Gray Manor Apartments

Pros

• It is a great place.
• Some people are friendly.
• People are friendly.

Cons

• There is a hole in the bathroom floor with exposed pipes and wooden beams.
• Rats and large cockroaches roam freely throughout the building.
• The hallways are moldy.
• The refrigerator fails every other month, causing food and Medicaid meals to spoil.
• Kitchen cabinets are hanging on by a thread.
• There is no hot water for bathing and no functioning shower.
• The building should be shut down.
• Gray Manor at 1600 North 8th has a lot of crack heads and dirty carpets outside.
• Workers don't fix anything until they get ready.
• There is a lot of drama and it's noisy all night.
• Management is a bully.
• The floor on the resident's level smells heavily of mildew.
• Carpet cleaning every two days but the smell remains strong.
• The mildew smell is causing breathing problems and makes it hard to move through the hallway.
• The resident is in the hospital due to breathing difficulties.
• Management treats tenants like inmates.
• A door has been broken for months; management forgets the age of clients.
• The place has gotten worse since the reviewer moved in.
• The building stays dirty (despite some friendly tenants).

Review

Gray Manor, located at 1600 North 8th, elicits a wide range of resident experiences, from wary acceptance to outright alarm. A recurring thread through multiple accounts is a sense of neglect that touches the building's most basic protections: safety, cleanliness, and reliable utilities. Several tenants describe a setting where hazardous conditions are visible and left unaddressed for extended periods, creating an impression that maintenance and oversight are inconsistent at best and inadequate at worst. One reviewer notes a dangerous scene in the bathroom - a hole in the floor, exposed pipes, and wooden beams - paired with a broader sense that structural and sanitary concerns are pervasive rather than isolated incidents. This same narrative mentions hallways that feel unsafe and mold that appears to be rotting away at the place's fabric, reinforcing a perception that the building's upkeep is sporadic and reactive rather than proactive.

Pest problems and relentless grime appear as another consistent theme. Rat activity and large cockroaches reportedly roam through common areas and individual units, while mold and mildew are said to saturate hallways and living spaces. The smell of mildew is described as overpowering on certain floors, so strong that it's hard to enter a space without feeling affected. In addition to pests, the exterior and shared areas carry a sense of dirt and disorder, with complaints about dirty carpets and hallways contributing to a broader impression of neglect. One reviewer even mentions ongoing drama and a sense that cleanliness is not the building's priority, which compounds the discomfort of living in a space that already feels unsafe.

Housing conditions extend beyond health concerns and into the realm of daily living conveniences. A key point across several accounts is the instability of essential appliances and utilities. A resident reports that the refrigerator fails on a regular basis, sometimes leaving food spoiled - an especially troubling issue when home-delivered Medicaid meals are involved. The absence of hot water for bathing and the lack of a functioning shower are described as fundamental, daily hindrances that undermine basic quality of life. Cabinetry is described as being "hanging on by a thread," and at least one door is noted to be broken for months, suggesting a wider pattern of slow or neglected repairs. Taken together, these conditions give the impression of a building whose internal systems are repeatedly strained and repeatedly left to deteriorate.

Health impacts and the lived experience of risk appear prominently in several testimonies. The mildew smell is not just an odor problem; it's linked to potential respiratory issues for residents, with one tenant noting a family member's lung problems and the inconvenience of moving through a hallway that feels unsafe for someone with limited mobility or breathing difficulties. A visitor to the building describes the effect the environment has on them as well, noting that the smell sticks to clothing and even triggers coughing. The combination of mold, pests, and poor air quality contributes to a sense that living in Gray Manor could pose ongoing health risks, especially for vulnerable individuals, including those with preexisting conditions or aging residents.

Management practices and the social climate within the building surface as a pronounced source of frustration. A reviewer portrays the property management transition as tumultuous - new managers are described as overwhelmed and emotionally volatile, and one term used is "bully" to characterize how tenants feel they are treated. Problems with responsiveness and reliability seem linked to broader concerns about safety and maintenance: repairs are described as infrequent or unsatisfactory, and there is a sense that staff prioritize certain tasks over others or operate on a delayed schedule. The social atmosphere is further described as tense and stressful, with some tenants feeling disrespected or ignored - an impression reinforced by observations that age and needs of residents are forgotten or neglected.

Despite the strong negative tone, there are a few notes that hint at a more mixed reality. A small subset of residents call Gray Manor a great place or acknowledge that some tenants are friendly and that there are activities or a sense of community in the building. One account even suggests that management is "okay," though tempered by the caveat that the building has changed for the worse since the reviewer moved in years ago. These positive or neutral glimpses stand in contrast to the more alarming testimonials, illustrating that experiences at Gray Manor are not uniform and may vary by unit, floor, or the particular interactions a resident has with staff and neighbors.

Overall, the collection of reviews portrays Gray Manor as a property where serious safety and health concerns recur, maintenance and repairs lag, and interactions with management can be challenging. The combination of structural hazards, pest and mold issues, unreliable utilities, and a troubling management environment creates a sense of instability for residents who rely on the building for shelter and basic needs. While a minority of comments point to friendly neighbors or occasional competence in some aspects of management, the predominant impression is one of sustained struggle - residents reporting hazardous conditions, health risks, and a perceived lack of timely action from those responsible for maintaining the building.

This area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania boasts a variety of amenities that cater to seniors looking for convenience and accessibility. With several pharmacies, hospitals, and transportation options nearby, residents can easily access healthcare services and get around the city. Additionally, there are plenty of parks for leisurely walks and outdoor activities, as well as cafes and restaurants for socializing and dining out. The neighborhood also offers cultural attractions such as theaters and historic landmarks like Independence National Historical Park. Overall, this vibrant area provides a well-rounded living experience for seniors seeking a lively yet comfortable environment in the heart of Philadelphia.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.3 miles)
• Rite Aid (0.7 miles)
• Fishtown Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.1 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.2 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.3 miles)
• Rite Aid (1.6 miles)

Parks

• Palmer Doggie Depot (0.8 miles)
• Palmer Park Farmers Market (0.9 miles)
• Piazza Dog Park (0.9 miles)
• Franklin Square (1.5 miles)
• Race Street Pier (1.7 miles)
• Independence National Historical Park (1.9 miles)
• Penn's Landing (2.1 miles)

Restaurants

• Middle Child Clubhouse (0.8 miles)
• Lloyd Whiskey Bar (1.2 miles)
• Memphis Taproom (1.4 miles)
• Independence Beer Garden (1.9 miles)
• The Franklin Fountain (1.9 miles)
• U Bar (2.1 miles)
• Tabu Lounge & Sports Bar (2.2 miles)

Cafes

• La Colombe Coffee Roasters (0.9 miles)
• ReAnimator Coffee (1.2 miles)
• Elixr Coffee (2.1 miles)
• La Colombe Torrefaction (2.2 miles)
• Panera Bread (3.9 miles)
• Starbucks (4 miles)
• Starbucks (4.3 miles)

Hospitals

• Episcopal Hospital (1.4 miles)
• Temple University Hospital (1.9 miles)
• St Christopher's Hospital for Children (2.4 miles)
• The Pavilion (3 miles)
• Cooper University Hospital (3.1 miles)
• Veterans Administration Community Living Center (3.3 miles)
• Philadelphia VA Medical Center (3.4 miles)

Transportation

• Jefferson Station (1.8 miles)
• 30th Street Station (2.3 miles)
• SEPTA: MFL/TRL 30th Street Station (2.4 miles)
• Septa Wayne Junction Station (3.2 miles)

Theaters

• Landmark Theatres - Ritz Five (2.1 miles)

Physicians

• Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (3.1 miles)
• CHOP Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care - Raymond G. Perelman Campus (3.2 miles)
• Simms Hank Md Albert Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia (4.1 miles)
• Frankford Avenue Health Center (4.2 miles)