Ellis Hollow Road Apartments in Ithaca, NY

Pros

• The senior building treats residents well on holidays, provides great meals, and offers a voting location.
• The community is very friendly, with everything residents need within walking distance.
• The location is great, offering convenient access to nearby amenities.

Cons

• The building is in bad shape with many disrepair issues.
• The property is understaffed and fails to address problems promptly.
• Several units are infested with cockroaches, and management allows the problem to continue.
• The management only responds to emails and disregards phone calls.
• The on-site manager is uncaring, gossips about tenants, can evict tenants she dislikes, and is aloof.
• Bed bugs are spreading in the building, and staff are hardly ever at work.

Review

Ellis Hollow Road Apartments in Ithaca is best suited for seniors who want an affordable, walkable address in the heart of the city, where everyday convenience is close at hand and there is a modest sense of community. The strongest appeal comes from the practical, no-frills lifestyle: convenient access to shops and services within easy reach, and a social environment that can feel welcoming during casual interactions and seasonal gatherings. For residents who place a premium on location and the ability to participate in local life, voting on site and sharing meals during holidays, this option delivers a tangible sense of belonging without the higher price tag of more polished senior housing. This is not a luxury setting; it is a practical base for someone who values proximity, routine, and a modest social circuit over pristine condition or predictably flawless service.

That said, those who require consistently clean, pest-free spaces and proactive, professional management should seriously consider alternatives. The combination of serious maintenance gaps, pest pressures, and an operations culture that can feel adrift creates a high likelihood of recurring dissatisfaction. Prospective renters who depend on reliable, timely communications and a visible, on-site leadership team will encounter repeated friction here. If a resident needs predictable, responsive upkeep, and a clear, resident-centered management approach, this building will test patience and likely fall short of expectations. In short, the functional value is undercut by management and maintenance realities that outsize the benefits of location and affordability.

On balance, the positives do land in ways that matter day to day. A friendly, socially connected community can emerge for residents who engage with neighbors and participate in the building’s routines. The location enables easy access to everything Ithaca offers, and for some tenants, the ability to walk to essential services is a meaningful daily advantage. There are reports of good meals around holidays and a convenient on-site voting location, features that enhance civic participation and create predictable, low-cost social occasions. When these elements work, they soften the sting of other shortcomings and provide a dependable rhythm to life in the building. The practicality of living in a core urban area, with basic daily needs within easy reach, remains a clear upside.

Yet the central weaknesses are hard to overlook. Management and supervisory presence are persistent concerns, with accounts describing a manager who smiles publicly but does not communicate privacy or keep a steady, engaged presence. The impression of aloofness, gossip, and inconsistent responsiveness undermines trust and security, especially for seniors who rely on clear expectations and respectful treatment. Telephone and email responsiveness appear unreliable, and several reviews note the facility operates with limited direct contact, forcing residents to chase answers rather than receiving timely support. Understaffing compounds these issues, leaving routine maintenance and urgent repairs languishing and residents feeling invisible when problems arise. This dynamic erodes confidence that the building will address problems before they escalate into bigger, more disruptive setbacks.

Pest and property conditions anchor the most serious concerns. Reports of cockroach infestations across multiple units and bed bugs create real health and hygiene risks, not merely cosmetic irritants. The disrepair described, broken fixtures, delayed fixes, and inconsistent upkeep, amplifies the sense that responsible stewardship is not the priority. When pests and structural issues coexist with a strained maintenance workflow, the environment quickly loses its livability, particularly for seniors who may lack the energy to advocate relentlessly for basic remedies. The combination of persistent pests, fragile infrastructure, and slow or ineffective responses forms a compounding threat to comfort, safety, and overall quality of life.

In the end, Ellis Hollow Road Apartments present a pragmatic, affordable option with genuine social value for the right resident, one who can tolerate ongoing operational risk in exchange for location and neighborly ties. For anyone prioritizing cleanliness, pest control, consistent management, and dependable communications, alternatives should be the default path. The smart course is to demand concrete assurances before committing: a documented pest-control plan, a transparent, published maintenance schedule, and evidence of reliable on-site leadership. Prospective residents would be well served by visiting at varied times, speaking privately with current tenants, and scrutinizing how the management team actually handles repairs and resident concerns. This property is a viable last-resort option rather than a first-choice choice for families seeking a consistently high standard of living, but it can work for those who value location, routine, and community connection enough to absorb the ongoing operational risk.

This area of Ithaca, New York, offers a diverse range of amenities that cater to seniors looking for both convenience and leisure. With various restaurants such as AGAVA Restaurant and Coal Yard Cafe nearby, there are plenty of dining options to choose from. Additionally, there are several healthcare facilities in close proximity including Health Center-Cornell University and Cornell Health, ensuring easy access to medical services. For those seeking spiritual fulfillment, there are several places of worship such as St Paul's Methodist Church and Temple Beth-El within a short distance. The area also boasts recreational opportunities with parks like F R Newman Arboretum Park and Conway Park nearby. With pharmacies like Green Street Pharmacy and cafes like Starbucks and Waffle Frolic easily accessible, this part of Ithaca offers a well-rounded living environment for seniors looking to reside in a vibrant community with convenient amenities.

Restaurants

• AGAVA Restaurant (0.3 miles)
• Coal Yard Cafe (0.8 miles)
• Cornell Dairy Bar (1 miles)
• Trillium (1.3 miles)
• Koko Korean Restaurant (1.3 miles)
• Collegetown Bagels (1.3 miles)
• Gola Osteria (1.4 miles)

Physicians

• Health Center-Cornell University (1.4 miles)
• Cornell Health (1.4 miles)
• Whole Picture Health & Vision (1.9 miles)
• Cayuga Facial Surgery (1.9 miles)
• Breggin Peter MD (2 miles)
• IthacaMed (2.1 miles)
• Family Medicine Associates (2.1 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Paul's Methodist Church (1.9 miles)
• Temple Beth-El (1.9 miles)
• First Congregational Church (2 miles)
• Tabernacle Baptist Church (2.3 miles)
• St Catherine Of Siena (2.4 miles)

Theaters

• Cinemapolis (1.9 miles)

Pharmacies

• Green Street Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• Apothekara (2 miles)
• Kinney Drugs (2.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.4 miles)
• Walgreens (2.4 miles)
• Wegmans (2.6 miles)
• Kinney Drugs (3.2 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.9 miles)
• Waffle Frolic (1.9 miles)
• Gimme Coffee (2.1 miles)
• Gimme Coffee (2.4 miles)
• Gimme! Coffee (2.5 miles)
• Allechant (2.5 miles)
• Panera Bread (2.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Hammond Health Center (1.9 miles)

Parks

• F R Newman Arboretum Park (2 miles)
• Dewitt Park (2 miles)
• Sunset Park (2.3 miles)
• Conway Park (2.4 miles)
• Stewart Park (2.9 miles)
• Cass Park (3 miles)
• Sapsucker Woods (3.1 miles)

Transportation

• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (2.6 miles)
• U-Haul Moving & Storage (2.9 miles)