Van Buren Apartments

Pros

• The neighborhood is described as great with friendly neighbors.
• The apartments are considered decent with reasonable prices.
• Heat and hot water are included.
• Maintenance and management respond quickly to issues.
• Many reviewers would recommend Van Buren Apartments.
• The area is nice and the neighbors are friendly.
• The maintenance staff is helpful.
• The living environment is quiet and conveniently located near amenities.

Cons

• The wiring is not up to code and the electrical system cannot handle common appliances, causing frequent fuse replacements.
• Laundry facilities are poorly maintained, with most machines nonfunctional.
• An interior leak from a roof replacement has left unaddressed damage for nearly two years.
• The apartment manager delays or mismanages late fee notices and mishandles tenant contact information.
• Complaints about issues are reportedly met with lease non-renewal, implying retaliation.
• Management is often unreachable, with inconsistent office hours and frequent missed callbacks.
• Heating is inadequate, leaving units uncomfortably cold.
• Electrical outlets are not grounded properly, creating safety concerns.
• The landlord/manager is described as mean, nasty, and unhelpful.
• Showings and rent inquiries receive little to no feedback, with no return calls.
• Some reviews label the complex as the worst place to live.
• Maintenance staff are described as unprofessional or ineffective, with many issues left unfixed.
• Handling and communication about security deposits are inconsistent or poorly managed.

Review

The collection of reviews paints Van Buren apartments as a place with real neighborhood appeal but with a long list of serious caveats. On the plus side, many tenants describe the area as nice, with friendly neighbors and a generally pleasant atmosphere. Several long-term residents praise the neighborhood itself, noting proximity to amenities and a quiet, small-community feel. A few tenants highlight the appeal of the apartments themselves: competitive or reasonable prices, the convenience of heat and hot water being included in some units, and overall livability when things are going smoothly. For instance, some residents recount a comfortable first apartment experience, good neighbor interactions, and a sense of community that makes the complex feel like a solid choice at first glance.

Beneath that surface, however, there are persistent and systemic concerns that show up repeatedly across reviews. A dominant theme is that the building's wiring and electrical systems are not up to modern standards, with reports of fuses being replaced often and fears about the capacity to power everyday appliances at once. One reviewer frames the electrical situation as unsafe and inadequately planned for typical household use, including the power draw from a toaster, a fridge, and a microwave at the same time. There are also mentions of grounded outlets being improper, which raises safety questions for current and prospective residents. In addition to these electrical worries, a much older leak in the roof is described as quickly repaired on the surface, yet the interior damage (paint and drywall) remains unaddressed for years, hinting at a disconnect between quick fixes and long-term fixes.

Maintenance and repair experiences are deeply polarized. Some tenants recount prompt, effective responses to urgent problems - for example, a significant overnight toilet leak was handled within ten minutes, and maintenance staff were praised for taking care of issues correctly and promptly. Other residents, however, describe maintenance as inconsistent or even problematic, with remarks about unprofessional behavior and subpar workmanship. There are also anecdotes of maintenance staff who were not reliable or were described in harsh terms, compounding a sense that the quality of maintenance can swing dramatically from one situation to the next. The inconsistency feeds into a broader narrative about management and ownership: if some problems are within the manager's control, others seem to be constrained by owner resources, leaving tenants to experience a patchwork of responsiveness.

Communication with the office and management emerges as another major sticking point. Several reviews recount difficulty getting in touch or getting timely responses, with complaints about office hours being hard to follow, inconsistent availability, and calls or messages that go unreturned. Late fee notices are described as arriving belatedly - months after they were supposed to be communicated - because contact information was allegedly entered incorrectly into the system. The inconsistency in communication extends to showings and leasing: some prospective renters report non-responsive inquiries and a lack of showings, which makes the rental process frustrating and stressful. In contrast, other residents recount a manager who is friendly or even a standout in the community, illustrating a fragmented experience that depends heavily on who is managing the property at any given time.

The experience of living at Van Buren also comes with a mix of both positive and negative perceptions about management's attitude and approach to residents. A few tenants speak warmly of individual managers or staff members who were helpful, courteous, and easy to work with, including those who describe the management as pleasant, accommodating, and quick to respond in urgent situations. Yet there are equally strong voices describing hostile or dismissive management, with references to a landlord who is perceived as mean, brusque, or unfair when concerns were raised. This variance reinforces a larger sense that resident experiences can hinge on personal interactions and the specific manager on duty, rather than on a consistent organizational standard.

Despite the challenges, several reviewers acknowledge that Van Buren can still be a reasonable option for the right person. Prospective tenants who prioritize location, affordability, and a sense of neighborliness may find value here, especially if they are willing to tolerate the electrical and communication drawbacks and to navigate a management dynamic that can be unpredictable. For families or renters with cats or other needs, the appeal of a quiet, friendly neighborhood plus the possibility of included heat and hot water in some units remains a draw. The overall verdict is clearly mixed: the property can offer solid everyday livability and a strong community feel, but it is also marked by notable maintenance and management shortcomings that can erode that livability over time.

In the end, Van Buren apartments present a landscape of contrasts. The neighborhood quality and certain apartment features can deliver real comfort and convenience, and some residents' experiences with maintenance are genuinely positive. At the same time, electrical safety concerns, prolonged interior repairs after issues like roof leaks, inconsistent maintenance quality, and a management approach that ranges from responsive to uncommunicative create a spectrum of resident outcomes. For anyone considering moving in, the prudent move is to verify the current state of the building's electrical systems and heating, to get a clear read on who the on-site manager will be, and to have a concrete understanding of maintenance response times and long-term repair commitments before signing a lease.

This part of Schenectady, New York offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for senior living. With multiple pharmacies nearby, accessing medications and health supplies is easy. There are also several reputable physicians and hospitals in close proximity for medical care. In terms of recreation, there are cafes, restaurants, and parks within a short driving distance. Transportation options are readily available with the Schenectady Amtrak Station and Albany International Airport nearby. Additionally, there is a place of worship for spiritual support and community engagement. Overall, this area presents a mix of healthcare services, dining options, recreational opportunities, and transportation accessibility that can cater to the needs and interests of seniors looking for a comfortable living environment in Schenectady.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• Lange Pharmacy (1 miles)
• Market 32 by Price Chopper (1.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• Walgreens (3.7 miles)

Physicians

• Fox & Schingo Plastic Surgery (0.9 miles)
• Capitalcare Medical Group (1.5 miles)
• Schenectady Urological Associates PC (1.8 miles)
• ImageCare Niskayuna (2 miles)
• Ortho NY (2.1 miles)
• Sukumaran, Sunitha: Sunitha Sukumaran (3.8 miles)
• Stasior & Stasior Eye Care (5.1 miles)

Hospitals

• Bellevue Woman's Care Center (1.2 miles)
• Ellis Hospital (1.5 miles)
• Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital (1.6 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.4 miles)
• Villa Italia (2.3 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.9 miles)
• Starbucks (7.1 miles)
• Uncommon Grounds (7.2 miles)
• Mocha Lisa's Caffe (7.3 miles)
• Starbucks (7.4 miles)

Restaurants

• Druthers Brewing Company (2.3 miles)
• The Shaker And Vine (2.3 miles)
• Burger King (2.4 miles)
• Wendy's (2.5 miles)
• KFC (2.6 miles)
• Ferrari's Ristorante (2.6 miles)
• Subway (3 miles)

Transportation

• Schenectady Amtrak Station (2.4 miles)
• National Car Rental (5.9 miles)
• Albany International Airport (ALB) (6 miles)
• Terminal B (6 miles)
• Southwest Airlines (6 miles)

Parks

• Collins Park (3.7 miles)
• Indian Meadows Park (6.1 miles)
• Clifton Gardens Park (6.7 miles)
• Cook Playground (7.4 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Edward's Church (6.3 miles)