can compensate for some day-to-day irritants, at least in calmer periods. However, the persistent cons - outages, pest and health hazards, and maintenance inertia - do not fully offset the risk of a deteriorating living environment or the possibility of displacement during a major incident. Prospective movers must weigh the daily comfort and companionship against the probability of further disruptions.

Bottom line: Lutheran Residences of South Pasadena serves a pragmatic niche for seniors chasing affordability and community in a walkable setting. For those prioritizing a stable, hazard-free environment with predictable maintenance and robust on-site care options, stronger alternatives exist. Before deciding, a disciplined due diligence process is essential: confirm the current status of elevators, heating and hot-water reliability, pest remediation history, and the property's concrete plan for capital improvements. Engage with current residents, verify recent management changes, and assess whether the long horizon on unit availability aligns with the person's timeline and health needs. This is a place where value is real, but so are the risks - and those risks must align with the family's tolerance and the senior's care expectations.

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)