Happy Thanksgiving, Palermo

May you have a happy Thanksgiving Day at Palermo, or safe travels. Miss Penny Lane says: She's already stuffed.

Palms are added to the landscaping of the back pool

Palermo's second community swimming pool received an upgrade with the addition of three new Mexican fan palms — an expected early Christmas present. There now are nine such trees at this pool. The clubhouse pool has about 25 or 30 palms, all added this month as well. A poster here said they consider these new trees the symbol of Palermo's rebirth. Miss Penny Lane says: She's a fanatic of Palermo.

Open letter from an owner: 'Grand entryway' to Palermo's future

Positively Palermo received this e-mail: "Ms. Penny Lane. Thank you for your informative site. Could you post this as an Open Letter to the community? The letter - We were one of the first at Palermo and purchased our condo during the frenzied times, paid top dollar, in addition to $50,000 in developer upgrades. Those go-go-go days were so fun here at Palermo with new people moving in and a shared sense of wonderment of this special design and feel - like no where else for us. Yet shortly afterward even back then things happened like a $100 increase in dues in a single year. Later on we had dues increase of $25 or $30 per year, and we thought by 2013/2014 that the Palermo dues would be well over $500 per month. Palermo became a love-hate thing for us because we were not just underwater, we were in deep deep water, and we felt helpless and walking away was and is not an option for us. We felt in the dark oftentimes and we live away from PS and your Site was a godsend to us and it is still. But I guess my point is that, and what I want to get out and share to fellow owners, is we have become changed in thought; we are still underwater, but that Palermo is not a burden to us and we see it again as a long-term option and investment and future full-time home for us. The changes we have seen in the management have been fantastic and the dues staying another third year at $294 a month is such a relief. The new paint, trees, plants, and bank sale of the Enterprise places and the better bottom line are just great in our book and sort of unbelievable for the days of the crash. Our home just 2 years ago would sell for 1/3 of what we paid for it and now it is valued at 2/3s. Something is working at Palermo!  We have agents trying to get us to sell! Lastly, we too love the grand entryway of palms you published." Miss Penny Lane: She's in a colorful mood too despite the gray skies.

Grove of palms pop up at pool!

Palermo-ites came home from work tonight to a surreal scene of an instant, pop-up grove of Mexican fan palms at the community swimming pool that was not there this morning. How did this happen? Miss Penny Lane says: She thinks the grove is groovy.

Re-painted homes along Indian Canyon Drive

Sharp shot of the re-painted Palermo along Indian Canyon. It looks like the painters are moving down Melody Lane's west side. We also received an e-mail report of fresh "cover dirt" being spread where plants went in last week. We hope to get a picture soon of the new pool-side palms before they are untied. Miss Penny Lane says: She's on the move like her Palermo is these days.

Another picture of the clubhouse re-painted.

A picture of the side of the re-painted Palermo Palm Springs clubhouse. Miss Penny Lane says: She's enjoying her long weekend by soaking up some color herself.

Re-painting continues

Thanks to the Palermo-ite who sent us this picture of the re-painting that is going on. Miss Penny Lane says: She's ready for a colorful weekend.

New palm trees at the pool?

These palms were ripped out from Palermo front yards four years ago, to the concern of many Palermo residents of that time, and laid in the dirt to be taken away. Today, perhaps indicating the full circle of change, Palermo residents came home to see new palms popping up at the community pool. Please send pictures if you them of the new trees. Miss Penny Lane says: She's a fan.

Go vote, Palermo

It is Election Day in the city of Palm Springs. Palermo-ites vote at the community center a few blocks away across Indian Canyon Drive. Miss Penny Lane says: She's electing to start her day itch an extra large coffee.

Sleep in, Palermo

Did you turn your clocks back? Miss Penny Lane says: She's up and ready for the day.

Clubhouse re-paint

A Palermo resident sent us this picture of the Palermo clubhouse that is being re-painted. Please send any more along that you might have. Miss Penny Lane says: She's enjoying a bright day at Palermo.

Happy Halloween to Palermo

A Happy Halloween to Palermo from Positively Palermo. Miss Penny Lane says: She's in the mood for treats.

Photo of the re-painting of the Palermo community

Positively Palermo was asked to post a picture of the paint job going at Palermo. This one was taken a few days ago by the old Enterprise models, looking from the rear gate out. Miss Penny Lane says: She's begun her re-do too.

Market building has rental sign up

A new leasing sign has gone up at the site of the former Julian's Market. We update if we see movement over there. Miss Penny Lane says: She votes for a Starbucks.

Palermo HOA dues will stay the same for three years in a row

Breaking news: Positively Palermo now has the e-mail that indicates that the Palermo HOA monthly due will stay at the $294 level by the board's action. By our calculation, the dues were last hiked up in late 2011 to start in the next year. Dues were not increased for 2013 so this will mean no increase from January 2012, through 2013, and through December of 2014. With dues increasing at over 25 bucks a pop before this three-year period, the Palermo dues could have been approaching $400 per month by now, driving some for their homes. Interestingly, the e-mail suggests that the Palermo reserves have tripled over these two years. Miss Penny Lane says: Her make-up fund won't have to be raided in 2014, so she is happy but she'd gladly reduce her cosmetics bills for Palermo.

Palermo to get re-painted

BREAKING NEWS: Signs have gone up in the community saying that Palermo's residences will be getting a fresh coat of paint. This painting will start later in the month the signs say, and the signs direct you to a Web page of www.cprps.com for info about the progress of the painting. This news is breath-taking considering what the community has been through and what is means for the future. Miss Penny Lane says: She could use a facelift too.

Palermo original carpet types

Positively Palermo is continuing its look at upgrades or options available from the original developer. This is a picture of the carpet samples and names. Miss Penny Lane says: She likes Bashful.

Pools being emptied and cleaned

The annual emptying of the pool has begun at Palermo Palm Springs. Miss Penny Lane says: She's inspired and is getting out her scrubbing bubbles too.

Granite countertop options

Positively Palermo has been asked about the original Palermo upgrades and features available. Here is a sampling of the choices for granite countertops. We will show or discuss other options in the future. Miss Penny Lane says: She's rock solid in her love of Palermo.

3 years ago, Palermo was overflowing with homes for sale

What a different a few years makes. Positively Palermo looked into its archive and found this posting from September 2010 when Palermo was overflowing with distressed properties on the market. Three years later, only one home is up for sale, and it's not a distressed sale but a regular sale, at a price more than double the market lows. The 2010 posting read: "Here's a best guess of what's on the market based on for-sale signs in the windows or eviction/foreclosure-type notices posted on front doors. - 210 Enterprise. Two bedroom, two-floor D unit. 1,286 square feet. - 240 Enterprise. Two bedroom, two-story loft A-unit with a spa. 1,375 square feet. - 248 Sandy Point has a for-sale sign. Two bedroom, two-story loft A-unit. 1,375 square feet. - 258 Sandy Point has a for-sale sign. Two bedroom, two-story B-unit. 1,320 square feet. - 3587 Quiet Side. Two bedroom, single-level G-unit. 1131 square. feet - 3697 Quiet Side. Two bedroom, single-level G-unit. 1131 square feet. - 3586 Sunburst. Two bedroom, single-level G-unit. 1131 square feet. No sign but was listed online. - 3686 Sunburst. One bedroom, single-level E-unit. 831 square feet. (May have been sold recently.) - 3563 Penny Lane. Two bedroom, two-story C-unit with a spa. 1,275 square feet. - 272 Breeze Loop. Two bedroom, two-story loft A-unit. 1,375 square feet. - Also, word has it that a two bedroom, two-floor D unit, 1,286 square feet, on Melody Lane is in foreclosure with a bank auction." Miss Penny Lane says: She wishes aged as well as the timeless Palermo.

Murano rising!

The single-family subdivision of Murano Palm Springs, down the road from Palermo on San Rafael, is rising again with new construction. Murano was a sister development of the Palermo, originally built by the same company, the Enterprise Cos. of Chicago. Murano's undeveloped lots were sold to Far Western Industries after the bank took them over. Palermo's undeveloped lots were sold to another company. Miss Penny Lane says: She's up and rising and ready to take on the day, too.

Happy Labor Day, Palermo

Have a restful Labor Day holiday, and a peaceful drive back to your "other homes" for all the part-time residents here at Palermo for the long weekend. Miss Penny Lane says: Her biggest labor today will be refilling the pitcher of Cosmos.

Post card touts just-listed $299,900 listing

A resident has sent Positively Palermo post card that came in the mail advertising the $299,900 listing. Thanks! Miss Penny Lane says: She'll be shopping today for a new rain hat.