We've Found Two New Decorative Block Patterns This Week In Very Vintage Vegas

Steve found the first one last week and posted it and I really thought there couldn't possibly be any more that I've missed, but here's another, which I found on 6th Street. Still swearing I'm going to get around to naming them and cataloging them. Someday!

Decorative Block That Steve Found In Francisco Park

Well, here's to living downtown & truly being a part of things! I found a decorative block pattern that Jack actually hadn't yet! It was located on the border of Francisco Park and Paradise Palms North. We were touring w/ our new friend Bryan Brey yesterday, looking for mid-mod housing that would be prime for 'green' restoration & functionality when i told Mr. LeVine, our tour guide to throw it in reverse. My 15/20 vision comes through again, we discovered an interesting 4 block composition that I could best describe as a 'honey bee-clover leaf' pattern.

I look forward to bringing you more VVV relevant blogging soon, I apologize for the lag in my personal posting, I'm still unpacking my new digs at L'Octaine on Vegas & Gass (I freakin' love it there.. but g-d I've got a lot of 'stuff')! On top of business as usual, there are some very cool projects I & now VVV are deeply involved with. I'll be bringing you more information on those projects shortly.

a similar but not quite the same block pattern

still another one of a kind block pattern

I guess you never find them all

At one of the very first homes I ever rebuilt (after a fire), we pulled out every bit of sheet rock, and then spent a week pulling drywall nails from the studs. At least every single day, I was convinced that I had them all. And each day more would be found.

By the end of the week, I was accusing JJ of putting the nails back in just to annoy me. And a month later when we were putting up the new sheet rock, I found a few more that had been missed.

I think it's the same for the decorative block. And these 2 are so unique I can't believe I missed them before. Almost every pattern I've seen can be found on numerous homes thru out Vintage Vegas, but these 2 so far are one of a kind.

I thought I'd found every single one of them

For one reason and another, I spent most of yesterday in Paradise Palms. It's still one of my all time favorite neighborhoods in all of Vintage Vegas.

While there, I found 2 more decorative block patterns that I had missed. I hope you're looking for all the different patterns as you drive around Vintage Vegas also. I still haven't gotten around to categorizing them all and showing you the whole collection, but I promise I will.

This one just has a squarish hole in it, with rounded corners. It was such a simple design, I missed it, and then I found a home in Paradise Palms where they set it at a diagonal for a stunning effect.

I also found another unique one that I hadn't seen before, and I share it with you.

Main and Charleston

I noticed for the first time a decorative block pattern

I've never encountered before. It's mortared into the brick work in the the front of the "Modify" building at Main and Charleston.

Rumor has it that the building will be converted to a bar/lounge/gallery, and applications and planning commission meetings etc have already been scheduled.

More decorative block designs... again

Here's a few more decorative block designs I've discovered as I travel thru Vintage Vegas. I'm up to about 30 different designs now, but still haven't gotten around to creating a catalog.

These Last 2 are the only ones I could find to buy at Home Depot. If anyone know a source for other designs that are still available, we'd love to know.

Speaking of Town and Country Estates

Let me introduce you to a small little neighborhood in VVV. T&C is just 40 homes South of St. Louis Ave. between 6th Street and the Trinity Church and Baker Park. All 40 homes were built in 1963 on lots that ranged from 8000 to 10000 sf. The smallest model was 1347 sf, and the largest was just under 2000. Many of them have had additions or garage conversions.

I counted about 10 which I'd call very nice, (I took pix of them all, but these are the 4 nicest) about 25 that are so/so and 5 that need a lot of help.



There's only 2 for sale at the moment. One is a 4br, 2ba 1800 sf for 285,000 and the other is a 3 br, 2 ba 2680 sf with a pool for 349,000.





And, of course, I found another block pattern I hadn't seen before. This one, also is kinda extra special depending on how you look at it.

mixing and matching and paying attention to details

Just to make a point, that if we're "saving" the neighborhoods and the architecture and the designs of what ever era, we have to do more than just repair the functionality. I think this is why someone should start to make these patterns again.

I know I've become obsessed with these block designs, but at least it's one of the many obsessions I can blog about.

some bonus shots from previous posts

Some of the "ONE OF A KIND" block patterns that I only found in one location.

more optical illusions

I think Mrs. Shultz, my 3rd grade art teacher showed us how the eye can see different things, depending on where you look, but I wasn't paying much attention then. Now I can't go anywhere in Vintage Vegas with out seeing the patterns.
These 3 are from the same wall I showed you LAST WEEK
that's slowly turning bright red over in Beverly Green. It just depends on where you focus.

The most unusual decorative block I've found to date

I found this design in one of the "undiscovered" VVV neighborhoods that will be the subject of my next post, later today, when I finish some research.

I've become obsessed

with the decorative block that I've posted on HERE and HERE.

Here's some more of the patterns. I promise to take an hour and go thru all the pix, eliminate all the multitude of duplicated patterns I've found and actually start a catalog. (hopefully)

But I'm not sure that mixing them together is the right thing to do, as you can see in the last picture. (Ben mixes stripes and plaids when he's in a goofy mood, so maybe it's ok).

More decorative block designs

Then they started to repeat themselves, but I did find a few other patterns that weren't seen before.

I especially like this last one since it creates an optical illusion. Circles? Squares? Diamonds?

So many different patterns

Got to thinking about decorative screening with patterned concrete blocks. It was a real popular way to let the light in, and keep the neighbors from prying. They made their own architectural statement, as well as serving a useful (usually) and decorative function.

my favorite is the brick redish 2 story column on the apartment building on Rexford Drive south of Oakey. If you have a favorite among these, cast a vote in the comments. You can do it anonymously of course, but why not create a screenname for yourself and become a "regular"? See, no one knows who UncleJack is!

In just a 15 minute drive thru downtown Vintage Vegas, I found this many patterns, styles, looks and uses. I didn't even get to Paradise Palms or the McNeil or any of the west side VVV neighborhoods to look for more. (but I will and of course if you have a favorite or unique one you can always help by contributing a photo to VVV by email jack@unclejack.com ).

Which of course begs the question..... Does anyone know a stash of old block? or a source of new block? Any entrepreneurs out there that think there might be a market since it seems every home in Vintage Vegas is being restored or remodelled?

Only remember ever seeing 2 or 3 patterns at HD/LOWES.