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.

What led up to the bank taking over the Enterprise units

Positively Palermo was asked to provide a history of what led up to a bank taking control of 34 condos at Palermo Palm Springs in 2010. Here is a timeline:

May 5, 2010: The developer misses a payment on the Palermo loan.

July 14, 2010: "Notice of Default" served on PS Venture Indian Canyon/San Rafael LLC. This is the Palermo LLC of the Enterprise. It owes $13,450,378.36 on a $30 million loan. The document states: "No sale date may be set until three months from the date of this notice of default may be recorded." That would be Oct. 14, 2010.

July 19, 2010: Five days after the serving of the "Notice of Default," Palermo residents first learn of Enterprise's troubles. Two Enterprise executives on the board — HOA President Ron Shipka Jr. and HOA Treasurer Gordon Camaresi — resign from the HOA board. They say in an e-mail that they "expect to lose interest in the property in the next 30 days."

Aug. 18, 2010: Crain's Chicago Business publishes an article titled, "Shipka sued over personal loan guarantees." The story by Thomas A. Corfman states that Ronald Shipka Sr. is being sued by MB Financial to collect $4.7 million on loans for two Palm Springs housing developments. The article reports: "In the larger of the two cases, MB Financial is seeking to collect $3.1 from Mr. Shipka, who guaranteed a portion of a construction loan used to build a townhouse project ... Called Palermo, only 117 of the proposed 211 units were completed, according to a Web site for residents of the development."

Oct. 14, 2010: The three-month period from the July 14 posting of the "Notice of Default."

Oct. 21, 2010: Crain's Chicago Business reports on more lawsuits against Ron Shipka Sr. One lawsuit concerns the nearby Murano Palm Springs development that Enterprise California also was building. The article states: "Combined with two cases filed in August, the Chicago-based bank is aiming to collect $7 million."

Nov. 9, 2010: The front doors of the 34 units owned by Enterprise are posted with a "Notice of Unified Trustee's Sale." The documents state an auction may be held on Nov. 30 in Corona.

Nov. 30, 2010: Group auction of the 34 condo is delayed until Dec. 13 to give time for a "settlement conference the parties are organizing."

Dec. 13, 2010: The bank auction of the 34 units is called off once again. Bank eventually moves the units in the LLC it owns.

Miss Penny Lane says: It all seems like ancient history to her.

What's that smell?

Positively Palermo has received a question about the strange smell outside at Palermo and elsewhere in Palm Springs. Any ideas? Miss Penny Lane says: She's indoors these anyway.

'Happy pappy' at Palermo

Positively Palermo received this e-mail: "Hi Penny. First of all, love your informative blog. Second of all, must write to say life is pretty good at Palermo these days with the landscaping looking fab and pool nice and clean, no parking in the streets. The management changes has paid off in spades I say. I am a happy pappy. Peace." Miss Penny Lane: She's happy too these days because the triple digits give her an excuse for more DQ runs.

Melody mishap?

Positively Palermo received this question: "Hi. Does anyone know why the No Parking sign on Melody Lane was knocked over and there were black marks over the payment ....?" Miss Penny Lane says: She's signing the praises of Palermo these days.

Model question

Positively Palermo received this question: "Hello, Ms. Penney, I saw much activity (cars, people) at the model units today. Is anything going on, anyone know? Thanks." Miss Penny Lane says: She'd like answers too.

Lost ipad

Signs are up in the community about an iPad lost at the front pool. Info to return it if found is on the signs, or post here. Miss Penny Lane says: Her favoriie tablet still is of the pen and paper variety.

Pet food needed

Positively Palermo received two different e-mails on this. The first one: "Hello Penny, I haven't been in contact for awhile...hope all is well. Save-A-Pet in DHS was vandalized and all dog and cat food was stolen on Saturday. This compounds an already awful situation at this shelter as it depends on 100% donations to keep it open. There are over 100 dogs and approx. 150 cats that are at this shelter.  So, was wondering if you could post this on Positively...and if anyone cares to donate food, they simply need to drop it at my doorstep - 3545 Sunburst - and I'll make sure they receive it. Thanks Penny!" The second one: "I heard on the news this morning that someone robbed the Save-A-Pet or all its pet food in Desert Hot Springs.  They only have enough food to last threw tomorrow.  So I am sure they would appreciate any help from our community." Miss Penny Lane says: Please help if you can.

Sale prices, rents going up up up with the Palermo turnaround

Of the many improvements witnessed at Palermo Palm Springs has been home and rental prices. A wave of short sales and foreclosure brought down prices for two-bedroom town homes to the mid and even lower $100,000s. According to our emails and "intell" from real estate sources, we think a few more short sales and foreclosures will hit this year still. But we have learned that the first non-distressed homes on the market and have offers in the low to high $200,000s — which represent huge increases if they go through. It will be interesting if these go through how this will have an impact when the banks take control of the expected few forecloses to come and set prices. On the rental side, units are snapped up quickly and prices have a record of steadily going up. At one point, two-bedroom units were going for less than $1,000 but now are anywhere between $1,200 and $1,450. There rarely are empty units, although with the slow season of summer, and unusual situation in which all month-to-month tenants of all the 34 bank-owned former Enterprise units were made to sign long-term leases or leave, there is a unit or two available. We are told that the macro factors for the big improvements include the overall economy and the Palm Springs real estate market and inventory shortage. The micro factors include the buzz in the community about the change in the Palermo management situation, resolution of the bank-owned situation for the old Enterprise units and vacant land, a settlement from the bank that will give the HOA the ownership to the clubhouse and pool and a financial settlement for reserves and operating costs, and general "feeling" of the community, including not having vehicles parked in fire lanes and beautiful grounds and pools. Miss Penny Lane says: She's been waiting for these days for a long time. Life is good for the jolly crew of good spirits at Palermo.

Palm Springs Marilyn

Positively Palermo wishes Marilyn Monroe a happy birthday, Palm Springs-style. Miss Penny Lane says: She'll be at the Village Fest this Thursday so please wave hello.

More dumpster blues

Positively Palermo received this comment and picture: "Miss Penny, Thanks for you good works. If you need more reasons to get rid of those pest-attracting dumpster-bins here is snapshot of one this a.m. A new resident on Penny Lane just merrily put all these oversize boxes here (ever here of recycling??) where they will stay for weeks now since they are (not)  in the dumpster-bins. When we people move in are they told the rules of the community? I'd like to know. Yes, I know there is a sign on the dumpster-bin walls too! Thanks." Miss Penny Lane says: She's boxed in how to respond.

Wasp inspection day

Wasp inspection is today. Miss Penny Lane says: Love the buzz.

Water pressure problems this weekend?

Positively Palermo received a request that we ask whether anyone in the comment his having water pressure problems this weekend. Miss Penny Lane says: She hopes not as she's panning a nice long shower to cool off.

Polished pools

Positively Palermo received an e-mail praising the sparkling pools. Miss Penny Lane says: Swimming is her favorite sport at the Olympics.

Another wasps inspection

Signs up say that the HOA will be doing another inspection and spraying for wasps at Palermo Palm Springs. The date is the morning of July 31. It asks that you help the crews get access to your yards. Miss Penny Lane says: She loves the positive buzz at Palermo.

Shipka/Enterprise lose condo projects

The original developer of Palermo Palm Springs had to give up some of their Chicago properties. An article from a Chicago paper about the Shipkas, owners of Enterprise: "In a bold bet on the recovery of the downtown condominium market, a New York developer has taken over nearly 500 unsold units in three failed South Loop towers, the biggest distressed condo deal since the crash. Related Cos. aims to jump-start sales at the high-rises through a joint venture it recently formed with the lenders that financed them, part of the massive Central Station development at the south end of Grant Park. The projects have languished as the condo market has struggled to pull out of its funk, but Related executives are convinced that's about to change. “We're long this market and believers in it,” says Curt Bailey, president of the firm's Chicago division, Related Midwest. After six years of declining condo sales, numerous developer foreclosures and a big shift toward rental apartments, it takes conviction—some might say a leap of faith—to go long on condos today. Housing experts have called the bottom again and again, only to see condo sales fall further. Yet if Related is right, the deal will burnish the firm's reputation in Chicago, where it so far has avoided the missteps that have crushed some rivals. With a construction pipeline that includes two 500-unit downtown apartment towers, Related has established itself as one of the busiest developers of the post-bubble era. In the South Loop, the firm plans to reposition the three projects, built by a joint venture of local developers Gerald Fogelson and Ronald Shipka Sr. and Cleveland-based Forest City Enterprises Inc. Unable to pay back their construction loans, the developers agreed to a “deed-in-lieu of foreclosure,” voluntarily handing the unsold condos over to a lender group led by Bank of America Corp., which brought in Related as a partner to finish the projects.The biggest development is One Museum Park West, a 54-story tower at the foot of Grant Park on South Prairie Avenue, with 238 unsold condos. The developers also gave up 98 unsold condos in 1600 Museum Park and 157 units in Museum Park Place South, nearby in the South Loop. Shipka and Fogelson and Forest City did not return phone calls. Given the strength of the apartment market, other lenders and developers have opted to work around the condo slump by renting out unsold units. But that option didn't make sense at the three South Loop buildings, where so many units already are occupied by owners, Mr. Bailey says. Having owners and renters living in the same building can create complications and conflict." Miss Penny Lane says: With this news she's i the loop too.

About blogger rights

Positively Palermo was asked why it has that bloggers rights illustration on this site. Part of the reason goes back to a couple of years when a person purporting to represent the HOA board said the board would be suing this site and hiring "Internet forensic experts" and that certain reader postings must be removed. We have yet not published the e-mails. Miss Penny Lane says: Her real outlet is gardening not blogging but she tries to spread cheer in both.

Palm Springs to Canada

Positively Palermo received this email from a resident on behalf of the Animal Samaritans shelter: "Hello Fosters!!YES…Canadian Seven 3!!!!! Once again we are pulling seven lucky small dogs from the county shelter and sending them to Canada!!! These lucky little ones will be pulled around July 9th or 10th and will fly to Canada on August 22nd. SO…this is where you all come in! We need to find fosters for all of them between July 10th and August 22nd. These foster pups will require a little more work as they will need to be brought to the clinic at least twice during their stay to be spayed/neutered and to have all their shots. Please let me know if you are ready and/or willing to take one or two of these little ones that are headed up north!!! 760-396-7313 THANK YOU!!!! Leslie Cyphers Animal Samaritans SPCA." Miss Penny Lane says: She wouldn't mind a trip to Canada with this triple-digit weather.

About the closing of Indian Canyon Drive

The news has a report on the closing of Indian Canyon Drive last night: "There's no levee. There was no flood. In fact, as Coachella Valley Water District officials stressed repeatedly today, Tuesday night's overflow at one of their replenishment ponds in northern Palm Springs means the valley is getting more water than it's using. And the district's backup systems are working just the way they're supposed to. "What actually happened was something that hasn't happened in two decades," said Robert Keeran, a spokesman for the district, during a Wednesday tour of the ponds, where water from the Colorado River percolates, or seeps, into the valley's aquifer. All 19 ponds were filled to capacity, so water from the last pond started overflowing into a retention area where it could also seep into the ground, he said. But because an overflow hadn’t happened in so long, Keeran said, it’s understandable that a Mission Springs Water District employee driving down Indian Canyon Drive might have thought the overflow represented a danger to the public. His call to the Palm Springs Police Department triggered the flood alert and resulting closure of Indian Canyon on Tuesday night. Could some future overflow reach Indian Canyon and cause some flooding? “I won’t say it can’t happen,” Keeran said. “The likelihood is very small, almost nonexistent.” You might remember that in January of 2011 there also was a closing like this. Miss Penny Lane says: She's lately been flooded with wonderful memories of good times at Palermo.