Published September 22, 2025
Between 1970 and 1971, Albert D. Seeno built the Brookdale housing tract in San Ramon. While the name Brookdale evokes thoughts of peaceful, tree-lined streets, the tract’s heart is actually nestled around Springdale Lane. Over time, the local residents decided that Springdale had a certain ring to it, and so, the name stuck, giving the area a more fitting identity than the original one.
Seeno was no stranger to suburban construction, with a track record of successfully developing tract housing across the Bay Area. Brookdale was their entry into the San Ramon market, and it didn’t take long for the homes to start flying off the market. The homes were quality-built, with A. D. Seeno’s reputation for craftsmanship adding to the allure of the area.
Mapping Brookdale
Brookdale was built entirely along Springdale Lane in San Ramon.
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| Annotated aerial map of the Brookdale housing tract in San Ramon, California. Base imagery from Google Maps. |
Brookdale homes and architectural style
When A. D. Seeno Homes introduced Brookdale in 1970, 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 San Ramon.
The Brookdale model homes
The original model homes provide a useful cross-section of Brookdale’s architecture. Seeno Homes selected four models for the 1970 opening on Tareyton Avenue. Additional designs were offered, but not shown. Although buyers could choose among different elevations and options, these models document the versions Seeno chose to put on display.
The Plan 1
This model offered approximately 1,238 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Plan 1 model today via Google Street View. This home also housed the sales office. |
The Plan 2
This model offered approximately 1,479 square feet with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Plan 2 model today via Google Street View. |
The Plan 3
This model offered approximately 1,357 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original model is camera shy. A current photo of another Plan 3 home via Google Street View. |
The Plan 4
This model offered approximately 1,361 square feet with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms.
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| Original Plan 4 model today via Google Street View. |
Marketing Brookdale
A glimpse into the original marketing by A. D. Seeno for Brookdale. In typical mid-century fashion, the ad promises modern living and quality homes, the perfect backdrop for family life.
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| 1971 newspaper ad for Brookdale homes in San Ramon, showcasing the affordability and value of these newly built homes. |
The homes of Brookdale were designed for comfort, practicality, and that warm sense of belonging.
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| July 1972 Oakland Tribune ad—only a year after opening, the model homes went up for sale as the housing tract was selling out. |
The buildout and controversy
Brookdale’s model homes went up for sale mid-1972, marking the end of a new chapter in San Ramon’s development. However, the tract soon became the focal point of a bit of controversy. Homes were completed before the streets and services had been fully finished. As a result, families began moving in—only to find they were without street lighting or police services.
New streets are private property until they are dedicated, and therefore become public. Seeno, mindful of the many moving parts involved in completing a new neighborhood, did his best to accommodate delays. But as with all growing communities, not everyone was willing to wait.
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| A 1971 Contra Costa Times newspaper clipping highlighting early challenges at the Brookdale housing tract, where eager homeowners moved in before streets and public services were completed. |
And so, Brookdale stands—a tract born of ambition and a dash of whimsy, with homes that reflect the evolving spirit of suburban living in the 1970s. Whether you walk the streets of Brookdale today or glance at a photo from its model days, the warmth and charm of this tract continue to shine through.
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