San Ramon's Crestview: 1964–1966 homes & subdivision history

Photo of a typical home in the Crestview neighborhood in San Ramon. This home features a popular Polynesian-inspired elevation, with a sweeping roofline, deep eaves, and decorative details evoking mid-century tropical design.

Welcome to Crestview

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 subdivision made its grand debut in May of that year—a new neighborhood set in what was fondly marketed as the “country club section” of San Ramon Village, a planned community that promised fresh air, wide streets, and a chance to play out the American Dream, one garage door at a time.

The builder? H.C. Elliott, a name 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. A school right in the heart of the neighborhood? Now that was futuristic thinking.

Map of the Crestview neighborhood in San Ramon, California
Map of the Crestview neighborhood in San Ramon, California.

A grand opening—complete with cowboys and helicopters

You can’t just launch a neighborhood 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.

A May 1964 San Francisco Chronicle ad for Crestview San Ramon's grand opening, featuring an exciting event with balloons, hayrides, amusement park performers, refreshments, and even a helicopter—promising a festive atmosphere akin to a circus.
A 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.

A man’s castle (with Gaffers & Sattler appliances)

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.

An August 1964 ad for Crestview San Ramon, highlighting "where patio living is par for the course," featuring modern homes designed for outdoor living and relaxation, with patios integrated into the design.
Welcome home, Daddy-o. An ad from August 30, 1964.

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.

An August 1964 ad for Crestview San Ramon showcasing a beautiful country kitchen, labeled "spacious growing room for your family," emphasizing the home's ample space and family-friendly design.
Ad for Crestview from August 16, 1964 with spacious country kitchen and breakfast bar inside Plan 3.

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.

A 1964 ad for Crestview San Ramon featuring the phrase "Escape to the country," with a stereotypical depiction of a wife shushing someone, evoking an idealized, peaceful country life in suburban homes.
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.

The homes of Crestview

Nestled on Belinda Court, Crestview’s model home complex boasted five floor plans and a dizzying 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. You half-expected a flaming torch by the driveway.

Aerial view of the original model complex for Crestview in San Ramon today.
Map of the Crestview model homes on Belinda Court in San Ramon.

Pricing history

  • 1964: $17,750 +
  • 1965: $18,250 +
  • 1966 (final 2-story homes): $22,000 +

Model homes

1. The Plan 1 - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,368 sq. ft.

2. The Hampton - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,623 sq. ft.

3. The Plan 3 - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,427 sq. ft.

An artist's rendering of the 1964 Crestview San Ramon Plan 3 model, showcasing its mid-century modern design with clean lines, large windows, and a spacious layout, reflecting the popular architectural style of the time.
An artist's rendering of the Plan 3 from May 24, 1964.

4. The Brentwood - 4 or 5 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1,711+ sq. ft. The flagship estate of Crestview.

5. The Plan 5 - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,220 sq. ft.

Crestview today

Here are the former model homes as they appear today:

The Plan 1 today

Current photo of the original 1964 Plan 1 model home in Crestview, San Ramon—a single-story, 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom layout with 1,368 square feet, featuring classic ranch-style architecture and a compact footprint.
The original Plan 1 model today.

The Hampton today

Present-day view of the original Hampton model in Crestview, San Ramon, built in 1964. This two-story home includes 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and 1,623 square feet, known for its wide facade and family-friendly design.
The original Hampton model today.

The Plan 3 today

Updated image of the 1964 Plan 3 model home in Crestview, San Ramon, featuring 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms across 1,427 square feet, with its original single-story layout still evident.
The original Plan 3 model today.

The Brentwood today

Modern photo of the flagship Brentwood model in Crestview, San Ramon, originally built in 1964 with 4 or 5 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and over 1,711 square feet—distinguished by its large lot and upscale facade.
The original Brentwood model today (expanded).

The Plan 5 today

Contemporary image of the original 1964 Plan 5 model home in Crestview, San Ramon—a compact 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom design with 1,220 square feet, ideal for first-time buyers and small families.
The original Plan 5 model today.

Design favorites: a neighborhood's defining characteristics

Contemporary photo of a single-story ranch-style house with a garage set at an angle, allowing for better use of the lot's shape. The home includes scalloped wood trim along the roofline, reflecting 1960s design details.
Current photo of a single-story ranch-style Plan 3 in San Ramon, featuring a uniquely angled garage designed to maximize a corner lot. The scalloped wood trim adds a touch of decorative charm to its classic mid-century profile.

Modern image of a two-story Brentwood model home in San Ramon, designed in the Polynesian-inspired style popular in the mid-1960s. The home includes a sweeping gable roof, overhanging eaves, and decorative elements typical of the tropical-themed elevation.
Current photo of a two-story Brentwood model in San Ramon, featuring the distinctive Polynesian-inspired elevation—a dramatic variation with broad eaves, angled rooflines, and mid-century tropical styling.

The final chapter: not quite 500

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 neighborhood just next door.

Legacy in the quiet country

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.

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