Silverwood in Hesperia Wins SoCal MAME Masterplan Award; Developer’s ‘Culture of Kindness’ Draws Both Praise and Questions
Silverwood in Hesperia, a 9,366‑acre master‑planned community, won Master‑Planned Community of the Year at the 2025 SoCal MAME Awards; General Manager John Ohanian was named Industry Leader of the Year, highlighting the project’s scale and community focus.
- Major honors: Silverwood named Master‑Planned Community of the Year; John Ohanian earned Industry Leader of the Year (developer materials, community site).
- Scale and amenities: 9,366 acres entitled for 15,000+ homes, 700,000 sq. ft. retail, 4,900 acres open space, extensive trails and parks.
- Homes and pricing: 25 floor plans across five builders, prices starting in the $400,000s, with RV parking, casitas and multigenerational layouts.
- Watch areas: water supply, traffic and schools, fiscal impacts and environmental resilience as buildout proceeds over 15–20 years.
Award and recognition
Silverwood’s recognition at the 2025 SoCal MAME Awards was announced during the MAME Gala hosted by the Greater Sales & Marketing Council and the Building Industry Association of Southern California. The project took top honors as Master‑Planned Community of the Year, and General Manager John Ohanian was named Industry Leader of the Year.
DMB Development said the awards reflect the team’s work to bring the long‑planned community to life; developer materials and community briefings describe the awards and the project’s intent to build a neighborhood centered on neighborliness and outdoor living (developer materials; community site).
“Bringing Silverwood to life has been the culminating project of my career, and now that we have residents moved in and living out the kindness culture on a daily basis, it is gratifying to see our intentions in action,” said John Ohanian in developer materials.
What Silverwood is selling
Developed by DMB Development, Silverwood is positioned as more than a collection of houses. The community markets a “culture of kindness” that the developer says encourages neighborly support through a kindness pledge included in association documents and extended to schools, first responders, parks and city officials (Dwell feature; developer materials).
Housing details: Prices start in the $400,000s. There are 25 distinct home plans offered by five national builders, with plans roughly from 1,550 to 3,500 sq. ft., multiple elevation choices, RV/toy parking, rear‑yard casitas, multigenerational layouts and front porches intended to foster a small‑town feel (developer materials; Dwell feature).
Amenities, trails and open space
A major selling point is outdoor life and walkability: the master plan includes 59 miles of off‑street trails, 107 miles of paths and paseos, and 387 acres of parks. The design places village greens and amphitheaters near neighborhoods so residents are within short walks of trailheads or pocket parks (developer materials).
The site sits at roughly 3,200 feet elevation, with views toward national forest lands and proximity to Silverwood Lake, Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear, appealing to buyers who want easier access to outdoor recreation while remaining within reach of Inland Empire job centers (community site).
Commercial space, services and public investments
Silverwood is entitled for 700,000 sq. ft. of retail and commercial space; the developer anticipates a grocery‑anchored shopping center within a few years. The project already includes a completed fire station and site designations for five elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. DMB estimates more than $1.6 billion in regional infrastructure and service investment tied to the project over 25 years (developer materials; project video).
Timeline, current status and capacity
Silverwood’s buildout is expected to take 15–20 years. Phase 1 includes about 2,000 homes, with residents already moved in and 21 model homes open across five builders; there is a limited inventory of quick move‑in homes for buyers seeking earlier occupancy (project video; developer materials).
Questions raised and areas for scrutiny
As with any large development in a rural and semi‑arid region, Silverwood’s scale raises practical concerns that merit ongoing reporting and public oversight:
- Water and natural resources: Long‑term water supply, conservation measures and impacts on regional basins need transparent, detailed plans (developer materials).
- Transportation and traffic: Up to 15,000 homes and new retail will change travel patterns; road capacity, highway access and emergency routes require clear project commitments and timelines (developer materials).
- Schools and public services: Site designations exist for multiple schools, but construction and attendance boundaries depend on district decisions and funding schedules (project video).
- Local fiscal impact: Tracking agreements, impact fees and the timing of public benefits will determine whether initial infrastructure costs strain city budgets (developer materials).
- Environmental stewardship and resilience: Wildfire risk, habitat impacts and water resilience require independent review despite the project’s large open‑space allocations (developer materials).
Implications for the United States
Economic and housing supply: Silverwood’s scale and advertised price points respond to the national need for more supply at lower price tiers; if delivered as planned, the project could ease local shortages and serve as an example for inland, large‑scale housing production (Dwell feature; developer materials).
Rural and small‑town values: Design elements such as front porches, village greens and a community kindness pledge align with small‑town values that may appeal to politically moderate conservative, rural audiences seeking community cohesion (Dwell feature).
Jobs and local economy: The buildout promises construction employment and long‑term retail and service jobs; the timing of the projected $1.6 billion investment will affect near‑term benefits for local workers and businesses (developer materials).
Infrastructure and local government: Silverwood underscores the need for clear, enforceable agreements between developers and local governments on roads, water, schools and public safety so that growth does not unduly burden existing taxpayers (developer materials; project video).
Environmental resilience: Proximity to national forests and semi‑arid conditions demand wildfire planning, water conservation and habitat protections; preservation of open space and trail emphasis may reduce sprawl but independent review is critical.
Next steps for residents and local leaders
Residents and stakeholders should stay engaged: attend city council and planning meetings, request detailed water and traffic studies, and coordinate with school districts on timing and attendance boundaries. Awards and builder momentum are milestones, but long‑term success will depend on how promises become concrete services, schools and safe roads (developer materials; community site).
