Stonebridge Manor

Pros

• LaCheryl is a gem.
• The atmosphere is welcoming, clean, and professional.
• Stonebridge Manor is highly recommended for retirees who want to enjoy life.
• The staff are helpful and repairs are promptly addressed.
• The property is described as nice, quiet, and clean.
• Two-year residents described it as a great place to live.

Cons

• They were bitten by bed bugs and should not stay there.
• The apartments are very small and have roaches they can't get rid of.
• The south-side elevator breaks down often and can take up to three months to fix.
• The trash smells horrific from the weekend until Monday morning.
• The rental office is not friendly; the front desk clerk is mean, rude, and unprofessional.
• The apartment has never been painted in 14 years.
• Washers and Dryers in all laundry rooms are broken and dirty.
• Corporate never called back after reporting a major problem.
• Parking lot lights are always out and the buzzer to get in the building is out a lot.
• They charged him for replacing the screen after he complained.

Review

Residents' experiences with this complex run a broad gamut, from welcome mats and helpful maintenance to alarming problems that spill into daily life. One thread of feedback centers on serious health and safety concerns: bed bugs that affected a daughter and her grandmother, a grim reminder of pest control being a critical issue for some renters. In the same breath, renters warn others to stay away if they're seeking a completely problem-free environment, noting roaches that seem stubborn and a general sense that the property doesn't always meet expectations for cleanliness or upkeep.

On the negative side, several reviewers describe a cramped living situation with small apartments that feel worn. Trash is a persistent problem, with smells lingering from the weekend through Monday morning, and the front desk staff are characterized as unfriendly or unprofessional. Elevators are a recurring complaint, with breakdowns that don't get repaired quickly enough, sometimes taking months, which compounds the frustration of residents who need reliable access to their floors. The overall atmosphere, for some, is not welcoming, contributing to a sense that the rental office can be impersonal and unsympathetic in handling everyday annoyances or emergencies.

There's also a more specific saga of maintenance and corporate communication. One longtime resident, who lived there for 14 years, notes that the apartment was never painted during that time, a sign of neglect that adds to a sense of aging infrastructure. Washers and dryers in all laundry rooms are described as broken and dirty, and a major problem in the apartment prompted a call to the corporate office. The response, or lack thereof, is summarized as leaving a message with Mr. Starkey, VP of Operations, without any subsequent callback, underscoring a breakdown in communication that many renters fear when they have urgent issues.

Not all stories are bleak, however. A different set of reviews highlights consistently positive experiences with management and maintenance. A couple residing there for two years reports no problems at all and praises the responsiveness of the maintenance team; repairs, they say, are prompt and the staff is proactive, even if it sometimes takes a day or so in a large property. Another tone comes from residents who describe the community as welcoming, clean, and professional. In particular, they single out LaCheryl as a standout - described as a gem - who enhances the experience for retirees seeking a tranquil, carefree lifestyle. Even when a two-bedroom unit isn't available, the positive impression remains with the sense that the property is well-suited for seniors and their comfort.

The senior-friendly narrative also acknowledges some practical shortcomings, though. Some residents note that lights in the parking lot frequently go out, and the buzzer system or entry access can fail, potentially affecting security and convenience for residents. These kinds of details remind prospective renters that while the community can be welcoming and well maintained, there are still infrastructure issues that require attention and ongoing upkeep.

A deeply troubling and highly negative account appears in a lengthy anecdote about an elderly relative. This story describes a series of alleged mistreatments by staff: accusations of break-ins and a cut screen, a lease non-renewal tied to "too many holes in the wall" and pictures hanging, and what are depicted as intrusive questions about alleged harassment. The narrative escalates to claim rude and hostile treatment toward the wheelchair-using uncle, with the office manager allegedly confirming the accusations and asserting surveillance. The AC broke and flooded the carpet, taking two weeks to fix, and the resulting odor added to a sense of neglect. The overall tone is one of mistreatment, miscommunication, and retaliation, leaving a stark contrast to the more positive testimonials about attentive management.

Amid these strong contrasts, a shorter note exists that simply calls the environment "Nice, quiet, clean," offering a calm counterpoint to the more chaotic or frustrating experiences described elsewhere. Taken together, the collection of reviews paints a picture of a community that can be a comfortable, well-managed home for some, particularly seniors who value a welcoming and professional atmosphere. At the same time, it reveals a pattern of serious complaints - ranging from pests and maintenance delays to perceived indifference from staff and intrusive allegations - that can make others wary of committing to a long-term stay. Prospective renters would do well to visit, ask pointed questions about pest control, elevator reliability, and maintenance response times, and observe how the management team handles concerns firsthand, given the wide variation in reported experiences.

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (0.9 miles)
• Walgreens (2.1 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.3 miles)
• Walgreens (2.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.5 miles)

Places of Worship

• Tabernacle Church Of Norfolk (1.5 miles)
• Third Presbyterian Church (2.5 miles)
• Twine Memorial Holy Temple (4.9 miles)
• Westhaven Baptist Church (6.6 miles)

Physicians

• De Paul Medical Atrium (1.5 miles)
• Southern Eyecare Associates (1.9 miles)
• Willis, Erica Pediatric Associates (2.1 miles)
• Galan-Dejesus Mariam Np (2.3 miles)
• Tidewater Pediatric Consultants PC (2.5 miles)
• Ghent Family Practice (2.6 miles)
• Internal Medicine Kidney and Hypertension Center (2.8 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (2 miles)
• Coalescence Coffee (2 miles)
• Starbucks (2.3 miles)
• Panera Bread (2.3 miles)
• Cafe Stella (2.3 miles)
• Panera Bread (2.4 miles)
• Panera Bread (3.3 miles)

Restaurants

• Handsome Biscuit (2.1 miles)
• Hank's Filling Station (2.1 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (2.2 miles)
• Perfectly Frank (2.3 miles)
• Taco Bell (2.5 miles)
• Chen Garden Chinese Restaurant (2.5 miles)
• Tap House Grill At Ghent (2.5 miles)

Hospitals

• Chkd (2.1 miles)
• Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (4 miles)
• Portsmouth General Hospital (4.2 miles)
• Bon Secours Maryview Medical Center (6.1 miles)
• Maryview Medical Ambulatory Surgery Recovery (6.1 miles)

Transportation

• Norfolk Airport USO (3 miles)
• Norfolk International Airport (ORF) (3.1 miles)
• American Airlines Ticket Counter (3.1 miles)
• The Tide MacArthur Square Station (3.3 miles)
• The Tide-Newtown Road Station (4 miles)

Parks

• The Pagoda & Oriental Garden (3.3 miles)
• Bay Oaks Park (4.1 miles)