Homecrest Mobile Home Park

Pros

• The park has excellent neighbors and a great environment.
• The location is close to everything and relatively quiet.
• There is a pool that is nice.
• The park is very clean.
• The office staff is great; Alex and Dave are the best.
• Homecrest Park is very clean and the manager is nice and understanding.
• It is a good place to live with affordable value for money.
• The neighborhood is nice and quiet.
• It looks like a great place to live and feels safe.

Cons

• The manager is rude and arrogant.
• The management demanded removal of a fence on his lot that he did not install.
• They did basically nothing to improve the streets, leaving giant potholes and flooding.
• Power outages occurred frequently, sometimes lasting days.
• Neighbors were extremely nosy.
• Lot rent was raised every year with large increases.
• The tow company often towed his car, and his security deposit was never refunded.
• Some residents were mean and yelled at people passing out coupons.

Review

Born in 1967, I spent a big chunk of my life on Butternut Street, in the 1902 lot, with a Navy dad and a whole world of memories built around the park. The place wasn't perfect, but it was home in a very real sense: excellent neighbors, a quiet little enclave, and a location that kept you close to everything you needed. The environment felt friendly, and for a long time I believed the park had its own sense of community that made up for the quirks of living in a trailer park. The fence around the yard gave a sense of containment and safety, especially at night, and there was a pool that, in calmer days, became a nice little escape.

But the more you lived there, the more you started to notice the rougher edges. The management, to many residents, came across as rude and arrogant. They pressed hard about things that felt petty to some, including demands to remove a fence on a lot that I never even installed in the first place. There was a constant sense of friction between tenants and the people in the office, and those frustrations often spilled over into everyday interactions. The roadways were a constant point of contention: potholes that could swallow a wheel, flooding along the creek side on rainy days, and a general sense that the streets were not maintained with the care you'd expect in a well-kept community. It was a place with potential - an appealing location, a protected little yard, and a pool - but the infrastructure repeatedly reminded you that you were living in a trailer park rather than a suburban enclave.

Rent was another thread running through the experience. Over a decade, rent climbed from about $375 a month to around $595, and some of the accompanying "improvements" were hard to justify. Water bills became the manager's talking point for hikes, yet the increases often felt out of proportion - roughly a $220 leap at one point for a single resident. Even energy-saving faucets and a generally reasonable sense of frugality didn't quite balance the rising costs or the sporadic service issues. Power outages were not unusual, sometimes lasting days, which made the frustrations feel more acute when you were trying to get by in a modest home on a fixed income. The financial aspect wasn't just about the numbers; it was about the sense that the park's leadership was using ongoing costs as a lever to push rents higher, with the promise of "improvements" that didn't always arrive.

There were moments that underscored the contradictions of living there. On one hand, the location was hard to beat - close to town and fairly quiet, with the security of a fence that kept some things out at night and helped preserve a sense of personal space. On the other, the practicalities of daily life - constant noise from nearby neighborhoods, the heavy traffic of courtesy "nosiness" from some neighbors, and the occasional overbearing enforcement of rules - could wear on you after years. Some people found the office staff to be responsive and professional; the second in command earned respect for being reasonable, while others felt the top manager carried an edge of contempt in his public responses. A few reviews highlighted the office as supportive, with mention of Alex and Dave as the best members of the staff, but other times the sentiment leaned toward a more abrasive administration that made simple interactions feel fraught.

The park's strengths didn't vanish in the face of the downsides. For some residents, the cleanliness and order of the grounds stood out as consistently good. There were comments about a well-kept park, decent maintenance, and a sense that the community could be polite and neighborly when things were going smoothly. The doors of the office could open easily for those who followed the rules, and some people appreciated the straightforward, no-nonsense approach to management - at least in certain periods and with certain staff. The pool was a definite plus for families and those who enjoyed a little recreation, even if it came with the caveat of frequently crowded conditions during peak times.

In the years since I moved out, there were signs of change that resonated with people still living there or looking from the outside. Some reviews noted that the roads, which had been a mess, were repaved more comprehensively than before, suggesting that the park finally addressed long-standing infrastructure concerns. Others still talked about rising lot rents and the ongoing tension between cost, value, and the quality of the living environment. A few pointed out that while the park could be a good place to live for those seeking affordability, the ever-increasing rent and the strict, sometimes punitive governance of the space could undermine that value. The contrast with neighboring parks was also a common thread: Sturbridge, for example, was described as having a better overall experience in some regards - slightly higher rent but with a sense of being better managed, fewer speed bumps, and a more straightforward, accessible layout, even if it came with its own set of trade-offs.

All told, the park stands as a divided portrait of home and hassle. It earned its share of admirers for a quiet, well-situated locale, the sense of community, and the simple pleasures of living near a pool and green space. It also drew a steady stream of criticisms about management style, maintenance delays, and the relentless climb of monthly costs. The memories of the past - the creeks that sometimes turned yards into temporary lakes, the power outages that interrupted daily life, and the undeniable warmth of good neighbors - remain a powerful part of the story. For anyone evaluating a place like this, the narrative is clear: you'll find value in the location and a sense of community, but you'll also confront recurring challenges that require patience, compromise, and a willingness to navigate the delicate balance between affordable living and the realities of park governance.

This part of Chesapeake, Virginia offers a variety of amenities and services that may be appealing for senior living. There are several restaurants nearby, including Taqueria La Hacienda and Cracker Barrel, providing convenient dining options. Pharmacies such as CVS and Walgreens are also easily accessible for medical needs. For healthcare, there are physicians like Dr. Jeff Hammer and hospitals like Chesapeake General Hospital in close proximity. Additionally, parks like Chesapeake City Park offer opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. Places of worship such as Twine Memorial Holy Temple provide spiritual support within the community. The transportation options available, such as The Tide MacArthur Square Station, offer ease of travel around the area. Overall, this part of Chesapeake provides a mix of conveniences and resources that may make it a suitable choice for senior living.

Restaurants

• Taqueria La Hacienda (0.3 miles)
• Golden Corral (1.6 miles)
• Eagles Nest Rockin Country Bar (1.8 miles)
• Cracker Barrel (2 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (2.1 miles)
• Kyoto Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar (2.1 miles)
• Olive Garden (2.2 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (1.1 miles)
• Walgreens (1.5 miles)
• Walgreens (2.4 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.9 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.1 miles)
• Irwin's Pharmacy (3.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.8 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.7 miles)
• Panera Bread (2.1 miles)
• Metro Diner (2.7 miles)
• Starbucks (4.7 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.9 miles)
• Starbucks (6 miles)
• Cafe Stella (6 miles)

Physicians

• Hammer Jeff C Md (1.8 miles)
• Patricia King MD (2.3 miles)
• Center Greenbriar Health and Wellness (2.4 miles)
• The Spine Center At Chesapeake (2.5 miles)
• Occupational Medical Education and Research Services (2.6 miles)
• Group For Women (2.8 miles)
• Allergy & Asthma Specialists (2.8 miles)

Hospitals

• Chesapeake General Hospital (2.8 miles)
• Chesapeake Regional Labor & Delivery (2.8 miles)
• Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters (4.1 miles)
• Portsmouth General Hospital (4.6 miles)
• Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (4.7 miles)
• Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center (5.8 miles)
• Maryview Medical Ambulatory Surgery Recovery (5.8 miles)

Parks

• Chesapeake City Park (3.2 miles)
• The Pagoda & Oriental Garden (4.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• Twine Memorial Holy Temple (4.4 miles)
• Westhaven Baptist Church (5.9 miles)

Transportation

• The Tide MacArthur Square Station (4.6 miles)
• The Tide-Newtown Road Station (5.1 miles)