Livermore's The Meadows: 1973–1976 homes & subdivision history

View of typical home in The Meadows neighborhood in Livermore, California. This Magnolia home reflects a 1,760-square-foot layout with 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and the signature ‘Kitchen-in-the-Round’ design.

Welcome to The Meadows

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 showing the location of The Meadows neighborhood in Livermore, California, highlighting streets, nearby landmarks, and surrounding areas.
Map of The Meadows neighborhood in north 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.

Vintage newspaper ad from the April 1974 Oakland Tribune promoting The Meadows neighborhood in Livermore, featuring the slogan “The best buy is today’s buy. Who can speak for tomorrow?” with bold typography and a sunset-themed background, emphasizing urgency and opportunity.
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.

Vintage newspaper ad from an April 1976 Daily Review promoting The Meadows neighborhood in Livermore, highlighting homes and encouraging buyers to customize their floor plans on scenic hilltop lots with views.
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 homes of The Meadows

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.

Small map showing the site of The Meadows model home complex in Livermore, California.
Map of The Meadows model home complex on Cromwell Street.

Pricing history

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

The model homes

1. The sales office - Visitors entered the model home complex in a converted Gardenia model.

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

From a July 1976 Oakland Tribune ad—the floor plan of the Escalonia model home, showcasing its layout and design features.
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.

From a December 1975 Oakland Tribune ad—The Azalea, the final new floor plan developed by Sunset Homes, presented with detailed layout and design elements.
From a December 1975 Oakland Tribune—The Azalea was the last new plan created by Sunset Homes.

From a June 1974 Oakland Tribune ad—detailed floor plan of the Azalea model home by Sunset Homes, showcasing the layout and room arrangements.
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.

From a April 1976 Oakland Tribune ad—floor plan of the Gardenia model home by Sunset Homes, showcasing the layout and room arrangements.
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 today

Here are the former model homes as they appear today.

The sales office today (set in a Gardenia model)

Exterior view of the former Gardenia model home, which once served as the sales office for The Meadows community in Livermore. Visitors entered the model complex through this welcoming space.
The original The Meadows sales office today.

The Escalonia (Plan 8600) today

Front exterior of the Escalonia model, a 3-bedroom, 2-bath home with 1,324 square feet. This updated design from Sunset Homes evolved from the earlier Quietwood series.
The original Escalonia model today (expanded).

The Azalea (Plan 86000) today

Contemporary photo of the Azalea model, featuring 3 bedrooms and 2 baths across 1,582 square feet. This home represented a completely new design by Sunset Homes in the mid-1970s.
The original Azalea model today. Note original walkway.

The Gardenia (Plan 8700) today

Street-facing view of the Gardenia model home, offering 3 bedrooms and 2 baths in a 1,466-square-foot layout. This plan also served as the sales office during the development’s original marketing phase.
The original Gardenia model today.

The Magnolia (Plan 880) today

Exterior of the Magnolia model home, a spacious 1,760-square-foot design with 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. This popular plan was known for its innovative ‘Kitchen-in-the-Round’ concept.
The original Magnolia model today.

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.

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