Bids due May 20 on Enterprise's former condos and Phase 2 property at Palermo. It's being marketed on the Internet

The foreclosed-upon 34 condos at Palermo Palm Springs once owned by Ron Shipka's Enterprise Cos. and the undeveloped Phase 2 land is up for sale as a package. Positively Palermo has learned that the "offer date" is 1 p.m. Friday, May 20 — meaning there may soon by a new owner and the bank holding the loan could be gone. It's all on the Internet site of The Hoffman Company. Here's is the link for the Hoffman Web site.  The listing says what's for sale is: 40 built condo units (34 ones being rented out and six models), 88 improved lots in Phase 2, and .82 acres of commercial land. Here is how it is described: "This well positioned investment and development opportunity is one of the last remaining bulk standing inventory purchases available in the Coachella Valley today. Palermo has been partially built and units have sold to homebuyers with the clubhouse and pool previously built and currently open for residents." The marketing flyer adds:

• "34 Fully-Completed Condominium Units, Currently 100% Leased.
• 6 Near-Completed Model Home Condominium Units.
• 88 Improved Residential Lots Well Poised for Future Development.
• .82 Acre Commercial Land Corner Partially Improved with Space for a 10,000 sq. ft. Pad.
• First New Development Potential Home Buyers Come to When Entering Palm Springs/Coachella Valley from Interstate-10/ Hwy. 111.
• Less Than 2 Miles Away from Downtown Palm Springs with Shopping, Dining, Resorts, Casinos, & Spas.
• Small Home Sizes from 831 sq. ft. to 1,375 sq. ft.
• Entry Level Homes are the Fastest Selling Product in the Coachella Valley today.
• Gated Well-Planned Community with Majority of the Common Area Improvements Already Installed Including Clubhouse & Pool.
• Modern Architecture Popular for Palm Springs area which Attracts Desired Buyer Profile.
• One of the Last Remaining Bank-Owned Improved Properties Available in Supply-Constrained Palm Springs!
• One of the Last Remaining Standing Inventory Properties Available in the Coachella Valley!"
There is a second property tour scheduled from 10 a.m to 4 p.m. Thursday, May 12. You can read past postings here about the foreclosure, with most recently MB Bank calling in the Enterprise loan and moving the assets into an LLC. Miss Penny Lane says: Thank you to Palermo's resident real estate pro for this head's up. She's so excited she might just have a Cosmo (or two) tonight to celebrate. Cheers!

Back spa is still yellow-taped

Positively Palermo received this e-mail: "Penny, why is the yellow tape still around the entrance to the back spa?" Miss Penny Lane says: She's been using the front spa. Does anyone care to join her tonight?

What's for sale?

We've been asked about residences for sale at Palermo Palm Springs. There hasn't been a lot of inventory. Our guess is four units of the 117 units here are up for sale or will be shortly. They all are D model units. The units are:
- 210 Enterprise Way, near the main entrance. For sale sign in the window.
- 3532 Melody Lane. No sign but it's believed this is or will be on the market because of foreclosure.
- 3592 Melody Lane, at the corner of Breeze Loop. No sign but it's believed this is or will be on the market because of foreclosure. No Trespassing sign on the door.
- 3525 Sunburst Blvd. For sale sign in window. This unit has a spa or possibly a spool. The original owners purchased a $50,000 spa, yard and other upgrade package from the developers.
 See our Oct. 15, 2010 posting for layouts of the D model. Here's a bit of background on this 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. Some of these changes were available as upgrades. 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 above. Miss Penny Lane says: Snap up one of these so you can join our jolly crew of good spirits at Palermo Palm Springs.

Meeting report anyone?

Positively Palermo received this e-mail request: "Did anyone go to the HOA meeting last night? Anyone have a report on what happened? Anything?" Miss Penny Lane says: Good questions!

Indian Canyon closed again

Indian Canyon Drive is closed at the wash, between Palermo Palm Springs and the 10 freeway. Miss Penny Lane says: Again!

Board meeting this evening

A Palermo Palm Springs owner has forwarded us an e-mail reminding people about the HOA meeting at 6 tonight. The call-in number is 800-423-1988. Passcode: 1527872. Miss Penny Lane says: Thanks for the reminder.

Happy Easter, Palermo Palm Springs

Happy Easter wishes to you all. Miss Penny Lane says: She rose early for a morning parade around our lovely Palermo. She had on her new robin's egg blue bonnet with lots of frills upon it.

Why does the spa in the back pool area have yellow tape blocking the steps?

Positively Palermo received this e-mail: "Hi Penney, Do you or anybody else know why the hot tub in the back has been yellow-taped? It's been like that for a couple of days and the pool guy was here today and it still taped. I saw this pool-closed sign that was blowen in a bush when I went to take the trash out that says there's a chemical problem and the emergency shut off switch is borken and that a reinspection will be on 5/4. Did this blow away from our pool?? I put the sign back by the pool, just incase. Sent you some pix. Thanks." Miss Penny Lane says: She could use a nice soak after the long week, so does anyone know what's going on?

A free way to get rid of all that stuff

Got a lot of big items or other stuff you want to trash? The garbage company as part of a city-wide clean-up is offering a free drop-off this Saturday. The Web site of Palm Springs Disposal Services says, "Debris boxes will be available Saturday of Clean Up week in the north parking lot of City Hall. Access into the lot will be off of Civic Drive. The boxes will be open to the public from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. PSDS will have personnel available to assist the elderly or handicapped with off loading their vehicle. No hazardous waste will be accepted at this site." Miss Penny Lane says: She's a bit of a hoarder, and her hat collection alone fills up one closet, but you may see her there on Saturday parting with a few precious items.

Trash cans rolling down the streets

Positively Palermo has received this e-mail: "Hello everyone this is Perry.Yesterday I found 4 garbage cans flying around due to the wind. I brought them all back where they belonged.Two of them had addresses so it was easy to bring them back but the other ones did not and took some investigation to figure out where they belonged. I think it would be a good idea for everyone to put their address on the lid and can so that if the winds take them people can get them back to you." Miss Penny Lane says: Thank you for the idea and the community spirit.

College of the West meeting tonight

A reminder that the Palm Springs City Council meeting on the new West Valley campus of College of the Desert is at 6 tonight at City Hall. We're hoping to get a full report and post it soon. In the meantime, here's an ariel shot of the new proposed campus, to be located up a couple of blocks and across Indian Canyon Drive from Palermo Palm Springs. Miss Penny Lane says: She can't wait.

Indian Canyon still closed

As of this morning, Indian Canyon Drive between Palermo Palm Springs and the 10 was still closed because of the sand on the road. Miss Penny Lane says: These closures are seriously getting out of control because she can't get to the DQ and is experiencing dilly bar withdrawal.

More buzz on hornet nests

Positively Palermo received this e-mail: "Penny, I've noticed some hornet nests in the vicinity of Penny Lane (the street, not our Palermo patron saint). Have others seen this problem? Thanks for what you do." Miss Penny Lane says: She wants no bees (hornets) in her Easter bonnet.

Head's up: Big meeting about the neighboring College of the Desert campus on Wednesday

The Palm Springs City Council at 6 p.m. Wednesday will hold an important meeting on the new College of  Desert campus. The new campus will be just north of Palermo Palm Springs on the west side of Indian Canyon Drive. The city bought 119 acres from the federal government and gave it the college. Valley voters passed a bond to build the campus. The City Council on Wednesday will discuss the new campus but also will consider zoning and other changes in the surrounding area as part of a "master plan" that will transform the area and put Palermo in the midst of new development. The plan envisions additional commercial development, including "convenience and neighborhood-serving development along Indian Canyon Drive." In all, the campus and campus-related business incubator will have 650,000 square feet of building space. The business incubator will have 230,000 square feet of offices, shops, labs and exhibit space. The campus will have 420,000 square feet of building space for academic facilities such as classrooms and labs, administrative and support buildings, transit hub and renewable energy installations. Positively Palermo hopes to have more a detailed report, courtesy of a resident in the know, in the next days. Miss Penny Lane says: She's making an educated guess that Palermo is the place to be, now and when the neighborhood transformation begins.

Problems with this site's pictures and weather boxes?

Positively Palermo received this e-mail from a new Palermo Palm Springs owner: "Just hoping you have a quick fix for the photos and weather as you blog is an almost daily stop." We did find one photo that had a problem and replaced it. But we've been told by others that they are able to view all the others photos and weather. If anyone else is having this problem, please post or e-mail. Miss Penny Lane says: It's too nice a day to spend at the computer. She's already been to the pool enjoying the warm weather. Did you see her to say hi?

Foreclosure on 34 "Enterprise" condos was finalized on April 1

Here's an important update that was posted elsewhere on this site on Thursday, from Michael Heath of Village Property Management. It reads: "Updates on Developer-owned units and vacant land: For those Palermo residents who have not yet heard, the foreclosure on the developer-owned units and land was finalized as of April 1, 2011. The new property owners, NCB Development IX, LLC took title on April 1, 2011. Michael Heath with Village Property Management will finalize his Court Receivership duties as of the end of April. Village Property Management will continue to manage the units, sales models and vacant land under a new management agreement with property owner. If we can be of any service please do not hesitate to contact us at 760-325-9824 or email me at mheath@vpmrents.com." Miss Penny Lane says: Thank you for the update.

Note: We've received e-mails and posts about some pictures and weather temperatures disappearing and messages going to spam, please e-mail if you are having problems.

Enterprise finds a white knight for Chicago condo development

Residents of Palermo Palm Springs have been wondering for the Enterprise Cos. has really cut its ties to Palermo. The Chicago-based developer had delayed for months the foreclosure on its unsold Palermo condos and the undeveloped Phase 2 land for more settlement talks that eventual weren't successful. Now there's interesting news from Chicago about an Enterprise project there. The Chicago Home For Sale blog reports: "Developer Ron Shipka of Enterprise Cos. "managed to pull out a last minute save in the form of a buyer and avoid a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure at Walton on the Park. The developers were poised to sign over the high-rise to lender ST Residential, according to a recent Crain’s report. With only 33 closings in the 189 unit tower, they were a long way from being able to pay back the $82 million construction loan that was coming due. The Dart family of the Dart Container Corporation stepped in and paid off the loan on the 31 story Gold Coast tower and plans to lease the unsold luxury Chicago condos there. The condos at Walton on the Park, which is located on 2 West Delaware Street, average about 1,464 square feet. Coldwell Baker is marketing the one to three bedroom units and just recently began advertising monthly rates." Crain's Chicago Business reports: "Developers Ronald Shipka and Richard Stein have achieved an extraordinary feat in today's real estate market: They have found a wealthy investor to pay off an $82-million construction loan on a slow-selling Gold Coast condominium project. The Dart family, owners of cupmaker Dart Container Corp., emerged earlier this month as a last-minute savior for the developers, who were getting ready to surrender Walton on the Park to its lender, ST Residential LLC. Without enough condo sales to pay off the maturing construction loan on the 189-unit luxury project, the developers needed a minor miracle, and the Darts delivered it.'It looked like a good investment and the time is right, so we decided to move forward,'says Francis Liesman, assistant general counsel for Mason, Mich.-based Dart, the world's largest maker of foam cups and containers. He confirms that a venture controlled by the Dart family paid off the Walton on the Park loan balance in full, declining to identify the individual investors or make them available for interviews. Amid the depressed condo market, many construction lenders have taken over struggling projects through foreclosure or consensual handovers. But the eventual payoff usually is either a fraction of the amount owed or pushed so far into the future that it's hard to calculate. Getting paid in full is the exception these days." Miss Penny Lane says: Maybe some of that good fortune will blow over from the Windy City.

The colors of a Palermo spring

Here's another beautiful picture from Palermo photographer JT. Miss Penny Lane says: The colors are as vibrant at Palermo and its residents.

Indian Canyon Drive closed because of blowing sand

Here we go again. The "closed" signs are up on Indian Canyon Drive. The road is closed from just north of Palermo to the 10 because of blowing sand. Gene Autry Trail also may soon be closed. There are gusts up to 45 mph in town. It's expected to calm down by later tonight. Miss Penny Lane says: She's busy washing her linens so she can put them out to dry in this wind just like her mama used to do and besides, it's the green way to go.

Warm-hearted story

Here's a nice e-mail that Positively Palermo received: "Hello Penny, I thought the community would like to know a cute story. I was going around door to door with 7 year old son Gavin for a fund raiser.  I wanted to start teach him the fine art of meeting strangers and introducing himself so that he starts to learn how to present himself. Well, he just had a ball meeting the people we caught home. Some bought, some did not and some gave a donation. The people of the community here just treated him so good and helped him learn some life lessons. On the way home he goes 'Dad, the people here just have niceness in their hearts.' Exactly what I wanted him to learn in a community environment. So eveyone give your selves a pat on the back because you do make a difference. Perry." Miss Penny Lane says: "Niceness in their hearts" is her new favorite saying.

The wilds of Palermo Palm Springs

Another lovely picture from our Palermo photographer JT. This one is of wildlife in our community. (We have another JT photo to share in the next day or so.) Miss Penny Lane says: Beautiful, in so many ways!

Plants of Palermo: 'Desert Museum' Palo Verde trees

This site has been highlighting some of the plants on the city's approved landscaping plan for Palermo Palm Springs. Our Feb. 24 posting looked was the "agave desmettiana" that is now flowering our the development. Our March 30 posting focused on the "bougainvillea oh la la" plant. Today we're looking at the hybrid Palo Verde trees. The scientific name is Cercidium h. Desert Museum, because it was developed at the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum in Tucson. The very top picture is of a tree flowering at Palermo last year. The middle picture is of the tree lit up at Christmas. The lower picture is from the Palermo landscaping plan. Here is some information about it: "This semi-evergreen, thornless, Palo Verde hybrid exhibits qualities found in Foothill, Blue and Mexican Palo Verde, provides ample shade, distinctive rich green trunks and branches that, similar to the Palo Brea, remain smooth as they mature, and abundant brilliant yellow flowers that appear in spring and intermittently during the summer months. In the late 1970s Mark Dimmitt with the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum began noticing Blue Palo Verdes that exhibited characteristics suggesting they were hybrids of other Palo Verde species. He collected and planted seeds from the assorted trees he had observed and began evaluating them. By 1981 he had identified a thornless seedling as clearly superior to the others collected. Careful evaluation of the genetic composition of this hybrid, named 'Desert Museum,' revealed it to be a complex hybrid having genetic characteristics from Mexican, Blue and Foothill Palo Verde. Dimmitt suspects that 'Desert Museum' gets it vigorous growth, sturdy, upright branching habit and bright flowers from P. aculeate, and its small delicate leaves from the Cercidium species. Trees have tolerated temperatures of 15 degrees without damage . The most remarkable and unique feature of this hybrid is the absence of thorns. Flowers are slightly larger than those of P. aculeata and other Cercidiums and trees have been observed to flower abundantly as early as mid-March with intense, full bloom lasting into late spring and early summer. Intermittent flowering can continue into the mid to late fall. Pruning and staking is best done during the growing season when the trees limbs are more flexible. The v-shapes branching, thornless growth and ample shade make Desert Museum a pedestrian friendly desert adapted tree that could be used in a wide array of landscape applications. Foster the development of a more dispersed root system and reduce the risk of wind throw by arranging irrigation emitters at varying distances from the trunk to encourage roots to "seek out" water and nutrients. Prune as needed to reinforce the structure and form of the tree. Periodic thinning is the most desirable method of pruning. Avoid hedging or heading back desert species, as this will only stimulate excessive branching. Do not remove more than 30% of the canopy during the summer as this can lead to sunburn injuries that can later be invaded by wood boring insects." Miss Penny Lane says: For the last several years she's awaited the yellow flowers every spring and celebrates them by buying a bag of lemons for an evening martini.

Where the boys are

Positively Palermo wishes a happy White Party to residents and visitors in Palm Springs for the big bash. Miss Penny Lane says: She'll be cruising by the Palermo pools a bit more this weekend hoping to see some eye candy. A girl can dream, can't she?

Gusts of up to 65 mph may hit the valley

Strong winds are expected throughout Palm Springs. The newspaper is reporting: "Forecasters warned of strong winds and low visbility in the Coachella Valley today as a low-pressure system from the Gulf of Alaska moves toward Southern California. Sustained wind speeds of 30 to 40 mph and gusts up to 65 mph are expected Thursday afternoon and evening, according to the National Weather Service. The weather service issued a high wind warning that’s in effect until 10 p.m. and said blowing dust and sand could cut visibility to nearly zero at times. The winds from the west foretell the coming of a low-pressure system that’s moving south along the West Coast. The system was centered over Oregon early this morning, according to the weather service. As the system reaches the Southland on Friday, forecasters from the weather service and AccuWeather predict that the Coachella Valley’s high temperatures will sink into the 60s as the valley faces a slight chance of rain. Skies are expected to clear and temperatures will begin to rebound over the weekend." Miss Penny Lane says: She's prepared because last night she drove to the new Rite-Aid on Sunrise to buy more bobby pins to fasten down her spring bonnet.

Propping open the locked pool gates

Positively Palermo received this e-mail request: "Miss Penny, Please relay to the owners doing short-term rentals, i.e. weekly and weekend, that they should tell their renters the rules. That the least they could do for the rest of us if they are breaking the CC and R's. The family with kids staying at 2?8 Sandy Point propped open the main pool gate with a rock and then just decided to leave the gate wide open when they exited the pool area. There's a lock on the gate for a reason, right?" Miss Penny Lane says: Thank you for the concern.

Xoxo for the Dinah Shore

The gals are back in town. Happy Dinah Shore weekend. Remember this pearl of wisdom from Ms. Dinah: "I'd like people to remember that I really tried everything within my range of reality," she said. "And that whatever I did, I did with all my heart." Miss Penny Lane says: Her reality is great because she and her heart are at the wonderful Palermo Palm Springs.

The seven floor plans of Palermo Palm Springs: The one-bedroom F model

Palermo Palm Springs has seven floor plans. There are five plans with two bedrooms and two plans with one bedroom. Go to the archives on the left-hand column of this page to find the floor plans already added. Model A was posted on Sept. 16, 2010. Model B was Sept. 28, 2010. Model C was Nov. 22, 2010. Model D was Oct. 15, 2010. Model G was Sept. 19, 2010. Today, we are looking at the one-bedroom F model plan. It is 936 square feet, or about 100 square feet bigger than the one-bedroom E model. The F models feature one bedroom, office or den area, 1.5 baths, private front yard and carport. Key differences between the F model and the smaller E model include: The extra half bath, a larger den/office area, and a pass-through closet from the bedroom to the full bathroom. There are 12 Model F units at Palermo, on Sunburst Blvd., Quiet Side Street and Foothill. They are at: 3636 Sunburst (#197), 3646 Sunburst (#200), 3656 Sunburst (#201), 3666 Sunburst (#204), 3588 Quiet Side (#185), 3598 Quiet Side (#187), 3637 Quiet Side (#199), 3647 Quiet Side (#202), 3657 Quiet Side (#203), 3667 Quiet Side (#206), 3508 Foothill (#186) and 3518 Foothill (#184). Miss Penny Lane says: The F must stands for fabulous.


UPDATE: The Model E floor plan was added May 25, 2011.