Dublin - Villa de San Ramon subdivision - 1965

Duc and Elliot's Villa de San Ramon opened in Dublin in April of 1965. Seven models were available in a range of sizes, from 3 to 6 bedrooms. Prices started at $19,900 and ranged to $23,300 for the largest 2-story model.
The following models were available:

• The Casa Bonita, 3 bedrooms, 1258 sq. ft.
• The Californian, 3 bedrooms, 1288 sq. ft.
• The Briarwood, 3 bedrooms, 1440 sq. ft.
• The Casa Serena, 4 bedrooms, 1483 sq. ft.
• The Mount Diablo, 4 bedrooms, 1708 or 1740 sq. ft.
• The Manor House, 5 bedrooms, 1855 sq. ft.
• The Casa Grande, 6 bedrooms, 1855 sq. ft.

The most popular model was the Mount Diablo. The model homes are indicated with an "M" on the map (on Burton Street).

Villa de San Ramon experienced a sales boom in its early phases, but petered out in 1966, culminating in a premature closing in late 1967. Originally intended to build out around 300 homes, Villa de San Ramon built only 187 homes, 156 in the first few phases, and 31 in the final phase. The remaining lots sold to another developer around 1970 (Shamrock Estates).

During the final phase (1966-67), three new models were introduced, two based on earlier models (the Mount Diablo and The Casa Serena) and one entirely new model. In the map, the second-phase lots are enclosed in black lines. Only one home, on the corner of Emerald Avenue and Amador Valley Boulevard, was unique in this phase (perhaps the sales office).

Empty lots in the middle of the subdivision, indicated with a red "X," were built out between 1970 and 1973 by the Shamrock Estates subdivision.

Villa de San Ramon has the distinction of being the only subdivision at this time with a leapfrog pattern of development.

Pleasanton - Amberwood subdivision - 1978

The William Lyon Company built the Amberwood subdivision in Pleasanton in 1976, but home sales continued into early 1978, most likely affected by the recession of 1976. This ad shows the early 1978 sales price of homes, starting at $80,990.

The Amberwood subdivision only occupied a portion of this tract with the rest of the land building out in the early 80s with the Sutter Gate subdivision. The homes at the entrance of Sutter Gate Avenue off Santa Rita actually belong to an entirely different subdivision altogether (neither Amberwood nor Sutter Gate).

Amberwood featured three model homes, one two-story and two one-stories. The models are indicated with an "M" in the map. The two-story model (the green lots) was the most popular, some with 3-car garages, a rarity in 1976.

This ad was pulled from the Fremont Argus newspaper, dated Sunday February 19, 1978.

Enjoy!

Livermore - Granada Village subdivision - 1962

Part of the massive Sunset Homes development in Livermore, Granada Village featured homes starting at $14,900 and only $99 down.

Built by Masud Mehran, Granada Village was the start of Sunset Homes' massive development, planned at 1,700 homes in 1962. Spanning over a decade of home building in Livermore, Sunset Homes defined the character of suburban Livemore. One could drive for miles and still see the same homes.

The ad reads "Today more than 1,000 families live in Sunset homes! Before you buy anywhere be sure you visit the 5 superb 3 bedroom, 2 bath model homes - magnificently furnished and landscaped in Livermore's Granada Village. See the East Bay's greatest home show - the buy with confidence! You'll agree with the 4,300 people who live here now that Masud Mahran's Sunset Homes are without question the finest home values you've seen!"

Today, Granada Village, often called Sunset West, still offers affordable homes in a desireable setting.

Livermore - Los Altos Heights subdivision - 1967

Often considered part of Sunset's The Meadows subdivision, the first development north of Portola Avenue (and south of I-580) is the 81-unit Los Altos Heights subdivision, built by Duc & Elliott, builders of "finer communities."

Los Altos Heights featured standard tract homes as well as lots available for custom homes. The tract homes were built between 1966 and 1968, but custom homes were built through 1971. Most of the custom homes are along the top of the community, which afford fantastic views of the Livermore Valley.

This advertisement from the Oakland Tribune dated October 8, 1967, shows a living room scene in one of the Los Altos Heights' homes, complete with cheesy Sixties art above the fireplace. At $27,500 to $30,950, prices were around $3,000 higher than the lowest-priced home in the Pleasanton Valley subdivision. However, these homes have air conditioning and a view!

Today, this neighborhood has some attractive attributes: easy access to I-580 and downtown, views, a hill between it and the large commercial areas to the north, big lots, fancy homes, and peace and quiet.

Enjoy!
Scott

Pleasanton - Heritage Valley subdivision - 1975

Morrison Homes is to Pleasanton what Shapell is to San Ramon... a home builder that established the modern character of their chosen communities.

Morrison Homes created the enormous Pleasanton Valley and Valley Trails subdivisions, and marched along developing more of Pleasanton. After a slow-growth initiative passed in Pleasanton in the mid-Seventies, Morrison was forced to build less. Each builder was only allocated a set number of permits. Most of the land between Mohr, Santa Rita, Valley, and the train tracks was owned by Morrison. However, it took until the Eighties to develop it fully... completed by the Danbury Park subdivision around Orloff Park.

Morrison Homes, building on earlier successes, took some of the most popular floor plans of the earlier developments, updated elevations and opened Heritage Valley in September 1975. Three model homes were shown on Morganfield Court (on the map in the darker tint), but four models were available. The two-story model came in 4 or 5 bedroom options.

The 105-unit development finished a year later in 1976. Prices began at $47,500 in 1975. Not a bad deal! Most of these homes are set on cul-de-sacs and enjoy large lots. A pool is de rigueur and why not? It's Pleasanton after all!

Enjoy!
Scott

San Ramon - Fairway Hills subdivision - 1965

Located on the San Ramon Royal Vista Golf Course, the Fairway Hills subdivision was the second development to border the greens. The first, Country Club Park, started in 1961 on the western portion of the golf course. Fairway Hills, developed by Alpha Homes, is a 117 unit subdivision that featured good-sized homes on even larger lots. The original 5 models were located on Burning Tree Court (in darker red on the map).

The advertisement is clearly written towards a male audience, especially with the hint of cynicism about Harry the horse. Perhaps developed by the advertising professionals of 1965, now popularized with AMC's MadMen TV series.

Homes started at $25,950 in 1965 and sales continued through 1966. Much of the remaining land around the golf course went undeveloped until 1977 when Paseo San Ramon and Rancho Ramon were built.

San Ramon Country Club golf course, designed by Clark Glasson, opened its first 9 holes in June of 1962, with the remaining 9 holes opening in fall that same year ("Golf Course Now Open to Public", 1962). The golf course has been renamed a number of times, now at Royal Vista Golf Course.

Enjoy!
Scott

Reference
Golf Course New Open to Public. (1962, June 17, 1962). Oakland Tribune, p. 2-R.

Pleasanton - Valley Trails subdivision - 1972

Valley Trails in Pleasanton was Morrison Homes' foray into the new lifestyle communities gaining popularity in Pleasanton. In this advertisement, Morrison described Valley Trails as "... a unique, totally different cul de sac land plan. Valley Trails - A new contained community features a wide, landscaped park running through the community to the elementary school site. In this pastoral green belt, your children will have room to roam, to run, to ramble with complete safety."

Like Oliver Rousseau's Pleasanton Meadows subdivision off Santa Rita Road, Valley Trails has a park running down the center of the community. However, the elementary school was never built. The school site is currently occupied by a church and mostly a weedy lot.

Cleverly, the streets in Valley Trails are named after national parks, abet abbreviations. No one in this neighborhood can claim geography ignorance.

Featured in this ad is the Valley View House model; the classic tri-level home with three bedrooms. This model was value priced at $34,040 in 1972.

Valley Trails is still considered an affordable neighborhood by Pleasanton standards. The reason for affordability is often cited as foundation issues that the neighborhood has been perceived as having. Although it is unknown whether these claims have been substantiated, the perceptions persist.

Enjoy!
Scott