Increasing Land Value Concern To Those Who Call Airparks
Home
Ah, spring. As the snow melts and the mud firms up (that
wonderful season between winter and spring, "Mud Season"),
fair-weather flying takes center stage to those whose true love has
spent many long, dark months ensconced in hangars.
However, those who call rural airparks home, even as they walk
just a few minutes to their hangars, have major concerns in
addition to flying on their minds.
Land development plays a significant role in that worry, reports
the Everett (WA) Herald, and that can impact how much longer they
can depend on their current lifestyle.
Once example of that is Frontier Air Park, a 600-acre
neighborhood encircling a 2,600-foot runway, has some homes that
date back 20 years. Frontier Air Park resident and pilot Beau
Walker bases his Citabria there, and can walk from his home to
go flying in mere minutes.
"Some of the prettiest flying is early in the morning," said
Walker, who is retired from the computer industry. "The air is very
still, the sun is coming up. It's very pleasant to take off and fly
up toward the mountains. Everything is brand new again."
However, Frontier residents are not unaware of the tension among
neighborhoods surrounding airplane noise at both Paine Field and
Sea-Tac. And as land values climb, development is not far to
follow... which can ultimately change the character of rural life
that drew many residents.
The land Frontier is on is becoming premium real estate.
More than $10 million in homes and land in the air park has "turned
over" in the past two years, according to a Herald computer
analysis. The county assessor's office states the highest sales
price yet was $800,000 a year ago.
A $1 million house is on the market inside the airpark, proof
again of rising home and property values in the county, residents
said.
"Every time someone sells, the price goes up and attracts a
different buyer," Walker said.
Air park homes, hangars,
and land have an assessed value of about $40 million, according to
the analysis.
Future air park development is currently restricted by wetlands,
septic tanks, and access to well water, said owners association
president Miriam Rorig-Low. Even so, urban development brings water
and sewer lines closer and closer.
Outside the airpark, hundreds of homes are being proposed and
approved under county rules allowing clusters of homes on rural
land.
Hank Robinett, the park's builder, is optimistic about the
park's future, however.
"I think it'll survive," Robinett said. "It'll be a very pricey
place to live in the future, because it will be very difficult to
ever replace it. There is going to be value there, like waterfront
or view property. It hasn't come into its total appreciated value
yet.
"The prices will continue to go up there because of the location
and the ability to own your own aircraft. General aviation is
coming back."