Cedars of Lebanon Apartments

Pros

• Angela and Theresa are fantastic at their jobs.
• It really seems like a fantastic place to live.
• People are friendly and the grounds are kept up.
• Beautiful place to live.
• Clean community, nice spaces for the residents, spacious living arrangements.
• Excellent senior living.
• My mom has been here almost 9 years and has met some really sweet people.

Cons

• The place deteriorated after the new management.
• A front entrance door handle was broken and fixed with duct tape.
• Residents had to fight to get heating and air conditioning in hallways and common areas turned on.
• The community kitchen was locked and turned into a pay-use facility.
• The d?cor is dated and dingy with poor lighting.
• The place feels like a prison, with residents urged to stay in their apartments.
• People are moving out and the building can't attract new residents.
• Drug dealers were living on-site and visiting at night.
• Deposits and prorated rent refunds for June were delayed for over 60 days.
• The property has bugs.
• Donations and cash gifts were stolen or misused.
• Residents were locked out of the kitchen during Christmas, preventing meals.

Review

The property at the center of these reviews has a long memory of both its better days and its harder ones. In 2022 some residents found it to be a pleasant, welcoming place, a community with friendly people and clean spaces. But as new management came in, the tone shifted for many residents. A chorus of practical complaints followed: a door handle in the front entrance that broke years ago was only patched with duct tape, and the building's climate control became a battleground, with residents reporting a hard-fought struggle just to get the air conditioning and heating turned on in the hallways and common areas. The once-open access to the communal kitchen was restricted, now requiring payment to use it, and the process for obtaining food and amenities felt more transactional than communal. Coffee hour vanished after the kitchen was locked, and the general atmosphere grew more closed-off and less welcoming. Maintenance was described by some as merely "bare minimum," and the overall vibe - dimmer lighting, dated 1980s decor, and a prison-like sense of constraint - left a number of residents feeling isolated and wary. There were also safety concerns raised by older residents, including the presence of drug activity at night, and a rumble of disquiet about security and overall upkeep. One resident even noted that it took more than 60 days to recover a deposit and prorated rent from June, a process that led some to seek help from the attorney general. Reports of bugs added another layer to the sense that more attention was needed to the basics of elderly care and comfortable living.

Candid stories of mismanagement and mishandled generosity sit alongside accusations of misappropriated charity in some of the most pointed critiques. One review labeled the place as the worst imaginable under its management, insisting that seniors were treated poorly and left to deteriorate as the building grew run-down and dirty. Allegations arrived of stalled charity donations - Salvation Army boxes containing gift cards were not delivered to the intended recipients - and even outright theft of donations donated by veterans' groups. Christmas, a time when warmth and communal meals should flourish, was cited as a particularly painful example: locked kitchens prevented residents from preparing meals, cookies, or carol events, and a small ham purchase allegedly fell far short of feeding the community. These stories cast a shadow over the generosity of outside donors and the integrity of on-site leadership, reinforcing a perception that the environment was not always aligned with the welfare of its seniors.

Yet the narrative is not one-note. A number of residents insist there are real bright spots worth noting, particularly on the staff side. Two names repeatedly surface as "unsung heroes" who bring competence and care to daily life: Angela and Theresa. In several entries, these two staff members are described as fantastic at their jobs, embodying the kind of attentiveness and professionalism that makes the place feel livable and safe. The tone shifts here from criticism to appreciation, with other residents agreeing that the grounds are kept up, the community can feel clean and well-maintained, and the overall atmosphere can still be hospitable and pleasant. Some residents emphasize that the property is lovely, with a clean environment and quiet surroundings that support a peaceful senior living experience. The contrast between crumbling infrastructure in some areas and the positive influence of conscientious staff is striking, underscoring the importance of effective management and resident-focused service.

The facility is also described in more uniformly positive terms across several accounts. A number of reviewers call it a beautiful place to live, highlighting clean, well-kept spaces and spacious living arrangements. They point to the aesthetic and environmental aspects - the grounds, the quiet, the sense of a well-cared-for property - as strong positives. Parking is acknowledged as a concern by a friend or two, particularly for people with disabilities, but even here there is a sense that the core living experience can be favorable, especially when paired with a supportive, responsive staff and a safe environment. Some residents recount participating in community activities - like a Fourth of July celebration - that felt well organized and enjoyable, reinforcing the impression that there are moments of genuine community life and shared joy amid the everyday routines.

There are also highly positive, hopeful notes about the place's potential and enduring appeal. One reviewer shared that they moved in and felt it was the best place in the area for older adults, praising the combination of safety, maintenance, and professional management, even if the location is a bit off the beaten path and not on a direct public transit line. The wooded surroundings and the presence of small comforts - like hummingbird feeders all around - contribute to a sense of livability and calm. Another voice described a deck and enhanced fresh air as improvements that make the place feel more like "home." The idea that the facility can still be a real, nurturing community is reinforced by testimonials from residents who have lived there for many years, noting that they've found good neighbors and that the community has offered supportive relationships and stability over time.

Taken together, these reviews paint a complex portrait of a senior living community with genuine strengths and real challenges. On one side, there are critiques of management decisions, policy shifts, and maintenance deficits that have alienated and frustrated residents. On the other side, there are voices of deep appreciation for individual staff members, clean grounds, safe surroundings, and moments of communal life that remind everyone why the place can be a home. The recurring themes - availability of thoughtful, capable staff; the quality of the physical environment; the pace of improvements; and the handling of finances, amenities, and safety - suggest that outcomes here are highly contingent on leadership and frontline care. For some residents, the experience remains deeply positive, anchored by people who care and spaces that feel welcoming. For others, the combination of policy changes, delayed refunds, and maintenance lapses casts a long shadow over daily life.

Places of Worship

• Redeemer Presbyterian Church (1 miles)
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (2.3 miles)
• Dream Center Peoria (4.1 miles)
• Riverside Community Church (4.2 miles)
• Church Of The Brethren-Peoria (4.7 miles)

Transportation

• Byerly Aviation (2.2 miles)
• General Downing - Peoria International Airport (PIA) (2.7 miles)
• Gate 3 (2.7 miles)

Restaurants

• Crusens (2.3 miles)
• Owls Nest (2.4 miles)
• McDonald's (2.6 miles)
• Hungry Moose (2.6 miles)
• Taco Bell (2.6 miles)
• Church's Chicken (2.9 miles)
• McDonald's (3.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• Alwan Pharmacy and Compounding Center (2.6 miles)
• Walgreens (2.6 miles)
• Walgreens (3.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (4 miles)
• Walgreens (4 miles)
• Methodist Pharmacy At Allen Rd (4 miles)
• Walgreens (4.2 miles)

Cafes

• One World Eats & Drinks (3.1 miles)
• Panera Bread (3.3 miles)
• Starbucks (3.6 miles)
• Zion Coffee- E (4 miles)
• Starbucks (4 miles)
• Thirty Thirty Coffee Co. (4.1 miles)
• Starbucks (4.4 miles)

Physicians

• Kurth Shanna PhD (3.3 miles)
• Comprehensive Prosthetics & Orthotics (3.5 miles)
• Osf Saint Francis Medical Center (3.8 miles)
• OSF Saint Francis Medical Center: Center For Occupational Health (3.8 miles)
• Hamilton Assessment & Evaluation (3.9 miles)
• Peoria Surgical Group (3.9 miles)
• UnityPoint Health Cardiovascular Services - Methodist (3.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Methodist Medical Center of Illinois (4 miles)
• OSF Milestone Building (4.2 miles)
• OSF Healthcare System (4.2 miles)
• Saint Francis Hospital Auxiliary Service Guild (4.2 miles)
• OSF St Francis Hospital NICU (4.2 miles)
• Osf Forest Park (4.3 miles)
• University of Il Department of Pediatrics (4.3 miles)

Parks

• Wildlife Prairie State Park (4.4 miles)