Muhlenberg Gardens sits at 1065 Summit Ave in Jersey City's The Heights neighborhood, and some folks might like that it's an active adult community for people 55 and older offering low-income housing. The apartments have large layouts, oversized closets in some units, energy-efficient appliances, and kitchens or kitchenettes so residents can fix their own meals if they want. The buildings have cable TV, handicap safety features, and sprinklers, and residents can ask for 24-hour emergency maintenance, housekeeping, and laundry or dry cleaning services, though there have been long-term laundry room outages and pest problems such as cockroaches reported. The community provides independent living, assisted living, memory care, and senior apartments, so seniors with different needs can find some level of help, from personal care assistants to help with bathing or medication to more basic independent living for folks who can take care of themselves. Some programs, like the Congregate Program operated by Lutheran Residence Corp., offer social and wellness activities, arts and crafts, and education programs. Some residents have said the elevators break down pretty often and that sometimes people sleep in the main lobby when this happens, which is a safety concern, as the lobby is the main spot to gather and visit.
There are several nearby hospitals, such as Jersey City Medical Center, Christ Hospital, and Hoboken University Medical Center, along with pharmacies like CVS and Rite Aid and grocery stores. Residents aren't short on outside activities either, with easy access to Little Island, Van Vorst Park, and Hudson River Park, plus theaters including AMC 34th Street and Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. Transportation is convenient with Journal Square PATH Station, Hoboken Terminal, and Secaucus Junction not far, and plenty of cafes like Starbucks and restaurants like Cookshop or Surf City Bar are nearby. The area has churches and other places of worship, for folks that find that important.
Muhlenberg Gardens is managed by PRD Management, and staff provide maintenance and management support to keep the place running. The building has washers and dryers in some units, community laundry, and leasing options for both studio and one-bedroom apartments. Residents can have pets with some restrictions, and support is available for personal care and coordinating assistance, but there's no direct healthcare like home care, hospice, dementia care, or aging in place services guaranteed as part of rent, though some services for memory care and personal assistance are present. The neighborhood is mostly middle-income, with many conveniences close by, and while the community aims to offer comfort, there have been ongoing challenges with elevator reliability and pest issues that affect daily life. Even with these problems, Muhlenberg Gardens stays focused on giving seniors a place to live where they can get assistance as needed and join in social programs or enjoy some independence.
