Trevarno, Livermore, CA

Trevarno is one of Livermore's genuine historic pockets, a small district of about 80 homes just north of downtown built around 1913 to 1915. The name traces back to a Cornish company that ran a safety-fuse works here, and the original Arts and Crafts bungalows it left behind, with their emphasis on natural materials and fine craftsmanship, still line the streets. The city designated Trevarno Road a Historic District in 1976, which has helped preserve that early-1900s character. What you are buying here is rarity. These are some of the oldest homes in Livermore, walkable to First Street's restaurants, tasting rooms, and the ACE station, in a compact enclave that simply does not change hands often. The streetscape has a settled, century-old character that newer tracts spend fortunes trying to imitate. The tradeoffs are the ones that come with vintage houses: smaller footprints, older systems, and the upkeep particular to homes past their hundredth birthday. For buyers who want true historic character and a walk-to-downtown address, though, Trevarno is close to one of a kind in Livermore.