In the late 1960s/early 1970s, Metropolitan Structures (a subsidiary of Met Life) purchased the 195 acre Clarke farm. Metropolitan Structures proposed to the City of Naperville, as part of an annexation agreement, a Planned Unit Development (“PUD”). The PUD was very “dense”, calling for approximately an additional population of 10,000 – when the population of the City of Naperville was about 23,000. The density was partially due to a proposed 10-story building in the middle of the Clarke Farm and 5-story apartment buildings along 75th Street.
Resistance to this proposed PUD was initially from people in the Green Acres Subdivision and from the West Highlands Subdivision. As presentations against the PUD were made to the Naperville City Council, more citizens of the community became concerned about the proposed density. As a result the Naperville Area Homeowners Association was formed in order to have more people in other subdivisions, within and outside the city limits, involved in the discussions with the Naperville City Council. A major concern was that, if approved, a precedent would have been set which could have resulted in other farms also being developed with high-density PUDs.
The Naperville City Council did not approve the proposed PUD or revisions to the PUD. Metropolitan Structures then sold the Clark Farm property to a developer named Weathersfield. Their PUD proposal was less dense with approximately an additional population increase of 6,000 people. It contained zero-lot line buildings as well as a road adjacent to the Green Acres Subdivision to be separated by a large berm immediately adjacent to the homes on South Lane in the Green Acres Subdivision. The Naperville Area Homeowners Association again made a number of presentations to the Naperville City Council that eventually resulted in the PUD being rejected.
Weathersfield then sold the Clarke Farm to Midam, Inc. (Mid-America Bank). Midam received approval from the Naperville City Council for their proposed PUD development of approximately 410 homes, a club house with a swimming pool and tennis court and other common areas. Midam developed the infrastructure – water lines, sewer lines, and roads.
Midam created the Hobson West Community Association, which is an Illinois non-for-profit corporation. Midam created By-Laws for the Association which call for the maintenance of grounds, entranceways, common areas, tennis court and other sports facilities. It set up a Board of Directors with the authority to set and collect annual dues/fees to fund expenses needed.
In April 1996, Midam had covenants recorded with DuPage County that protect the owners of Hobson West properties, provide high standards for maintenance of all Hobson West properties, and require the maintenance of all common areas reserved for use of Hobson West residents. The document contains such provisions about assessments, voting rights, elections of officers and Board of Director members, etc.
Midam turned over the common areas and the tennis courts/swimming pool, etc. to the Hobson West Community Association. Subsequently, the Board of Directors made a decision to donate the two ponds on over 9 acres (Hobson West Ponds) to the Naperville Park District.
Midam invited local developers to purchase lots and build houses. When the subdivision was almost built-out, Midam sold several of the last lots to individuals, who arranged to build their own homes.