Gardiner Place

    251 River Haven Drive, East Dundee, IL, 60118
    4.8 · 4 reviews
    • Independent living
    AnonymousCurrent/former resident
    4.0

    Attractive community, nice apartment, smoking

    I moved into this attractive, independent-living community because it's close by and welcoming - my apartment is nice with a balcony and underground parking. Staff and management have been friendly and responsive, the lease was smooth, and it feels safe with happy residents. One gripe: there's a no-smoking policy but people smoke at the front door and management hasn't enforced it.

    Pricing

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    Amenities

    4.75 · 4 reviews

    Overall rating

    1. 5
    2. 4
    3. 3
    4. 2
    5. 1
    • Care

      4.8
    • Staff

      3.3
    • Meals

      4.8
    • Amenities

      4.0
    • Value

      4.8

    Pros

    • Attractive, nice apartment units
    • Balconies on units
    • Underground parking
    • Friendly resident community
    • Friendly staff
    • Responsive management (leasing/process)
    • Smooth lease process
    • Safe and secure environment
    • Welcoming atmosphere
    • Close/convenient location
    • Referred by A Place for Moms
    • Independent living option
    • Overall happy tenants

    Cons

    • Smokers congregating at the front entrance despite no-smoking policy
    • Management not consistently enforcing building policies
    • Some reports of only mediocre staff interaction ('staff was okay')

    Summary review

    Overall sentiment across the provided reviews for Gardiner Place is positive, with multiple reviewers highlighting the quality of the apartments and the community feel. The complex is repeatedly described as attractive and beautiful, offering nicely designed independent living units with features such as balconies. Practical amenities that readers called out include underground parking and a generally safe and secure environment. Several reviewers explicitly said tenants are happy, and that the property feels welcoming and close to other destinations, which reinforces a favorable impression for prospective independent living residents.

    Staff and management receive mostly favorable comments around the move-in and leasing experience: reviewers mention friendly staff, responsive management, and a smooth lease process. These points suggest the on-boarding and administrative side of residency is handled well, and that the property makes a good first impression for new tenants. That said, there are mixed signals about day-to-day interactions and policy enforcement. A few reviewers said the staff was merely "okay," and one comment indicates that management was "not participating," which may point to occasional lapses in engagement or consistency.

    A notable and recurring concern involves smoking: reviewers note a formal no-smoking building policy, yet smokers are observed congregating at the front door. This creates a tension between stated policy and actual practice and suggests that enforcement is inconsistent. Because the smokers are specifically reported to be at the main entrance, this could affect first impressions, common-area air quality, and the comfort of non-smoking residents and visitors. The single direct criticism about management not participating appears related to this enforcement gap, implying that management may be responsive in administrative tasks but less effective at maintaining some community standards.

    The reviews emphasize community attributes: residents are described as friendly and the overall atmosphere as welcoming. Multiple comments referred to the community as a nice place to live and suitable for independent living. There are no specific mentions of clinical care, assisted living services, dining programs, or organized activities in these summaries; the absence of such details is consistent with the characterization of Gardiner Place as an independent living location. Prospective residents should therefore infer that amenities and social programming — if present — were not a prominent focus among these reviewers.

    Patterns and recommendations: the dominant themes are attractive units, solid move-in experiences, and a friendly resident milieu, balanced by a specific operational issue around smoking at the entrance and some variability in staff engagement. For someone considering Gardiner Place, the property appears to offer appealing apartments, good security, and a generally positive community. Interested parties should ask management about current smoking-policy enforcement, day-to-day staff responsiveness, and any communal programs or services not mentioned in reviews. Verifying these specifics during a tour will help confirm whether the overall positive attributes seen in reviews match a prospect’s priorities.

    Location

    Map showing location of Gardiner Place

    About Gardiner Place

    Gardiner Place sits at 251 River Haven Drive in Carpentersville, right near East Dundee, Illinois, and you'll find it's pretty handy for going shopping or out to eat, as there's plenty around nearby, and since the place opened in 2013, the building's still fairly new and easy to get around in, offering 80 apartment units for seniors 55 and older who want independent living with a bit of help when needed. Residents can pick from one or two-bedroom apartments, each with a thoughtful layout and features like walk-in showers, a washer and dryer, full kitchens with appliances like dishwasher, microwave, and range, granite countertops, air conditioning, ceiling fans, big closets, extra storage, and private balconies, and every apartment's got no-smoking rules, though folks can gather out front if they need a smoke.

    You'll find affordable rent here with income restrictions, so some residents pay less if they qualify, and pets can live here too, but only one per place and they have to weigh less than 25 pounds, with both cats and dogs allowed. The community includes underground heated parking, elevators, a fitness and wellness center, library and computer center, arts and crafts room, media center, beauty and barber shop, business center, and outdoor common areas for folks to meet and spend time. There's on-site management and maintenance, secured entrances, extra storage units, and transportation services are provided too, along with plenty of parking for residents and sites for congregating outside.

    Gardiner Place puts on community outings, social events, and offers both on-site and off-site activities, which helps neighbors get to know each other, and you'll find helpful staff ready to offer person-centered assistance, plus tours for those looking at other senior communities. Units come in one-bedroom, two-bedroom/one bath, and three-quarter bath layouts, and every place is built for comfort with wheelchair accessible showers and premium finishes. Detailed property reports are available, showing utility details, rental rates, ownership information, and site specifications, which is handy if you like to know how things work behind the scenes.

    Gardiner Place doesn't have nursing care, but focuses on independent seniors who want privacy along with community living. Residents get the benefits of both apartment living and shared spaces, and there's everything from pool tables to organized games, library books, and fitness equipment to use, plus a secured entrance and elevators for convenience. The building covers over 71,500 square feet, so there's space to spread out, and it's designed for seniors who value affordability, comfort, and access to daily conveniences, with all the core amenities you'd expect in a modern senior housing community. Gardiner Place also publishes occupancy rates and rental history information, giving folks a good idea of how steady life is around here.

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