Chariton Senior Retirement

Pros

• They describe Chapel View as a great community to live in, with friendly people, helpful staff, and a convenient location near main roads and interstates.
• The property is well maintained, and the repairs gentleman is fantastic and handles repairs properly.
• Ed, the manager, is a good guy who does his best and has created a welcoming, close-knit community.
• The new owners who took over in August 2020 are putting significant money and effort into upgrading the building.
• The building is secure with overnight security in the lobby and secured entry, contributing to a sense of safety.
• The property is safe, clean, and affordable, making it a good option for students on a budget.
• Management has actively improved the property, including repainting the elevators and cleaning vacant apartments.
• There is secured parking and wheelchair accessibility, with additional street parking.

Cons

• The reviews claim bed bugs and roaches infest the building.
• Maintenance is slow to respond and pest problems are not fully fixed, treated as bandaids.
• The property is described as unsafe and dangerous due to crime and nearby gunfire.
• The walls are paper-thin, making neighbor noise pervasive.
• Packages are left in a common area and can be easily stolen, indicating poor security.
• The apartments are perceived as overpriced for the conditions and issues.
• Management is described as dishonest and incompetent, with privacy violations and alleged theft.
• There are accusations of a deceptive move-in scheme and unlawful or excessive charges via an online portal.

Review

The collection of impressions about this community reads like a wide range of experiences from residents and visitors alike. On one hand, there are loud affirmations about a great place to live: a friendly, helpful staff, a sense of community, and a location that makes it easy to reach major roads and interstates. Several accounts praise the property for being well maintained and for having staff who are accommodating and proactive. One reviewer highlights the manager Ed as especially responsive and kind, noting that he and his crew have recently painted elevators and cleaned up vacant units, while another admirer describes Ed as a thoughtful and helpful presence who goes out of his way to support residents. For some, the environment feels safe, well-lit, and convenient, with amenities such as an outdoor picnic area and secure parking that contribute to a positive daily living experience. In this vein, some visitors and residents emphasize the sense of community, the clean spaces, and the staff's genuine willingness to assist, which can make the property feel like a welcoming place to call home.

Yet alongside these favorable notes lies a mountain of serious complaints that color the overall picture in a much different light. A dominant theme across many reviews is an ongoing and pervasive problem with pests. Multiple accounts describe bed bugs and roaches infiltrating apartments, crawling through walls, cracks near appliances, cupboards, and drawers, and even appearing after heat treatments or pest-control visits that were supposed to eradicate them. Several reviewers claim infestations were severe enough to force them to discard new furniture, beds, and other possessions. The pest issue is repeatedly linked to broader maintenance and management failures: some residents say pest control visits occur with little or no notice and fail to resolve the underlying problem, while others mention that the building's infestation continued across floors and units, indicating a systemic challenge rather than a single isolated incident.

In addition to pests, concerns about the physical condition of the buildings and the responsiveness of maintenance are persistent. One reviewer notes plumbing problems and slow or inconsistent maintenance responses, while another describes filthy elevators and windows that require routine upkeep. Water intrusion and damp floors on certain sides of the building are cited, along with reports of fragile or insufficient security measures in some cases and security lapses in others. The combination of noise, thin walls, and shared spaces amplifies the sense of discomfort for some residents, who report hearing neighbors clearly and experiencing unwanted sounds at all hours. The described conditions contribute to a perception that the property's value and habitability are compromised when issues are not promptly and effectively addressed.

Security and safety emerge as a contested topic, with experiences ranging from approval of secured entry systems and overnight lobby security to warnings about real-world risks. Some reviews praise the gated or controlled-entry features and the overall safety of the immediate area, while others insist that what is advertised as "gated parking" or "secured access" does not always translate into actual security, recounting car break-ins, thefts, and concerns about how easy it is for others to enter the building. The tension between perceived security and actual incidents paints a nuanced picture: a building that can feel secure in theory but vulnerable in practice, depending on the unit, floor, and time of day.

Management and leadership are clearly a focal point for both praise and stark criticism. On the positive side, several residents and visitors commend Ed, Cassandra Simmons, and other staff members who demonstrate care for the community, respond to requests, and foster a friendly atmosphere. Ed is repeatedly singled out for his helpfulness, his attentiveness to residents' needs, and his role in stabilizing the building through renovations and improved maintenance. On the negative side, however, there are explosive accusations about dishonest or incompetent management, claims of "money schemes," and frustration with miscommunications or misleading move-in offers. Some reviews describe the leadership as exploitative or uncaring, with stories of unresolved disputes, alleged data-entry or contract issues, and unreturned calls. The contrast between glowing testimonials and harsh accusations illustrates a complex management landscape, where personal rapport with staff can significantly affect the daily experience, but systemic issues can persist regardless of individual interactions.

A separate thread in these narratives concerns the economics and perceived value of living there. Several reviewers categorize the rents as overpriced for the level of problem-solving that residents experience, arguing that the costs do not align with the quality of repairs, pest control, or security. For some, the financial burden is compounded by delays in turning on utilities or inconsistent access to heating and air conditioning, which can be particularly challenging for individuals on a tight budget or those who rely on dependable climate control. Yet there are also accounts of improvement and investment by new ownership that began in August 2020, with mentions of "significant upgrades" and investments aimed at elevating the building's condition. The tension between ongoing defects and the sense of a renewed commitment to improvement creates a mixed sentiment: some residents notice tangible changes and feel encouraged, while others remain convinced that fundamental issues - like pest control, security, and timely maintenance - have not yet been resolved.

Finally, there are vivid, narrative-rich testimonies that capture individual journeys through the complex. One lengthy account describes a relocation from another state, a move-in process that involved promises and a series of disputes over fees and move-in specials, and a perception that the online portal and communication have not supported a fair or transparent rental experience. The reviewer recounts live cockroach sightings, unresolved plumbing and hardware problems, and ongoing battles with non-smoking policies and allergy concerns, all while contending with office availability and responsiveness. This single, multi-faceted story embodies the most challenging aspects of living here: inconsistent communication, disputes over charges, and a sense that personal well-being and daily routines are being disrupted by management choices and building conditions.

Overall, the overarching picture is one of significant polarity. The property is described by some as a well-located, community-oriented place where dedicated staff make a concerted effort to improve and maintain the building, delivering moments of genuine care and improved ambiance. For others, the same spaces feel undermined by pervasive infestations, noise, maintenance inertia, and questionable management practices that hamper comfort, security, and overall satisfaction. The reality, as reflected in these accounts, appears to hinge on real-time conditions, unit-specific circumstances, and the degree to which residents experience prompt, effective responses from management and maintenance teams. Against this backdrop, potential tenants or current residents are advised to weigh individual unit conditions, recent changes in ownership and procedures, and personal tolerance for disruption when forming an opinion about living in this community.

Located in St. Louis, Missouri, this area offers a variety of amenities within close proximity. With multiple pharmacies, hospitals, restaurants, places of worship, parks, cafes, transportation options, physicians' offices, and even a theater nearby, seniors can easily access the services they need. The neighborhood is well-connected with public transportation options such as Amtrak and Jet Aviation for convenient travel arrangements. Additionally, the presence of parks like Carondelet Park and Tower Grove Park provides opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. With a diverse range of dining options and healthcare facilities including Barnes-Jewish Hospital within a short distance, this area offers convenience and accessibility for seniors looking to settle in a vibrant community in St. Louis.

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (0.6 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• Walgreens (2.8 miles)
• Globe Drug (2.8 miles)
• Walgreens (2.9 miles)
• Walgreens (3.1 miles)
• Walgreens (3.2 miles)

Hospitals

• St Alexius Hospital (0.6 miles)
• SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center (2.9 miles)
• The Rehabilitation Institute of St Louis (4.1 miles)
• St Louis Children's Hospital (4.3 miles)
• VA Medical Center Spinal Cord Injury Program (4.4 miles)
• Metropolitan St Louis Psychiatric Center (5.5 miles)

Restaurants

• The Civil Life Brewing Company (1.3 miles)
• Venice Cafe (1.8 miles)
• Frazer's Restaurant & Lounge (1.9 miles)
• City Park Grill (2 miles)
• Tucker's Place (2.5 miles)
• John D. McGurk's Irish Pub (2.5 miles)
• Duke's (2.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Johns Lutheran Church (1.6 miles)
• St Ambrose Church (3.1 miles)
• St Raphael the Archangel Church (3.4 miles)
• Macedonia Baptist Church (5.4 miles)
• Old Orchard Church (5.5 miles)
• St Matthias Catholic Church (6 miles)

Parks

• Carondelet Park (1.9 miles)
• Tower Grove Park (2.2 miles)
• Lafayette Park (3 miles)
• Willmore Park (3 miles)
• Bar K (3.1 miles)
• Francis Park (3.4 miles)
• Grant's Trail (4.1 miles)

Transportation

• Amtrak (3.7 miles)
• Jet Aviation (4.4 miles)
• Zooline Railroad The Wild (4.8 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (3.7 miles)
• Starbucks (4.1 miles)
• Starbucks (4.3 miles)

Physicians

• Barnes-Jewish Hospital (4.1 miles)
• BJC Behavioral Health Service - Dinu Petru Gangure MD (4.1 miles)
• Southwest Medical Center (4.5 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Esquire 7 (5.7 miles)