Brewster Mews Apartments

Pros

• Residents love living there and praise the great maintenance staff and the property.
• The renovations were nicely done by those who worked hard.
• The place is nice.
• The property has a very well-maintained look and spacious lawns.
• The newly remodeled areas look awesome.

Cons

• The reviewer gave only one star for the apartments and location.
• The place is not smoke-free as claimed with HUD; people still smoke inside several buildings.
• Parking is always full, forcing residents to walk a long way to their building.
• The complex is poorly managed by MJ Petersen, who supposedly cares more about occupancy than residents' quality of life.
• Residents are treated like commodities rather than people.
• The waiting list experience involved rude, unresponsive staff, including being screamed at and removal from the list for missing income verification.
• There is limited parking space for residents with more than one vehicle.
• Office gossip is pervasive; office managers come and go, and people move in and out.

Review

Brewster Mews presents itself as a community with a strong visual appeal and a generally solid maintenance backbone, but the experience of living there is clearly a patchwork of highs and lows depending on who you talk to. A number of residents compliment the property's current look and the work that's been done over time. They point to well-kept lawns, an overall well-maintained exterior, and newly renovated interiors that look "awesome" to those who have seen the improvements up close. In this narrative, the renovations are frequently cited as a tangible positive, a sign that the property has invested in its appearance and in the comfort of its tenants.

Alongside these compliments, there is a persistent thread of frustration with the management and administrative side of things. Several reviews accuse MJ Petersen, the property's management entity, of poor handling and a focus on occupancy at the expense of residents' quality of life. One reviewer even characterizes the management as treating residents more like commodities than neighbors, suggesting a systemic lack of concern for individual needs. The sentiment is underscored by anecdotes of unresponsive or hostile communication, with a disabled veteran recounting a particularly negative experience as proof of how some rely on a "scorecard" mentality rather than customer service. Waiting lists and income verification processes are described as chaotic or mishandled, with at least one person reporting a protracted runaround and a treatment that felt far from professional.

Health and safety emerge as a significant, sometimes contradictory, issue. Brewster Mews is described by some as a smoke-free place in line with HUD expectations, yet multiple residents report ongoing smoking inside apartments. This discrepancy creates real difficulties for those with physical health problems who cannot tolerate smoke. The contrast between policy claims and on-the-ground reality leaves some tenants feeling misled or exposed to uncomfortable conditions, especially those who are sensitive to smoke or who require a strict nicotine-free environment. In essence, the smoke-free promise appears to coexist uneasily with the behavior of a portion of the resident community, leaving prospective renters to wonder how strictly policies are enforced.

Parking is another recurring grievance. A common complaint is that parking spaces are limited and routinely full, forcing residents - especially those with more than one vehicle - to search for spots and in some cases walk a considerable distance to reach their building. This practical frustration affects daily life and can be a meaningful drawback for families or individuals who rely on convenient access to their homes. While some reviewers acknowledge the location's overall desirability, the parking reality remains a sore point that can color overall satisfaction.

Amidst the criticisms, there are positive notes about the everyday experience once you're inside and working with the right team. One resident who says they love living there singles out the maintenance staff as excellent - praising responsiveness and reliability, and others echo that sentiment by noting that the staff have contributed to a sense of pride in the property. The renovations themselves are repeatedly acknowledged as well-executed, with several mentions of fresh, upgraded interiors and a modernized look that enhances the overall impression of the community. For some, the improvements and the steadiness of the maintenance team translate into a favorable day-to-day living environment.

The social dynamics within Brewster Mews add another layer to the living experience. Reviews describe a rotating door of office staff and managers, with some residents characterizing the atmosphere as a web of gossip and fluctuations. There is also a sense of mixed experiences among tenants - the same place that can feel well-maintained and welcoming in one moment can feel transactional or unsettled in another. A few reviewers describe a friendly, "nice" environment or a sense of movement and renewal as people come and go, while others lament the impression that residents are not always treated with the consistency or consideration they expect from a stable community.

Looking at the bigger picture, Brewster Mews surfaces the classic tension between aesthetics and administration. The property has clearly invested in its outward presentation and interior refreshes, and many residents appreciate the visible care and the dependable maintenance crew. Yet the complaints about management effectiveness, communication gaps, rental processes, health policy enforcement, and parking logistics cannot be ignored. For someone considering moving there, the decision hinges on what you value most: if you prioritize a well-kept, renovated environment and reliable maintenance, Brewster Mews can be appealing. If, however, you require consistent, responsive management, a strictly enforced smoke-free policy, and easy parking access, you may want to investigate those aspects more thoroughly and perhaps speak with current residents to gauge how closely your own needs align with the property's current operations.

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)