Brewster Mews Apartments in Amherst, NY

Pros

• They love living there.
• The maintenance staff is great.
• The property is great.
• The renovations were nicely done by those who worked on them.
• The property has a well-maintained look and spacious lawns.
• The newly remodeled units look awesome.

Cons

• The reviewer gave the place one star for the apartments and location.
• They contend the property is not smoke-free as HUD states, noting that many buildings still have residents smoking inside apartments.
• They warn that anyone with health issues who can’t be around smoke should avoid Brewster Mews.
• They claim parking is always full, requiring a long walk to the building.
• They describe MJ Petersen as poorly managing and say they don’t care about residents’ quality of life, only occupancy, treating residents like commodities.
• They recount the waiting-list experience as extremely nasty, with staff not answering calls and mismanaging income verification.
• They note there is limited parking space for residents with more than one vehicle.
• They describe the office as having shady gossip, with managers coming and going.

Review

Brewster Mews Apartments is best suited for budget-conscious seniors or disabled tenants who qualify for HUD-assisted housing and who value a refreshed, well-kept environment with dependable maintenance. The property presents itself as a thoughtfully renovated place to live, with green spaces and a polished exterior that give the impression of care and ongoing upkeep. For residents who measure a community by the condition of its grounds, the recent remodeling, and the responsiveness of maintenance staff, Brewster Mews can feel like a solid anchor. The key draw is the tangible sense that units have been updated, common areas are kept neat, and routine maintenance requests are handled with alacrity.

That said, serious caveats emerge once the lens shifts to management and day-to-day operations. The most frequently cited downside centers on management quality and consistency. Several residents describe the overseeing company as detached from residents’ daily quality of life, signaling a business-first mindset aimed at occupancy rather than customer service. Reports of poor communication, unreachable offices, and staff turnover reinforce a pattern where questions and concerns can feel dismissed or stalled. In a setting where aging in place often hinges on reliable administrative support, these factors can erode the otherwise solid appeal of renovated spaces.

Parking and building policies widen the gulf between pros and cons. Parking spaces are not plentiful, particularly for households with more than one vehicle, and residents repeatedly note the friction of finding a spot. The situation is compounded by rumors of internal turnover and shifting office staff, which tends to slow responses and heighten frustration for applicants and residents alike. Combine this with a perception that the management emphasizes occupancy numbers over resident experience, and the convenience of a pristine interior struggle to overcome practical daily nuisances that affect routine life.

Another meaningful constraint is the environment around smoking and policy enforcement. One important review explicitly notes that the community is not truly smoke-free, with individuals continuing to smoke inside some apartments. For seniors or mobility-impaired residents who require a smoke-free living environment for health reasons, this is a decisive factor. If avoiding secondhand exposure is non-negotiable, Brewster Mews becomes a less viable option unless the policy is clarified and consistently enforced by management. Parking, noise, and the social climate within the building, described as talk-heavy and marked by frequent resident turnover, also shape the experience in ways that can amplify stress for sensitive residents.

Where the pros do align with the needs of a specific resident profile, they do so with discipline: renovated interiors, a maintained exterior, and a track record of responsive maintenance can offset some friction. The refreshed units and well-kept grounds deliver tangible value, particularly for those who prize modernized living spaces and swift repair service. When management is stable, communicative, and respectful, these strengths reliably support daily living and long-term comfort. The contrast, however, is sharp: if administrative support falters, the same renovations and lawns carry far less weight.

For families and individuals who should consider alternatives, the signal is clear. If consistent, courteous, and accessible management is a non-negotiable priority; if a true smoke-free environment is essential; if ample parking or a car-ownership-heavy schedule is common; or if a climate of quiet, respectful resident interaction matters, then exploring other senior- or HUD-subsidized options with stronger operating governance is advisable. Look for communities with verifiable formats for income verification that don’t trigger management friction, with stable office staffing, and with clear, enforced policies around smoking and noise. In short, Brewster Mews can be a fit, but only for those willing to navigate a governance landscape that has shown volatility and gaps in daily resident support.

The bottom line: Brewster Mews offers a refreshed, well-maintained living environment with the practical advantage of updated interiors and reliable maintenance. Those who can tolerate the reported management volatility, limited parking, the non–smoke-free reality, and the potential for resident turnover will likely find value in the property’s strengths. For others, a carefully chosen alternative that prioritizes steady administration, transparent communication, stronger parking solutions, and stricter smoking policies will deliver less daily friction and more predictable living conditions. Prospective residents should interview current tenants about management responsiveness, tour during busy hours to gauge parking and noise, and demand concrete confirmations on smoking policy and wait-list handling before deciding.

Restaurants

• Elmo's (0.5 miles)
• Libation Station (2.1 miles)
• Dandelions Restaurant (2.1 miles)
• Carrabba's Italian Grill (2.6 miles)
• My Tomato Pie (2.7 miles)
• McDonald's (2.9 miles)
• IHOP (2.9 miles)

Physicians

• Suburban Psychiatric Associates (0.7 miles)
• Northtowns Cardiology (2.1 miles)
• Gastroenterology Associates (2.1 miles)
• Fichte Endl & Elmer Eyecare (2.5 miles)
• Dr. Mark Rodman (2.8 miles)
• Amherst Medical Associates (2.8 miles)
• Dent Neurologic Institute (3 miles)

Cafes

• Tim Hortons (0.7 miles)
• Starbucks (1.5 miles)
• Tim Hortons (1.5 miles)
• Wegmans Food Markets (2.8 miles)
• Starbucks (2.8 miles)
• Panera Bread (2.8 miles)
• Tim Hortons (3.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• Newman Center at UB (1.1 miles)
• The Chapel (2.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• Rite Aid (1.7 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.5 miles)
• Top's Markets (2.7 miles)
• Walgreens (2.7 miles)
• Wegmans (2.8 miles)
• Tops Pharmacy (2.9 miles)
• Top's Markets (2.9 miles)

Theaters

• AMC Maple Ridge 8 (2.5 miles)

Parks

• Ellicott Creek Park (2.7 miles)
• Glen Park (4.2 miles)
• Island Park (4.3 miles)
• South Long Park (4.3 miles)
• Meadowlakes (5 miles)
• North Tonawanda Gateway Park (5.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Millard Fillmore Suburban NICU (2.8 miles)
• Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital (2.9 miles)
• Degraff Memorial Hospital (4.5 miles)