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Carlton Square by Hofmann — a 1965 new-home community in Livermore

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Between 1965 and 1968, the Hofmann Company built hundreds of homes in the Carlton Square neighborhood in Livermore. 

Developed during Livermore’s period of rapid growth, Hofmann offered homebuyers an alternative to the new-home communities by dominant homebuilders Sunset Homes and H. C. Elliott. With new homes in the first phase starting at just $15,950, Carlton Square was priced right in the middle of the competition. Carlton Square was promised not just as a place to live—but a place to really live. Think Westinghouse ovens that broiled meat on both sides, Formica counters that gleamed with a single wipe, and yards big enough for a slip ’n slide and a sandbox.

An October 1965 Oakland Tribune ad that shows an artistic drawing of a slot machine and says Carlton Square is like winning a jackpot.
October 1965 Oakland Tribune ad—The Hofmann Company sold Carlton Square as winning the jackpot. The payoff is Formica counters, underground utilities, and community TV aerial service.

Where is Carlton Square?

Annotated aerial map showing the boundaries of the Carlton Square neighborhood in Livermore.
Annotated aerial map of the Carlton Square neighborhood in Livermore, California. Base imagery from Google Maps.

Selling the dream

Advertising for Carlton Square emphasized modern amenities and an idealized suburban lifestyle.

For the cooks in the house, every home in Carlton Square came with a Westinghouse No Turn Speed Broil Oven—a technological marvel that cooked meat from both sides at the same time. The simplified cooking method was positioned as a convenience-focused alternative to outdoor grilling.

A July 1965 newspaper advertisement for Carlton Square in Livermore featuring a cheerful suburban family scene. The father proudly holds a trophy, the son plays cowboy, the daughter tosses a ball, and the mother carries a birdcage—each figure reflecting traditional 1960s gender roles. The tagline reads, "Get away to a fresh start," promoting idealized family living in a new housing development.
July 1965 Oakland Tribune ad—The Hofmann company framing homeownership as a marker of stability and success.

A later version of the 1965 Carlton Square ad showing a revised suburban family scene. The girl throws a ball—but now the mother carries a glass of lemonade for her husband instead of a birdcage. The bird is gone, subtly reinforcing mid-century gender roles. The ad has a new tagline: "buy a lifetime supply of country-fresh living."
August 1965 Oakland Tribune ad—In the original ad, she carried a birdcage. By the follow-up, that had been swapped for a glass of lemonade.

A December 1965 newspaper ad for Hofmann Homes promoting the slogan "Step up to a Hofmann Home." The ad features a promotional event offering a free steak broil-out to showcase the modern no-turn Westinghouse Speed Broil oven. The imagery highlights mid-century kitchen innovation and suburban hospitality as selling points for new homes.
December 1965 Oakland Tribune ad—Hofmann offered free streak broil-outs to lure potential buyers who wanted to see the Westinghouse No Turn Speed Boil Oven in action.

August 1965 newspaper advertisement for the Newcastle model home at Carlton Square in Livermore, highlighting its unique design with an entire upper floor devoted to parents. The ad features mid-century illustrations and bold text emphasizing privacy and luxury living.
August 1965 Oakland Tribune ad—An entire floor devoted to the parents inside the Newcastle model.

A 1967 newspaper advertisement featuring the floor plan of the Camelot model home. The ad includes labeled rooms such as living room, bedrooms, and kitchen, with promotional text emphasizing modern design, comfort, and family functionality.
This 1967 newspaper ad for the Camelot model showcased a smart, family-oriented floor plan with all the mid-century charm and efficiency buyers expected from Carlton Square.

Legacy of Carlton Square

By 1968, Carlton Square’s final phase of homes had sold out, while Hofmann reported it was one of its best-performing developments. Hofmann then shifted its attention next door, launching the Tempo new-home community in 1969.

Today, Carlton Square’s original sign still stands proudly on Stanley Boulevard. Many homes have since been expanded or remodeled, while retaining their original structural layouts.

Carlton Square wasn’t just a place to live—it was a vision of a good life characterized by vinyl flooring, wall-to-wall carpeting, and postwar suburban optimism.

Carlton Square may not be flashy by today’s standards—but back in the 60s, it was the future.

Exploring the original Carlton Square today

Although the sales offices are long gone and the advertisements have faded, the original Carlton Square model homes remain part of the neighborhood. These homes gave prospective buyers their first glimpse of Hofmann's vision for suburban living in 1965.

Today, they provide a tangible connection to Carlton Square's earliest days. The guide below documents the original model home complexes, the homes themselves, and how they appear today.

Original advertised prices

  • 1965: From $15,950
  • 1966: $16,950 - $21,500
  • 1967: $17,750 - $20,950
  • 1967 (second phase): $19,950 - $25,450
  • 1968: $21,450 - $27,450

The first original model home complex (1965—1967)

When Carlton Square opened, buyers toured a carefully staged collection of Hofmann model homes showcasing the neighborhood’s mix of architecture, indoor-outdoor living, and family-oriented floor plans. Though individual elevations varied, these original models helped define much of the neighborhood’s visual identity.

The four original models opened in 1965 on Robert Way. A fifth model arrived in 1966, and a sixth in 1967. In late 1967, the original model homes had been sold off as the phase neared completion.

Current aerial view of the former site of the 1965 Carlton Square model home complex in Livermore, California, showing the surrounding residential streets and neighborhood layout where the original model homes once stood.
Annotated aerial map of the 1965 Carlton Square model home complex on Robert Way. Base imagery from Apple Maps.

Original model home designs

1. The Newcastle - This model offered approximately 1,670 square feet with up to 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.

Current appearance of the original Newcastle home in Livermore's Carlton Square.
Original Newcastle model today via Google Street View.

2. The Sheffield - This model offered approximately 1,392 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

Current appearance of the original Sheffield home in Livermore's Carlton Square.
Original Sheffield model today via Google Street View.

3. The Camelot (Plan 1140) - This model offered approximately 1,256 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

Current appearance of the original Camelot home in Livermore's Carlton Square.
Original Camelot model today (extended) via Google Street View.

4. The Cambridge - This model offered approximately 1,256 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

Original Cambridge model today via Google Street View.
Original Cambridge model today via Google Street View.

5. The Windsor (Plan 1704) - This model offered approximately 1,704 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Added in 1966. The design reflected feedback from prospective buyers and common household preferences of the period.

Current appearance of the original Windsor home in Livermore's Carlton Square.
Original Windsor model today via Google Street View.

6. The Jamestown - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,600 sq. ft. This model offered approximately 1,048 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms. Added in March 1967. Designed by architect Justo Monillas.

Current appearance of the original Jamestown home in Livermore's Carlton Square.
Original Jamestown today via Google Street View.

The second original model home complex (1967—1968)

In late 1967, Hofmann rolled out a new model complex on Murdell Lane to sell homes in Units 3 and 4. The homes were larger, flashier, and clearly built for families that had outgrown their starter ranch.

Aerial view of the site of the 1967 Carlton Square model home complex in Livermore, California, showing the surrounding residential streets and neighborhood layout where the original model homes once stood.
Annotated aerial map of the 1967 Carlton Square model home complex on Murdell Lane. Base imagery from Apple Maps.

Original model home designs

1. The Berkeley Square (Plan 1991) - This model offered approximately 2,000 square feet with up to 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.

Current appearance of the original Berkeley Square home in Livermore's Carlton Square.
Original Berkeley Square model today via Google Street View.

March 1968 Contra Costa Times advertisement showing the detailed floor plan of the Berkeley Square model home, highlighting its layout and room dimensions for prospective buyers.
From a March 1968 Contra Costa Times ad—The homes were smart, large, and had an optional parents' retreat.

3. The Huntington - This model offered approximately 1,600 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.

Current appearance of the original Huntington home in Livermore's Carlton Square.
Original Huntington model today (expanded in front) via Google Street View.

(Three additional models were offered, but records are scarce.)

Collection

Livermore — the places that built a modern city

This collection explores the new-home communities, builders, and neighborhoods that transformed Livermore during the decades when ranches, orchards, and open fields gave way to the neighborhoods that define the city today.

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