Neighborhood profile: Hobson West

Naperville’s popular Hobson West neighborhood offers loads of amenities including a swim and tennis club with social events and activities and a great sense of community.

For down time, the scenic Hobson West Ponds features a small boardwalk with benches to sit and take in the natural beauty.

The subdivision sits on Gartner north of 75th Street within walking distance of Naperville’s lively downtown. Attractions there include the Riverwalk with its bridges, fountains and elegant brick paths only steps from the center of town.

Stores and boutiques, casual and fine dining along with several special events makes downtown Naperville a destination for visitors from all around. People like to walk in the area and stop for dinner, linger over coffee at one of the coffee houses or stop for ice cream in the summer, said Teresa Ryan, broker-owner of Ryan Hill Realty.

Residents Jack and Diane Persin like walking to town where they enjoy the ambience, restaurants and special events including the well-known annual rib fest.

The couple bought a home in Hobson West when their children were young. They had lived south of 75th Street and wanted to be closer to Knoch Park where the kids didn’t have to cross a busy highway to get there. They also wanted to be closer to St. Raphael elementary school.

“We really enjoy the community; it’s very active with a swim club and pool, which is a vital part of the neighborhood. We use the swim club, and now that our children are grown, our grandchildren use it too,” Jack Persin said. .

“It’s nice they can hold the association fees in line and keep all the amenities and organize events throughout the year—such as a steak roast and pool parties. It’s nice to be in a swim club community. And more importantly, It’s a community that cares about its residents.”

Hobson West features 440 homes in a variety of styles typically with 2,700 to 4,000 square feet, four bedrooms and 2½ baths. It’s a nice community with tree-lined streets and nice sized lots. “Prices are quite affordable for our area with the highly desired 203 schools,” Ryan said.

“We have lived there for 30 years. The people are our friends. We get together—close the cul de sac, pull out our grills while the kids play basketball. This is a community where you get to know your neighbors and connect.

“With our busy lives, it’s so easy to get caught up in your work and business, but this is a true neighborhood where people get to know and care about each other. When someone is in need, people pitch in and help each other out. That’s what a community should be, and that’s what we have in Hobson West.

“Throughout the country home values have declined, but because of all its nice features, homes in Hobson West have held their values. In fact, there’s very little inventory. People want to live there, so when they do come on the market, they sell very quickly.”

For recreation, the subdivision sits near several parks and a large forest preserve where Jack and Diane Persin enjoy riding their bikes along the trails.

Also the Naperville Park District maintains 130 parks, preservation areas and greenways, two golf courses, Centennial Beach aquatic facility, skate park and in-line skating rink and offers more than 900 programs for people of all ages.

A Metra station is convenient for residents to ride the 28 miles to the Loop. From its beginnings as a farm and quarry town, Naperville has developed into a thriving city with a collection of attractive subdivisions.

Listing sheet

Price range: $360,000 to $500,000

Age of homes: 30 years old

Schools: Elmwood Elementary, Lincoln Junior High and Naperville Central High schools in Community School District 203

Parks: Naperville Park District