Council Tower Apartments

Pros

• The resident loves the location.
• The resident finds the central location convenient with easy access to transit, hospitals, and groceries.
• The resident enjoys living on the 11th floor and appreciates the nice view.
• The resident describes the apartment as nice and appreciates features like a dishwasher, microwave, and downstairs laundry.
• The resident likes the manager and the assistant manager.
• The resident values the community room and the laundry room pavilion.
• The resident notes that the area is nice.

Cons

• New ownership arrived June 1, 2025, but there has been no communication to residents, and the elevators aren't working.
• The manager hasn't introduced himself or addressed the building's issues.
• The building is described as being in shambles and may close soon.
• There is very poor management with only one working elevator for 226 apartments.
• In emergencies, the stairwell doors are locked, hindering safe evacuation.
• Pest problems are reported - mice, roaches, bed bugs, and rats - and there is no security.
• Parking is not safe.
• Loud public announcements disturb sleep and cause headaches.

Review

Since the new owners took over on June 1, 2025, the building has been the subject of mixed, often tense, sentiment among residents who still call it home. The most consistent thread is the clash between a highly desirable location and a building that many feel is not being managed or maintained to match it. Several residents express that the location - centrally situated near bus routes, a Metro line, hospitals, groceries, and downtown attractions - remains a strong draw. Yet the positive notes are continually tempered by a sense that the core systems of the building are failing, leaving seniors and other residents anxious about safety and day-to-day livability.

On the management front, there is broad frustration. One resident bluntly calls the situation "very poor management," noting that only one elevator is currently working for a 226-apartment complex and that there has been almost no communication from the new ownership since the takeover. The lack of a formal introduction from the new manager, who has not addressed the many ongoing issues, has left occupants feeling neglected and adrift. The vacancy of proactive communication and visible leadership is a recurring complaint, with residents fearing the worst if problems remain unaddressed for too long. The sense conveyed is that, despite the appealing address, the building's day-to-day administration has not kept pace with residents' needs or expectations.

Safety and security emerge as another major concern. Several reviews describe conditions that seem unsafe or unstable for a high-rise environment. A key point is that only one elevator remains operational in a building with hundreds of units, raising alarm about emergency egress and routine mobility, especially for seniors or residents with limited means to use stairs. The fear of a fire or other emergency is compounded by reports that stairwell exit doors are sometimes locked, a dangerous arrangement in a building where reliable egress is essential. Additional worries include sleeping on stairwells, a lack of security presence, and the broader sense that the property is not a safe place to park a car or live free of criminal activity. In one city-referenced aside, the surrounding area is described in contradictory terms, with gunfire noted as part of the neighborhood's reality, which only intensifies residents' sense that safety is a daily concern inside the building as well.

Maintenance challenges are also a prominent theme. Residents recount pests - mice, roaches, bed bugs - and even rodents outside the building, creating an atmosphere of ongoing nuisance and health risk. The combination of pests, security gaps, and a perceived lack of timely maintenance builds a picture of a property that many are trying to tolerate until larger structural or managerial fixes are undertaken. These maintenance headaches, coupled with the elevator issue and communication shortfalls, contribute to a broader impression that the building is fighting hard to stay livable rather than thriving as a modern high-rise.

Despite the negatives, there are meaningful positives that some residents foreground. The views from high floors - one resident highlights the 11th floor as a particularly nice perch - along with the overall amenities, contribute to a sense of value for some tenants. The building's centrality yields easy access to transit, hospitals, groceries, and downtown attractions, and a few residents have found the commute and location to be a significant upside. The presence of practical conveniences - dishwashers, microwaves in units, a downstairs laundry room, and a Pavilion or community room - are frequently cited as appreciated features that offset some of the building's rougher edges. For some, the decision to stay is reinforced by these conveniences and the social potential of a shared community space.

Within the resident community, there are also mixed experiences with the on-site staff. A number of residents praise specific managers, particularly Avis and Alisa, describing them as friendly, approachable, and helpful. One person notes being impressed by the responsiveness of the management team and the ease of getting needs met, even if they could only speak for their own experience up to a point. Another resident recounts moving in and finding the area and building "nice and cozy," with management that is perceived as supportive and attentive. Yet these positive anecdotes exist alongside broader criticisms, underscoring a tension between individual acts of service and systemic shortcomings in communications and operations.

In sum, the building presents a complex picture. For seniors and other residents who prize a central urban location and value the amenities in place, there is undeniable appeal. However, the weight of unresolved management issues, unreliable safety measures, and pervasive maintenance and pest concerns creates a troubling environment that many worry may degrade further unless decisive steps are taken. The hope of a forthcoming improvement seems to hinge on clear, proactive communication from ownership, a reliable and safe egress strategy, and a sustained investment in the building's infrastructure and resident services. Until then, residents describe living in a high-rise where the view and convenience are real, but the day-to-day experience often feels precarious and unsettled.

Restaurants

• Salt + Smoke (0.4 miles)
• McDonald's (0.8 miles)
• Schlafly Tap Room (1.2 miles)
• The Gramophone (1.3 miles)
• Yellowbelly (1.8 miles)
• Rosalita's Cantina (1.8 miles)
• John D. McGurk's Irish Pub (2.1 miles)

Hospitals

• VA Medical Center Spinal Cord Injury Program (0.7 miles)
• SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center (0.8 miles)
• The Rehabilitation Institute of St Louis (1.5 miles)
• St Louis Children's Hospital (1.8 miles)
• Metropolitan St Louis Psychiatric Center (2.8 miles)
• St Alexius Hospital (3.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.7 miles)
• Walgreens (1.1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• Schnucks (2.1 miles)
• Globe Drug (2.4 miles)
• Walgreens (2.4 miles)
• Walgreens (3.5 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (0.8 miles)
• Starbucks (2.3 miles)
• Starbucks (2.4 miles)
• Blueprint Coff (4.1 miles)
• Starbucks (4.4 miles)

Parks

• Lafayette Park (1.4 miles)
• Bar K (1.8 miles)
• Citygarden (2.1 miles)
• Tower Grove Park (2.1 miles)
• Fairground Park (2.4 miles)
• Gateway Arch National Park (2.5 miles)
• Wohl Recreation Center / Sherman Park (2.7 miles)

Transportation

• Amtrak (1.6 miles)
• Zooline Railroad The Wild (3.1 miles)
• MetroLink - Emerson Park Station (5.1 miles)
• Jet Aviation (5.5 miles)

Physicians

• BJC Behavioral Health Service - Dinu Petru Gangure MD (1.6 miles)
• Barnes-Jewish Hospital (1.7 miles)
• Southwest Medical Center (6 miles)
• University Club Medical (6.2 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Ambrose Church (2.5 miles)
• St Johns Lutheran Church (3.3 miles)
• Macedonia Baptist Church (4.5 miles)
• St Raphael the Archangel Church (5.4 miles)
• St Ann Catholic School (6.2 miles)
• Old Orchard Church (6.3 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Esquire 7 (4.6 miles)