Palm Springs : Better, Bolder, Beautiful from Palm Springs Tourism on Vimeo.

Cool video on improvements going on in Palm Springs!

As more and more Canadians are looking to invest in the unitied states, now they can find an excellent resource to guide them along their journey.  “South of 49 is a must read for anyone wanting to buy real estate in the US. This groundbreaking book is jammed full of practical information that will ensure you avoid all the potential pitfalls.” – Les Hewitt, Best-Selling Author

Palm Springs continues to be a hot spot for Canadian buyers.  Prices are at record lows; the Canadian dollar is stronger then ever.  I have helped numerous buyers find properties in the desert, from all over Canada.

Click Here for more information.

If you’d like more information of properties in the Palm Springs area, please feel free to contact me.  I have extensive experience and resources available to assist the Canadian Buyer wanting to purchase in the Palm Springs market, from condos, to golf course homes to single family residences.  www.PaulKaplanRealtor.com

A weekend full of inspiration, enlightenment and fun at the 2nd Annual event is planned for Oct 2-4, 2009!
Palm Springs Body Mind Spirit Celebration in downtown Palm Springs. Workshops, music, fun. Come for a class, a day, a weekend.

The Event will be held at the Hyatt in downtown Palm Springs.  Interest? please click here for more information 

Plans are in the works to bring a new rodeo and a Western lifestyle festival to Palm Springs that harkens back to the city’s Desert Circus, an annual Western celebration that ran several decades until the 1970s.  Plans could include a Saturday morning parade too.

“It’s recapturing a part of our past, and we’re really bringing something back and updating it to today’s standards,” said former Palm Springs Mayor Ron Oden, who sits on Spur of the Moment’s board of directors. “It will be good for tourism and the economy. So what’s not to like?”

Read the full article here.

The Hyatt Regency Suites Palm Springs is wrapping up a $15 million dollar transformation in October 2009, and a $20 million dollar conversion of the Wyndham Palm Springs will raise a new flag as the Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel at the Convention Center in March 2010.

 Hyatt Regency Suites Palm Springs

Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel at the Convention Center

Both hotels are in downtown Palm Springs, close to everything. 

This past year,  two other new hotel resorts have opened in Palm Springs. The legendary Riviera Resort & Spa along with the trendy Ace Hotel and Swim Club (which used to be the old Howard Johnson’s Hotel)  are attracting a new generation of hipsters who love the Palm Springs vibe.

In 2006, two plans were approved by the Palm Springs City Council, these were envisioned as gateways to the heart of downtown Palm Springs.

However, due to the decline in the economy and lack of available funding, both projects have been put on hold.  It could be years before either development breaks ground, amidst the worst economic climate in years.

The Port Lawrence Project, consisting of a 4 acre site on the corner of Palm Canyon and Alejo, has been stalled as the developer has not been able to obtain financing, per the Desert Sun report.  The original plan called for an exciting mixed use project consisting of retail and residential units. Port Lawrence is being “rethought to reflect the current economy” and could be redesigned as a boutique hotel with some condos, project architect Doug Hudson said last week.  RIght now, its just a vacant lot.

On the oppostie end of downtown, on the corner of Palm Canyon and Ramon, is the location of what is referred to as the “IHOP” project, (named after the International House of Pancakes currently located here), also known as The Palm Canyon.  The design also was a mixed use project with retail and residential.  However it suffers also from the downturn in the economy. The project received a one-year extension that expires in October, and representatives say they plan to ask for another one-year extension.

The Fashion Plaza, located in the center of Palm Springs downtown core, also awaits redevelopment. City and business leaders further envisioned Port Lawrence and The Palm Canyon to compliment the long-awaited remodel of this 13-acre Plaza.

Per the Desert Sun, “Representatives of Desert Fashion Plaza developer John Wessman and city officials say they’re in early negotiations to pen a public-private deal that could bring that remodel, a key piece of the downtown Palm Springs puzzle, into place.”

The next step in their negotiations is scheduled for Wednesday, David Ready, City Manager said. And he anticipates the City Council could review an agreement that outlines the financial roles of the city and the developer in October.

Ultimately- Downtown Palm Springs has huge potential once these three project are underway.  With the housing market starting to settle down a bit and showing signs of a rebound, hopefully we’re one step closer to economic stability.  Maybe eventually we’ll see these projects pick up some momentum sooner then later to help revive the Downtown Palm Springs core. 

Click here to read the full article: http://www.mydesert.com/article/20090821/NEWS05/908210302/1143/news01/City%20s%20gateway%20projects%20years%20off