Brighton Circle: yesterday’s dream, quietly fading

Brighton Circle logo

In the early 1960s, Brighton Circle in Dublin stood as a promise of modern suburban life—an optimistic vision of comfort, community, and upward mobility. Built by Volk-McLain between 1962 and 1963, this 527-home neighborhood was once hailed as a fresh beginning east of the new I-680. It offered spacious lots, updated designs, and conveniences tailored to the mid-century family.

Map of Brighton Circle Dublin
Location of the Brighton Circle neighborhood in Dublin, California.

A dream for the middle class

At a time when the average home was around 1,200 square feet, Brighton Circle offered homes as large as 1,475 sq. ft.—spacious, modern, and attainable. Priced from just $14,995 with a $295 down payment, it wasn’t just affordable—it felt like a miracle. Homes came with wall-to-wall carpeting, garbage disposals, copper plumbing, and built-in ovens. These weren’t luxury touches today—they were symbols of progress in 1962.

And buyers responded: more than 50 homes were sold in the opening week alone.

From a 1962 Oakland Tribune—the power lines tower overhead, a reminder that in 1962, utility infrastructure hadn’t yet gone underground. But there’s a bit of design grace at play: they ran through backyards, preserving the picture-perfect curb appeal out front.

More than houses—a community blueprint

Brighton Circle wasn’t just another tract. Volk-McLain envisioned an entire ecosystem: two elementary schools built into the neighborhood were meant to serve double-duty as open space and play areas, since formal parks weren’t included. It was practical, family-focused, and rooted in the belief that neighborhoods should be lived in, not just passed through.

Architect Raymond Dean Conwell, AIA, designed the homes with gentle variety: some featured X-timber bracing, others had large front picture windows or extended gable roofs. It was enough to give the neighborhood rhythm—enough to make it feel personal.

Brighton Circle ad
From a 1962 Oakland Tribune ad—a list of all 8 homes up for inspection with their original looks.

The homes came with numerous mid-century conveniences, including:

  • Wall-to-wall carpeting
  • Built-in ranges and ovens
  • Garbage disposals
  • Copper piping
  • Modern insulation

Volk-McLain emphasized variety in design, distancing Brighton Circle from the uniformity criticized in their earlier subdivision (San Ramon Village). Advertisements highlighted the neighborhood as a “completely new, modern, and safe community” that offered tranquil living. The first unit of 229 homes sold briskly.

From a 1963 Oakland Tribune ad—a subtle example of how tract home advertising often walked a tightrope between truth and aspiration. Call it suburban stagecraft.

Brighton Circle model homes

A sales complex along the south side of Sutton Lane welcomed eager buyers with eight decorated model homes. While there were only five base plans—D, E, J, L, and M—Volk-McLain cleverly presented alternate elevations to give the illusion of more variety. Buyers could walk through the same floor plan styled in different facades—colonial, ranch, or contemporary.

Map of Brighton Circle model homes
Site of the Brighton Circle model homes.
Pricing history

1962: $14,995 - $17,995
1963: $14,995 - $17,995
1964: $14,995 - $17,995

1. The Danville (Plan J-1)- 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,338 sq. ft.

Brighton Circle Danville model
The original Danville model today (remodeled).

2. The Plantation (Plan L-7) - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,475 sq. ft.

Brighton Circle Plantation model
The original Plantation model today (remodeled).

3. The Nantucket (Plan M-4) - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,424 sq. ft.

Brighton Circle Nantucket model
The original Nantucket model today.

4. The Santa Barbara (Plan D) - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,000 to 1,042 sq. ft. Later renamed The New Haven.

Brighton Circle Santa Barbara model
The original Santa Barbara model today. Note original garage door.

5. The Colonial (Plan J-3) - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,345 sq. ft.

Brighton Circle Colonial model
The original Colonial model today.

6. The Louisiana (Plan E-7) - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,080 to 1,116~ sq. ft.

Brighton Circle Louisiana model
The original Louisiana model today.

7. The Monterey (Plan M-1) - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,424 sq. ft.

Brighton Circle Monterey model
The original Monterey model today.

8. The Providence (Plan E-?) - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,116~ sq. ft.

Brighton Circle Providence model
The original Providence model today.

A neighborhood time forgot

Brighton Circle's model homes went up for sale in February 1964, marking the completion of the subdivision. Today, Brighton Circle often escapes notice. Many homes have aged without renovation; others have been remodeled beyond recognition. The cheerful ads promising a “new, modern, and safe community” are yellowed clippings now. What was once seen as the future now looks like the past—quiet, worn, and maybe even a little forgotten.

But dig a little deeper and the dream still lingers—in original façades, in schoolyards that once held summer fairs, and in the practical, welcoming layouts that helped so many families begin again.

For those who remember, Brighton Circle wasn’t just a subdivision.
It was a fresh start.

Related post: Volk-McLain's San Ramon Village

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