Virgin America flights options from Palm Springs to continue

Good news about air travel from Palm Springs: "Virgin America airlines is renewing its daily nonstop service from San Francisco to Palm Springs and seasonal daily 'same plane' flights to and from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport next fall through next spring, the city announced today. The seasonal service will be offered Oct. 18 through April 30, 2013." Miss Penny Lane says: SHe doesn't need to go to San Francisco because she can find all the polka dotted dresses she needs in Palm Springs.

Home sales bump up, and prices too in the valley

A news report has good news about home sales in the valley. It says: "The Coachella Valley's median home price in March climbed above $200,000 for the first time in nearly a year amid robust sales, a new report shows. The valley's median price — half sold for more, half for less — was $210,000 last month, up from $195,000 in February and about $205,000 in March 2011, San Diego-based real estate information provider DataQuick reported. The valley's median price hovered around $168,000 for much of the fall, inching forward in fits and starts in recent months. Some 1,152 homes sold last month, a 3.3 percent increase from March 2011. It's also up from 876 in February. Nearly 60 newly built homes sold last month, still a relatively low number but almost twice as many as in February. March was the ninth consecutive month of year-over-year home sales increases in the valley, DataQuick reported. With home inventories particularly low in some communities, buyers increasingly find they must compete to get the homes they want." Miss Penny Lane says: She's going to enjoy her own home today, starting with having morning tea in the yard.

Call Taxi to give the bugs a one-way ride out of Palermo

Positively Palermo received this e-mail: "Dear Miss Penny Lane! We just took over doing the pest control for Beautiful Palermo. I was delighted to see your site and would like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves. Since we now take care of the general pest control perhaps we should be included in the vendor list. We offer a discounted rate to homeowner's at Palermo should they be in need of interior pest control service. We also offer free termite inspections should any homeowner need one for escrow in the event of a sale. In addition, the homeowner's should have our information to report any wasp activity - as we did the wasp eradication for the community. Contact me should you desire further information." The contact for Taxi Exterminators is (760) 772-2100. Miss Penny Lane says: The only thing that bugs her are those who don't appreciate Palermo.

More about the history of the San Rafael gate

Positively Palermo was asked for more information about the second exit gate from Palermo Palm Springs. See the post from earlier in the week on the models. This is a copy of a letter from the developer, the Enterprise Cos., that owners received when the project was under construction and later used to have the city instruct the company to add the gate. Miss Penny Lane says: She's on her way out right now to the gate to make her way into the world.

Management info to be updated

Positively Palermo received a request that we change/update the management information on this site now that Desert Resort Management was terminated and Euclid Management was hired. We are unsure if we have the right information so if someone send along, thank you. Miss Penny Lane says: She's ready to be updated as well and will start by spring cleaning her closet.

Memory Lane: Remembering the models in 2007

There has been discussion about the clean-up around the vacant model units of Palermo Palm Springs. Today we go down Memory Lane and publish one of our photos from 2007 when a sidewalk was where the street now is and a metal fence guided buyers down the sidewalk. The street from the already built Palermo condos to the exit gate on San Rafael did not come until about a year later after we complained to the city about not having the second gate. (Pay no attention to the doodle!). Miss Penny Lane says: She use to love to stroll back and forth along the sidewalk to decide which model might be hers.

108 today?

The mercury might hit 108 today, and it was 107 yesterday. Miss Penny Lane says: What ever happened to April showers?

Mango closes

Late last year, Positively Palermo noted that the a new restaurant was opening in the space of the former Dink's eatery on Palm Canyon Drive, which is perhaps the closet "fining dining" restaurant space to Palermo Palm Springs. Now, just months later, this new restaurant called Mango Restaurant and Ultra Lounge is closing. Miss Penny Lane says: She promises to make it to the next one that opens there.

Clean up continues

The clean-up of the bank-owned property (the models and undeveloped land) continued today. We have been told that crews were even on the outside on San Rafael cleaning up. Let's hope this signals a new era. Thank you! The bankrupt Avalon property boarding Palermo regularly has had landscaping crews keeping it tidy, but Palermo's bank-owned frontage didn't seem to receive similar treatment. Miss Penny Lane says: She's getting inspired and soon will tackle her own yard.

The area around the vacant models gets a clean-up

Positively Palermo received a report of a major clean-up by Emilio's Gardeners of the landscaping around the model units, which aside from a tree removal and trimming may be the first big sprucing up the around the models since a Chicago bank took over this property. The trees were trimmed back after complaints (the trees were hanging down into the street for a long period.) Let's hope this is a sign of interest by the bank. Miss Penny Lane says: Could a clean-up crew come to her yard too?

Gym door

Positively Palermo received this e-mail comment: "Hi Penny. I heard that it was discussed about the door to the gym being left open with a rock or dumbbell. This a SAFETY concern since anyone can just walk in and stay in the clubhouse after the person using the gym is long gone. Equipment and furniture could be stolen so please speed the word: DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR LIKE THIS." Miss Penny Lane says: She'd close the door if she ever made it to the gym.

Cheerio to the change

Positively Palermo received this e-mail about Monday's HOA board meeting: "Hi Penney, Thanks for your service. I have to admit to you that I don't come to your site as much as I did when I was more concerned about Palermo, but about tonight's condo board meeting, I wanted to say that I was duly impressed by the professionalism of the management team of Euclid, the new manager of Palermo. Wow. I'm feeling good from what I heard from the parts I listened in on tonight, so like you would say cheerio." Miss Penny Lane says: She's never said cheerio before but it might now just become her new favorite word. Cheerio.

Palermo, where troubles melt like lemon drops

A Palermo-ite sent in this lovely photo. Miss Penny Lane says: She bought one of those lottery tickets and lost, but living at Palermo is like having a pot of gold.

Ready for Coachella?

The Coachella Music Festival is upon us. Is Palermo Palm Springs ready? It reminds us of a posting from last year about a weekend rental on Sandy Point. The 2011 post said: "You may have seen this reader comment regarding weekly and weekend rentals at Palermo Palm Springs: There's a "craigslist ad for an owner who is trying to get $1k for the Coachella music festival. I like the part where it says 'Sleeps 10.' It ad says: '1 Cal King Bed/1 Queen/2 Queen Air Mattresses/Couch folds into Queen Bed (Have comfortably slept 10 people), Attached Garage and Backyard with BBQ, 2 Community Pools and Jacuzzis, Community Clubhouse with Pool Table and Gym, $1000 for Thursday-Monday OBO....make an offer." Miss Penny Lane says: She's showing her age when she knows none of the acts playing.

Earthquake swarms in the valley

The paper is reporting: "An area just northeast of the Coachella Valley has been shaking, rattling and rolling for more than a week. More than 40 small quakes have erupted in the past week in an area about 4 to 11 miles northeast of Indio. Most are in the magnitude 1 to 2 range, but the quakes reached a magnitude 3.5 on April 3 and a magnitude 3.0 last Thursday. They are near but not on the San Andreas fault." Miss Penny Lane says: She's been shaking to and fro with "Dancing with the Stars," but has she really gained so much weight that the valley's floor is moving as she grooves?

A breath of fresh air

It's been a windy evening at Palermo Palm Springs. Miss Penny Lane says: She loves these nights because the breezes bring in such fresh air and cleanse the community.

Happy Easter, Palermo Palm Springs

Happy Easter to all at Palermo Palm Springs. Miss Penny Lanes says: She's economizing this year and is reusing her Easter bonnet from last year, the one with orange and green polka dots.

Easter egg tree on Sandy Point Trail

Positively Palermo does not have a picture, but we have been told that a tree with dangling Easter eggs has sprouted up on Sandy Point Trail. Miss Penny Lane says: All of Palermo is fertile ground for holiday cheer.

Road closures put off

The news is reporting that part of Palm Canyon from San Rafael to the south won't be closed for repairs after all. It says: "CalTrans agreed to postpone the lane closures set for Friday on North Palm Canyon Drive and Gene Autry Trail and Vista Chino to a future date yet to be determined. The road work by Caltrans was to install traffic sensors under the pavement. Crews were scheduled to cut into the asphalt to place magnetometers just under the surface to detect when metal passes overhead, giving Caltrans data on traffic flow, officials said. The agency has been installing the sensors on highways in Riverside and San Bernardino counties since 2008, Caltrans spokeswoman Shelli Lombardo said. The work was supposed to kick off a $2 million project to bring the monitoring devices to additional roads throughout the region. “With thousands of visitors in town this weekend for the White Party, we appreciate CalTrans' cooperation in agreeing to postpone these closures,” said the city's public works director, David Barakian, in a statement." Miss Penny Lane says: White Party or not, every Easter she breaks out her smart pastel holiday dress.

Where are the 'Enterprise/MB Bank' condos at Palermo Palm Springs?

Positively Palermo has been asked again about the locations of the 34 condos once owned by the developer Enterprise Cos. and now held by MB Bank. These are the units that the Enterprise didn't sell before closing down the sales office and that went into foreclosure. Most are rented out, many on month-to-month leases and some on longer term leases. Here's the list:


1. 220 Enterprise – Unit 83 – D model
2. 270 Enterprise – Unit 110 – A model
3. 3621 Melody Lane – Unit 75 – A model
4. 3631 Melody Lane – Unit 76 – B model
5. 3572 Melody Lane – Unit 89 – C model
6. 3582 Melody Lane – Unit 90 – C model
7. 308 Sandy Point – Unit 146 – A model
8. 228 Sandy Point – Unit 139 — B model
9. 218 Sandy Point – Unit 138 – B model
10. 208 Sandy Point – Unit 137 – A model
11. 245 Sandy Point – Unit 130 – A model
12. 255 Sandy Point – Unit 126 – A model
13. 275 Sandy Point – Unit 122 – D model
14. 232 Breeze Loop – Unit 131 – B model
15. 212 Breeze Loop – Unit 135 – A model
16. 311 Breeze Loop – Unit 119 – D model
17. 231 Breeze Loop – Unit 100 – A model
18. 3596 Sunburst – Unit 189 – E model
19. 3616 Sunburst – Unit 193 – E model
20. 3626 Sunburst – Unit 196 – E model
21. 3676 Sunburst – Unit 205 – E model
22. 3575 Sunburst – Unit 117 – B model
23. 3585 Sunburst – Unit 118 – A model
24. 3558 Quiet Side – Unit 179 – G model
25. 3578 Quiet Side – Unit 183 – E model
26. 3588 Quiet Side – Unit 185 – F model
27. 3607 Quiet Side – Unit 194 – E model
28. 3647 Quiet Side – Unit 202 – F model
29. 3657 Quiet Side – Unit 203 – F model
30. 3667 Quiet Side – Unit 206 – F model
31. 3687 Quiet Side – Unit 210 – E model
32. 3554 Penny Lane – Unit 105 – B model
33. 3564 Penny Lane – Unit 104 – C model
34. 3574 Penny Lane – Unit 103 – C model

See this site's "Basics About the Palermo Palm Springs Development" for descriptions of the development's seven different models. The link for that is on the left-hand column of this page. Miss Penny Lane says: Many of our dear neighbors live in these residences, and she's still crossing her fingers it all works out for the best for everyone.

Two quakes hit valley today

Two earthquakes centered near Indio have hit today. The news reports say: "A magnitude-3.5 earthquake shook near Indio this evening about 10 hours after a similar temblor shook the area. The earthquake shook 6:12 p.m. and was centered 10 miles northeast of Indio, according to the United States Geological Survey. This morning's quake, centered 11 miles north-northeast of Indio, was recorded at 8:15 a.m." Miss Penny Lane says: Sometimes she is shaky on her feet and blames a little trembler.

A pile of green tree branches?

Positively Palermo received a question and concern about why a stack of green tree branches has been left for two weeks at Penny Lane and Breeze Loop, and whether the landscaping service can haul them away? Miss Penny Lanes says: She loves Palermo's green trees that are flowering now to add a dash of yellow so much she dressed in green and yellow today.

Avalon's wind-damaged trees get some help and are propped back up

The strong winds that swept through Palm Springs months ago did little damage at Palermo Palm Springs. One tree on Penny Lane was leaning over but was fixed. The main pool looked like a black pool of oil but was quickly cleaned. But many of the trees along San Rafael outside the unfinished Avalon property (which borders Palermo) have been bent over for months and blocking the sidewalk. Now they have been uprighted. Miss Penny Lane says: She too could use someone's help to prop her up every now and then.