Eat, drink and be scary

Miss Penny Lane says: Remember to make sure that your night is filled with some sweetness, too. Happy Halloween, Palermo Palm Springs.

Wanted: A reliable solid gardener

Now that we have your attention, here's an emailed request from a Palermo Palm Springs homeowner: "Could you post asking for recommendations on gardeners? We are in dire need of someone reliable to keep our yard tidy and in check. Thanks for everything!!" Miss Penny Lane says: If she employed the gardener pictured here to keep her place tidy and in check, she'd probably be unwilling to share. But please post your suggestions for other prospects for this homeowner in need.

Weather reports for the Palermo snowbirds. UPDATE: More cities added

The snowbirds are flocking to Palm Springs. Positively Palermo has received a request from one Canadian owner to add the "back home" weather report for those here in the desert for the season or holidays. We've added some cities. See the left-hand column, under the Palm Springs weather report. E-mail if you have other recommendations. Miss Penny Lane says: Seeing the chilly weather in Chicago and Calgary makes her want to run to the hot tub.

10/29 UPDATE: Thanks for your ideas for more hometowns of Palermo second-home owners. We've added Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver in Canada and Minneapolis to the weather reports on the left-hand column of this blog. You can click on the individual cities to get forecasts.

Where to vote?

Where to vote this Tuesday? Positively Palermo received this e-mail request: "My partner and I are new to Palermo and we don't know where we go to vote. Can you help? Thanks." The answer is: You go to the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center at 480 W. Tramview Road, according to the elections office. To get there, go up Indian Canyon Drive and take a left. Miss Penny Lane says: She'll be glad when the election is over so she can once again watch her TV shows without having to put with the nasty Pougnet and Bono Mack ads.

Memory Lane: Remembering the building of the back swimming pool and Sandy Point Trail

Above photos are courtesy of Ms. Sarah

Positively Palermo is building an archive of original sales and building documents and noteworthy "old" photos for present and future residents to enjoy. To that end, we must thank owner Ms. Sarah for these pictures of the building of the back community pool and the condos on Sandy Point Trail. Watch for more pictures in the days ahead. Please e-mail any pictures you may they have of interest to: welovepalermo@yahoo.com. Miss Penny Lane says: She relishes going down "memory lane" to recall the birth of the community she loves with all her heart.

Trick or treat, Palermo-style

A morning stroll around Palermo Palm Springs reveals how our community is settling in and the neighborly spirit is flourishing. Just a couple of years ago you never would have seen a single Halloween decoration. That's not the case today. Miss Penny Lane says: She's watching her figure, so this Halloween she'll be sticking to a diet of eye candy at the pools.

Another bank lawsuit filed against Palermo developer Shipka. This is one is over Murano loans

There's another bank lawsuit against the developer of Palermo Palm Springs. This new suit concerns the nearby Murano Palm Springs single-family development on San Rafael that Enterprise California also was building. (See Positively Palermo's past postings for the details about other legal action regarding Enterprise's Palermo loan being in default.) The new article can be found on this link: http://www.chicagorealestatedaily.com. In the Oct. 21 article, titled "Developer hit with another lawsuit from MB Financial," Thomas A. Corfman of Crain's Chicago Business reports: 

"MB Financial has sued Chicago developer Ron Shipka Sr. again, this time to collect $2.2 million on a stalled project in Palm Springs. Combined with two cases filed in August, the Chicago-based bank is aiming to collect nearly $7 million from Mr. Shipka, president of Enterprise Cos.

The recent case is over a loan to finance a project of 57 single-family homes in the tony California city. The loan wasn't paid off when it came due in March, according to a complaint MB filed late last month in Cook County Circuit Court. Mr. Shipka is personally liable for about $2.2 million of the $8.1 million due on the loan, the bank says.

Called Murano, just nine homes have been completed in the 20-acre project, with four houses partially constructed, the Palm Springs director of planning said in an e-mail. The number of sold houses could not be determined. Mr. Shipka did not return calls requesting comment. Murano is less than a mile from an Enterprise townhouse project where MB sued Mr. Shipka in August, alleging default on another construction loan and seeking to collect $3.1 million.

In a third case, also filed in August, the bank is seeking to collect about $1.6 million in connection with a loan it says is past-due on a development site.

The bank is separately seeking a 'non-judicial foreclosure' of the Murano project, the new complaint says. The Murano loan, like the loans on the other projects, were issued by New Century Bank, a Chicago lender that regulators shut down in April and sold to MB Financial.

For the Murano loan, issued in 2007, Mr. Shipka personally guaranteed 25% of the unpaid principal and all unpaid interest and late charges, MB says. Suing to enforce personal guarantees isn't always necessary to protect a bank from a loss, but it is nonetheless an effective part of foreclosure litigation, says real estate lawyer Scott Kenig, who isn't involved in the litigation. 'It brings leverage,' says Mr. Kenig, a partner in Chicago-based Randall & Kenig LLP. 'Guarantors are usually individuals who don't want to be caught up in a lawsuit: It gets publicized, it's a mark on their credit.'


Miss Penny Lane says: Good grief!

Sales update

Positively Palermo posted a week or so ago that numerous residences had been snapped up, often by buyers from Canada paying all cash. At least one condo had multiple offers. In other case, the new buyer was offered more money to sell their new condo just a week or so after their purchase was completed, according to one real estate agent in the know. Two Palermo residences of note are on the market. As relayed last week, the two-bedroom "A" floor plan unit at 3533 Penny Lane had been listed. This nice residence was once the developer's model show unit. The A model show unit also moved to Breeze Loop and Melody Lane at different times. The status of the two-bedroom "D" floor plan unit at 210 Enterprise Way had been unclear. Scott Lyle Realty had listed it as a short sale in 2009. Then the for-sale sign came down, and the unit's front door was posted with bank paperwork indicating an impending foreclosure. Then it seemingly went off the market. The unit's front door now has posted on it a notice of an auction, set for Nov. 3 in Corona. See the above "Notice of Trustee's Sale" picture. Miss Penny Lane says: Now is your chance to join our jolly crew of good spirits at Palermo Palm Springs.

The colors of Palermo Palm Springs

The repainting of the orange-reddish color of Palermo's building continues, with crews progressing from Melody Lane to Sandy Point with priming and final coats. But the repainting has sparked interest in the other colors of Palermo, a modern combination that makes our community really stand-out in Palm Springs and sets a standard for future development on North Indian Canyon Drive. Thanks to the resident who contributed these design renderings that show how the colors work together. The paint color names: A) Petal Pink, B) Museum Rose, C) Bellingrath Castle, D) Deep Russet, E) Copper and F) Good Earth, according to these renderings. The builder could have modified the colors a bit after construction started. Miss Penny Lane: She longs to be this coordinated when she dresses to start her day.

Palermo Pool n' Pool party this evening at 7:30

Tonight is the informal get-together at the front swimming pool, hosted by our Palermo heroes Andy and Phillip. The party starts around 7:30 p.m. A pool tourney also is on tap. See the posting from Wednesday for more details and resident comments. All are welcome. Miss Penny Lane will be there in spirit and says: Choosing a party outfit is always a challenge but just remember a string of pearls is appropriate for any occasion.

Model D: The seven floor plans of Palermo Palm Springs

Our review of the seven floor plans of Palermo Palm Springs continues with the D model. The D model's 1,286 square feet makes it the third largest of the plans, after the A and B models. Fifteen of Palermo's 117 units are D models. You can tell the D models from the street because they have small front-yard enclosed patio areas, a unique feature for the two-story townhomes at Palermo. The D unit is two stories, with two bedrooms upstairs, 2.5 baths, upstairs sundeck, one-car garage, and private yard. Please note that the layouts of the first floor of many D units differ from the plan shown here. The developer moved the powder room to elsewhere on the ground floor and replaced it with a closet. Also, some units have long kitchen counters, but others have a pantry that cuts down on the counter space. Another change involves the outside wall that shields the front patio from the street. The wall has one large square opening, rather than the four openings depicted in the artist's rendering. At least five D models have private backyard spas, about a fifth of all private pools/spas at Palermo. The D models are at: 3522 Melody Lane with spa, 3532 Melody Lane, 3541 Melody Lane with spa, 3592 Melody Lane, 3601 Melody Lane with spa, 3611 Melody Lane, 215 Sandy Point Trail, 275 Sandy Point Trail, 3525 Sunburst with spa, 210 Enterprise Way, 220 Enterprise Way, 3594 Penny Lane, 252 Breeze Loop, 301 Breeze Loop with spa and 311 Breeze Loop. Miss Penny Lane says: She wishes she had a D model with a private spa, so when her Romeo turns up she could splash around and have toasts and treats under the moonlight.

Who's up for a pool party this Saturday evening?

Pool party this Saturday evening! A Palermo resident has asked us to post this announcement:

"My friend Phillip and I would like to host a very casual get together at the big pool on Saturday the 16th at 7:30 PM.  We will provide some snacks and beverages (in cans of course) and please feel free to bring whatever else you'd like.  This is just a chance for the neighbors to meet each other and to have a little fun.  Hope to see you!

Andy"

What a wonderful idea to have a laid-back chance to meet more neighbors. A big thank-you to Andy and Phillip for coming up with this plan to promote our community spirit. Miss Penny Lane says: Those summer temperatures are hanging around, so it's back to the pool for Palermo, and a Cosmo on ice will quench her thirst while she's watching our local hotties.

Sales crazy at Palermo

Positively Palermo reported earlier that since June, buyers from Canada have snatched up at least four or five residences here. But that's only part of the story. By our count, at least 11 condos have been sold in the past 90 days, are in escrow, have offers in short sale transactions, or one case may have been taken off the market for rental. Two other condos also appear to be in the sales process, but it's unclear. Our real estate sources report that numerous sales have been all cash and some units have been sold after only brief listings in the MLS. They also report that the condition of the unit, its location in the complex, size of the private back yard and whether there's a spa are beginning to be factors, rather than just price. Right now, there's not much left. The two-bedroom A model unit at 3533 Penny Lane, near Enterprise Way, was just listed. The status of the two-bedroom D model at 210 Enterprise is unclear, as it was posted as a foreclosure but apparently hasn't been listed for sale on the Internet for more than a year. Miss Penny Lane says: The rest of the world is waking up to the fact that, despite the problems with our management company, we live in the best community in Palm Springs.

Weighty matters

Happy weekend, Palermo-ites. A thank-you to those responsible for repairing some of the equipment in the fitness center. The stretching mats and some work-out balls still are missing. But the real hero who merits thanking is the resident who donated his weights to our gym. Someone awhile back took off with some of the original ones. Miss Penny Lane says: She'd love to tone up with some weight training, and perhaps there's a shapely personal trainer among us who could give her some assistance.

NEW FEATURE: Detailed maps, information about the streets of Palermo and unit location and types

Positively Palermo is happy to announce a big addition to this community site. Ever wonder which unit is which on the streets of Palermo Palm Springs? This site has added detailed maps of Palermo's eight streets, including the address, unit number and floor plan type of each condo. Just click on the "Maps of Palermo: Streets and unit types" on the left-hand side of this page. Or click this link —http://positivelypalermo.blogspot.com/p/detailed-maps-of-palermo-street.html — to get there. We hope this new feature also will help possible homebuyers who e-mail because they are confused about the type of models and location of condos on the property. Please let us know of any changes. Miss Penny Lane says: Enjoy!

First look at the repainting

The first building on Melody Lane now has been repainted with the reddish-orange color. (Thanks to the resident for sending in the photo.) Miss Penny Lane says: Wonderful.

Maps of Palermo

Positively Palermo received requests for information on the streets of Palermo Palm Springs and the sizes of the private yards. The yards of the units vary greatly in shape and size. The top map is of the Phase 1 of Palermo, although there were some changes made to the community after the map was produced. Namely, the shape and location of the main pool is different. The front spa also is in a different location. Some of the driveways are less curvy after the city demanded changes. The map in the middle is another of Phase 1, although unfortunately some of the condos on the west side of the community have been cut off. The bottom map is a basic drawing of Palermo Palm Springs at full build-out with Phase 2 completed. (Thank you to the various sources who helped us gather these maps.) Miss Penny Lane says: Armed with these maps, she'll never get lost in this community again.

Repainting and power washing update

The repainting of the reddish color paint at Palermo Palm Springs is proceeding, slow but sure. Painters this week began applying the second coat of paint on the homes on Melody Lane by the gate, after working the past weeks on priming. It now appears that some homes will be power-washed again because the painters are behind. Here's an email sent out to owners today by the community manager:

"Palermo Residents, Power washing will start again approximately Oct 20 on Breeze Loop staying about a week plus ahead of the following schedule. DWJ cleans the exterior windows right after they power wash. After the 'street scene' is painted we will need to schedule access to the rear yards.
West Side of Melody Lane, 9.27.2010 thru 10.8.2010
East Side of Melody Lane, 10.11.2010 thru 10.21.2010
North Side of Sandy Point Trail, 10.22.2010 thru 11.2.2010
South Side of Sandy Point Trail, 11.3.2010 thru 11.15.2010
North Side of Breeze Loop, 11.16.2010 thru 11.24.2010
West Side of Penny Lane, 11.29.2010 thru 12.8.2010
East Side of Penny Lane, 12.9.2010 thru 12.20.2010
North Side of Enterprise Way, 12.21.2010 thru 12.30.2010
West Side of Sunburst Blvd., 1.3.2011 thru 1.12.2011
East Side of Sunburst Blvd, 1.13.2011 thru 1.21.2011
West Side of Quiet Side Street, 1.24.2011 thru 2.2.2011
South Side of Quiet Side Street, 2.3.2011 thru 2.10.2011
North Side of Foothill Avenue, 2.11.2011 thru 2.18.2011
Clubhouse, 2.21.2011 thru 2.25.2011."

Thanks to the resident who forwarded this e-mail to Positively Palermo, as this community blog does not receive these updates. Miss Penny Lane says: She knows from experience that some beauty treatments take a long time. But with the "street scene" painting set to be done in February, the new reddish coating will make a perfect Valentine's gift.

Who is our security company?

Some residents are confused about the security company for Palermo Palm Springs. One reason for the confusion is that at least five Colt Security signs are up in the public areas of the community even though Colt has been fired. Another reason for the confusion is that renters too often are left out of the loop. The Palermo HOA has hired Coachella Valley Security as our new security company. There are different numbers to call depending on the time of day and nature of the call. Our management company sent out an e-mail with the telephone numbers, but the message was somewhat unclear because the times of when to call each number was a bit mangled and left gaps in service. No clarifying e-mail apparently has gone out to residents. Here are the numbers as far as Positively Palermo can tell:
- Main number during the day: 760-200-8999.
- After hours number: 760-534-0560.
- Non-emergency answering service, after hours: 760-778-7469.
- Fax: 760-200-5082.

Miss Penny Lane says: Here's to hoping you never have to use any of these numbers.

Canadian buyers go loonie for Palermo

The past weeks have seen an explosion in sales activity at Palermo Palm Springs. Condo after condo has been snapped up. The for-sale signs are coming down. If you go on the Internet, even the units with signs still up in their windows are listed as "pending" sales. Let's all hope that the would-be buyers can complete their purchases and join our jolly crew of good spirits here at Palermo. One big factor in the sales activity has been Canadians buying up properties here. One resident has e-mailed to say Canadians recently have bought at least four condos in the development. One short sale of an A-model  condo in excellent condition (with a backyard spa) went for $75,000 more than the so-called distressed properties in foreclosure. The folks from the far north know a smart buy when they see one. Miss Penny Lane says: She's more a Cosmo girl, but she's stocking up on six packs of Labatt Blue and Molson to welcome our new neighbors. A good plan, eh?

Alert: Front exit gate is broken. UPDATE: It's fixed now

The exit gate to North Indian Canyon Drive is busted. The metal arm is detached from the left-side gate and that part of the gate is now sitting open. The right-side of the exit gate still opens when a car approaches to leave the complex, but it's probably best to use the back exit gate to San Rafael. Thanks to the resident who alerted Positively Palermo and sent in this picture. Miss Penny Lane says: She's sure the our management company and security patrol will get this fixed, chop chop chop.

10/3 UPDATE: The exit gate has been repaired.

Clubhouse pool table gets some rehab

Good news to share. A resident informs Positively Palermo that repairmen have replaced the clubhouse pool table's felt. There also are new pool sticks and balls. Thanks to the HOA for getting this done after a resident raised concerns about damage to the felt. A Palermo Palm Springs pool tournament may be in order to inaugurate our spruced-up table. Miss Penny Lane says: She's game, if one of those burly guys from the Quiet Side one evening would spend some time helping improve her technique.

Palermo Palm Springs gets a little rinsing

Palermo Palm Springs received some rain today, such a rare happening of late that it merits a note here. A resident submitted this picture looking out the north side of our community toward the windmills and the Little San Bernardino Mountains. The lucky residents living on the north side of Melody Lane get treated to these mountain views every day. Miss Penny Lane says: She's just lucky her garage isn't full of junk. Otherwise, she would have needed to park outside and the rain would have wrecked the shampoo and perm she just got at the Turquoise salon on Palm Canyon Drive.