TractTales | The neighborhoods that built the Tri-Valley

Published October 20, 2025 Tucked against the rolling, oak-studded hills of what is now the Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park, Highland Oaks emerged in the mid-1960s as one of west Pleasanton's first large-scale housing tracts. Built in four phases between 1965 and 1969, the tract brought approximately 363 homes to the edge of what was then still a small, agrarian town on the brink of suburban transformation. The tract was constructed by Schulte-Blackwell, a builder known for creating family-oriented neighborhoods with modern comforts. Though sales began in October 1965, the official grand opening wasn't until January 1966—by which time more than 100 homes had already been sold, a testament to the area’s appeal and the shifting demand for suburban living among Bay Area families. This January 1966 newspaper ad heralded the grand opening of Highland Oaks. Featured are the first five model homes and recreation center in a self-contained community tucked against Pleasanton’s west h...

Published October 16, 2025 Perched on the rolling hills of west Dublin, the Briarhill housing tract stands as a symbol of postwar optimism and suburban luxury in the Tri-Valley region. Spanning 106 acres of undulating land with commanding views of the Amador Valley, Briarhill was more than a housing development—it was a vision for a new kind of suburban living, one that blended architectural ambition, exclusivity, and the aspirations of the Bay Area’s burgeoning middle class. Promoting one of the homes praised in McCall’s Magazine, this ad highlights the charm of Briarhill’s mid-century architectural style—rustic yet refined. Features like the hand-split cedar-shake roof, wide windows, and generous chimney captured the imagination of suburban buyers seeking a blend of elegance and country comfort. Where is Briarhill? Annotated aerial map of the Briarhill tract in Dublin, California. Base imagery from Apple Maps. The birth of Briarhill: 1963–1967 (Perma-Bilt Enterprises) The story ...

Published October 14, 2025 On October 26, 1969, Kaufman & Broad unveiled their latest housing concept in north Livermore: The Expandables . This housing tract was a direct response to the growing challenge of affordability for first-time homebuyers at the tail end of the 1960s. Rising home prices and tightening credit standards were making traditional homeownership increasingly out of reach, particularly for younger families. Kaufman & Broad, drawing on the success of a similar development in Huntington Beach, brought this innovative model to the Tri-Valley area. 1969 newspaper ad announcing the debut of The Expandables in Livermore. With the tagline, “Introducing your first and second home,” Kaufman & Broad emphasized the homes’ innovative design—affordable now, expandable later. The ad declared: “It’s so new, it makes tomorrow sound old-fashioned.” Where are The Expandables? Kaufman & Broad pointed to location as one of the tract’s main draws. The site—bounded by E...

Published October 10, 2025 In late 1975, a new chapter began in San Ramon’s suburban evolution. Shapell Industries, newly arrived from Southern California, initiated a bold and modern housing tract called Rancho Ramon —their first foray into northern California homebuilding. Over the course of three years, they would build approximately 262 homes that marked a stylistic and cultural shift from the familiar ranch houses of earlier decades to something larger, more vertical, and more aspirational. The timing was significant: this was the first large-scale housing project in San Ramon in four years, signaling renewed growth and confidence in the area. It also reflected a deeper desire—shared by homebuyers and developers alike—for homes that embodied space, modernity, and status. The mid-1970s were a moment of architectural experimentation and social optimism, despite larger economic uncertainties. Energy concerns were growing—California was reeling from the energy crisis of the early de...

Published October 6, 2025 The expansion north marked the next major chapter of Volk-McLain's San Ramon Village. After establishing the original community in what is now Dublin, the developer crossed the county line into what is now San Ramon, extending the master plan into a new landscape of golf courses, neighborhoods, recreation, shopping, and employment. This northern expansion became the heart of San Ramon Village—and Volk-McLain marketed it as the Country Club section, centered on the new San Ramon Country Club and golf course. During the early 1960s, the combination of homes, open space, recreation, commercial centers, and planned employment sites gave the growing community a more complete suburban identity, one that would shape San Ramon for decades to come. Mapping the heart of San Ramon Village Annotated aerial map of the Country Club section in San Ramon, California. Base imagery from Apple Maps. Numbers indicate area tracts. ① Walnut Hills ② Country Club Park ③ Fairwa...