What's in store for Hesperia in 2024?
Nearly a decade after the former Tapestry master-planned community was introduced to Hesperia residents, the project, now called “Silverwood,” is expected to showcase its first model home in 2024.
The continued development of Silverwood, located in Summit Valley, is one of several large projects the city will tackle in the new year.
Built in phases, the entire Silverwood project spans 9,366 acres for 15,633 dwelling units and 700,00 square feet of commercial space.
In December, the remaining two of seven tract maps for Phase 1A of the development were approved, signifying a huge accomplishment in just six months, city officials said.
This master-planned development will include a library, post office, fire stations, public schools, walkable, well-planned town squares with stores, and nearly 5,000 acres of open space featuring 387 acres of parks and 166 miles of paths and trails.
Phase I will bring more than 2,000 homes to the community, with model homes expected to be ready in 2024.
Hesperia Commerce Center
The city anticipates another year of "robust economic growth and investment," with many projects on the horizon, city officials stated.
City officials hope that the Hesperia Commerce Center will aide that economic development.
The expansive complex covers an impressive 3.5 million square feet and is situated on the west side of Interstate 15 and along Caliente Road.
Building 1 is complete with Modway Furniture Wholesaler and Peloton Exercise Equipment as occupants. Buildings 2 and 3 are nearly finished, with completion expected in early 2024, according to city officials.
The Covington Group, a nationwide leader in real estate development, received approval for four entitlement applications totaling over 6 million square feet of industrial warehouse space.
Building and grading plans are in plan check for these buildings, which will be located south of Main Street between Highway 395 and the I-15.
Rosa Maria’s Mexican Restaurant
A few new restaurants will open in early 2024, expanding dining options for residents, city leaders said.
On Jan. 4, construction crews continue to put the final touches on Dairy Queen and work on Rosa Maria’s Mexican Restaurant, situated side-by-side on the corner of Bear Valley Road and Cypress Avenue in Hesperia.
Jose and Guadalupe Robles opened the first Rosa Maria’s in 1975, serving a variety of homemade Mexican dishes from its restaurant on North Sierra Way in San Bernardino.
Since then, the business has expanded to places like Highland, Fontana, Redlands and now Hesperia.
Several High Desert foodies said that the restaurant’s fresh ingredients and its “Garbage Burrito” are what keep customers coming back for more. The garbage burrito is made with chicken, pork verde, or pork colorado and wrapped in a handmade tortilla with beans, rice, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions, the company said.
Other favorite handmade menu items include tortillas, rellenos, beans, rice, and a variety of burritos and tacos.
Dairy Queen
The 2024 opening of Dairy Queen will be headed up by franchisee December Herrera, a Hesperia resident who also owns two stores in San Bernardino.
“This is a big deal for me because the new store is located in the same city where I live with my husband and two kids,” Herrera, 40, told the Daily Press.
Herrera was 15 when she got her first job at Dairy Queen, it was also at that time when she first envisioned owning her own store.
Herrera said opening three stores since 2018 is "a dream come true."
The new Dairy Queen will open after the late Robert "Bob" John Steele of Hesperia shuttered all three of his locations in the Victor Valley.
Health issues and the Great Recession were two main factors that forced Steele to shutter all three locations, with the last Dairy Queen closing in Hesperia around 2010.
In 2019, Dairy Queen fans were excited when it was announced that DQ would return with the construction of a Shell gas station on the northeast corner of Ranchero Road and Seventh Avenue in Hesperia.
The hopes of Dairy Queen fans were dashed in 2020 when the restaurant decided not to move into the new gas station.
Starbucks
Plans to construct a new Starbucks have been approved to be located in the Stater Bros. shopping center on Main Street and Maple Avenue. Once constructed, this location will be Starbucks' first purpose-built drive-thru-only model in the Mojave River Valley.
Charter school
On Thursday, a new Pathways to College campus broke ground on 25.7 acres of land, south of Mojave Street between Third Avenue and Hesperia Road.
Upon completion in Oct. 2024, the charter school will serve up to 700 students from TK to eight grades, employ 60 school staff, and comprise multiple school buildings with many features and elements, including a 21,400-square-foot multi-purpose building fronting Third Avenue.
“It is one of the largest, if not the largest, new build project for a school in the High Desert this upcoming year,” Pathways to College Principal Craig Merrill said.
Merrill also shared that the $25 million building project will be located about a three-minute drive from its current location.
For more information on the project or school enrollment, call 760-949-8002.
Industrial warehouses
The city approved three large industrial warehouse projects totaling over 1.6 million square feet.
Building and grading plans are in plan check for these buildings, which will also be located south of Main Street between Hwy. 395 and I-15.
Sewer lift
To handle the influx of businesses, in September, the city began constructing a new sewer lift station on Caliente Road near I-15.
This new infrastructure upgrade will significantly improve the efficiency and capacity of the city's sewer system, contributing to a cleaner environment for the community. This project is anticipated to be completed in late summer of 2024, the city stated.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: What's in store for Hesperia in 2024?
