The Colony at Chews Landing

Pros

• Management has greatly improved and the property remains a wonderful place to live.
• Steve, Terry and Todd have a great relationship with tenants.
• Staff always responds quickly and nothing is ever a problem.
• All the staff at The Colony are wonderful.
• The service was great; Steve was very knowledgeable and solved the problem promptly.
• It is a nice small community of 55+ residents.
• AC issues are addressed promptly and professionally by staff maintenance and outside contractors.
• The current management team addresses issues promptly and courteously.
• The complex is gorgeous and the community is caring.
• Pricing is affordable and neighbors are kind.
• There is an on-site handyman, bi-weekly landscaping, and a caring site manager who allows pets.
• The community is beautiful with lovely apartments for seniors.

Cons

• The reviewer notes that despite improvements, the apartment has not been painted for nine years.
• A resident reports feeling uncomfortable due to a man on an electric scooter and criticizes the tipping behavior.
• The walls are described as very thin, allowing neighbors' movements and noises to be heard clearly.
• Several high monthly charges are added to rent, including roughly $90 more each month for water, trash, and electricity.
• The carpets in common areas are described as desperately needing replacement.
• It is alleged that the complex does not rent to black people.
• There is frequent turnover of property managers and maintenance staff, indicating instability.

Review

The Colony comes across as a place that has grown into a dependable, welcoming home for many residents, especially those who value a sense of community and responsive on-site care. Across the reviews, there is a strong thread of improvement and stability: management has clearly improved, the overall experience has risen in rating, and longtime tenants describe it as still being a wonderful place to live. Several residents emphasize that the management team, including specific staff members, makes a meaningful difference in daily life and in resolving problems promptly.

A recurring source of praise centers on the people running the property. Steve, Terry, and Todd are repeatedly singled out for fostering a positive relationship with tenants and for being accessible when issues arise. Reviewers highlight Steve as particularly reliable, with several accounts noting that maintenance requests - whether for air conditioning, water, or general repairs - are handled quickly and courteously. The sentiment runs strong that the staff's attentiveness helps create a warm, home-like atmosphere, where residents feel heard and valued rather than dismissed.

The community itself is frequently described as a tight-knit, 55+ environment, with residents appreciating its size and spirit. One reviewer calls it a "nice small community of 55+ residents," where maintenance issues - such as an AC problem - were addressed promptly by staff and an outside contractor. Others echo the sense of care on the grounds, pointing to regular landscaping, on-site handyman services, and a site manager who is attentive to pets and residents' needs. The general mood is one of gratitude for a place that feels welcoming and well-managed, with several accounts emphasizing ease of calling The Colony home.

Nevertheless, several reviews call out clear areas for improvement, underscoring that aging properties and evolving resident demographics present ongoing challenges. Common concerns include aging common areas - carpets in shared spaces described as desperately in need of replacement - and treeline or grounds maintenance that could use more attention. The broader property condition is seen as something owners should address as the complex nears and surpasses a decade of operation. Residents also report repeatedly that while issues are handled promptly, there is a sense that routine, preventative upkeep and proactive planning could be stronger, especially given the building's age.

Another theme centers on financial and logistical realities that affect residents' daily budgeting. Some residents note a string of monthly charges for essential services - water, trash, and electrical - adding up to around $90 in extra costs each month. Coupled with concerns about thin walls that let neighbors' movements and sounds travel, these financial and acoustic realities shape a more nuanced view of life at The Colony. A review mentions a process for obtaining necessary parts and questions why purchases must go through an established workflow, hinting at an operating-budget framework that could feel opaque to tenants who simply want issues resolved quickly.

Not all feedback is uniformly positive. One review raises a troubling, explicit accusation - "They don't rent to black people" - that stands out as a serious claim about discrimination. While it reflects a single perspective, it remains a stark counterpoint to the otherwise consistently favorable narratives about community, staff responsiveness, and the sense of home. Other more typical criticisms - like hot water outages that were promptly fixed and a perception that some processes could be more straightforward - add texture to the overall picture: a community that works well for many, but still has friction points to address as it continues to grow and age.

Despite the mixed notes, there is a strong current of appreciation for the core strengths of The Colony. Multiple reviews celebrate the overall ambiance - a gorgeous complex with friendly, caring residents and a welcoming environment. The property's leadership, particularly Dustin in another account who is described as aligning the quality of management with the apartment and amenities, receives positive mentions. The combination of visible attentiveness from on-site staff, a responsive maintenance culture, and a sense of neighborly kindness contributes to a feeling that The Colony remains a desirable place to live for those who align with its age-focused community and value system.

In sum, The Colony emerges as a community with many commendable attributes: rapid response to maintenance needs, a caring and capable on-site team, and a palpable sense of belonging among residents. It is a place that embodies care and improvement, even as it contends with the realities of aging infrastructure, the logistics of shared living, and the complexities of a 55+ environment that occasionally reveals the presence of younger guests and evolving resident expectations. The overall impression is that, for many, The Colony is still a wonderful place to call home, kept buoyant by strong staff relationships, a welcoming atmosphere, and ongoing commitments to keeping residents comfortable and connected.

This area of Laurel Springs, New Jersey, offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for senior living. With several physicians' offices, pharmacies, and hospitals within close proximity, residents have easy access to healthcare services. There are also a variety of dining options, from fast food to sit-down restaurants, catering to different preferences. In terms of leisure activities, there are cafes for socializing and parks for outdoor relaxation. Public transportation options are available for those who may not drive. Additionally, nearby places of worship provide spiritual support and community engagement. Overall, this part of Laurel Springs provides a well-rounded environment that can meet the various needs and preferences of seniors looking for a comfortable and accessible place to live.

Physicians

• Prate Family Eye Care (0 miles)
• Rowan SOM Family Medicine Residency Program (2.2 miles)
• Advocare Heights Primary Care (3.9 miles)
• CHOP Specialty Care & Surgery Center (4 miles)
• Internal Medicine Associates of Southern New Jersey (5.7 miles)
• Altman & Gerety Family Medical Associates (6.1 miles)
• Cooper Internal Medicine (6.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• Rite Aid (0.4 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.7 miles)
• Walgreens (1.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• Rite Aid (3.5 miles)
• Walgreens (4.2 miles)
• Rite Aid (4.2 miles)

Restaurants

• Hilltop Creamery (1.1 miles)
• McDonald's (2.3 miles)
• McDonald's (2.7 miles)
• McDonald's (3.2 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (3.3 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (3.9 miles)
• China King (4.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Jefferson Stratford Hospital (2.1 miles)
• Virtua Voorhees Hospital (6.5 miles)
• Jefferson Cherry Hill Hospital (7.3 miles)
• Virtua Berlin Hospital (7.4 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2.2 miles)
• Jersey Java & Tea (5.3 miles)
• Starbucks (6.1 miles)
• Panera Bread (6.3 miles)
• Starbucks (7.7 miles)

Transportation

• PATCO/NJ Transit: Lindenwold Station (2.6 miles)
• PATCO Westmont Station (5.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Charles Boromeo Catholic Church (5.8 miles)

Parks

• Washington Lake Park (6.1 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Ua Washington Township (7.6 miles)