'Quasi-Dormant' Darien Homeowners Association Resurrected

DARIEN, IL – Dorothy Sipp and her husband, John, have lived in Darien's Hinsbrook subdivision for nearly four decades.

"There always have been rumblings that there is this homeowners association," Dorothy Sipp said, but the couple never came into contact with it.

Until last week.

In the mail, they received a letter from the association's president, Bill Christenson. He identified his role, and then said, "Yes, there is a Hinsbrook Homeowners Association."

State records show that the association was incorporated in 1966. Hinsbrook was one of a handful of subdivisions that worked to found Darien just three years later.

In the letter, Christenson announced a general meeting for April 24 and that membership dues are now $20. But it's voluntary.

In the beginning, the association served to facilitate basic public services, he said. At the time, it had more than 600 dues-paying members.

The Hinsbrook subdivision helped incorporate Darien more than 50 years ago. It contains wide tree-lined streets with sidewalks. (David Giuliani/Patch)

However, once Darien was incorporated, the city took over public services.

The group's only assets are Hinsbrook Park and a pool complex. The association leases the park to the Darien Park District and the complex to the Darien Swim and Recreation Club.

In 1967, the association and the Hinsbrook Recreation Club built the pool complex. It was limited at first to Hinsbrook residents, but over the years, membership was opened to include the surrounding community.

Christenson let the group's treasurer, Tom Belczak, take questions from Patch.

In a text message, Belczak said the association has long been "quasi-dormant." It has not held a general meeting since the late 1990s, when DuPage County created a retention pond, he said.

Belczak, who is also a Darien alderman, said the current association board has decided to become more hands-on as the pool property ages.

In the letter, Christenson called the swim property an integral part of the subdivision for more than a half century.

"The presence of the pool in our neighborhood adds both intangible and monetary value to our homes," he said.

The general meeting later this month will involve introducing the board and discussing the pool property, he said.

All members in good standing can take part in the general meeting, Christens0n said. To be in good standing, homeowners must pay $20 by the evening of the meeting.

Other Darien subdivisions have long had active homeowners associations. Just across Cass Avenue from Hinsbrook is the Darien Club neighborhood. Last year, members of its association were in a power struggle.