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The City of Novato successfully mixes corporate headquarters, state-of-the art technology companies, light industrial and a variety of retail centers in its business community. Novato welcomes new biotech and technology-related businesses, as well as retail businesses. For example, there is a growing biotech cluster located in the Bel Marin Keys Business Park The ongoing successful transition of the old Hamilton Air Base has also provided ample space for office, technology and lab space.
Location
Novato, with Highway 101 running alongside it, is the northernmost city in Marin County. It is approximately twenty-nine miles north of San Francisco, thirty-seven miles northwest of Oakland and approximately 15 miles south of the wine country. Novato covers twenty-eight square miles.
The highest point in Novato is Mt. Burdell at 1,558 feet. The elevation in downtown Novato is 18 feet. The mean annual temperature is 67 degrees, with an average minimum of 46 degrees and an average maximum of 71 degrees. Rainfall averages approximately 27.5 inches per year. Novato is California's 153rd largest city. .
Corporate Headquarters
Fireman's Fund Insurance Company is the City's (and Marin County's) largest employer with 2,400 employees. Founded in 1863, Fireman's Fund has been providing premier business and personal insurance for over 135 years.
In addition to Fireman's Fund, Novato is the corporate headquarters for footwear company Birkenstock Footprint Sandals; Portal Publications, a leading global publisher of images and art reproductions in poster and matted print formats; Morton & Bassett Spices; TravelSmith, a leader in travel outfitting resources and; Smith and Hawken, the nation's premier retailer for gardening enthusiasts.
Biotech
Novato is developing a reputation as a biotechnology center and is home to the Buck Center for Research in Aging. The Buck Center resides in a building designed by world famous architect I.M. Pei. There is also an expanding Biotech cluster in the Bel Marin Keys Business Park. Tenants include: BioMarin, Biosearch and Cytograft.
Hightech
Novato is a center of technology businesses and known as the "home of the CD-ROM" and to such computer software and telecommunications companies as Broderbund, IMSI, Inc., Sonic Solutions, Adobe Systems and a number of highly specialized industry leading software and R&D companies.
Hamilton
The former Hamilton Airfield has been closed in phases, extending over the past two decades. With respect to commercial development, old airplane hangars are currently being renovated into 552,000sf of state-of-the-art office and retail space, that can also be used for technology and/or lab space for biotech. For more leasing information, please contact Jim Albrecht at albrecht@barkerpacific.com. Current major tenants include the headquarters for Smith and Hawken, TravelSmith, and the Marin Community Foundation.
The Hamilton Army Airfield is located in southeast Novato, approximately four (4) miles southeast of the Novato central business district. It encompasses approximately 1,605 acres in a beautiful setting, bordered on the north and east by tidal flats and marshlands, on the southeast by San Pablo Bay, and on the west by rolling oak-studded hills.
Through the dedication of both the City and private developers, Hamilton has become one of the most successful military base conversions in the entire nation. It has become a very vibrant, well-balanced community, attracting new residents and businesses from throughout the Bay Area. Since closure, approximately 935 single-family homes have been built on the base. The homes have been extremely well received by the marketplace. An additional 650 moderately priced homes will be built on the "main side" of the base.
Bel Marin Keys
This office park, located in the southern end of Novato, offers an array of light-industrial and warehouse space. Tenants range from engineering firms to biotechnology.
Woodside
Newly constructed downtown complex, will offer 90,000sf of state-of-the-art office space. Scheduled to open in late 2003. For more leasing information, contact Scott Stranzl at scott@basin-street.com .
For information on vacancies in any area, as well as infill building opportunities, please call Redevelopment Administrator Ron Gerber at 415/897-4311 or email at econdev@ci.novato.ca.us
Important Facts and Figures
The average household income in Novato of $102,000, is one-and-a-half times that of the national average. While the current per capita income of $41,000 is 170% of the national average.
Labor Pool
The labor pool in Novato is well educated and affluent, with over one-third of the residents over 25 having a college degree. This is one-and-a-half times the national average.
Colleges and Universities
Novato is a thirty minute drive to U.C. Berkeley and Sonoma State University, as well as being 28 miles from U.C. San Francisco.
Local Schools
The Novato Unified School District serves over 7,600 students in kindergarten through high school in nine elementary, three middle and three high schools. The College of Marin serves 8,800 students at two campuses: one in Kentfield and their Indian Valley Campus in Novato. The college offers 55 Associates of Arts/Science degree programs. The College recently announced that they will now begin offering University classes from San Francisco State University, including classes from their MBA program.
Population
As of the 2000 Census, Novato has a population of 47,630. The State of California estimates Novato's population at 48,754 as of January 1, 2002. Over the next five years, the population is projected to grow by 4.8%.
The number of households in Novato is 18,989. This number is expected to increase by 5.4% over the next five years.
Quality of Life
Novatoans enjoy a high quality of life that includes a low crime rate and good public schools. A large rural atmosphere exists due to the high amount of open space and parks in and near the city. Novato's population density is about one-half that of San Rafael, and is nearly one-third that of Petaluma and Vallejo.
Transportation
Public transportation services are provided by the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District.
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