By the early 1970s, Livermore was rapidly expanding—and so were its subdivisions. In May 1972, builder H.C. Elliott introduced his final project in the city: Somerset West, a 90-acre neighborhood nestled just west of the original Town Square. Over the next two years, approximately 279 homes would take shape here—a quintessential suburban retreat, with wood siding, avocado-green appliances, and gently curving cul-de-sacs, marking a defining moment in Livermore’s postwar growth.
The first 186 homes (Units 1 through 3) borrowed from the earlier Somerset Homes models on Delaware Way, while the last two units brought in fresh floor plans—and a new model home complex for the touring public to admire, judge, and imagine their futures in.
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| 1972 Oakland Tribune ad announcing the grand opening of Somerset West, showcasing the New Somerset model and its price range during the initial phase of the neighborhood’s development. |
Where is Somerset West?
Today, the original Somerset West community can be found around Hagemann Drive, Yosemite Drive, Rainer Avenue, and Hummingbird Lane in north Livermore.
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| Where is Somerset West today? The original 1972 Somerset West new-home community by H. C. Elliott occupies the area south of East Jack London Boulevard and east of Murrieta Boulevard in Livermore. Base imagery via Google Maps. |
Selling the dream
Among the many features that have helped make Somerset West a success were hand-split cedar shake roofs, tiled entryways, insulation in outside walls and ceilings, forced air heating, and carpeting throughout living rooms, dining rooms, halls, and bedrooms. Fireplaces were included in four of the ten available floor plans and could be added as an option in three others.
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| May 1972 Contra Costa Times—in his eighth year of building in Livermore, H. C. Elliott boasted 1200 families loving their homes. |
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| May 1972 Contra Costa Times—a view inside the open-concept living area of the Californian model, complete with tasteful decorating, fireplace, and shag carpet. |
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| September 1974 Contra Costa Times—H. C. Elliott's culmination of building Livermore nears sellout; only 30 homes left in Somerset West, where Livermore living is at its best. |
Legacy of Somerset West
By late 1974, sales in Somerset West had quietly wrapped up—no headlines, no grand finale. Like many suburban developments of the era, it simply transitioned from active construction site to lived-in neighborhood. Streets once lined with lumber and model homes gave way to bicycles, garden hoses, and the rhythms of daily life.
Though not the most high-profile of Elliott’s developments, Somerset West remains a noteworthy chapter in the city’s residential history. It marked the culmination of a builder’s influence and a community’s transition—offering attainable homeownership at a time of rapid regional change. For the families who moved in, it offered exactly what was needed: a comfortable home, a modest yard, and a place in one of Livermore’s most enduring neighborhoods.
Exploring the original Somerset West today
Although the sales office is long gone and the advertisements have faded, the original Somerset West 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 1972.
Today, they provide a tangible connection to Somerset West's earliest days. The guide below documents the original model home complex, the homes themselves, and how they appear today.
Original advertised prices
- 1972: $23,450 – $29,450
- 1973: $26,550 – $33,450
- 1974: $29,950 – $37,450
Original model home complex
When Somerset West 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 six original models opened in September 1973 on Hagemann Drive. At least four additional designs were available, but not modeled.
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| Annotated aerial map of the original Somerset West model home complex on Hagemann Drive. Base imagery from Apple Maps. |
Original sales material
The following newspaper advertisements document the original Somerset West homes as they were presented to prospective buyers. Together they preserve the exterior renderings, floor plans, pricing, and marketing language used during the neighborhood's first years.
The Homestead
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| November 1973 advertisement for Somerset West, highlighting the Homestead model as part of H.C. Elliott’s final phase of homebuilding in the city. |
The Huntington
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| 1973 Oakland Tribune ad featuring the Huntington model, highlighting its unique design, including the standout curvilinear kitchen, as a bold step forward in suburban living. |
Original model home designs
1. The Scottsdale - This model offered approximately 1,343 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Scottsdale model today via Google Street View. |
2. The Danbury - This model offered approximately 1,130 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Danbury model today via Google Street View. |
3. The Homestead - This model offered approximately 1,048 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms.
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| Original Homestead model today via Google Street View. |
4. The Monterey - This model offered approximately 1,427 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Monterey model today via Google Street View. |
5. The Huntington - This model offered approximately 1,479 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Known for its innovative “curvilinear kitchen”, the Huntington model featured a unique round kitchen design.
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| Original Huntington model today via Google Street View. |
6. The Sheffield (Plan 6) - This model offered approximately 1,573 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. A reworked version of the original Huntington from Delaware Way (Somerset Homes).
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| Original Sheffield model today via Google Street View. |
Bonus floor plans (not shown in the model complex)
The New Somerset (Plan 5) - This model offered approximately 1,562 square feet with 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, and unfinished second-story. Alternatively, it was offered finished with a total of 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms (Plan 5-2).
The Californian (Plan 4) - This model offered approximately 1,561 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
The Ridgewood (Plan 2-L) - This model offered approximately 1,366 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| A Ridgewood home (not shown in model complex) via Google Street View. |
The Ranch Californian (Plan 4-SL) - This model offered approximately 1,536 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| A Ranch Californian home (not shown in model complex) via Google Street View. |
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.
Continue exploring
- Town Square by H. C. Elliott — a 1964 new-home community in Livermore
- Somerset Homes by H. C. Elliott (Livermore, 1968)
- The Expandables by Kaufman & Broad (Livermore, 1969)
- H. C. Elliott — building across the Tri-Valley
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