Easy Street and Pleasant Meadows — tract homes in Pleasanton (1972)

As an infill project within Pleasanton’s Del Prado neighborhood, Standard-Pacific Corporation built a collection of 3- and 4-bedroom homes under the names Easy Street, and Pleasant Meadows. Though technically part of the Del Prado neighborhood, Standard-Pacific never used that name to market the development.

Approximately 113 homes (6 duets) were built between 1972 and 1976.

Vintage newspaper ad from July 1974 promoting the launch of Easy Street, a new housing development in Pleasanton. The ad features bold typography and marketing slogans like “the new home community with everything going for it,” along with pricing for four home plans ranging from $42,490 to $45,490. A snapshot of 1970s suburban real estate advertising.
A vintage July 1974 advertisement announces the grand opening of Easy Street, a new home community in Pleasanton's Del Prado neighborhood. Promoted as “the new home community with everything going for it,” the ad highlights four distinct home designs priced from $42,490 to $45,490—reflecting the era’s optimism and suburban growth.

Where is Easy Street and Pleasant Meadows in Pleasanton?

Easy Street and Pleasant Meadows are an infill development in the Del Prado neighborhood.

Annotated aerial map showing the boundaries of the Easy Street and Pleasant Meadows tracts in the Del Prado neighborhood in Pleasanton.
Annotated aerial map of the Standard Pacific homes in the Del Prado neighborhood in Pleasanton, California. Base imagery from Google Maps.

Selling Easy Street

The first preview opening came in June 1972, with four model homes on Hansen Drive near Hopyard Road. The model homes were left unfurnished. Standard-Pacific claimed this would help buyers better imagine their own furniture inside. A surprising strategy, especially considering how essential staging is in modern home sales. That year, 19 homes were built and sold before Pleasanton’s housing moratorium took effect—an early success.

A second phase followed in late 1973, with 37 additional homes.

Sales were sluggish due to high interest rates, and by 1975, Standard-Pacific began offering discounts up to $3,000 to attract buyers.

A July 1972 Oakland Tribune artist's rendering of the exterior of the Cypress model at Pleasanton's Easy Street.
From a July 1972 Oakland Tribune ad—an artist's rendering of one of elevations available for the Cypress model during Easy Street's preview sale.

A July 1972 Contra Costa Times artist's rendering of Cypress model at Easy Street in Pleasanton with its unique roof and modern design.
From a July 1972 Contra Costa Times ad—an artist's rendering of another Cypress model elevation with its unique roof design.

Vintage newspaper ad from April 1975 promoting a builder’s inventory reduction sale, offering up to $3,000 off new homes and advertising 7¾% conventional financing. The ad reflects the economic slowdown of the era, with sluggish home sales prompting aggressive marketing and discount strategies.
A vintage April 1975 advertisement announces a builder’s inventory reduction sale in response to a slowing housing market. With up to $3,000 in price reductions and new 7¾% conventional financing, the ad reflects the economic uncertainty of the mid-1970s and the challenges builders faced in selling new homes.

Pricing history of Easy Street and Pleasant Meadows homes

  • 1972 (Easy Street Phase 1): $31,800 +
  • 1973 (Easy Street Phase 2): $36,990 - $45,990
  • 1974 (Easy Street Phase 2): $42,490 - $45,490
  • 1975 (Easy Street Phase 2): $42,490 - $45,490
  • Mar 1976 (Pleasant Meadows): $47,990 +

The homes of Easy Street

When Easy Street opened, buyers toured a collection of Standard-Pacific 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 1972 on Hansen Drive.

Map showing the layout of the Easy Street model home complex on Hansen Drive in Pleasanton, California. The map identifies the locations of the four model homes—The Cedar, Maple, Cypress, and Elm—within the Del Prado neighborhood, illustrating the arrangement of the homes along the street and their relation to surrounding lots and roads.
Annotated aerial map of the Easy Street model home complex on Hansen Drive. Base imagery from Google Maps.

Model homes of Easy Street

1. The Cedar - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,400 sq, ft.

2. The Maple - 3 bedroom, 2 bathrooms, 1,520 sq. ft.

3. The Cypress - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,652 sq. ft.

4. The Elm - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,527 sq. ft.

Current appearance of the original Cedar home in Pleasanton's Easy Street tract in Del Prado.
Original Cedar model today, once used as the sales office, via Google Street View

Current appearance of the original Maple home in Pleasanton's Easy Street tract in Del Prado.
Original Maple model today via Google Street View.

Current appearance of the original Cypress home in Pleasanton's Easy Street tract in Del Prado.
Original Cypress model today via Google Street View.

Current appearance of the original Elm home in Pleasanton's Easy Street tract in Del Prado.
Original Elm model today via Google Street View.

Easy Steet gets a new name: Pleasant Meadows

In 1976, the subdivision reopened under a new name: Pleasant Meadows. This time, market conditions were better, and the homes sold quickly—despite the name creating confusion with the already well-established Pleasanton Meadows neighborhood across town. Real estate agents may have panicked, but buyers still found their way.

One easy way to identify Pleasant Meadows homes is by their tile roofs—an upgrade not offered during the Easy Street phase.

Vintage 1976 newspaper ad for Pleasant Meadows in Pleasanton, featuring the slogan “Suddenly the country is convenient!” and promoting new homes priced from $47,990. Highlights include commute access to major Bay Area cities and pre-installed air conditioning ducts.
Vintage March 1976 ad announcing the grand opening of Pleasant Meadows in Pleasanton. With the slogan “Suddenly the country is convenient!”, the ad promoted a pastoral lifestyle just a commute away from San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose. Priced from $47,990, homes came with modern touches—including ducts pre-installed for future air conditioning—catering to forward-thinking suburban buyers.

The homes of Pleasant Meadows

Utilizing the same Easy Street sales office on Hansen Drive, three new model homes were shown across the street. Additionally, buyers could still choose the Elm and Cypress models from Easy Street.

Map showing the layout of the Pleasant Meadows model home complex on Hansen Drive in Pleasanton, California. The map highlights the positions of the three model homes—The Maple, Madrone, and Magnolia—within the Del Prado neighborhood, depicting their arrangement along Hansen Drive and their placement within the residential subdivision.
Annotated aerial map of the Pleasant Meadows model home complex on Hansen Drive. Base imagery from Google Maps.

Model homes of Pleasant Meadows

1. The Maple - 3 bedroom, 2 bathrooms, 1,520 sq. ft. A slightly updated version of the same home from Easy Street.

2. The Madrone - 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1,636 sq. ft.

3. The Magnolia - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,481 sq. ft.

Current appearance of the original Maple home in Pleasanton's Pleasant Meadows tract in Del Prado.
Original Maple model today via Google Street View.

Current appearance of the original Madrone home in Pleasanton's Pleasant Meadows tract in Del Prado.
Original Madrone model today via Google Street View.

Current appearance of the original Magnolia home in Pleasanton's Pleasant Meadows tract in Del Prado.
Original Magnolia model today via Google Street View.

Legacy of Easy Street and Pleasant Meadows

Easy Street sits just north of the original Mackay and Ditz-Crane tracts. Once they wound down operations in the mid-1970s, developers like Standard-Pacific filled in remaining parcels with whatever product made sense for the market.

After Easy Street and Pleasant Meadows, much of the surrounding land sat vacant until the mid-1980s, when new subdivisions like Country Fair appeared. Final buildout of Del Prado wouldn’t happen until the late 1990s, with scattered infill near Hansen Park and along Hopyard Road.

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