The Meadows (1973–1976): Sunset Homes’ hilltop neighborhood

The Meadows logo

In October 1973, Sunset Homes opened its newest neighborhood in Livermore: The Meadows. Built on a hilly site with panoramic views of Mount Diablo and the Livermore Valley, this project marked Sunset’s strategic pivot during a period of model and neighborhood transitions.

Map of The Meadows neighborhood
Location of The Meadows neighborhood in Livermore, California.

At the time, Sunset’s sales approach was refreshingly flexible: buyers could choose a home plan first, then decide which Sunset neighborhood to build it in. Two series were available—Wildwood, with models shown in Sunset East, and Quietwood, on display in Three Fountains.

There was just one catch: the model homes were nowhere near The Meadows. So in November 1973, Sunset made things easier—and more marketable—by closing the Quietwood complex and opening a new model home center right in The Meadows, borrowing the neighborhood’s name for the updated lineup.

Picture of an ad for Sunset's The Meadows
From an April 1974 Oakland Tribune ad—“The best buy is today’s buy. Who can speak for tomorrow?” Sunset leans into urgency with a touch of existential marketing.

By June 1974, the Wildwood series was retired and replaced by the Shadowbrook series, with a new model complex built in the Shadowbrook neighborhood. The Shadowbrook neighborhood came with a higher price tag—but savvy buyers could still choose to The Meadows, where prices were lower. Same floor plan, same views, less sticker shock.

A smart move for buyers—and a quiet win for Sunset.

Throughout the development, homes in The Meadows came with Sunset’s five-year warranty, adding peace of mind to the promise of hillside living.

A new identity for a stalled development

Before Sunset’s involvement, the site had been known as Los Altos Heights—a development that stalled before reaching potential. Sunset acquired the unbuilt tract, rebranded it as The Meadows, and turned it into a successful project by repositioning it as an extension of its established Sunsetown home strategy.

Picture of an ad for Sunset Homes The Meadows
From an April 1976 Daily Review ad—Sunset pitched The Meadows as a neighborhood of mostly custom-built homes, because why settle for your neighbor’s floor plan when you can tweak your own on a hill with a view?

The Meadows model homes

Sunset’s model home complex on Cromwell Street in The Meadows featured five homes—four models and one converted sales office. Each model came in at least three different elevations, offering buyers stylistic options with consistent floor plans.

Map of Sunset Homes The Meadows model homes
Site of The Meadows model home complex.

Pricing history
1973: $39,650 - $49,650
1974: $39,950 - $53,950
1975: $40,950 +
1976: $49,950 +

1. The Gardenia - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,466 sq. ft. This home was the sales office.

The Meadows Gardenia model
The original The Meadows sales office today.

2. The Escalonia (Plan 8600) - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,324 sq. ft. An updated version of the earlier Quietwood series.

The Meadows Escalonia model
The original Escalonia model today (expanded).
From a July 1976 Oakland Tribune ad—the floor plan of the Escalonia.

3. The Azalea (Plan 86000) - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,582 sq. ft. A completely new design from Sunset—essentially an expanded Escalonia. It featured modern touches and slightly more space for growing families.

The Meadows Azalea model
The original Azalea model today. Note original walkway.
From a December 1975 Oakland Tribune—The Azalea was the last new plan created by Sunset Homes.

From a June 1974 Oakland Tribune ad—the floor plan of the Azalea.

4. The Gardenia (Plan 8700) - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,466 sq. ft. An updated version from the earlier Quietwood series.

The Meadows Gardenia model
The original Gardenia model today.

From an April 1976 Oakland Tribune ad—the floor plan of the Gardenia.

5. The Magnolia (Plan 880) - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,760 sq. ft. This popular model was known for its unique “Kitchen-in-the-Round”—a design that stood out from more traditional layouts and was often mentioned in marketing materials.

The Meadows Magnolia model
The original Magnolia model today.

Picture of a Magnolia home in The Meadows
Another Magnolia home in The Meadows.

The final phase

In August 1976, Sunset put the Cromwell Street model homes up for sale. By October, the neighborhood had essentially sold out, concluding a successful three-year run.

What began as a stalled development transformed into a neighborhood with strong views, strong sales, and a quietly strategic role in Sunset’s Livermore story.

Related post: The story of Sunset Homes

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