Recent Experience with St. Paul's Towers
Hello, My in-laws are looking at retirement communities and St. Paul's Towers is at the top of their list (they have also considered Piedmont Gardens). We love the building, units, community, and level of care. They are very active and the current state of violent crime in Oakland is my primary concern. The feedback here is older, and I wonder if folks have recent experience. Feel free to message me privately. Thank you!
Nov 9, 2022
Parent Replies
We live up the street from St. Paul's Towers. It is definitely an urban area, and the crime is slightly higher than the area around Piedmont Gardens (which we're also very familiar with). However, that's in part because there are far more people out and about around the lake and living in the surrounding blocks, so I would guess per capita it's no different (or even lower). Incidents among seniors are rare, but have happened a few times over the years, in my memory. That hasn't stopped the residents there (and others in the area) from enjoying the neighborhood and walking regularly--we see residents of the Towers out every day, walking dogs, coming back from the grocery store, walking around the lake, etc. The staff is also very present. I would say crime doesn't need to be a deciding factor if the debate is Piedmont Gardens vs. St. Paul's Towers, but it might be if the decision is Oakland vs. a smaller city in another region.
Hi! I live up the block from St.Paul’s so I can speak to neighborhood safety, generally. I have two young kids and feel completely safe walking in the neighborhood at anytime during the day. We have never experienced a crime in 7+ years. I am cautious at night (for example won’t walk home from BART after 8 or so). There definitely has been an increase in crime but from my perspective a lot of it is car-based (catalytic converters and window smashes). Though muggings absolutely do happen, I think they are more within the interior rather than the edge where ST Paul’s is. The street there and onto grand is very busy and well-lit. It’s definitely a great walkable neighborhood with the lake, library, shopping, Kaiser super close by. I’ve heard good things about St Paul’s in general and wish I could convince my grandmother to go there!
My mom has been living at St. Paul's Towers for the past three years and she LOVES it. It is definitely in an urban area, and it was something we discussed before she moved in, but I haven't heard about any incidents involving residents since she's been there. She and her friends are always going out to walk dogs or walk over to Lake Merritt or over to Whole Foods. She's 88, and she definitely keeps her wits about her when she goes out by herself, and doesn't walk around the neighborhood by herself at night, but she has been completely comfortable living there. I visit her there all the time, at all hours, and I have never felt in any danger when walking back to my car or anything like that.
It's true that there was a shooting in the middle of the day by Lake Merritt last summer and that was definitely concerning! I did have a moment of panic, but in the end it sounded like it involved a mentally unstable person, and I realized that that could happen literally anywhere.
In short, I do think your concern is valid, but in my experience it's been a wonderful and safe place for my mom to live.