Braywood Manor

Pros

• One reviewer describes Braywood Manor as a nice place.
• A commenter notes that their homes are turning into magnificent houses built for royalty.
• Another reviewer considers the place to be somewhat good.

Cons

• Braywood Manor reportedly lacks security officers on site, making it unsafe for tenants, especially those with disabilities.
• Management is alleged to ignore tenants' needs and complaints, replying mainly to favorable comments.
• Maintenance is described as ineffective, with ongoing issues like mold and air conditioning left unresolved.
• Staff are said to be rude and unprofessional, including a manager who allegedly rolls her eyes when approached.
• Renovations are underway with vague, unprofessional communications and inadequate accommodations for disabled residents.
• The building is perceived as being in an unsafe neighborhood, with stringent visitor checks and poorly lit guest parking.
• Tenants feel the property management does not care about safety or well-being and should be replaced.
• Claims exist of neglect or discrimination toward handicapped and minority residents.

Review

A chorus of residents and visitors paints Braywood Manor as a place where safety and reliability are in short supply. Multiple people describe feeling unsafe when they need to use common areas, particularly the laundry, and they point to the absence of security personnel on the property as a fundamental risk. The sense of vulnerability is strongest among tenants who are disabled or have limited mobility, with firsthand accounts of questionable security practices and a general impression that anyone could slip through the cracks because there is no on-site security presence to deter or respond to trouble. The repeated emphasis is on lived experience: the fear of leaving their apartments, the hesitation to use shared spaces, and a pervasive worry that emergencies would go unaddressed without trained security staff on site.

The lack of security is framed as more than just an inconvenience - it is described as potentially illegal and something that should attract scrutiny from local authorities. One contributor, who identifies as a former security officer with experience coordinating with emergency crews, argues that Braywood Manor's current setup makes it impossible to handle incidents with any real effectiveness. The author's stance is unequivocal: without security officers or guards, dangerous situations - especially those involving vulnerable tenants - are left unmitigated. The intensity of the sentiment is underscored by a one-star rating and an explicit statement that Braywood Manor "deserve[s] no stars at all," signaling a firm conviction that safety should not be compromised.

Beyond safety, critics voice broad dissatisfaction with how the property is managed and serviced. There are persistent complaints about poor customer service, a perceived failure to listen to tenants, and a pattern of management allegedly ignoring negative feedback. Several reviewers point out that Braywood Manor's responses to online reviews seem to favor favorable comments while neglecting critical ones, which feeds a perception of systemic neglect. Maintenance is repeatedly labeled "a joke," with anecdotal references to unresolved issues such as an air conditioning problem that was once reported in the news, suggesting that even major problems have become normalized rather than resolved. The ongoing renovations are a focal point, but the notices about what residents should do during the process are described as vague and unprofessional, leaving tenants unsure about safety, access, and daily routines.

A particularly stirring account concerns a client who uses a wheelchair and requires total care. During renovations, the only accommodation offered for a handicapped, bedbound person was to be seated in a TV room for a considerable portion of the day - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - with the stated expectation that they would manage bathroom needs in a stall alongside a caregiver. The description highlights a fundamental mismatch between the needs of a person with significant daily care requirements and the accommodations Braywood Manor is providing. The manager's responses are described as unsympathetic, and the broader sentiment is that management - referred to by name in one instance as Johnson Franklin - cares very little about the needs of the handicapped and minority residents. The overall tone is one of outrage and disappointment at what is perceived as a callous and impractical approach to essential living needs.

Inquiries from potential tenants or clients are met with rude or dismissive responses, according to another reviewer. One person recounts a call where a staff member was described as extremely rude and disrespectful, to the point of hanging up the phone. The sentiment here is not just about a single bad encounter but about a pattern of poor communication and hostility toward people seeking information or assistance. The repeated call for new management reinforces a belief that a leadership change is necessary to restore basic standards of courtesy and responsiveness.

Mold remediation is another urgent thread running through the comments. A resident reports that it took 24 hours to arrange for someone to address mold in Colonial Hall, and that the issue had already been reported to the state. The waiting period is cited as unacceptable, with a sense that urgent health hazards are being allowed to persist while formal channels inch forward. This incident reinforces a broader pattern: residents feel that health and safety concerns are not being treated with the seriousness they deserve and that bureaucratic delays compound the harm of already-stressed living conditions.

Throughout the reviews, a common thread is the perception that Braywood Manor's maintenance and modernization efforts are misaligned with the needs of its residents, especially older adults. Old project maintenance is described as insufficient for elderly tenants, with explicit calls for improvements. The general consensus is that the property is not living up to its promises and that essential services - air conditioning, accessible facilities, reliable maintenance, and respectful, responsive management - are not meeting basic expectations. The refrain is clear: the current state of affairs is unacceptable for a building housing vulnerable populations, and the remedy is a thorough reevaluation of management practices and safety provisions.

Additional remarks touch on structural and procedural concerns that compound the sense of insecurity. One reviewer notes that the building sits in an unsafe area, with the added friction of requiring ID to visit tenants and poorly lit guest parking in a neighborhood described as problematic. These details contribute to a broader impression of risk that extends beyond the interior walls of the building to the surrounding environment. A final, more neutral note - "Somewhat good" - appears as an outlier amid a sea of criticisms, illustrating that not all experiences are uniformly negative, yet the prevailing mood remains one of concern and disappointment.

Taken together, the reviews present Braywood Manor as a place where safety, accessibility, responsive management, and transparent communication are all perceived to be lacking. The concerns about security on site, treatment of disabled residents, problems with maintenance and renovations, and the perceived neglect of urgent health issues form a cohesive narrative of dissatisfaction. The repeated calls for accountability, stronger oversight, and meaningful improvements paint a clear picture of residents and visitors who are praying for better protection, more humane accommodations, and a commitment to safeguarding the wellbeing of all tenants and their families.

This part of Norfolk, Virginia offers a convenient and diverse range of amenities for seniors looking to settle in the area. With several pharmacies including CVS and Walgreens within a short distance, access to necessary medications is easily accessible. Places of worship such as Third Presbyterian Church and Tabernacle Church Of Norfolk cater to spiritual needs, while various physicians' offices like Southern Eyecare Associates and internal medicine centers are available for healthcare needs. Transportation options include Norfolk International Airport and The Tide stations for easy travel. Nearby parks like Bay Oaks Park provide opportunities for outdoor recreation, and a variety of restaurants offer dining options for every taste. Hospitals like CHKD and Naval Medical Center Portsmouth ensure quality medical care is readily available in case of emergencies. Overall, this neighborhood provides a well-rounded community with convenience and comfort for senior living.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Walgreens (1.2 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• Rite Aid (2 miles)
• Walgreens (2 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Third Presbyterian Church (0.9 miles)
• Tabernacle Church Of Norfolk (2 miles)
• Twine Memorial Holy Temple (6.6 miles)

Physicians

• Southern Eyecare Associates (1.1 miles)
• De Paul Medical Atrium (2.5 miles)
• Internal Medicine Kidney and Hypertension Center (2.5 miles)
• Willis, Erica Pediatric Associates (3.8 miles)
• Galan-Dejesus Mariam Np (4 miles)
• Tidewater Pediatric Consultants PC (4 miles)
• Ghent Family Practice (4.1 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.8 miles)
• Starbucks (3.3 miles)
• Panera Bread (3.6 miles)
• Coalescence Coffee (3.6 miles)
• Panera Bread (3.8 miles)
• Starbucks (3.8 miles)
• Starbucks (3.9 miles)

Transportation

• Norfolk Airport USO (1.9 miles)
• Norfolk International Airport (ORF) (2 miles)
• American Airlines Ticket Counter (2 miles)
• The Tide-Newtown Road Station (4.7 miles)
• The Tide MacArthur Square Station (5 miles)

Parks

• Bay Oaks Park (2.4 miles)
• The Pagoda & Oriental Garden (5 miles)

Restaurants

• Longboards East Beach (3.1 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (3.2 miles)
• Burger King (3.5 miles)
• Hank's Filling Station (3.5 miles)
• Hooters (3.5 miles)
• Handsome Biscuit (3.7 miles)
• Perfectly Frank (3.7 miles)

Hospitals

• Chkd (3.8 miles)
• Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (5.7 miles)
• Portsmouth General Hospital (5.9 miles)