Veranda at Whitted School

    200 East Umstead Street, Durham, NC, 27707
    3.2 · 5 reviews
    • Independent living
    AnonymousCurrent/former resident
    2.0

    Nice move-in but poor management

    I was impressed by the placement service and had a very smooth move-in, and the office manager was helpful and accommodating. The facility is small and generally well-maintained with basic amenities (exercise room, pool room), rent around $750-900. However management is a major problem - the manager is hard to talk to, staff can be uncooperative or non-responsive, and resident association efforts are impeded. Maintenance sometimes fixes things quickly but is inconsistent; construction is poor so sound travels through walls and floors. I have seen pest issues (flies, maggots), trash/chemical odors in the halls, and limited tech access. Tenants are friendly and I'm settled, but I can't recommend it given the management, hygiene, and staff problems.

    Pricing

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    Amenities

    3.20 · 5 reviews

    Overall rating

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

      3.2
    • Staff

      2.4
    • Meals

      3.2
    • Amenities

      2.0
    • Value

      3.2

    Pros

    • Welcoming and friendly tenants
    • Helpful, accommodating office manager
    • Smooth move-in process
    • Quick resolution of some maintenance issues
    • Monthly activity calendar
    • Activities open to resident suggestions
    • Outstanding placement service
    • Well-maintained facility (per some reviewers)
    • Small, attentive staff
    • Residents settled and optimistic
    • Affordable rent (approximately $750–$900)
    • Some residents would recommend the community

    Cons

    • Dictatorial, threatening, or uncooperative management
    • Management non-responsive or insensitive to tenant needs
    • Manager described as hard to talk to
    • Poor construction quality; sound travels through walls and floors
    • Pest problems including flies and maggots
    • Halls with persistent trash odor and chemical masking smells
    • Maintenance inconsistent or unreliable
    • Limited amenities (small exercise room, limited pool room)
    • Technology often inaccessible to residents
    • No on-site security guard
    • Resident association impeded by management
    • Some tenants planning to leave after contract
    • Laundry change machine needed
    • Lack of desired outdoor gathering/grill area
    • Several reviewers do not recommend the community

    Summary review

    Overall sentiment across the review summaries is mixed and highly polarized. Several reviewers praise the warm social environment, an easy move-in experience, and a supportive placement service. At least some reviewers report a small, attentive staff and specific staff members (notably the office manager) as helpful and accommodating. There are positive notes about a monthly activity calendar and a willingness to accept resident suggestions for programming, and a subset of residents report feeling settled and optimistic and would recommend the community. The pricing band mentioned (roughly $750–$900) is cited as an affordable aspect by some reviewers.

    However, a strong and recurring theme is significant dissatisfaction with management and certain operational issues. Multiple summaries describe management behavior in very negative terms — from being non-responsive and insensitive to tenants' needs to being described as dictatorial or threatening. There are also reports that management actively impedes the resident association, which raises concerns about resident voice and governance. One or more reviewers explicitly state the manager is hard to talk to, and several explicitly say they would not recommend the community. Some tenants are reportedly planning to leave once their contracts permit.

    Facility and maintenance feedback is mixed but contains serious concerns. Positive comments describe a generally well-maintained property and staff that respond quickly to some maintenance issues. Contrastingly, other reviewers report inconsistent or iffy maintenance service. Structural or construction deficiencies are highlighted — notably that sound transmits easily through walls and floors — which affects privacy and noise levels. Cleanliness and pest control are major red flags in some reviews: mentions of flies, maggots, and hallways that smell of trash with chemical odors used to mask problems suggest lapses in housekeeping and pest management in parts of the property.

    Amenities and services present a similar split between modest adequacy and shortfall. The community offers a monthly activities program and has some amenity spaces (exercise room, pool room), but these are described as limited in size or scope. Technology access is reported as often inaccessible, and there is no on-site security guard, raising safety and convenience questions. Some practical infrastructure needs are noted by residents (for example, a laundry change machine and an outdoor grill or gathering area). These are relatively small enhancements but reflect unmet resident expectations.

    Care quality and dining are not prominently discussed in the provided summaries, so no firm conclusions can be drawn about clinical care, assisted living services, or meal quality. The focus of the feedback centers primarily on management conduct, building maintenance and condition, cleanliness and pest control, amenities and programming, and staff responsiveness.

    Patterns and recommendations for prospective residents: the reviews indicate a bifurcated experience — some residents experience friendly peers, helpful staff, and a comfortable settlement, while others encounter poor management behavior, cleanliness and pest problems, and inconsistent maintenance. If you are considering this community, ask targeted questions about (1) current pest control and housekeeping protocols, (2) examples of how management addresses resident complaints and supports resident associations, (3) recent or planned construction/remediation to address sound transmission and building quality, (4) specifics about amenity access and technology availability, and (5) security measures. Also request to speak with current residents about their experiences and, if possible, tour multiple units and common areas at different times of day to check noise, odors, and overall upkeep. These steps can help determine whether your likely experience will align with the positive or negative themes reflected in the reviews.

    Location

    Map showing location of Veranda at Whitted School

    About Veranda at Whitted School

    Veranda at Whitted School sits at 200 East Umstead Street in Durham, NC, and is close to shopping, dining, entertainment, a library, and Hillside Park, which has a swimming pool, so you don't have to go far to find something to do, and they really seem to like giving folks plenty of options for enjoying their free time or running their errands. The place is a senior apartment complex for people aged 62 and older, and it's made up of 79 apartments that are well-kept and were built new in 2017, and there's a nice mix of studio, one, and two-bedroom homes, all with their own kitchens and bathrooms, handrails, walk-in closets, large bedrooms, and each apartment has cable hook-ups and its own heating and air controls, plus hardwood floors and ice makers to add a little comfort.

    Residents have access to a laundry facility, fitness center, business center, and secure parking, plus the building is smoke-free and there's monitored entry for safety, while both maintenance and property managers are on-site around the clock, so if something needs fixing, it shouldn't be a big hassle. The grounds feature a private courtyard with raised garden beds, a gazebo for relaxing outside, and a landscaped exterior that shows they take care of the place, which makes going for a stroll or just sitting outside pretty pleasant. Inside, there are things like a theater, game room with billiards, inviting sitting areas with teal armchairs and art, and a personal care center for anyone who needs a place to focus on health, so you won't feel boxed into your apartment all the time, and it's easy to find a place to socialize or have a quiet moment.

    Veranda at Whitted School is a LIHTC Community, and that low income housing tax credit helps keep rent affordable for people who meet the age and income requirements, and they make sure to offer fair housing to everyone, so you don't have to worry about being left out because of income. They have tailored care types for residents, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, short-term rehab, in-home care, nursing, hospice, and even help with daily chores and medication, with programs and staff who try to keep it friendly and supportive, and veterans can also get help with things like the VA Aid and Attendance benefits here. The staff gets praised for being kind, helpful, and welcoming, and there's always someone around if you need a hand or have a question.

    There are scheduled monthly activities, meals planned by chefs who try to keep things healthy and tasty, and social events that bring people together, so folks don't have to feel alone, and the web portal helps residents keep up with community news and services, which is nice if you like to stay connected without too much running around. Applications do need some paperwork-things like ID, social security card, proof of income, and a couple of references-but the staff can walk potential residents through those steps.

    All in all, Veranda at Whitted School provides a range of services for different levels of need, with features aimed at making senior life comfortable and connected, and the building still feels relatively new and in good shape, with a caring atmosphere and useful amenities throughout.

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