Naperville's Hobson West property hangs in the balance

With just a week to make a decision, the Naperville park board remains divided on whether to purchase six acres between the ponds of Hobson West and for how much.

Commissioners are starting to speak publicly on the issue for the first time after months of closed-door discussions.

Some say the park district should buy the land to keep it green, as long as the price is fair. Others say the district has more pressing projects to spend its money on.

The board is expected to vote at 8 p.m. Jan. 30 at its administration building, 320 W. Jackson Ave.

The land in question is between Plainfield-Naperville Road and West Street in the Hobson West neighborhood where the park district already owns nine acres that make up two ponds.

Residents have fought for years to keep the six acres between the ponds as open space and urged the district to purchase it from Crestview Builders to create a 15-acre park.

The park district is offering $2.5 million for the land but Crestview wants $4.1 million.

The board has until Jan. 30 to finalize a deal. If it doesn't, Crestview plans to build townhouses there.

The city council already has declined to help fund the purchase.

But in a Jan. 11 letter to the city, park district attorney Scott Day said the problem isn't really about money.

"Rather the inability to pay more for the property is based primarily on the inability of the park board to reach consensus that the value of this property to the park district is worthy of a higher investment," he wrote.

Commissioner Charlie Brown, for example, said he would only be willing to buy the land if Crestview agrees to the district's original offer.

"I think $2.5 million is fair and that's it," he said.

Commissioners Ron Ory, Suzanne Hart and Andrew Schaffner favor buying the land if the board can negotiate what they view as a reasonable price with Crestview.

"I'm willing to hear any final offer they have at a fair price for residents," Schaffner said.

Ory believes the city needs open space, especially on the north side.

"We probably won't be able to build ball space, but access to ponds and picnic areas and various recreation uses would be great," he said.

The inability to build athletic fields on what she calls a wetland -- along with Crestview's asking price -- troubles board President Kristen Jungles.

"We're bursting at the seams for recreation programs," she said. "(Purchasing the Hobson West land) doesn't make sense for all the kids involved in athletics in this community and all the people who want their parks redone."

Not even the DuPage Forest Preserve District is interested in helping acquire the property, she said.

Commissioner Marie Todd opposes buying the site at any price because it doesn't fit the district's master plan.

"We have bigger needs in other areas of town," she said. "If we spend money on that piece of land there are other capital projects that won't get done, other pieces of land we won't be able to buy."

Hart said it may not be in the master plan, but it's an opportunity the district should take advantage of if a compromise can be reached on the price.

"When it comes to open space I will never be opposed, but we need to do it at the right price because we have a responsibility to taxpayers," she said.

Commissioner Mary Wright said she's ethically opposed to sharing her opinion before the vote because the matter has been discussed in closed session.

Her constituents, she said, "will know it when I vote."