Trent Center East Apartments

Pros

• Miss Phyllis is the only staff member the aunt feels comfortable speaking with.
• Miss Phyllis is friendly and does not look down on people.
• The review notes clean, nice service.

Cons

• The management is described as clueless and new, lacking knowledge of the building or residents.
• The place feels unsafe, with reports of SA's, assaults, and a murder in the parking lot.
• There has been frequent management turnover - four managers since the family member moved in.
• Water, plumbing, and laundry issues persist, and there is a rancid smell in the building.
• The staff fail to provide community resources; the case manager couldn't help with local food banks.
• Security is ineffective; packages and groceries are stolen, and security often sleeps overnight.
• The elevator is constantly breaking down, making it hard for caregivers to assist.
• Heating and cooling are unreliable; hot water is rarely hot and temperatures are inconsistent.
• The building feels like a prison; drug use is common, and little has been fixed or updated for years.
• Communication with management is poor; they are rarely reachable by phone or return calls.
• The parking lot and gate are not visible or accessible, which is a major safety concern.

Review

The experience described is one of chronic dissatisfaction and growing concern about safety, management, and basic living conditions. The writer places the problems squarely on the management team, saying they feel the leadership doesn't understand the building, the tenants, or the real issues at hand. A new manager is specifically called out as being unfamiliar with the building and its residents, not appearing friendly, and failing to take the time to learn who lives there. There's a sense that the switch in administration did not bring the hoped-for improvements, but instead brought more of the same - claims about what can't be done rather than proactive solutions or listening to residents' concerns.

Safety is a central and alarming thread throughout the account. The writer mentions serious incidents, including SA'd and assaulted residents, and even a murder in the parking lot, yet reports that management does not take action or remove the person responsible. Security is portrayed as largely ineffective: security guards may sleep through overnight shifts, cameras exist, but they do not translate into accountability or prevention - nor do they help resolve issues like stolen packages or groceries. The sense is that residents are left to deal with crime and safety threats on their own, without meaningful recourse or protection.

Communication and access to resources appear to be major pain points. The case manager is described as unhelpful, unable to provide basic information such as a list of local food banks, and even advising the resident to "just Google it." The reviewer notes that while staff should act as liaisons to community resources, they fall short, leaving residents frustrated and underserved. The only bright spot mentioned is Miss Phyllis at the front desk, who is described as the one person who treats people with respect and listens, though she is limited in what she can do. In general, the management is portrayed as unreachable by phone, with numerous calls going unreturned and a pervasive sense that tenants' concerns are not valued.

The building's infrastructure and daily operations are described as chronically failing. Water and plumbing problems are described as longstanding, with toilets repeatedly leaking and plunging being a daily burden. The elevators are unreliable, complicating trips for caregivers and residents alike, and the heating and cooling systems are said to be ineffective or inconsistent, leaving residents uncomfortable. A strong odor is noted on entering the building, and there are ongoing complaints about the laundry area and overall cleanliness. Complicating matters, the parking situation and gate visibility are problematic - there is a striking line about not being able to see the parking lot or gate, which adds a layer of practical safety concern and accessibility frustration to the overall misery.

The living environment itself is depicted as deteriorating into something akin to a prison-like atmosphere. The writer describes an environment where several tenants allegedly misuse drugs, contributing to a destabilized community. Noise from upstairs neighbors is incessant, described as happening around the clock, and attempts to address it with security or management yield no lasting relief. There are references to tenants heating with stoves to cope with inadequate heat, a dangerous practice that risks fire and carbon monoxide exposure for everyone in the building. The sense conveyed is that years of neglect have transformed what might have been a stable living situation into a fraught and unsafe place to call home.

Towards the end, the reviewer reiterates the sense of urgency for change and even relocation. After many phone calls and failed attempts to obtain help, there is a clear plea that the public should be warned about the conditions and the lack of responsiveness. The overall message is that the building is in dire need of a complete overhaul - continuous issues, poor management, and a failure to provide basic safety and living standards have eroded trust and security for residents and their families. The closing lines include a garbled string and a final sentiment that, despite this chaos, there was at least one line that claimed "Clean nice service," which reads as a jarring and inconsistent coda to the otherwise damning narrative.

This area of Trenton, New Jersey offers convenient access to transportation options such as the Trenton Transit Center and Hamilton Station, as well as the Trenton-Mercer Airport for travel needs. There are several pharmacies nearby including CVS Pharmacy and Episcopo's Pharmacy for any medical needs. In terms of healthcare, there are hospitals like Mercer Family Health Center and Capital Health Medical Center within a few miles radius. Additionally, there are various physicians' offices for specialized care. For dining options, there is a range of restaurants like Sonic Drive-In and Rat's Restaurant, as well as cafes such as Van Gogh Cafe and Starbucks for social outings. Nature enthusiasts can enjoy parks like Cadwalader Park and Mercer County Park nearby. Lastly, there are places of worship like St Gregory the Great Roman Catholic Church in the vicinity for spiritual fulfillment. Overall, this area provides a blend of amenities and services that could be appealing for seniors considering senior living in Trenton.

Transportation

• Trenton Transit Center (0.2 miles)
• Hamilton Station (3.6 miles)
• Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN) (5.4 miles)
• NJT - Princeton Junction Station (9.6 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• Episcopo's Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• Walmart Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.4 miles)

Hospitals

• Mercer Family Health Center (1.6 miles)
• Trenton Psychiatric Hospital (3.3 miles)
• Frankford Hospital-Bucks County (6.6 miles)
• Capital Health Medical Center (7.5 miles)
• St Mary Rehab Hospital (9.7 miles)

Physicians

• Nottingham Medical Associates (1.8 miles)
• Pediatrics by Nights (3.1 miles)
• Delaware Valley Family Eye Care (3.8 miles)
• Daniel Kessell Dermatology (3.9 miles)
• Campus Eye Group (3.9 miles)
• Rwj Occupational Health (4 miles)
• Altus Medical Care (4.3 miles)

Restaurants

• Sonic Drive-In (2.1 miles)
• Rat's Restaurant (2.3 miles)
• Morrisville Tavern (2.6 miles)
• Broad Street Diner (2.6 miles)
• Taco Bell (3.2 miles)
• McDonald's (3.7 miles)
• Taco Bell (4.1 miles)

Cafes

• Van Gogh Cafe (2.2 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.7 miles)
• Panera Bread (6 miles)
• Starbucks (6 miles)
• Starbucks (6 miles)
• Starbucks (6.1 miles)
• Starbucks (6.3 miles)

Parks

• Cadwalader Park (2.3 miles)
• Sharp's Lane Crestwood Park (3.7 miles)
• Veteran's Park Hamilton (3.8 miles)
• Delaware River Canal Tow Path (5 miles)
• Mercer County Park (6.6 miles)
• Washington Crossing Historic Park (8.4 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Gregory the Great Roman Catholic Church (6 miles)
• Baps Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, New Jersey (9.5 miles)