Palermo HOA dues will not go up

This just in: Positively Palermo has learned that the HOA dues for 2013 will remain unchanged, at $294 per month. HOA dues have been going up ever since Palermo opened in 2007, with the present dues more than four times what some owners paid in the beginning. The past two years alone have seen increases totaling about $300 a year per unit. Miss Penny Lane says: Cheers to this news.

D unit listed at $258,5000 - Has offers?

A two-bedroom D model listed for $258,500 on Melody Lane is taking back-up offers. Here is the description: "Now a rare find at Palermo. This beautifully designer upgraded & decorated 2 story D-Plan home is offered fully furnished and ready for move-in. Your own private pool and spa with majestic west mountain views await. Large covered patio off the pool and another large patio upstairs accessed from both bedrooms. 2 bedrooms, en-suite, upstairs with a small home office area. Great Room layout downstairs with dining area plus eat-in kitchen area. Enjoy the large community pool/spa area with BBQ as well as the beautifully designed club house with full fitness center. Low HOA at $294/month. Do not miss out on this. One of the best homes built at Palermo." The link is here. Miss Penny Lane says: D is for Delicious.

Service station become Mobil

The service station across Indian Canyon Drive from Palermo Palm Springs has changed brands. Now's a Mobil, and looks to have been spruce up a bit. Miss Penny Lane says: She's run of gas for tonight and calling it quits.

2012 is the year of Palermo

2012 - or five years after the first souls moved into Palermo - appears ready to go down as the year of the great Palermo turn-around. The economy helped pull the rug from under many developments in Palm Springs. The adjacent Avalon residential and golf course development sits abandoned. At Palermo, home prices are going up for the first time ever, after years of falling, with real estate agents say the prices are still under-valued compared to similar modern-stytle developments such as 48@Racquet Club. They expect prices to continue to rise here, we are told. The HOA board is in settlement talks with the bank that owns the 30-something former condos that the Enterprise Cos. never sold. If a deal is reached, it will mean a large infusion of money into Palermo's HOA accounts over certain unpaid back expenses and other issues. A buyer could also take over those units later this year. Full-time owners became a majority of the HOA board this year and instituted major operational and management changes, winning praises and a recent overwhelming vote of confidence by owners. 2012 is the year of Palermo. Miss Penny Lane says: She loves sunny days.

Trump takes on Palm Springs wind power

The morning newspaper has this story: "Don’t count Donald Trump among fans of wind power. On Monday, the developer and “Apprentice” host went on the record — Twitter — with his thoughts about the wind turbines that line the roads leading to Palm Springs. “Ugly wind turbines have destroyed the entrance to Palm Springs, CA," he tweeted, “These monstrosities are ruining landscapes all over the globe—expensive; bad electric." And he meant it. In a follow-up interview with The Desert Sun, Trump confirmed his anti-wind power stance. “[It’s] like driving into a sad person’s version of Disneyland,” he said. “And of course [the turbines] kill all the birds in the area. A friend of mine said that an area that used to be so beautiful is now strewn with rusting hulks." The reaction to Trump’s tweet was swift — both on Twitter and in the Coachella Valley. “Tell him to look again at night. Also, tell him that only HE can afford the huge power bills we would have without them,” wrote David Ross on Facebook. “There are many uglier things that could be there.” Fred Bell of Noble & Company, a renewable energy firm based in Palm Desert, says he respects Trump’s business acumen, but disagrees with his comments. “We have two resources here in Palm Springs,” said Bell. “Wind and tremendous solar resources. Both are unequalled anywhere else in the United States. To not harvest those in a responsible manner and take advantage of the low cost of power would be irresponsible to the environment.” Miss Penny Lane says: Shes ready for the cool winds to blow in.

Signs come down at old Julian Market building

There's been some activity at the former Julian Market site on Indian Canyon and San Rafael, with crews cleaning up the lot and taking all the signage down for the market and car repair shop. Miss Penny Lane says: She's ready for a coffee shop to open once the College of the Desert arrives.

Wind-blown tree

The winds that swept through the valley tried to blow down this tree on Quiet Side. Miss Penny Lane says: Sometimes she feels a bit like that, too.

NEWS FLASH: All HOA board officers are re-elected in landslide vote rebuking the recall's takeover attempt

This just in from the HOA meeting tonight: In a rebuke of the attempt to oust the Palermo HOA board officers, the association president, vice president, secretary and treasurer all were returned to office in a landslide vote by owners, with not a single officer removed from their position. Homeowners give a vote of confidence to the board leadership and to the HOA's direction, and reject the recall's goals to takeover the HOA board. A clear "mandate" exists it appears. Miss Penny Lane says: Thanks to all who ran and give their time.

NEW INFORMATION: A total of about 450 votes were cast for 10 candidates. The top three vote-getters (the HOA president, secretary and treasurer) received nearly 300 of them (actually 288 votes). With not many votes left and the remaining seven candidates vying for the rest of the votes, some of the recall people received in the single digits. The candidate of the rental company received 15 votes. Thanks for the info.

UPDATE: We have learned more. It was reported that a festive, friendly atmosphere existed in the clubhouse as owners and renters gathered to support the board, demonstrating that the Palermo spirit is alive and well. Some of the so-called "recall candidates" did not show up for the meeting.

Palermo forward

Positively Palermo received this submission: "Hi Penny Lane. I took an image off the Internet and made this with it, all for you. Thought it might have some double meaning, with all the stuff going on with your board and how people want to move forward with them. Thanks for your work. You are a reason we rented at Palermo." Miss Penny Lane says: Her middle name is Hope, but how did you know?

Recall meeting is Monday evening

Tomorrow evening is when recall will come to an end. Meeting will be in the Palermo clubhouse. Miss Penny Lane says: Good luck to the candidates, and to Palermo.

Concrete decision to remove nuisance dumpsters

A week into being a "dumpsters free" community, all appears well at Palermo Palm Springs. Gone are the days seen in the picture above. The dumpster area walls have gone tumbling down and are history as well. Miss Penny Lane says: She's ready for a weekend of fun at the pool. Give her a wave when you see her there.

Trash and recycling pick-up today

Reminder that today is the trash and recycling pick-up day - delayed one day from Thursday due to the Labor Day holiday. Miss Penny Lane says: She's ready for the weekend.

Memory Lane: Remembering the Sales Center signs

Going down Memory Lane: Remember the sales signs on Indian Canyon Drive? They came down in May 2010, a year after the sales office closed, but only after residents took up the cause themselves to get them down. Miss Penny Lane says: She's seeing lots of signs of progress at Palermo these days.

Trash day is today

Remember it's trash day today, delayed one day because of Labor Day. Miss Penny Lane says: She's ready for her short week.

Salton Sea smell lingers

Positively Palermo notes that the foul odor from the Salton Sea is back in the air in the city. Miss Penny Lane says: She was away for the long weekend and missed Palm Springs, smell and all.

Happy Labor Day, Palermo

Positively Palermo wishes all a happy and safe Labor Day weekend. Miss Penny Lane says: She's all worked up over three days to rest.