It was the spring of 1964, and in the rolling golden hills of San Ramon, something new was blooming. Not wildflowers, but front lawns. Not barns, but breezeways. The Crestview new-home community by H. C. Elliott made its grand debut in May of that year—set in a new country club-inspired neighborhood developed during the San Ramon Village era, Crestview promised fresh air, wide streets, and a chance to play out the American Dream.
Homebuilder H.C. Elliott was a name associated with big suburban ambitions. His plan was bold: 502 homes, all surrounding the community’s newest centerpiece—Country Club Elementary, San Ramon’s very first new elementary school.
You can’t just launch a subdivision without a little razzle-dazzle. And razzle, Crestview had. On opening day, Marshall Clyde and Indian Jim—colorful performers from San Jose’s beloved Frontier Village—swooped in via helicopter, kicking off the celebration with Wild West flair. For the crowd, it was part spectacle, part sales pitch: this was where the West was being reimagined—less saloons, more solariums.
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| May 1964 San Francisco Chronicle ad—it wasn't just new homes, it was a party. Balloons, hay rides, refreshments, amusement park performers, even a helicopter. This grand opening was as close to a circus as one could get. |
Where is Crestview?
Today, the original Crestview community can be found near Alcosta Boulevard. Familiar streets include Interlachen Avenue, Corinne Street, Brockton Avenue, and Ernwood Street.
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| Annotated aerial map of the Crestview community in San Ramon, California. Base imagery from Google Maps. |
Selling the dream
The advertising pulled no punches. Crestview promised every man his castle—where the workday ended with golf at the club and dinner magically appeared on the patio.
But the real power? That rested squarely in the kitchen.
Because in the 1960s, women ruled the domestic realm, and Crestview’s kitchens were designed accordingly—open, spacious, and filled with light, they allowed moms to cook, chat, and keep an eye on the kids, all at once. Hidden galley kitchens were out. Country kitchens were in. And each one came complete with gleaming Gaffers & Sattler appliances—something Laura Petrie would approve.
Like many others "escaping" big cities, Crestview offered relaxed, gracious living in the quiet country. What could be more surprising than fixing a pitcher of fresh and delicious lemonade, only to find your man fast asleep. He played a good game.
Crestview offered five floor plans and 24 different exterior elevations. Designed by Development Coordinators of Fullerton, these homes weren’t afraid to have a little fun with form. Some even sported Polynesian-style rooflines, giving them just a kiss of tiki flair.
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| Welcome home, Daddy-o. An ad from August 30, 1964. |
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| Ad for Crestview from August 16, 1964 with spacious country kitchen and breakfast bar inside Plan 3. |
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| Fix yourself a pitcher of lemonade, a 1964 ad suggested, and escape to quiet country. That is, until your husband passed out from too much golf. |
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| An artist's rendering of the Plan 3 from May 24, 1964. |
Legacy of Crestview
Although H.C. Elliott planned for over 500 homes, the final build-out wrapped in August 1966 with fewer than 200 completed. The dream was slightly downsized, but the magic lingered. Eventually, a 45-acre parcel originally earmarked for Crestview was sold to Brown & Kauffmann, who would go on to build the Walnut Hills subdivision next door.
Today, Crestview still whispers the story of a golden moment in San Ramon’s past—a time when the suburbs weren’t just about space, but about possibility. Where every front door opened onto a promise: a fresh start, a friendly street, a quiet evening with jazz on the radio and the kids running around the yard.
The spirit of Crestview lives on—in angled garages, Tiki rooftops, and memories of a neighborhood where the country club was just down the road and dinner was always served with a side of optimism.
Exploring the original Crestview today
Although the sales office is long gone and the advertisements have faded, the original Crestview model homes remain part of the neighborhood. These homes gave prospective buyers their first glimpse of H. C. Elliott's vision for suburban living in 1964.
Today, they provide a tangible connection to Crestview's earliest days. The guide below documents the original model home complex, the homes themselves, and how they appear today.
Original advertised prices
- 1964: From $17,750
- 1965: From $18,250
- 1966 (final 2-story homes): From $22,000
Original model home complex
When Crestview opened, buyers toured a carefully staged collection of H. C. Elliott 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 five original models opened in 1964 on Belinda Court. A footpath wound to Davona Drive, where buyers could park and walk in.
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| Annotated aerial map of the original Crestview model home complex on Belinda Court. Base imagery from Apple Maps. |
Original model home designs
1. The Plan 1 - This model offered approximately 1,368 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Plan 1 model today via Google Street View. |
2. The Hampton - This model offered approximately 1,623 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Hampton model today via Google Street View. |
3. The Plan 3 - This model offered approximately 1,427 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Plan 3 model today via Google Street View. |
4. The Brentwood - This model offered approximately 1,711 square feet with up to 5 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms.
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| Original Brentwood model today (expanded) via Google Street View. |
5. The Plan 5 - This model offered approximately 1,220 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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CollectionsSan Ramon — the neighborhoods that built a suburban city This collection explores the new-home communities, builders, and neighborhoods that shaped San Ramon during its principle years of suburban growth that gradually became the modern city. The San Ramon Village collection explores the master-planned community that transformed former ranches and orchards into today's Dublin and South San Ramon. Although the name has largely disappeared, the neighborhoods, subdivisions, schools, parks, and shopping centers built as part of the original plan continue to shape the Tri-Valley. Continue exploring
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