Tucked near East Stanley Boulevard and Murrieta Boulevard, the Granada Park subdivision quietly captures a key chapter in Livermore’s postwar growth. It wasn’t just a place where new homes popped up — it was one of the neighborhoods that helped define the city’s transformation from a rural outpost into a modern suburban community.
Granada Park is a component of the larger Granada Village planned community, which Sunset Homes began in 1958. While Sunset focused on nearby tracts, Granada Park was built out by three separate developers over a nine-year period: LeoBilt Sales, Groyer Homes, and California Homes. Together, they turned these once-empty lots into hundreds of homes — all during a time when Livermore’s population was nearly tripling.
Opening in September 1963, Granada Park launched with four model homes and a buzzworthy promotion: visiting women received either a fresh orchid or a roll of Kaiser Aluminum Foil. It was quirky, but it worked — and it marked the start of nearly a decade of steady building in the area.
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| Newspaper ad from 1963 promoting Granada Park, offering homes starting at $15,700 — an affordable alternative to Pleasanton and San Ramon. |
Where is Granada Park?
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| Annotated aerial map of the Granada Park subdivision in the Granada Village neighborhood of Livermore, California. Base imagery from Google Maps. |
1964–1968: Groyer Homes arrives
By the mid-1960s, Groyer Homes had taken over, and in 1964, opened a new model complex further down Wall Street. These new homes were slightly larger, with modernized floor plans, and came with competitive prices — often advertised as better values than homes in neighboring cities.
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| January 1967 newspaper ad for Granada Park by Groyer Homes, which had taken over from LeoBilt. The ad urged buyers to “compare price tags and value anywhere.” |
1971–1972: California Homes brings the final touches
Even into the early 1970s, several empty lots remained on Nadine Street and Helen Way. That’s when California Homes stepped in with a small infill project, adding about 50 larger homes starting at $24,000 — a solid value compared to Sunset Homes’ offerings nearby.
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| April 1972 newspaper ad for California Homes, marketing new infill construction in Granada Park—nearly a decade after the original homes were built. |
These homes reflected a slight stylistic evolution: they were roomier, with more square footage and proximity to the newly built Granada High School.
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| Annotated aerial map of the 1971-1972 California Homes infill lots in Granada Park. Base imagery from Google Maps. |
Legacy of Granada Park
Granada Park’s nearly decade-long buildout mirrors Livermore’s journey in the mid-20th century — from agricultural edge town to suburban hub. Each wave of homes, and each builder’s contribution, adds a layer to the story: a transition from small ranch-style starter homes to larger, more modern designs reflecting the era’s changing tastes.
Today, many of the original homes still stand, some lovingly preserved, others expanded. But all retain hints of that early optimism and accessibility that drew the first buyers in 1963 — orchid or no orchid.
Exploring the original Granada Park today
Although the sales offices are long gone and the advertisements have faded, the original Granada Park model homes remain part of the neighborhood. These homes gave prospective buyers their first glimpse of LeoBilt's vision for suburban living in 1963.
Today, they provide a tangible connection to Granada Park's earliest days. The guide below documents the original model home complexes, the homes themselves, and how they appear today.s
Original advertised prices
- 1963: From $15,700
- 1966: $21,975 - $26,500
- 1967: $21,975 - $26,500
- 1968: $22,250 - $26,950
- 1972: From $29,500
The LeoBilt model home complex (1963)
When Granada Park opened, buyers toured a carefully staged collection of LeoBilt model homes showcasing the neighborhood’s mix of architecture, indoor-outdoor living, and family-oriented floor plans. Though individual elevations varied, these original models helped define much of the neighborhood’s visual identity.
The original four models opened in 1963 on Wall Street.
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| Annotated aerial map of the 1963 LeoBilt Granada Park model home complex on Wall Street. Base imagery from Google Maps. |
Original model home design
1. Plan 1 – This model offered approximately 1,387 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
The Plan 1 model is camera shy (for now).
2. Plan 2 – This model offered approximately 1,204 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Plan 2 model today via Google Street View. |
3. Plan 3 – This model offered approximately 1,324 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Plan 3 model today via Google Street View. |
4. Plan 4 – This model offered approximately 1,077 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms.
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| Original Plan 4 model today via Google Street View. |
The Groyer Homes model home complex (1964–1968)
In 1964, Groyer Homes opened a new model complex further down Wall Street. These new homes were slightly larger, with modernized floor plans, and came with competitive prices.
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| Annotated aerial map of the 1964 Groyer Granada Park model home complex on Wall Street. Base imagery from Google Maps. |
Original model home designs
1. Plan 1 – This model offered approximately 1,296 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original 1964 Plan 1 model today via Google Street View. |
3. Plan 3 – This model offered approximately 1,387 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Plan 3 model today via Google Street View. |
4. Plan 4 – This model offered approximately 1,392 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
5. Plan 5 – This model offered approximately 2,040 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.
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| Original Plan 5 model today via Google Street View. |
6. Plan 6 – This model offered approximately 1,589 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
The third original model home complex (California Homes 1971–1972)
These homes reflected a slight stylistic evolution: they were roomier, with more square footage and proximity to the newly built Granada High School.
Original model home designs
Among the plans offered:
Plan 4-C – This model offered approximately 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
Plan 8-G – This model offered approximately 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
Plan 7 – (details unknown)
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| A modern look, a Plan 4-C home today (not original model) via Google Street View. |
Collection
Livermore — the places that built a modern city
This collection explores the new-home communities, builders, and neighborhoods that transformed Livermore during the decades when ranches, orchards, and open fields gave way to the neighborhoods that define the city today.
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