Buyer Intends to Turn the Space Into Office Buildings

Monroe’s First Air Field (W16), a 36-acre property housing six large hangars and a well-loved runway, has been a centerpiece for the city’s aviation community since 1967. Now, however, pilots are bracing for its demolition as a purchase from the Snohomish County Public Utility District moves in for the kill.

Daryl Habich took ownership of the airfield in 1977. He took it upon himself to make First Air Field a community staple, even running his own dental clinic on-site and inviting clients to fly in for appointments.

His efforts proved successful, with Monroe’s Mayor Geoffrey Thomas commenting that the field is a place “where everybody feels at home and where everybody feels they belong.”

First Air Field is the home base for several local aviators, with many of their current hangar renters having taken lessons from certified instructors there instead of a proper school.

Habich passed away in 2022 at 77 years old, transferring ownership of the airfield to his children. He had attempted to sell the property for health and financial reasons in the 2000’s, but always hoped it would remain an airfield.

For reasons unknown and unappreciated by the community, Habich’s family has since struck up negotiations to sell First Air Field to the Snohomish County Public Utility District. The purchase has been in the process for nearly two years, though there is no estimate as to when it will be finalized.

The $7 million transaction would redesign the property into a nearly 60,000-square-foot office building, plus warehouses and storage units. Snohomish County officials explained that this change is necessary due to skyrocketing demand for energy as people hunt for cheaper housing outside Seattle.

“Yes, [First Air Field] had a private component, but it’s also a public good,” Mayor Thomas stated. “A place that helps keep us connected — not a place with a 6- or 8-foot-high fence that keeps us out.”

Habich’s family members refused to respond to or accept interview requests.

FMI: www.snopud.com