The 415
Fireman’s Fund buildings face wrecking ball The Fireman’s Fund campus in Novato—the one-time home of one of the largest employers in Marin—is being razed. The wrecking balls are expected to begin swinging at the 44-acre San Marin Drive parcel this autumn. The property, owned by San Marin Owner LLC, is planned for development into 1,300 residences, a key component in Novato reaching its state-mandated housing goals as part of its 2024 general plan update. Fireman’s Fund had its base of operations at the site from 1992 to 2015, when parent company Allianz financial services moved employees to Petaluma. The site has been vacant for a decade. The demolition is expected to take several months. City officials said crews will be at work weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.— JW
North Bay Children’s Center’s $12.5M campus opens in Novato The North Bay Children’s Center celebrated the opening of its state-of-the-art early learning campus and headquarters in Novato last month. The 20,000-square-foot facility doubles the nonprofit’s childcare capacity, replacing its aging building at 932 C St. in the Hamilton neighborhood. Children’s Center staff, donors and other supporters gathered at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 27; California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom gave the keynote address before attendees toured the center’s new Innovative Learning Lab and its Garden of Eatin,’ and then enjoyed a cooking demonstration by Curtis Aiken, NBCC’s chef-in-residence. In addition to providing early childhood education and care for primarily lower-income working families, the campus will serve as headquarters for the 40-year-old nonprofit, which operates five locations in Novato, as well as nine across Sonoma County. The Hamilton facility will serve about 160 children ages 6 weeks to 4 years old; all told, NBCC serves over 700 kids throughout the North Bay. Construction on the nearly decade-long $12.5 million project is 90% complete; NBCC is in the process of raising a final $750,000 to close its capital campaign. NBCC was founded in 1986 by Susan Gilmore, who still serves as CEO. Nearly 75% of its families live below the poverty line, according to NBCC. The nonprofit also provides parenting support, art therapy and trauma-informed services with the goal of ensuring kids are kindergarten ready.— JW
State Democratic leader John Burton dies at 92 John Burton, who represented Marin and San Francisco counties for eight years in Congress, died Sept. 7. He was 92. Burton was one of California’s most influential state representatives, preceding and following his years in the House of Representatives with tenures in the state Assembly, state Senate and chair of the California Democratic Party. Known both for his salty demeanor and as a steadfast champion of underserved populations, Burton— together with his late brother Phil who died in 1983—was credited with fueling the “Burton machine,” which dominated state politics through a coalition of support from unions, the gay community, Asian Americans and Black churches, among other marginalized voting blocks which until then hadn’t been represented effectively. From his first election as a state Assemblymember representing San Francisco in 1965 to his stepping down as chair of the state Dems in 2017, Burton’s influence in California spanned more than 50 years.— JW
October 2025
NorthBaybiz 13
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