Overall sentiment is mixed but centers on two consistent themes: staff quality/community life versus uneven physical plant and perceived value. Many reviewers emphasize that the staff are friendly, engaged, and proactive — answering questions in detail, promoting events, and creating a welcoming atmosphere. Multiple accounts describe a strong sense of community, with regular activities, outings, classes (including literary study groups and current events), and faith-based offerings such as monthly mass. For numerous residents the facility feels safe and comfortable, and several note that recently redone apartments, new furniture, bright and airy units, and clean hallways contribute positively to daily life.
However, these positive impressions are tempered by recurring complaints about the building’s infrastructure and maintenance. Several reviewers report outdated or inadequate amenities: ancient washers and dryers with too few working machines, two old elevators (and no freight elevator), and elevator outages that raise safety concerns. Exterior maintenance is inconsistent — with mentions of overflowing trash and a neglected courtyard — and communal lounge furniture has reportedly been removed and not replaced in some areas. While some units have been remodeled, others remain dated with cheap appliances and limited storage, producing a noticeable variability in resident experience depending on which unit they occupy.
Dining and food receive mixed reviews. Multiple residents praise the meals — calling food “fabulous” or “very good” — while other reviewers describe the food as inconsistent or dislike it enough to opt out of the meal plan. This split suggests that perceptions of dining quality vary by expectation or perhaps by meal service changes over time. Similarly, activities are a strong, frequently-cited positive: staff organize many in-house classes and outings, and participation opportunities are plentiful. Yet a counterpoint is that attendance at some activities is low, with some residents not signing up or COVID-related slowdowns reducing outdoor and group programming for periods.
Management and cost/value are notable areas of concern. Several reviewers explicitly call out poor management practices and high staff turnover, and multiple comments indicate residents feel rent is high or overpriced for the level of maintenance and amenities provided. Some perceive that the price includes services they do not need or that the value does not match the cost, especially when units are not consistently renovated and exterior upkeep is lacking. A few reviewers characterize the facility as having a nursing-home feel or being run-down, while others describe it as well-managed and modern — illustrating an inconsistent overall impression across different observers.
Location-related issues are also mixed: proximity to family and community resources is a plus for some residents, but the building’s placement alongside a freeway/highway generates complaints about noise. Additional site-specific concerns include drainage issues near Lake LChaim reported by one reviewer. Practical inconveniences cited in multiple reviews include lack of balconies, a small outdoor area, and in some reports no laundry in-unit or inadequate laundry facilities on site.
In summary, Knollwood Place Apartments appears to deliver strong personal care and community engagement through an attentive, proactive staff and a robust slate of activities, which many residents praise. At the same time, there is a consistent and significant thread of criticism about building maintenance, outdated or inconsistent amenities, and perceived high cost relative to condition and services. Prospective residents should weigh the importance of an engaged staff and active community against the potential for infrastructure shortcomings (laundry, elevators, exterior upkeep), variable dining satisfaction, and the possibility of higher-than-expected rent. Visiting multiple units, asking about recent and planned renovations, confirming elevator reliability and laundry access, and discussing meal-plan options and activity schedules with management will help determine whether the mix of strengths and weaknesses fits a given resident’s priorities.
