Leisure Park Towers

Pros

• It is described as a nice, clean place.
• The reviewer notes that their dad has lived there for 15 years and likes it, especially now that there is new management.

Cons

• The management is unprofessional and shows favoritism toward certain tenants.
• Tenants gain favoritism by buying management trinkets and cooking for them.
• Gossip and tattling among tenants and maintenance lead to unfair treatment.
• The building has bed bug infestations that require discarding furniture.
• Plumbing problems are frequent, including water leaks and sewer backups.
• The heater is old, smoky, and nearly caused a fire, with slow or inadequate repairs.
• The kitchen is outdated with poor appliances and insufficient ventilation.
• The second and third floors are a mess, while the upper floors are maintained.

Review

A troubling experience with a rental property unfolds in a voice that mixes frustration, horror stories, and a flicker of hope. The author describes a place that quickly deteriorated from a seemingly ordinary apartment into a venue of persistent problems, starting with a widespread bed bug infestation that ultimately forced the writer to move out. The appeal of the place - its location or initial affordability - was quickly overshadowed by a cascade of issues that affected daily life, safety, and basic upkeep. The bed bugs are presented not as a minor annoyance but as a pervasive problem that often necessitated getting rid of furniture, a sign of a living environment that the reviewer felt could not be fully controlled or resolved by management.

The narrative then widens to paint a picture of systemic neglect and shoddy repairs. The apartment was described as "band aid fixed" in order to rent it out again, with the carpet laid over a square cut and installed without proper preparation. Structural and sanitary issues followed: water leaked onto the ceiling, a sewer backup in the kitchen sink, and a history of plumbing problems that recurred over time. These maintenance deficiencies are framed not as isolated incidents but as part of a pattern that undermined comfort and safety. The reviewer emphasizes that bed bugs and plumbing problems persisted alongside the constant reminder that major repairs and reliable fixes were slow or incomplete. The suggestion is that tenants were pushed to manage infestations themselves and to remove personal belongings as a means of coping rather than relying on the property's upkeep.

Heating and electrical safety emerge as another critical thread in the reviewer's account. An aging, dial-type heating system - described as old and hazardous - began smoking and nearly caused a fire. The failure to fix this hazard promptly left the reviewer in a precarious position during the winter months. Rather than a timely replacement, a space heater was loaned by management, but the core heating unit remained unfixed or inadequately addressed. The situation escalated to the point where the reviewer had to seek a courthouse remedy to obtain proper heating, underscoring the severity of the risk and the sense that tenant safety was not the priority it should have been.

Beyond the physical conditions, the review delves into the social dynamics within the property's management and maintenance ecosystem. The author accuses management of favoritism, suggesting that tenants could curry favor through social gestures - buying "management trinkets" and cooking for them. This alleged favoritism is said to corrupt objectivity in decision-making, enabling unfair treatment and a sense of cliques rather than professional, consistent governance. The dynamics extend into maintenance staff, who are said to gossip about tenants and even describe others as "nasty." The writer laments the lack of professional boundaries and decorum, arguing that a professional separation between tenants, maintenance staff, and management would improve fairness and reduce the negative social spillover that affects housing decisions and tenant experiences.

The review then serves as a cautionary tale to prospective renters, urging careful consideration before applying to live there. The author warns of unprofessional management, cliques, and petty behavior that color everyday life. There is a marked division by floor level in terms of condition: the second and third floors are described as a mess, while the fourth floor and above are said to be maintained. The reviewer flags a troubling image - a photo of a second-floor hallway window with what appears to be blood - along with pictures of the heater, highlighting the perceived seriousness of the safety concerns and the overall deterioration in certain parts of the building. The absence of dumpsters for bulky items and poor parking are also cited as practical inconveniences that compound the problems faced by residents.

In addition to the negative observations, the narrative also acknowledges moments that paint a more positive picture, illustrating how experiences can vary. The kitchen is criticized as outdated, with allegations that bed bugs had been an issue even if "the issue was taken care of," suggesting a cycle of problems that may recur if not addressed comprehensively. The overall impression is one of inconsistency: a building with serious, unresolved safety and maintenance issues and a management culture that some tenants perceive as unprofessional and biased, contrasted by a separate note of positivity from another resident - the reviewer's father - who has lived there for 15 years and reportedly feels more content under new management. This juxtaposition underscores that there are pockets of satisfaction amid broader dissatisfaction.

In the closing sense, the description reads like a long-running tension between deterioration and reform. The property is depicted as a place where bed bugs, leaks, and aging infrastructure collide with fragile housing governance, where favoritism and gossip can influence how problems are handled and how tenants are treated. The reviewer's final impression seems to be one of cautious optimism tempered by a recognition of ongoing risks: while there is a belief that new management might improve conditions for some residents, the earlier years of neglect and the social dynamics described have left a lasting impression of a flawed system. For anyone considering moving in, this account suggests a need for thorough due diligence - inspecting floors and common areas carefully, asking pointed questions about maintenance timelines, safety upgrades, and how decisions are made - before committing to a lease in a building with a history of serious maintenance challenges and complex social dynamics.

This section of Bristol, Virginia offers a blend of convenient amenities and services that could make it an attractive option for senior living. The proximity to parks like Cumberland Square Park and Sugar Hollow Park provides opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. In terms of dining options, there are several restaurants ranging from casual eateries like Burger Bar and Cootie Brown's to chain establishments like Applebee's and McAlister's Deli. Additionally, there are pharmacies, physicians' offices, and a hospital within close range, ensuring easy access to healthcare services. Places of worship such as Anderson St United Methodist Church and St Anne Catholic Church cater to spiritual needs. For entertainment, residents can visit nearby theaters like Marquee Cinemas - Pinnacle 12. Overall, this area offers a diverse range of amenities in a convenient location that may be appealing for seniors looking to settle in Bristol.

Parks

• Cumberland Square Park (0.1 miles)
• Sugar Hollow Park (4.7 miles)
• Sugar Hollow Playground (4.8 miles)

Cafes

• Blackbird Bakery (0.1 miles)
• Starbucks (4.1 miles)

Restaurants

• Burger Bar (0.2 miles)
• Shanghai Chinese Restaurant (0.2 miles)
• Cootie Brown's (0.5 miles)
• J Frank (0.5 miles)
• Applebee's (0.6 miles)
• McAlister's Deli (0.7 miles)
• Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (0.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• Anderson St United Methodist Church (0.6 miles)
• St Anne Catholic Church (0.7 miles)
• Beech Grove United Methodist Church (2.8 miles)
• Wallace United Methodist Church (4.8 miles)
• Spoon Gap Freewill Baptist Church (10.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• Food City Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Bunting's & Northside Drug Center (1.1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.2 miles)

Physicians

• Caris Health Care (0.9 miles)
• Weberling & Associates OD (1 miles)
• Crossroads Medical Mission (1.3 miles)
• Appalachian Psychiatry (1.4 miles)
• Integrated Health Concepts (1.8 miles)
• Youthcare Pediatrics (1.9 miles)
• Mitoraj Thomas E MD (1.9 miles)

Hospitals

• Rehabilitation Hospital (1.9 miles)
• Wellmont-Ridgeview At Bristol Regional Medical Center (2.1 miles)
• Bristol Surgery Center (2.2 miles)
• Bristol Regional Medical Center (4.2 miles)

Theaters

• Cinemark Tinseltown USA - Now Closed (3.7 miles)
• Marquee Cinemas - Pinnacle 12 (6.4 miles)

Transportation

• Big Stick Taxidermy (10.3 miles)