Published July 7, 2025
Between 1975 and 1976, Morrison Homes unveiled Heritage Valley, an approximately 103-home housing tract tucked into the rolling charm of Pleasanton, California. It wasn’t just another development—it was part of a grander vision for a town resisting the rush of urban sprawl.
If Shapell Homes gave San Ramon its suburban soul, and Sunset Homes put Livermore on the residential map, Morrison Homes was Pleasanton’s architect of modern living. Their handprints are all over town—from the sweeping Pleasanton Valley and Valley Trails to the tucked-away cul-de-sacs that still echo with backyard laughter.
Mapping Heritage Valley
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| Annotated aerial map of the Heritage Valley housing tract in Pleasanton, California. Base imagery from Google Maps. |
Heritage Valley homes and architectural style
When Morrison Homes introduced Heritage Valley in 1975, 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 Pleasanton.
The Heritage Valley home designs
The original model homes provide a useful cross-section of Heritage Valley's architecture. Morrison Homes selected three models for the 1975 opening on Morganfield Court. Although buyers could choose among different elevations and options, these models document the versions Morrison chose to put on display.
The Plan 167
This design offered approximately 1,671 square feet with up to 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Plan 167 model today via Google Street View. |
The Plan 141
This design offered approximately 1,414 square feet with up to 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Plan 141 model today via Google Street View. |
The Plan 2175
This two-story design offered approximately 1,763 square feet with up to 4 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms.
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| Original Plan 2175 model today via Google Street View. |
Marketing Heritage Valley
With a keen eye for what worked (and what sold), Morrison returned to some of its most beloved floor plans, added fresh façades, and opened Heritage Valley in September 1975 to a warm reception. The homes captured what buyers longed for: a suburban sanctuary with just enough polish, plenty of space, and the promise of a pool in every backyard.
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| September 1975 Oakland Tribune ad—Morrison Homes announces the grand opening of Heritage Valley. |
Nearly 1,000 prospective buyers came through in that first year. By the end of 1976, 91 out of 103 available homes had found their owners. Whether it was the open floor plans, the generous lot sizes, or the siren call of slow growth and rising values, Heritage Valley hit the sweet spot.
Growth on a leash
By the early '70s, Pleasanton was having growing pains. In Spring 1972, voters hit the brakes—approving a growth moratorium that capped home construction at just 15 units per quarter. Morrison had already bought a large swath of land in January 1971, spanning from Santa Rita Road to the train tracks, and from Mohr Avenue down to Valley Avenue. Originally planned for 477 homes (a mix of single-family, garden homes, and townhouses), the site’s full development would take more than a decade.
Legacy of Heritage Valley
By the end of 1976, Morrison Homes was reporting all 103 homes were sold. Most sit on quiet cul-de-sacs, with roomy lots that practically demanded a pool—and most got one. After all, this was Pleasanton, and a summer without a splash was simply uncivilized.
Heritage Valley remains a storybook slice of 1970s suburban optimism—where slow growth, careful planning, and just a dash of whimsy created a neighborhood that still feels like home.
Collection
Pleasanton — building a suburban city
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