Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds.

By Brianna Spause

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 3

BSpause Copyright Š 2016 by Brianna Spause.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Written and designed by Brianna Spause.

Printed in the United States of America by Fireball Printing 3237 Amber St. Box 3 Floor 5, Philadelphia, PA 19134

For Christy and James, you gave me the spirit with which I understand the world.

/r/Vegas What’s up in Vegas?

“I’m a photojournalist from Philadelphia, and I’ll be in town late February.

I want to know what’s going on in your city. What’s an important story that needs to be told? Issue that isn’t getting talked about?”

Submitted by spause | 12/27/2015

post reply: What’s

up in Vegas?

from jkrjjrs via /r/Vegas | 12/27/2015

“Las Vegas Boulevard. Doing a picture tour traveling north might be... interesting. It travels through a few different types of scenery. First underdeveloped desert, then the Vegas sign and the glitz and glam of the South Strip. Then it goes through the Arts District, then the decaying old strip. Then it abruptly transitions into skidrow. Homeless shelters, project buildings, tent cities... it’s almost unbelievable that it’s on the same street as the Bellagio or city center. Then it transitions into the northeastern section of the valley. What one might refer to as “blighted sprawl”.

Impoverished inner city and suburban neighborhoods of North Las Vegas and Sunrise Manor. Neighborhoods most locals wouldn’t dare be caught in after dark. Then it, once again, transition into a desolate desert landscape. Las Vegas Boulevard.

One street. Many different worlds.”

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 7

Las Vegas Boulevard

One street. Many different worlds

In a challange to the East Coast idea of the glitz and glamour that is Sin City, this project documents the changing landscapes that surround Las Vegas Boulevard. The series begins at 9400 S. Las Vegas Boulevard and Richmar Avenue, travleling fifteen miles north to 2500 N. Las Vegas Boulevard and Bassler Street.

Surrounded by the dry climate of the Mojave Desert, Las Vegas shares demographics with many major cities around the world. It is nothing new to find poverty looming in pockets surrounding the City Center, lacking in resources and wealth. Yet, Las Vegas is its own animal. “The Strip� is the epicenter of gambling, entertainment and nightlife that shines on the western boarder of Nevada. The constantly flowing wealth that pours into the city from around the world is nestled tightly in the South Strip. Traveling North, it is plain to see where the city has turned their backs, and the decadence ends.

- By Brianna Spause Temple University, 2016

Mojave Desert

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 11

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 13

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 15

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 17

“Vegas?

It’s just another day in paradise.”

- Resident of Budget Budget Motel

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 21

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 23

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 25

“It’s fun, the city of Sin. It’s like a vacation spot, somewhere where you can relax and unwind. It’s not a place I would want to live but definitely visit.”

- Kendra. Seattle, Washington

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 27

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 29

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 31

32 | Title

South Strip

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 35

“Vegas is like Disney World for adults.�

- Julie and Sal. Los Angeles, California Just Married! March 4, 2016

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 37

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 39

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 41

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 43

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 45

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 47

“There’s two sides to Vegas. One where you got money and one where you don’t. I haven’t experienced the side where you can spend $400 a night in a hotel.

I came in here with $500 and it didn’t last long. I was in a motel and then right out on the streets. I’ve been out here 18 months. Compared to the suburban-type of living it’s tough, but it’s palatable.

You find a few friends, you have a few laughs and you run from crack heads. We have nothing to lose so we have nothing to take from each other. It’s just human contact.”

- Tom. Detroit, Michigan

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 49

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 51

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 53

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 55

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 57

“People here spend money like they’re royalty. It doesn’t bother me one bit.”

- Joe. North Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 59

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 61

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 63

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 65

“The art here draws you in.

I’m fascinated by the fountains.”

- GC. Portland, Oregon

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 69

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 71

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 73

“Vegas is all bad. It sucks you in. Not everybody can handle it, because you win money and then you go crazy. It’s a dichotomy. It’s not all glitz and glamour, I think there’s a lot of serious addiction down here. Drugs, drinking, gambling, and smoking… four deadly concoctions.”

- Janice. Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 75

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 79

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 81

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 83

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 85

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 87

“It’s busy.

It’s fast.

And it’s very big.”

- Kathleen. Michigan

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 89

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 91

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 95

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 97

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 99

Arts District

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 101

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 103

“Two things: if you’re a gambler and a drinker, you can’t live in this town. I’ve seen so many people lose their homes and their families get busted up. Everywhere you go, even in the grocery store they have machines. You can lose, 24/7. The only time something shuts down is when it goes out of business.”

- JC. Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 105

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 107

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 109

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 113

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 115

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 119

“This area is where all of the brothels used to be, but now it’s just smaller motels. Down toward the Boulder Highway, they’ve torn down a lot of buildings. They’re trying to build new hotels and spread the wealth a little bit to invest in the impoverished areas down here in North Las Vegas.”

-Brian. Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 121

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 123

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 127

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 129

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 131

Cultural Corridor

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 133

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 135

“They should do something with this building.

Turn it into a restaurant or club. This isn’t a good part of town, but Vegas makes so much money. They could spend a little on all these abandoned buildings.”

-Janae. Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 137

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 139

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 143

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 145

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 147

“We give away phones to help people get back up on their feet. You can’t even get a job if you don’t have a phone number. In an area like this, it’s so important to lend a hand.”

-Marie. North Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 149

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 151

North Las Vegas

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 153

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 155

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 157

“This isn’t a place to raise a family. The schools are bad and it’s all about the money.

The city doesn’t invest in its education system. Without support for our young people, -Leslie Cornish. Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 161

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 163

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 165

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 167

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 169

“I love Las Vegas!

I wouldn’t trade Las Vegas for nothing. Nothing! Not too much rain, too much work. It’s perfect. Trabajo, jugo, todo. Me encanta Las Vegas. This area is not like Las Vegas, there’s not too much good. The people, the police, more problems, everything.”

-Ana. North Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 171

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 173

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 175

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 177

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 181

“It’s just like any other town. It’s just more because of the casinos, but it’s the same damn thing. You’ve got the homeless, and the people who have everything. There’s a certain quality and quantity in Las Vegas, and that’s what makes it stand out.”

-North Las Vegas Resident

Las Vegas Boulevard. One street, many worlds | 183