TractTales | Neighborhood history of the Tri-Valley

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. 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. 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 Shadowbr...

In the late '60s, Livermore wasn’t just growing—it was elevating itself, quite literally. On the south side, Masud Mehran’s Sunsetown was humming along nicely. But up north, things got fancy fast. Enter Duc & Elliot, seasoned developers who arrived in 1966 with something more exclusive in mind: Los Altos Heights . The name said it all—elevated, aspirational, and just a little geographically confused. “...above the rest. View homes with a prestige address.” A 1967 ad for Los Altos Heights in Livermore, featuring a Spanish-contemporary model home and promoting the neighborhood’s elevated setting and upscale appeal. Where is Los Altos Heights in Livermore? Perched just north of downtown Livermore, this hillside subdivision is at the corner of North Livermore Avenue and Portola Avenue. Annotated aerial map of the Los Altos Heights tract  in Livermore, California. Now considered The Meadows neighborhood.  Base imagery from Apple Maps . Selling the tract Duc & Elliot le...

Part of Sunset Homes’ “Sunsetown” collection At the close of June 1970, Sunset Homes unveiled what would become one of its most iconic and enduring achievements: the Wildwood series. These homes didn’t just mark a new phase in Sunset’s architectural evolution—they defined it. For homebuyers in Livermore’s growing neighborhoods, Wildwood offered a level of flexibility and luxury that felt fresh and unexpected. You could pick one of these new designs and build it in any available Sunset neighborhood, from Three Fountains to Whispering Pines , from Sunset East to Shadowbrook , and even The Meadows . No matter where you chose to live, Wildwood promised a home that felt custom—modern, open, and filled with warmth. Vintage June 1970 ad announcing the grand opening of the Wildwood homes in Livermore’s Sunsetown. Promising “more home for the dollar… anywhere in the Bay Area,” the ad promoted estate-sized lots, modern features, and starting prices under $30,000. Where is Wildwood in Liver...