Dandridge Tower is a Section 8 (202) senior apartment community at 431 Ocala Drive in Nashville, Tennessee, built in 1980 with 154 one-bedroom units spread across 80,850 square feet, and the place mainly welcomes people who are 62 or older or those with disabilities who need affordable housing and want to live as independently as they can, though rent usually runs about 30% of a resident's income-with current averages put around $514 a month-which helps include very low-income households. Residents get rent support, tenant protections under federal and local law, including for LGBTQ residents, and they can bring cats or dogs as long as the cats meet certain weight limits, and the place has no-smoking rules for all the private and public indoor areas, so everyone knows what to expect.
The property uses elevators for easy access to upper floors, and it's got fire alarms and smoke detectors installed throughout in case of emergencies, and if you need help, a 24/7 emergency medical alert system with personal pendants is set up, while emergency maintenance is always available so things stay in working order as much as possible. People can pick up their mail on-site, use resident parking, and catch public transit nearby, and if you want a haircut or need laundry done, there's a hair salon plus laundry options in the building. There's a secure card-key entry and a covered drop-off/pick-up spot at the entrance so folks get in and out safely, and inside, all the apartments were recently renovated with granite kitchen counters, frost-free refrigerators, new cabinets, modern fixtures, a range/oven with built-in microwave, porcelain tile bath floors, cultured marble bathroom sinks, luxury vinyl plank floors, as well as vinyl-coated closet shelves, mini-blinds, and both free internet and cable TV included.
The management team stays on the property Monday through Friday, and a full-time Service Coordinator helps residents connect to support services or other resources they might need, and folks can join in the activities that go on in the big community room, which comes with a full-service kitchen and serving counter for monthly programs. Meals get provided and are prepared with good quality ingredients, and there are always activities planned, both indoors in common rooms and outdoors in spots like the pergola patio or landscaped grounds, which helps people stay active and social and gives families peace of mind knowing their relatives have ways to participate if they choose.
Dandridge Tower provides different levels of support, including independent living for more active seniors, assisted living services like help with daily tasks and medication, memory care specifically for people with Alzheimer's or similar, and non-medical home care services from trained aides who can provide companionship too. There's at least one accessible apartment unit for residents who need it, and everyone gets the basic comforts expected in senior apartments, though there's no information about extras like pools, gyms, or fancy amenities-just general apartment and community facilities. Resident reviews average around 3.7 out of 5, describing the community as "Very Good"; and the property, which is managed by a large professional team focused on affordable housing, uses both Section 8 and Low Income Housing Tax Credit programs to keep rent affordable, so it fits people with a range of needs who simply want a safe, simple place to call home in Nashville, in a spot that covers the basics with comfort and care.
