Overall sentiment about Highlands on Graham is mixed, with a clear split between residents who praise the community atmosphere and amenities and others who report serious management, safety, and maintenance problems. Positive comments emphasize a home-like feeling, friendly people, pleasant units with good natural light, attractive woodwork and cabinetry, and onsite conveniences such as a salon, grocery delivery, and three meals a day. Several reviewers explicitly say they would recommend the place and note that some maintenance requests are handled promptly and there is a regular maintenance schedule.
However, multiple reviews raise significant concerns about management practices and communication. Complaints include a recent $120/month rent increase, reliance on month-to-month leases, forced temporary relocations for renovations (including loss of preferred wall colors), and a prolonged telephone/internet outage lasting three weeks. There are repeated assertions that management can be unresponsive or unsympathetic — characterized by phrases like "heartless" — and reports that emergency calls were not answered. Safety-related failures are highlighted, including uncommunicated gas leaks and a low-volume intercom at the main entrance, which reviewers flagged as a security issue.
Facility- and maintenance-related issues show inconsistent experiences. Some residents describe the building and units as well maintained, with clean common rooms and prompt repairs. Others report poor upkeep: unwashed windows, dirty elevator floors, sloppy or incomplete repairs, and malfunctioning HVAC (air conditioning not working in hallways and the community room). Common areas are described by some as dark and dreary with dated furniture. These contradictory accounts suggest variability in service quality — some residents receive timely, effective maintenance while others encounter recurring or unresolved problems.
Accessibility, parking, and location are additional recurring themes. Several reviewers note an insufficient number of garage spaces and a lack of indoor parking, making the property difficult for those who need sheltered vehicle access. Mobility concerns are raised for wheelchair users and for winter conditions, where paths or building access may be challenging. The neighborhood is generally described as good and having nearby bike trails, but the setting is car dependent and not close to public transit, which could be a drawback for residents who do not drive.
Dining, activities, and community life are among the stronger positive aspects: regular meals, onsite services like a salon, and social friendliness create a homelike community for many residents. Unit-level positives — sunny rooms, adequate sizes, and quality woodwork — also stand out. The balance of reviews implies that the resident experience at Highlands on Graham may depend heavily on timing, unit location, and interactions with management/staff. Positive experiences tend to emphasize the building's social atmosphere and amenities, while negative experiences cluster around management responsiveness, communication during emergencies or renovations, building systems (HVAC), cleanliness, and accessibility/parking.
For prospective residents or family members, the main takeaways are to verify current management policies and recent facility improvements, ask specifically about lease terms and any planned renovations, confirm emergency response and communication protocols, test intercom/entry systems, check HVAC performance in common areas, inspect parking availability and accessibility routes for winter, and inquire about internet/phone redundancy. Given the polarized reports, an in-person visit and direct conversations with current residents — including questions about recent maintenance responsiveness and any safety incidents — will help determine whether Highlands on Graham's positive community features align with a particular applicant's priorities or whether the documented management and facility issues present unacceptable risks.
