Published June 23, 2025
In the early 1960s, Santa Barbara builder H.C. Elliott landed in Livermore with a vision—and a bulldozer. Where others saw a shuttered airport, Elliott saw a village waiting to happen. Not just streets and houses, but a whole community: parks, schools, shopping, and homes priced so attractively, first-time buyers felt like they'd hit the jackpot. The result was Town Square, a tract housing development that promised modern suburban living at a price young families could afford.
Elliott crafted homes built for modern life—functional, attractive, and comfortably within reach. And when Town Square held its grand opening on June 21, 1964, families lined up to see the promise of a better life, wrapped in stucco and asphalt shingles. Prices started at $14,950, which meant you could actually afford to live near a new freeway and still have a backyard for the dog.
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| 1964 Oakland Tribune advertisement announcing the grand opening of Town Square. H. C. Elliott promoted hardwood floors, all-electric kitchens, and modern styling to attract first-time homebuyers. |
Mapping Town Square
Town Square was built around Mohawk Drive, Cherokee Drive, Seminole Drive, Kent Court, Dover Way, Brighton Way, Salem Court, and Brookfield Drive in north Livermore.
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| The Town Square tract by H. C. Elliott occupies the area around Mohawk Drive, Cherokee Drive, Seminole Drive, Kent Court, Dover Way, Brighton Way, Salem Court, and Brookfield Drive in Livermore. Image via Apple Maps. |
Town Square homes and architectural style
When H. C. Elliott introduced Town Square in June 1964, prospective buyers encountered the housing tract through its model homes. The models showcased the different designs, floor plans, and lifestyles the builder was offering to buyers in Livermore.
The Town Square home designs
The original model homes provide a useful cross-section of Town Square's architecture. H. C. Elliott selected seven models for the 1964 opening on Cayuga Drive, with three more added in 1966. Although buyers could choose among different elevations and options, these models document the versions Elliott chose to put on display.
The Monterey
This design offered approximately 1,300 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Monterey model today via Google Street View. |
Plan 2
This design offered approximately 1,144 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Plan 2 model today via Google Street View. |
The Arcadian
This design offered approximately 910 square feet with 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom. Often tucked onto corner lots with garages at an angle.
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| Original Arcadian model today via Google Street View. |
Plan 4
This two-story design offered approximately 1,572 square feet with up to 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Retired by 1966.
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| The Plan 4 at Town Square combined generous living space with an affordable purchase price, reflecting H. C. Elliott's strategy of offering value without sacrificing style. |
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| Original Plan 4 model today via Google Street View. |
The Newporter
This design offered approximately 1,282 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Newporter model today via Google Street View. |
Plan 6
This 1 1/2-story design offered approximately 1,697 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Plan 6 model today via Google Street View. |
The Jamaica
This design offered approximately 1,559 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Jamaica model today via Google Street View. |
The Catalina
This two-story design offered approximately 1,800 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Added in February 1966.
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| 1966 Oakland Tribune–a photo of the Catalina model with original garage door. |
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| Original Catalina model today via Google Street View. |
The Danville
This two-story design offered approximately 1,700 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Added in April 1966.
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| Original Danville model today via Google Street View. |
The Barcelona
This design offered approximately 1,588 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Added in February 1966.
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| A Barcelona home (not original model) via Google Street View. |
Marketing Town Square
Elliott’s goal was clear: to offer realistically priced new homes that could comfortably fit any-sized family.
Affordability didn’t mean sacrificing style. Inside, walnut wall paneling added warmth and richness, while unique baluster room dividers brought a touch of airy elegance—separating spaces without closing them off. Some homes even included walk-in closets and sunken living rooms.
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| Decorative wood balusters became one of Town Square's signature interior details, separating living spaces while preserving the open feeling that defined mid-century design. |
Legacy of Town Square
Town Square helped establish the suburban pattern that would define much of north Livermore during the 1960s. Although its marketing name has largely disappeared, the homes remain a recognizable part of the city, reflecting H. C. Elliott's emphasis on affordability, practical design, and neighborhood planning.
The success of Town Square gave H. C. Elliott the confidence to continue building in Livermore, where the company's next developments would further shape the city's suburban growth.
By the end of 1967, Elliot reported all 412 homes were complete. And with a successful track record—even in an era of tight money—H.C. Elliott turned his sights to the next chapter, Somerset.
Collection
Livermore — the making of a suburban city
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