H. C. Elliott and the transformation of north Livermore
Developer of Town Square, Somerset, and Somerset West
It’s hard to believe now, but much of north Livermore in the early 1960s was still shaped by the remnants of a World War II auxiliary airfield on Rincon Avenue. What had once been a dirt-runway military facility—built as a backup to the larger Livermore airfield near what is now Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory—sat quietly as the city expanded around it.
By the 1960s, that forgotten airfield and surrounding land would become the foundation for one of Livermore’s most important suburban transformations, led by developer H. C. Elliott.
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| Pictured here in 1968, developer H. C. Elliott played a major role in shaping north Livermore. His vision and commitment to affordable housing led to the creation of Town Square, Somerset, and Somerset West—neighborhoods that transformed a former airfield into vibrant communities. |
From WWII airfield to suburban opportunity in Livermore
By the late 1950s and early 1960s, Livermore was growing rapidly. New housing developments surrounded the old auxiliary airfield, while nearby infrastructure challenges—including a sewage disposal facility—made the area increasingly difficult to maintain in its original form.
The city ultimately made a pivotal decision: both the airfield and surrounding utility land would be relocated and sold to fund new infrastructure elsewhere.
In 1963, Santa Barbara developer H. C. Elliott purchased a large portion of the former airfield property—initially acquiring 134 acres for $165,000 in cash, with plans to expand his holdings to over 300 acres. This purchase would become the foundation for Town Square, Livermore’s first major master-planned suburban community of the 1960s.
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| Historical map of Livermore in 1953 with the naval air field and sewage disposal sites. |
Town Square — the first H. C. Elliott neighborhood (1964)
Working with design firm Livingston & Blayney, Elliott introduced a new concept for Livermore: a planned suburban community with schools, parks, and neighborhood shopping integrated into the design.
The result was Town Square, which officially opened for sales on June 21, 1964.
Homes were priced between approximately $14,950 and $21,950, making them some of the most accessible new construction homes in the region at the time. The neighborhood’s location near major transportation corridors also made it highly desirable for commuters.
Town Square quickly sold out, establishing H. C. Elliott as one of Livermore’s most active and influential developers.
By 1967, all 412 homes in Town Square were completed, and surrounding road improvements—including Murrieta Boulevard and Jack London Boulevard—helped integrate the neighborhood into the broader city structure.
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| H.C. Elliott’s vision comes to life with the debut of Town Square in Livermore. With homes starting under $15,000, the neighborhood promised affordable living, modern design, and room to grow. |
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| This 1967 map shows Town Square fully built out, with northern expansion underway. Key new roadways like Jack London Boulevard and the bypass for Murrieta Boulevard are taking shape, setting the stage for future neighborhoods like Somerset and Somerset West. |
Somerset Homes — expandable homes and rapid growth (1968–1971)
In 1968, Elliott expanded his development north of Town Square into a new phase initially referred to as Town Square North, later renamed Somerset.
This new Livermore neighborhood introduced a key innovation: expandable homes designed for growing families.
The signature model, the Somerset House, began as a 2-bedroom, 1-bath home with an unfinished second floor. Homeowners could later expand it into a 4-bedroom, 2-bath residence—an affordable way to adapt housing to changing family needs.
The concept proved extremely successful. Within 60 days of opening, Elliott had sold approximately 90 homes, and by the late 1960s, he was responsible for roughly one-third of all new housing construction in Livermore.
Between 1968 and 1969, Somerset became one of the fastest-selling suburban developments in the city.
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| This 1968 ad introduced the Somerset House, a flexible home design by H.C. Elliott. Starting with 2 bedrooms and 1 bath, it offered an unfinished second story that could later be completed with two more bedrooms and an additional bathroom—perfect for growing families and changing needs. |
Somerset South — expansion across Murrieta Boulevard (1970–1971)
As Somerset continued to grow, Elliott acquired additional land south of East Jack London Boulevard in 1970. This area included lots originally developed by other builders, including Kaufman & Broad’s “The Expandables” and Jim Knuppe’s Garden Homes.
When Knuppe exited the project, Elliott purchased approximately 135 lots and integrated them into his growing master plan.
This expansion became known as Somerset South, extending the Somerset neighborhood across Murrieta Boulevard and reinforcing Elliott’s presence throughout north Livermore.
By April 1971, the combined Somerset and Somerset South developments had sold out all 474 homes.
Somerset West — the final H. C. Elliott phase (1972–1974)
In 1972, H. C. Elliott launched his final Livermore subdivision: Somerset West.
Built on approximately 90 acres, Somerset West represented the culmination of Elliott’s approach to suburban development in Livermore. Between 1972 and 1974, the neighborhood added 279 homes to the city’s housing stock.
Early phases reused successful Somerset-era models, while later units introduced updated floor plans and a refreshed model home complex opened in 1973.
Somerset West marked the final chapter of Elliott’s major residential development in Livermore, concluding more than a decade of continuous building activity in the city.
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| The final chapter of H.C. Elliott’s Somerset trilogy opens with Somerset West, a 90-acre neighborhood offering spacious homes and a fresh model lineup. Built between 1972 and 1974, this community brought 279 new homes to north Livermore. |
H. C. Elliott’s impact on Livermore suburban development
Across Town Square, Somerset, Somerset South, and Somerset West, H. C. Elliott fundamentally reshaped north Livermore between 1963 and 1974.
In total, his developments contributed more than 1,400 homes to the city, transforming former airfield land into a fully integrated suburban district.
His approach emphasized:
- affordable homeownership
- expandable floor plans
- efficient subdivision design
- rapid but structured neighborhood growth
While later concerns about infrastructure and growth limits changed the trajectory of Livermore development, Elliott’s neighborhoods remain a defining part of the city’s suburban history.
Today, Town Square, Somerset, and Somerset West stand as lasting examples of 1960s and 1970s planned community development in the East Bay—built on land that once served a very different purpose, and reshaped into homes for thousands of families.
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| Annotated aerial map of the Town Square, Town Square North, Somerset South, and Somerset West neighborhoods in Livermore, California. Base imagery from Google Maps |
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