Relocating Information
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Relocating Info

Human Resourses

Welcome to the Buck Institute for Age Research, where we hope that your association will be personally and professionally gratifying. As an employee of the Buck Institute, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have joined a research community dedicated to expanding the healthy, productive years of life.

Our New Employee Relocating Information is intended to help you become acquainted with the community and region where the Buck Institute is located and to direct you to resources to help in your relocation plans and initial relocation.

Location & Directions to the Buck Institute

The Buck Institute, located in the city of Novato in Marin County, California, is well situated for access to the greater Bay Area, Sonoma and Napa counties.

  • Drive North on Highway 101 (approximately 25 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge) to Novato
  • Exit at the Atherton/San Marin Drive exit just north of the Delong exit in Novato
  • Make a left turn at the stoplight and go west over the freeway
  • Get into the right hand lane before the stoplight
  • Turn right onto Redwood Boulevard.(You will be heading North.)
  • Follow Redwood Boulevard approximately 1/2 mile to Buck Center Drive
  • Turn left at Buck Center Drive (8001 Redwood Blvd.) and drive up the hill (driveway) 6/10 of a mile to the Research, Support & Education (RS&E) building
  • At the top of the hill, turn left into the Visitor Parking Lot
  • Enter through the front doors of the RS&E building (the curved wall bldg.) and announce your arrival to the Receptionist/Security at the front desk

If you have any questions, please call (415) 209 2000.


Maps and directions: Mapquest

The Buck Institute is 42 miles from San Francisco International Airport, with the Marin Airporter, providing convenient shuttle service between SF0 and Marin County, and 40 miles from Oakland International Airport. The Marin Airporter will stop in Novato which will be the closest to the Buck Institute and also will stop at the Novato Oaks Best Western in Novato upon request.

Bay Area Universities
From the Buck Institute, you are 29 miles from the University of California San Francisco Parnassus Campus and not much further to the UCSF Mission Bay campus. You are 30 miles from the University of California Berkeley, 63 miles from Stanford University and 62 miles to the University of California Davis . Additionally, as one of the fastest growing biotech regions in the state, the Bay Area is home to numerous biotech enterprises.

Bay Area, Marin, Napa and Sonoma Counties Highlights
The entire Bay Area , Marin, Napa and Sonoma counties offer a rich diversity of cities and communities, and all within reasonable proximity to the Buck Institute. Marin County is comprised of 13 unique cities and towns, as well as a variety of communities in a large and relatively rural, unincorporated region. The Buck Center is situated on Mt. Burdell in Novato, the northern most city in Marin County.

Regionally, the Buck Institute is 30 miles from the city of Berkeley and 36 miles from downtown San Francisco. It is 29 miles to the Napa Valley, and 20 miles to Sonoma.

Finances – Living Expenses
In the Bay Area and Marin County your living expenses, such as food and public transportation, will probably compare favorably with those of your home country. However, visitors should prepare for housing to be a significant expense. Additionally, transportation may be a major expense if you decide to purchase an automobile.

When you first arrive, bring enough money to cover your initial expenses, including transportation to the Buck Institute, temporary housing, apartment deposits, meals, etc. We recommend that you plan to have a minimum of $3,000 to cover your initial expenses.
In general, a monthly budget would include approximately $1,000 to $1,600 for housing and utilities. This will be based on the location and type of rental unit you select. If you bring a spouse and children, plan to budget additional funds for housing and living expenses. If you plan to purchase an automobile, you will need to include the costs for auto insurance and registration. Automobile insurance can cost approximately $1,000 per year and automobile registration approximately $200.00 per year, depending upon the price of a used car.
Moving Expenses IRS Publication 521, Moving Expenses, specifically identifies the cost of security deposits, including any given up due to a move, as unallowable moving expenses.

HOUSING COSTS - Rates change & may be higher
As with much of the Bay Area, rental prices in Marin County (for apartments, townhouses and homes) tend to be high.

FOR EXAMPLE:
Average costs for 1 Bedroom Unfurnished Units in Marin County $900.00 - $1,400.00
Average costs for 2 Bedroom Unfurnished Units in Marin County $1,600.00 - $1,900.00
To give you a better idea of housing costs and the types of available rentals in Marin County, a sample newspaper listing of rental units in Marin County is enclosed in your pre-arrival orientation packet.

HOUSING DEPOSIT
You will need to pay a deposit when you rent housing. Usually, this will require that you pay your first month’s rent, plus last month’s rent and/or a smaller amount as a security damage deposit.

To extend your options for locating housing in a more affordable range, consider looking for housing north of Marin County. Petaluma, in Sonoma County, is located just 11 miles north of Novato and rental prices are a little lower. You may also want to consider share rental housing or rooms that are for rent in homes.

UTILITIES
Once you have located housing, you will need to contact utility companies to establish basic services (telephone, gas and/or electric and water). The Exchange Visitor Office/Human Resource Department can provide you with the names and telephone numbers of the utility companies in the area where you locate housing. Utility costs will vary depending upon your rental unit. When you look at housing, ask if any utilities are included in the cost of the rental. Water and garbage are usually included in apartment rentals. Ask what the typical utility costs are for each place that you consider renting. Plan to pay approximately $50.00 - $150.00 for utilities, depending upon your usage and the size of your rental.

Temporary and long-term housing
One of your immediate concerns may be locating temporary or long-term housing. As you begin your housing search, a tool for mapping directions can be found at Mapquest

Short-Term Accommodations
Marin County offers a variety of Hotel/Motel Inn and B&B accommodations, including several which are close to the Buck Institute in Novato.


Best Western Novato Oaks Inn
215 Alameda del Prado
Novato, CA 94949
T - (415) 883-4400/800 625-7466
F - (415) 883-4128
http://www.novatooaksinn.com
email: novoaks@reneson.com
Corporate Rate - $119.00
Wild Fox Restaurant - Room Service Available
Complimentary continental breakfast buffet
Close to Golden Transit Bus Service
& complimentary hotel shuttle to Buck Institute and return.
3-Diamond Triple AAA

Courtyard by Marriott
1400 North Hamilton Parkway
Novato, CA 94949
T - (415) 883-8950
F - (415) 883-8960
http://www.courtyard.com
Rates $69.00- $144.00
Within walking distance to the Marin Airporter.

Embassy Suites Hotel
101 Mclnnis Parkway
San Rafael, CA 94903
T - (415) 499-9222/800 Embassy
F - (415) 499-9268
Rates $129.00 - $179.00
Very close to Golden Transit Bus Service.

Inn Marin
250 Entrada Drive
Novato, CA 94949
T - (415) 883-5952
F - (415) 883-5058
http://www.innmarin.com
Rates up to 14 days $79.00 per day. Extended stays over 15 days $65.00 per day, including breakfast. Will provide transportation to and from Buck Institute.

Novato Days Inn
8141 Redwood Blvd.
Novato, CA 94945
T - (415) 897-7111/800 329-7466
F - (415) 892-1186
http://www.daysinn.com
Rates $64.00 - $74.00 (until Sep)
Walking distance to Buck Institute.

Long-term Rentals

As with much of the Bay Area, rental prices in Marin County (for apartments, townhouses and homes) tend to be high. To extend your options for locating housing in a more affordable range, consider looking for housing north of Marin County. Petaluma, in Sonoma County, is located just 11 miles north of Novato.

Over time, the Buck Institute will develop a community bulletin board to post available rental units. Until then, try the following resources:

  • Marin Independent Journal classifieds, Marin County
  • Press Democrat classifieds, Petaluma
  • San Francisco Chronicle
  • Apartments for Rent
  • Rental Guide
  • www.craigslist.org


Long-term Real Estate
A listing of some of the real estate firms located in Marin County, with a preview of the housing market, can be found at: http://www.marinij-homes.com/broker/index.html. The Hamilton development website at http://www.hamiltown.com may also be of use.

Home Furnishings, etc.
There are numerous stores in the area that can be great resources when furnishing your new home. Some stores provide new, reasonably priced merchandise while others are second-hand/thrift stores.

IKEA
4400 Shellmound Street
Emeryville, CA
510-420-4532

Costco Wholesale
300 Vintage Way
415-899-1330

Goodwill Industries
809 Lincoln Avenue
San Rafael, CA
415-456-5273

One More Time Thrift Store
1821 Fourth Street
San Rafael, CA
415-459-6133

Salvation Army
350 Fourth Street
San Rafael, CA
415-454-720

Consignment Shop
818 Grant Avenue
415-892-3496

Utility Companies
Prior to your arrival in Novato, you may contact the local utility companies in order to establish new service. The two main companies are:

Pacific Bell (www.pacbell.com)
Pacific Gas & Electric (www.pge.com)

Schools
Information on Marin County schools is available through the Marin County Office of Education (www.marinschools.org) or Sonoma County schools (www.scoe.org).

Children
The Marin Childcare Council is a clearing house and referral service for childcare providers throughout Marin County. Visit their website - www.mc3.org or phone (415) 479-2273.
If your children are between the ages of five and eighteen years old you may enroll them in public school. Your place of residence in Marin County (or outside of Marin County) will determine which school your children will attend. Be sure to bring your children’s birth certificates, copies of school records, and documented proof of immunizations. Information on schools, as well as recreational activities and childcare providers, is available in the Human Resource Department. Information on schools can also be found in the resource guide included in your pre-arrival orientation packet or at the following Website:

Marin County Office of Education, http://mcoeweb.marin.k12.ca.us/mcoe/

Driver’s License/Car Registration www.dmv.ca.gov

Household items

Further Assistance
Suggested guide: McCormack's Guides - Marin, Napa & Sonoma. Provides an overview of Marin, Napa & Sonoma Counties, including: Schools & Cities; Education, Day Care & Health; Living & Working characteristics and demographics.
You may also learn about Novato and the two neighboring communities by visiting their Chamber of Commerce websites:

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Buck Institute for age research Extending The Healthy
Years Of Life

Yes! I'd like to support the Buck Institute for Age Research and help scientists in their efforts to add healthy years to our lives.

There are three easy ways to make a gift to the Buck Institute today:

  1. EASY! :Write a check made payable to Buck Institute for Age Research and mail your gift to:
    Office of Development
    Buck Institute for Age Research
    8001 Redwood Boulevard
    Novato, CA 94945
  2. EASIER!! :Call 415-209-2261 and give your credit card number and the amount of your gift over the phone.
  3. EASIEST!!! :Enter the amount you chose to give and click on the Google checkout tab on this page.
* Gifts of stock or planned gifts can also be made - please call 209.2262 for more information All contributions are tax-deductible to the extent of the law. As a donor you will receive our newsletter Healthspan, advance notice of upcoming seminars, invitations to donor-only events, and recognition in our Annual Report of Private Giving.

THANK YOU!

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