Paradise Palms Unit 13 – Mystery Builder Identified & First Look Inside Original Models

03/08/64

Research at the Nevada State Museum has finally solved the mystery of the builder behind Unit 13 at the far southern end of Paradise Palms.  About half of the lots in the western portion of Unit 13 were custom-built one or two-of-a-kind homes from the late sixties and early seventies; however, the eastern half of Unit 13 encompassing Omaha Circle, Hoopa Lane, Pima Lane, Delaware Lane, the west side of Eastern Avenue between Viking Road and Mohigan Way, and Mohigan Way between Eastern Avenue and Omaha Circle all appeared to be built by the same builder. 

This builder has now been identified as D.L. Bradley Development.  Marketed as luxury ‘originals’, D.L. Bradley Development had acquired 45 lots in Paradise Palms and dubbed their new venture Stellar Greens.  Nine different floor plans with nineteen different elevations were available for 'the sophisticated home buyer'.  Priced between $37,000 and $50,000 – or $279,000 to $377,000 in 2013 dollars – Stellar Greens was marketed as ‘the last word in expensive elegance’ with ‘dignified richness and grace never before offered for the selective homebuyer’ and featured ‘no detail …overlooked in providing an aura of refined property for the discriminating.’  

Stellar Greens Location Map

Inaugural Stellar Greens Advertisement, Las Vegas Review-Journal, 02/02/64

First look inside the Stellar Greens Empire Model, Las Vegas Sun, 02/09/64

Uniting the exterior of these houses together were distinctive architectural characteristics that included the use of projecting beams, stone or brick accents and a unique design balance that incorporated both ranch and contemporary styles.  Homes featured sunken roman tubs, built-in vanities, large bedrooms, stone terrazzo flooring, sunken living rooms, standard two-car garages and sundecks on two-story models.  Kitchens offered such conveniences as NuTone countertop food centers and built-in can openers and toasters.  Homes were ‘Balanced Power’ houses featuring ‘the best of modern gas and electricity, efficiency and economically.’  This was a first for Paradise Palms, as all other tract builders offered their homes as ‘Gold Medallion – Live Better Electrically’ homes. 

  

Buyers flocked to Stellar Greens and were impressed and intrigued by the outstanding quality and elegance offered by these homes.  With the initial presentation of these homes occurring in late winter of 1964, all 45 properties were sold by the fall of that year.  43 of these unique homes are left today with one being severely endangered due to fire damage and owner negligence. 

Las Vegas Sun, 05/10/64

Las Vegas Sun, 03/22/64

Stellar Greens Model Home, Las Vegas Sun, 04/25/64

Stellar Greens Model Home, Las Vegas Sun 05/10/64

Stellar Greens Empire Model

Stellar Greens Home Once Owned by Donald Sutherland

Stellar Greens Home

Stellar Greens Home