Overall sentiment in the reviews for Brashear Tower is mixed and polarized. Several residents report visible, recent improvements to the building envelope and public spaces — an exterior skin replacement, repainting of hallways and lobby, carpets replaced with tile, and a more hotel-like appearance. New windows were installed and many note they are not drafty. The property remains affordable HUD/subsidized housing, with long-term residents who appreciate the location, walkability to nearby amenities (mall), and the sense of community where residents look out for each other. Some reviewers praise cleaning and groundswork (including reliable snow removal) and describe maintenance staff as kind, helpful, and quick to address problems.
However, a consistent and significant concern is ventilation and climate control. Multiple residents report that the new windows do not open, which has led to stale air in apartments and public areas. Heating and cooling have been unreliable at times: reports include a boiler heating system with upper-floor heat reaching 80–84°F, intermittent AC shutoffs, and temperature variations that leave apartments uncomfortably warm during parts of the year. These environmental issues are particularly important for a senior population and are linked to safety and comfort concerns. Residents also report a modest increase in electricity costs (approximately $10–$15/month), which adds to cost-of-living worries even in subsidized housing.
Facilities and amenity-related issues are another recurring theme. While common areas have been refurbished, many promised or once-available amenities have been removed or remain nonfunctional. Vending machines, some exercise equipment, and certain light switches in the pool/TV/library areas are reported missing or broken. The ground-floor public restrooms are repeatedly cited as locked during evenings, weekends, or even 24/7 in some accounts, which residents say has led to accidents and safety concerns. There are also complaints about a newly installed fence and unexplained tree removals that residents find unattractive or disruptive. The dining area is reported as large with plans to remodel, but apartment interiors are often described as aging or falling short of the upgraded public areas.
Staffing, maintenance, and management are discussed with markedly divergent opinions. Several longtime residents recall an earlier era of strong management and a full maintenance team (five people) that produced timely repairs and better engagement. In contrast, many recent comments name a significant downsizing of maintenance to a single overworked person, delays in repairs, and what some call haphazard housekeeping. Management changes (new ownership by Silvertree is mentioned) have produced mixed reactions: some residents say management now discourages organized activities, responds poorly to complaints (including issuing notices to move), and treats residents disrespectfully — even using metaphors like "prison with a warden." Others, however, characterize the current management and support staff as proactive, caring, and excellent among low-income providers. This polarization suggests uneven experiences across different residents or changes over time and highlights communication and consistency problems.
Activity programming and social life are limited but not absent. Many reviewers report that officially planned activities are sparse — often limited to bingo (and in some notes, Friday bingo had not resumed). Nonetheless, residents organize their own social activities, like card games and trips. The facility does have small amenity spaces (pool, TV room, small exercise room) which are used by residents, but the removal of some equipment and nonfunctional light switches reduces their utility.
Safety, transparency, and resident relations are recurring concerns. Locked public restrooms, a perceived lack of responsiveness from downsized maintenance, unexplained property changes (fence, tree removals), and reports that complaining can trigger punitive actions have created distrust among parts of the resident community. Some reviews explicitly raise the possibility of mistreatment or poor treatment of seniors, and these serious allegations underscore the importance of clearer communication, restoration of essential services, and attention to resident dignity.
In summary, Brashear Tower shows clear signs of investment in visible public-area renovations and retains important strengths: affordability, location, a committed resident community, and in some reports, a helpful maintenance team and caring management. At the same time, persistent and repeated problems — non-opening windows that limit ventilation, inconsistent climate control, reduced maintenance staffing and slower repairs, locked restrooms affecting safety, removed amenities, and polarized perceptions of management — significantly affect residents’ quality of life. The reviews point to a facility in transition: some physical upgrades have been made, but operational issues and management inconsistency are undermining residents’ comfort and trust. Addressing ventilation and HVAC reliability, restoring restroom access and missing amenities, clarifying renovation timelines, and reinforcing maintenance staffing and resident communication would likely be the highest-impact priorities to resolve the most frequently reported problems.
