Windsor Gardens

I have lived in Windsor Gardens for over two years. In sum, it is a very good place to live. The in-house management team is excellent – knowledgeable, responsive and caring and the residents serving on the board and various committees are intelligent, thoughtful and dedicated. The maintenance and ground crews do a very good job keeping up these old buildings and the grounds. While at first blush the HOA fees may appear to be on the high side, they actually are the best deal in town, because they cover a lot: individual property taxes, maintenance of the common areas, water and sewer, heating, garbage collection, recycling, in-house management, a large, competent maintenance staff, 24-hour security, a golf course, activity center, exercise room, in-door and out-door pools and a library. While the buildings and facilities are old and do require more maintenance, the residences appear to be well-constructed and are quiet. There are many activities on site to suit the whims of most residents. The Highline Canal runs along the southern edge of the development and has a great walking and biking trail. The grounds are large enough to support families of rabbits and squirrels, flocks of Canada geese, as well as the occasional raptor and coyote passing through. Shopping along South Havana Street in Aurora is just a short hop away and RTD provides special trips for senior shoppers. The vast majority of residents are friendly, helpful and considerate -- although you can’t help but have the occasional crank in a 55+ community. While there are many rules in this development and some folks chaff at them, I have learned over time that they make this place a better community – so if you don’t like to comply with community rules and think that you should be able to do whatever strikes your fancy, a condominium probably isn’t your best choice.

Several buildings have a problem with bullying others. These are people without cognitive issues who have CONTROL issues. Unending, incessant, cheap gossip rules. Too many "corpses" without a life here always interfering in others' lives and business because they have nothing else to do. If this is retirement, I don't want it. Looking forward to selling my unit and moving where there's life again!

Windsor Gardens is a 55 and over community of 3,600 people and 80 buildings. There are absolutely no services. It's like living in an apartment house. We have a gym, an indoor and outdoor pool, a hot tub, a steam room, and there's an activity center with an auditorium that has various kinds of activities, a golf course, and a restaurant. I have a 2-bedroom, 2-bath apartment. It's beautiful here.

Windsor Gardens was nice enough, they're just way too small for the furniture I have. They have a community center, Bingo, and a swimming pool. The facility was clean and nice. The staff was very nice.