Silverwood in Hesperia Wins Masterplan Community of the Year; GM John Ohanian Named Industry Leader
Silverwood, a 9,366-acre master-planned community in Hesperia, California, won Masterplan Community of the Year at the 2025 SoCal MAME Awards, with General Manager John Ohanian honored as Industry Leader of the Year for its “kindness culture.”
Key takeaways
- Awards: Silverwood won Masterplan Community of the Year at the 2025 SoCal MAME Awards; GM John Ohanian was named Industry Leader of the Year.
- Scale: The project covers 9,366 acres, is entitled for more than 15,000 homes, ~700,000 sq ft of commercial space and ~4,900 acres of open space.
- Timeline & investment: Planned over 15–25 years with more than $1.6 billion in infrastructure and public services; Phase 1 delivers 2,000+ homes and an early fire station.
- Community model: Silverwood emphasizes walkability, 387 acres of parks, nearly 166 miles of combined trails/paseos and a promoted “kindness culture” backed by a homeowner pledge.
Awards and recognition
At the 2025 MAME Gala, hosted by the Greater Sales & Marketing Council and the Building Industry Association of Southern California, Silverwood emerged from nearly 300 entries to claim Masterplan Community of the Year. The gala also honored General Manager John Ohanian as Industry Leader of the Year.
“It is an incredible honor to have Silverwood recognized by the building community in southern California,” Ohanian said. “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.”
The project at a glance: size, scope and timeline
Silverwood sits in the Mojave River Valley at roughly 3,200 feet elevation and spans approximately 9,366 acres. The community is entitled for more than 15,000 homes, about 700,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, and roughly 4,900 acres of open space. Planned over a 15–25 year build-out, developers expect to invest in excess of $1.6 billion for infrastructure and public services. DMB Development provides the project portfolio and timeline details.
Homes, neighborhoods and amenities
Silverwood’s product mix targets first-time buyers, move-up families, multigenerational households and active adults. The community offers 25 home plans across multiple neighborhoods, with choices like RV/toy parking, rear-yard casitas, multigenerational layouts and front porches. Model tours are open now — 21 models across five national builders — and a limited number of quick move-in homes are listed.
Examples of participating builders and product pages include Lennar, Woodside Homes and K. Hovnanian.
Design choices aim to create distinct streetscapes with several elevations per plan and bold exterior palettes. For community detail and listings see the Silverwood community pages on builders’ sites and the aggregated community listing on Zillow.
Open space and recreation
Open space and outdoor life are central to the plan: roughly 387 acres of parks, 59 miles of off-street trails and about 107 miles of paths and paseos, yielding nearly 166 miles of combined trails and paseos when totals are merged. Amenities include village greens, pocket parks and a Crest Club with recreation facilities. The site’s geography features rolling hills, bluffs and canyons, and proximity to Silverwood Lake and the Pacific Crest Trail enhances regional outdoor access. For masterplan visual materials, visit Silverwood’s official site and the DMB Development project portfolio.
Infrastructure and public services
The long-term plan calls for multiple schools, town squares and large commercial centers. Entitlements include five elementary schools, one middle school and one high school with sports fields. A grocery-anchored shopping center and early retail are planned in initial phases. The development has already delivered its first fire station and expects to invest more than $1.6 billion in public infrastructure and services across build-out. See the DMB portfolio and the project video for additional details (project video).
Awards and the “kindness culture”
A distinctive element of Silverwood’s marketing and design is the deliberate “kindness culture”. New homeowners receive a kindness pledge as part of association documents intended to encourage neighborly support and civility. Local partners — including schools, law enforcement, fire services, parks and recreation departments, city officials and faith groups — are reported to have joined the effort. The approach has drawn national attention; coverage and analysis of the pledge are available via Dwell.
Why it matters: Developers say the pledge and partnerships are intended to build civic cohesion and guide daily neighbor interactions — an experimental social-design element embedded in a large-scale master plan.
Leadership, local process and past challenges
DMB Development positions Silverwood as a multidecade effort to add attainable housing with lifestyle amenities. John Ohanian, with more than 35 years in the industry and oversight of 15+ communities, manages the site. Developers note collaboration with Hesperia officials and local stakeholders through entitlement and planning phases. While earlier legal challenges affected prior iterations of the project, recent phases emphasize cooperation to advance construction and community delivery. See the DMB project page for leadership background: DMB Development.
Market and pricing context
Starting prices in the low $400,000s position many Silverwood offerings below coastal Southern California averages, reflecting the Inland Empire’s broader attainable entry points. Product variety aims to serve local buyers and relocators seeking larger homes and outdoor amenities for the price. Builder pricing and plan details are available on individual builder pages such as Lennar and Woodside Homes.
Implications for the Inland Empire
Economic impact: The projected $1.6 billion-plus investment will create construction, retail, education and public-sector jobs over decades; up to 700,000 square feet of commercial space could spur new businesses and tax revenue for Hesperia and nearby Victorville and Apple Valley.
Housing supply: Adding more than 15,000 homes will materially increase regional supply and could help relieve housing pressure over the long run. The range of product types — starter homes to larger estates and a planned 55+ section — expands options for diverse households.
Transportation and services: Large master-planned projects bring new demands for roads, transit and utilities. DMB’s infrastructure commitments will be watched by officials and residents as commuting and service needs evolve.
Schools and public facilities: New schools and town centers will be central to family decisions; districts must plan for enrollment growth and capital funding timings.
Community cohesion: If sustained, the kindness pledge and partner programs could serve as a model for other developments seeking to manage rapid growth while preserving civic life.
Recreation and tourism: Proximity to Silverwood Lake, the Pacific Crest Trail and mountain communities may boost outdoor tourism and seasonal revenue for regional hospitality and retail businesses. For masterplan details and recreational context, consult DMB Development and Silverwood’s official site.
Sources and further reading
- DMB Development — Silverwood project portfolio
- Silverwood — official website
- Lennar — Silverwood community page
- Woodside Homes — Sunset Ridge at Silverwood
- K. Hovnanian — The Estates at Silverwood
- Dwell — coverage of the kindness pledge and Silverwood
- Zillow — Estates at Silverwood community listing
- Project video — Silverwood overview
