Silverwood in Hesperia named Masterplan Community of the Year; GM John Ohanian honored as Industry Leader
Silverwood in Hesperia, a 9,366‑acre DMB Development master‑planned community, won “Masterplan Community of the Year” at the 2025 SoCal MAME Awards; General Manager John Ohanian was honored as Industry Leader of the Year and community design.
Key takeaways
- Top honors: Silverwood won Masterplan Community of the Year at the 2025 SoCal MAME Awards; GM John Ohanian received Industry Leader of the Year.
- Massive scale: 9,366 acres entitled for >15,000 homes, ~700,000 sq. ft. of retail and roughly 4,900 acres of open space.
- Long buildout: Phase 1 targets 2,000+ homes; projected 15–20 year buildout and ~$1.6 billion regional investment over 25 years.
- Culture and amenities: A formal “culture of kindness”, extensive trails (about 166 miles combined), parks, schools and an operational fire station.
Silverwood wins at the SoCal MAME Awards
At the 2025 MAME Gala—hosted by the Greater Sales & Marketing Council and the Building Industry Association of Southern California—Silverwood and its leadership were recognized among nearly 300 entries across the region’s homebuilding industry. John Ohanian was singled out as Industry Leader of the Year for guiding the project from entitlement through operations; he called Silverwood “the culminating project of my career” and credited team members and early residents for bringing the community’s kindness culture to life. Coverage of the award and Ohanian’s remarks is available via Dwell.
Scale, buildout and regional investment
Location and footprint: Silverwood sits near Silverwood Lake in the Mojave River Valley at roughly 3,200 feet elevation. The entitlement covers 9,366 acres with plans for more than 15,000 homes and about 4,900 acres preserved as open space.
Phasing and timeline: Phase 1 aims to deliver over 2,000 homes in the next few years; full delivery spans multiple decades with a projected 15–20 year buildout. Developers estimate roughly 700,000 sq. ft. of retail/commercial space and a developer commitment of more than $1.6 billion in regional infrastructure and services over 25 years, which they say will spur economic activity across Hesperia and the Inland Empire. See the developer portfolio at DMB Development — Silverwood portfolio and the official site at Silverwood official site.
Housing product, pricing and builders
Silverwood’s housing mix targets a broad spectrum of buyers. The plan includes 25 home plans across seven product types, with floorplans roughly from 1,550 to 3,500 sq. ft. Pricing begins in the $400,000s for entry-level homes and exceeds $700,000 for larger or higher-end models.
National builders on site include names such as K. Hovnanian and Lennar. K. Hovnanian’s The Estates at Silverwood includes plans up to 2,932 sq. ft. with multigenerational options. About 21 model homes from five builders are open now, with a limited number of quick move‑in homes available. See listings and community details at The Estates at Silverwood and Lennar Silverwood listings.
Culture of kindness and community amenities
A defining initiative is Silverwood’s formal “culture of kindness”. Homebuyers receive a kindness pledge within association documents to encourage neighborly support and civility; the program invites participation from schools, public safety, parks & recreation, city officials and faith groups.
Design and outdoor emphasis: The master plan emphasizes a small‑town California aesthetic—front porches, walkable streetscapes and village greens. Amenity highlights include approximately 59 miles of off‑street trails, 107 miles of paths and paseos (about 166 miles total), 387 acres of parks and pocket parks, trailheads intended to be within a five‑minute walk of homes, and village greens designed for concerts and community events. See the developer video for details: Silverwood project video.
Early progress, resident experiences and legal challenges
The community has begun attracting residents; leadership expects about 160 families by year‑end with hundreds more moving in next year as Phase 1 accelerates. Early buyers cite amenities and outdoor access as reasons for choosing Silverwood.
Controversy and litigation: Silverwood’s large scale prompted litigation during entitlement, raising concerns about water, traffic and environmental impacts. Developers and city officials argue the project meets regional housing needs and delivers infrastructure investment; opponents raised issues in public hearings and court. Despite disputes, construction and home sales are underway; reporting by Dwell outlines both resident perspectives and legal history.
Public services and planned infrastructure
Phase 1 already includes the community’s first fire station. Planned public services include multiple schools—five elementary schools, one middle school and one high school with sports fields—town squares and grocery‑anchored retail centers. Developers project a first retail center in roughly three years, followed by an initial ~300,000 sq. ft. of commercial and office space. Over time, the project will add roads, utilities and public improvements tied to developer infrastructure commitments.
Implications for Los Angeles and the region
Economic impact: The projected $1.6+ billion infrastructure investment and up to 15,000 homes will affect the Inland Empire and Los Angeles region—creating jobs, adding retail and potentially easing lower‑end housing demand in higher‑priced coastal markets.
Transportation and commute patterns: Silverwood is within driving distance of employment centers in San Bernardino and Riverside counties. Its location near regional roads could encourage longer commutes and will require coordination on transit and road investments.
Housing affordability and market dynamics: Entry prices in the $400,000s are below many coastal prices but still face regional affordability pressures. For pragmatic observers, Silverwood increases supply for first‑time and move‑up buyers while testing whether master‑planned communities can deliver services without shifting costs to taxpayers.
Environmental and emergency services considerations: Located near mountain recreation areas, Silverwood carries scenic value and wildfire risk. The early fire station addition is important, but ongoing coordination on water, habitat preservation, open space planning and emergency response will be critical.
Recreation and tourism links: Proximity to Silverwood Lake, the Pacific Crest Trail, Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear strengthens recreational access for Los Angeles residents and may boost regional outdoor tourism while requiring additional investments in parking, trail maintenance and protections.
Civic and cultural impacts: The kindness pledge is an experiment in community norms that civic leaders and researchers may watch to see whether an aspirational pledge embedded in association documents changes neighbor relations, calls for service, or volunteerism.
Sources and further reading
- DMB Development — Silverwood portfolio
- Silverwood official site
- Dwell magazine coverage
- Silverwood project video (developer)
- Silverwood community video
- NewHomeSource — The Estates at Silverwood by K. Hovnanian
- Lennar Silverwood listings
Reporting contributed by Times Media Service.
