Inside Sunset West: where Sunset Homes began in Livermore (1958–1968)

A historical look of Sunset West, Livermore (1958–1968)

The origins of Granada Village and the early chapters of Sunset Homes’ suburban vision.

Welcome to Sunset West, 1958—1868

Before it was called Sunset West, this sprawling Livermore neighborhood was known as Granada Village—a bold experiment in planned suburban living that would shape the city for generations. Between 1958 and 1968, developer Masud Mehran and his company Sunset Homes introduced multiple distinct home series here, each with their own style, ambition, and audience.

A Sunset Homes' Castillo Series home in Sunset West.

From ranchland to neighborhood

In 1958, Mehran purchased 506 acres on the southern and western edges of Livermore. This land had deep roots in California history. But Mehran had a new vision: not just houses, but a self-contained community with schools, shopping, greenbelts, and recreation.

>The first Sunset Homes opened along Holmes Street in late 1958, marking the beginning of a neighborhood that would eventually include thousands of homes.

The Granada Village era

Granada Village attracted eager homebuyers with:

• Affordable prices

• Walkable downtown access

• Proximity to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory/p>

• Mid-century modern design with family-friendly features

The neighborhood’s appeal went beyond the homes—it was about lifestyle. Mehran’s master plan included schools, a swim club, and even retail spaces. By 1962, more than 1,000 families called Granada Village home. That same year, the Urban Land Institute recognized it as an “ideal American community.”

Where is Sunset West?

Location of the Granada Village neighborhood (now Sunset West) in Livermore, California.

Homes built in Sunset West

The 300 Series (1964—1965)

Sunset Homes’ 300 Series offered sleek modern plans with indoor-outdoor flow, carports or garages, and a range of floorplans tailored to growing families. These homes embodied early 1960s optimism—both accessible and stylish.

The Castillos Series (1965—1968)

With their high-pitched roofs and fairy tale flourishes, the Castillos Series homes were some of Sunset’s most distinctive. Nicknamed the "castles" of suburbia, they added architectural personality to the later phases of the tract.

Model complexes in Sunset West

• 300 Series
• Castillos Series

Related posts

• The story of Sunset Homes
• Sunset Homes’ 300 Series in Livermore (1964–1965): homes that took flight
• Sunset Homes’ Castillos Series in Livermore (1965–1968): the magical castles in suburbia