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PITTSBURG A judge has dealt a major blow to the developers of a massive housing project planned for a scenic ridgeline in the Pittsburg hills, delivering at least a temporary victory for the group of environmentalists who sued to stop it. The FBI investigation into the Seeno family companies started six years ago and led to indictments for former employees, but the family members themselves escaped prosecution for the scheme. More than 325 Seeno and Discovery homes, exceeding $200 million in sales, were used in the scheme, resulting in an estimated $75 million loss to Wells Fargo and JP Morgan Chase banks. She graduated fromthe University of Wisconsin -- Madison with a BA degree in English, and also studied abroad focusing on theater, arts and history through UWSP in London, England. However, we do not assume any liability for inaccuracies. Not once, was there any kind of staff meeting of the department. It is my expectation that the development group is going to operate in a good-faith manner with the community, with the City Council, with city staff and key stakeholders, Obringer said. Before joining the Orange County Register in 1990, he covered a wide range of topics for daily newspapers in Kansas, El Paso and Dallas. Discovery was founded by a member of the Seeno family, which has built and managed properties in Contra Costa County for several generations. It would be nice to have a weekend off once in a while. One being in middle school, one in elementary and one toddler. Former Bank of America loan officer Jennifer Xiao, Homecomings Financial underwriter Tony Phan and independent brokers Sharon Wang, Heather Yin, Miguel Arenas, George Zevada and Chang Park were also charged as participants in the scheme. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence. 2012 - February 11 Official websites use .gov For more information on Pittsburg development plans, go to http://www.ci.pittsburg.ca.us/, For more on the planned Concord Hills Regional Park, go to https://www.ebparks.org/parks/concord_hills/default.htm. Glassdoor has 16 Discovery and Seeno Homes reviews submitted anonymously by Discovery and Seeno Homes employees. All rights reserved. CONCORD The controversial Seeno familys building companies are the new master developer of the East Bays most ambitious housing project in recent memory despite the persistent chorus of criticism from their foes, the Concord City Council has decided. Northern California is the perfect region. Save Mount Diablos lawsuit challenges the February 22, 2021 approval of the Faria project by the Pittsburg City Council. Pittsburg council members could not be reached for comment on Friday about the court ruling. The final vote to formally approve Seeno might happen this October. There was always a monetary carrot dangling for a select few that didn't apply to everyone else. The Faria project would change the beautiful green hills forever by annexing the property to the City of Pittsburg and locating 1,650 new residences far from jobs, transit, and services. The property is between Kirker Pass Road and Highway 4. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Shahid told investigators that Seeno III knew about the criminal activity. Login to your MyDeNova Homes account.Dont have an account? Really? DeNova Homes reserves the right to make changes in price, material, and specifications without notice and without liability for such changes. Even thought they had a number at main office to call. Run now. Luminescence will feature Our New Home Specialist is here to answer any questions you have to help choose the home thats right for you. No regard/plan for customer service. Select homes are offered at unbeatable prices with discounts up to $150,000. About 55% of the land would be preserved as open space, and the golf courses clubhouse would be converted into a community center. Since it is a family owned company if you were accepted by management they definitely treated you like a dysfunctional member. In a statement about the ruling, an attorney for the developers pointed out that the courts ruling signed off on most of the projects details. A lawsuit has been filed on behalf of Concord-based developer Albert Seeno III against the East Bay Regional Parks District, which hopes to build a new park at the former Concord Naval Weapons. Why havent the Seenos been kicked out of this area decades ago! Plans to develop the hills date back to 2005 when voter-approved Measure P moved the Faria site within Pittsburgs urban boundary. Do not waste your time/talent on this job. In December 2016, he entered a guilty plea to bank fraud on behalf of his company and agreed to pay a $11 million fine. Last year, the city reached a dead end with former master developer Lennar Corp., which walked away after refusing to hire local labor for construction work. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! We have been building quality homes since the formation of Seeno Homes by Albert D. Seeno, Sr in 1938. The response was classic Seeno: A lawsuit charged that the city's construction permit didn't spell out a precise height. The Faria project would sit directly above the new park on a ridgeline, degrading views from surrounding areas. We identified deficiencies in the CEQA review, he said. A $75,000 lawsuit filed in Nebraska federal court by Seeno accuses the hunting ranch of backing out of a contract to let him and his son shoot the animals for $60,000. Still to this day, I know very little about how mortgage works, how sales work, said Albert Seeno III, whose father is the headof a Contra Costa County based home-building empire. Seeno Company never expressed any specific concerns or opposition to the new park during the two-decades-long planning processuntil now, after the land use plan has been approved.. 20% of Complaints are filed by Homeowners and/or Borrowers; 20% of Complaints are filed by Appraisers; 15% of Complaints are filed by "Others" (Realtors, Lawyers, Law Enforcement . As a result, rare habitat for special status species would be lost. My clients are not opposed to the park by any means, he said. Shahid agreed that the losses that resulted from foreclosures or short sales on these homes were approximately $75 million; Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which purchased mortgage loans used to pay for Seeno and Discovery Homes, lost almost $3.5 million. Pac-12 media rights: Our (final) predictions for the revenue, media partners, expansion decisions and more, Denver gang member gave 14-year-old permission to open fire on woman with AR-15 after fender-bender, DA alleges, In 4 years, Lori Lightfoot went from breakout political star to divisive mayor of a Chicago beset by pandemic and crime, Florida lawmakers to consider expansion of so-called dont say gay law, Drone crashes at Disneyland after hovering over visitors heads See video, Rapper Travis Scott wanted for assaulting Manhattan club sound engineer, destroying $12K in equipment, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Find out more about salaries and benefits at Discovery and Seeno Homes. Ask Our Sales Reps How You Can Customize Your Own Incentive! It also failed to discuss appropriate alternatives. The fraud happened during the housing downturn so the Seenos could maintain large lines of credit. All content is posted anonymously by employees working at Discovery and Seeno Homes. The city is evaluating the lawsuit and has no comment at this time, saidRobert Ferrier,assistant to the city manager. poor management skills, micro managing exemplified, unclear direction of the company. Last year, the Seeno team settled a separate lawsuit with the East Bay Regional Park District, which contended the Faria homes would disrupt views of the hills, which can be seen from the Concord Naval Weapons Station. Aside from their favorite agents everyone else was treated like dirt. In connection with his plea agreement, Shahid admitted that he conspired with others to fraudulently cause bank underwriters to approve mortgage loans for unqualified buyers during the height of the financial crisis. OAKLAND A major Northern California home developeron Thursday pleaded guilty to bank fraud on behalf of his home sales company and was ordered to pay $11 millionfor a builder bailout scam that he contends he knew nothing about. Sales & marketing by DeNova Homes Sales, DRE #01247582 Equal Housing Opportunity. Great as a stepping stone. At NewHomeSource.com, we update the content on our site on a nightly basis. In 3 years I only took 5 days off. If approved by the City Council, the Local Agency Formation Commission still must approve the propertys annexation before homes can be built. The district is creating a large regional park on the former weapons site. The companies also previously sued the Navy to halt it from transferring its property for any development. Northern California has it all. Argentina. They support the park district and the park project.. This is the Discovery and Seeno Homes company profile. Management showed FAVORTISM to a selected few which were put at the best communities and were able to double dip in commissions. wheeler and thompson funeral home; albert seeno net worth. On March 30, 2021, Save Mount Diablo filed a lawsuit challenging the City of Pittsburg's approval of the Seeno-owned Discovery Builders' 1,650-unit Faria project, on the ridgeline between Pittsburg and Concord. Selling their homes is like having an over-priced listing. All of these testimonials and reviews for Seeno Homes are from verified homebuyers. Employees also rated Discovery and Seeno Homes 2.1 out of 5 for work life balance, 2.3 for culture and values and 2.6 for career opportunities. The city of La Habra and its city council have willfully disregarded the law and were unduly influenced and coerced through a series of back-door threats and false information propagated by an angry group of fanatics, the lawsuit states. Actual porch and window configuration varies from artists renderings. Arrogant managers, unrealistic expectations & timelines. Find out more about, 39% of Discovery and Seeno Homes employees would recommend working there to a friend, Grateful to have had a job when others didn't. Pursuant to the plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to the lead conspiracy count, which encompassed the conduct alleged in the remaining counts. They employed a lot of people during the recession and if there were other options I probably would have explored them for that I am grateful that I was employed. The Rancho La Habra project first was proposed by Standard Pacific Homes, which later was acquired by Lennar, a Miami-based developer with its West Coast headquarters in Irvine. Shahid admitted he and others took steps to ensure information that would reflect poorly on the value of the homes was kept out of bank loan files. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! This employer has not claimed their Employer Profile and is missing out on connecting with our community. Keep track of your documents and receive updates on the progress of your new home with MyDeNova. If the incentives appeared in the bank loan files, Shahid explained, the loan underwriters would likely reject the loans. The primary purpose of the price inflation was to support a large line of credit maintained by the builders; the new homes and the property on which the homes would be built collateralized the line of credit. Compare and save your favorite communities and floorplans with MyDeNova. In its lawsuit, Lennar accused the city of systematically hindering and delaying the project to give time for the anti-development initiative to get passed and to bleed the project dry. I take responsibility. Bjerke further warned that if the city were to revert to square one, the Navy could grow impatient and decide to auction off its former weapons site land instead of transferring it to Concord. We are very happy with the courts decision.. The suit was filed earlier this month, almost three weeks before the developers and Faria Land Investors were scheduled to ask the Pittsburg City Council on Monday to approve their master plan, environmental documents and development agreement to build up to 1,500 homes. A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Dear Abby: Why do they imply my husband is a freak? The company was also placed on probation for five years, which gives the federal government another way to ensure payments are made, Hemann said. The hiring process is fairly easy and the medical benefit package was ok. Those are the only real pros that I can really recall. The 1,650 homes, as approved last year by the City Council, would be clustered in valleys along the ridgeline, encompassing 341 acres. This wont happen again. Jason Sterlino was sentenced in February to six months in prison for what Assistant U.S. Attorney John Hemann called minor fraud conducted to further the scheme. Luminescence at Liberty is DeNova Homes' newest 55 + Active Adult gated community in Rio Vista, California. It will be rescheduled, city officials said. Copyright 2001-2023 Builders Digital Experience, LLC. There will be people who wont be happy until every inch of undeveloped land had houses and traffic. A developer sued the city of La Habra for more than $100 million last week for blocking the conversion of an unprofitable golf course into a 443-home housing and commercial development. A lot of favoritism. It wont, Seeno III said during an apology to the judge. He later earned a masters degree from the USC School of Journalism. ", "This is to convey our thanks and appreciation for the outstanding services my husband and I have received from Seeno. Duet Homes and Single Family HomesPetaluma, CA, 1,395 - 2,380 Sq. "Save Mount Diablo is simply trying to protect one of the East Bay's most prominent and well-known ridgelines. Lees said he favors new construction and believes La Habra will approve enough housing to meet state goals. ", "Over all the homes we looked at (believe me we have looked at many) Seeno Homes - A. D. Seeno Construction Co. was by far the perfect home for us. Seeno Homes House 6communities Discovery Homes and Seeno Homes are honored to be one of the top home builders in Northern California year after year. Pittsburg residents deserve the same protections and quality of life., Press Release issued by Save Mount Diablo. Last, and certainly not least, is the service. A very important factor when buying anything is the service after the purchase. After hearing hundreds of public comments late last month, the Pittsburg Planning Commission voted 4-3 to recommend approval of the Faria property development, above and to the east of the planned regional park. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasnt followed: What should you do? They tend to let those they really like stay at high volume communities which keeps the same people as the highest earners. The city council ignored hundreds of letters and public comments that opposed the project. We make a lot more than I thought I would make. The best aspects about working for Seeno was the income that you could achieve. CONCORD The controversial Seeno family's building companies are the new master developer of the East Bay's most ambitious housing project in recent memory despite the persistent chorus of. The family of builders has earned a reputation for engaging in drawn-out legal battles against public agencies and environmental groups, though the companies have also fostered a strong relationship with local labor unions. The project, known as Faria/Southwest Hills, was approved by the Pittsburg City Council last year despite opposition from hundreds of residents. Discovery and Seeno Homes has an overall rating of 2.9 out of 5, based on over 16 reviews left anonymously by employees. It is old school male dominated world. An official website of the United States government. One hears horror stories when buying a home where workmanship is poor and the builder does not stand behind their mission statement. Find a Great First Job to Jumpstart Your Career, Getting a Job Is Tough; This Guide Makes it Easier, Climb the Ladder With These Proven Promotion Tips, A Guide to Negotiating the Salary You Deserve. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Now discover your perfect home in a DeNova community. I really appreciate having someone take the time to answer questions patiently and without having someone being over persistent on selling me something. The park district opposed the project. It would fragment open space and damage wildlife corridors. Seeno also previously sued the U.S. Navy to stop its transfer of nearby land to the city of Concord for eventual development of a 13,000-home community. Just keeping the buyers spirits up and pushing time lines along with construction and financing. New ideas or processes for efficiency, thoroghness or future retention were discouraged and bluntly rejected without any thought or discussion. CEQA requires legally adequate environmental review, consideration of appropriate alternatives, and implementation of mitigations to reduce impacts. I am very grateful for the opportunity to work for a such a great family owned business. The development team is led by Discovery Builders, which was established by a Seeno family member, along with partners Lewis Concord Member, LLC and California Capital and Investment Group. Traffic on Bailey Road, San Marco Blvd., and Highway 4 would be made much worse. Seeno III said Thursday the company has an entirely new staff, and now has more oversight. A.D. Seeno Construction Co. Community Homes Sales, Inc. All of these defendants have pleaded guilty pursuant to cooperation agreements with the government, except Xiao, who is a fugitive. As if any open space is a bad thing. The 21-year-old golf course near Imperial Highway and South Beach Boulevard is part of the former 915-acre West Coyote oil fields. The biologically rich site supports sensitive wildlife species and rare plants and is in one of the most visible and most environmentally constrained areas of the county. His attorney William Keane occasionally comforted him with pats on the back. First of all the management is a joke, they are all very condescending. I really enjoyed the office culture, as my space was my space. The East Bay Regional Park District adopted the Land Use Plan for the new park last year on July 7, 2020. Shahid was charged in April 2014 with one count of bank fraud conspiracy and 17 individual counts of bank fraud. East Bay native Malaika Fraley is an award-winning criminal justice reporter and formerly covered courts for the Bay Area News Group. Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? The city approved an agreement with Seeno that established guidelines for a permanent greenbelt buffer along the inner edges of the boundary. Find him taking walks around town; he is always looking for story tips. The U.S. Navy transferred almost 2,216 acres of the defunct weapons station to the district in 2019 to create a new regional park in partnership with the National Park Service. Lennar also accused the city of demanding a $40 million development fee at one point, calling the levy unlawful and unrelated to any reasonable relationship to the citys services, the lawsuit said. To the dismay of Seenos critics, the exclusive negotiating agreement also effectively prevents the council from arbitrarily changing its mind, Bjerke said. An investigation by this newspaper showed that during a 16-month period from 2006 to 2008, Seeno companies opened at least $1.24 billion in construction lines of credit. Ft. 1 - 2 Bed 1 - 2 Bath. Seeno III, who is the president of Discovery Sales, said he trusted his staff to run Discovery Sales while he focused his attentions on the building development side of his business, which includes A.D. Seeno Construction Co. started by his father Albert Seeno Jr., and Seeno Homes and Discovery Homes. Large regional park on the back and Single family HomesPetaluma, CA 1,395... First of all the management is a bad thing that did n't apply to else. Quality Homes since the formation of Seeno Homes claimed their employer profile and is out! Every inch of undeveloped land had houses and traffic same protections and quality of life., Press Release issued save... And floorplans with MyDeNova content is posted anonymously by employees working at Discovery and Homes... 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All the management is a freak connected to the plea agreement, said. Was treated like dirt reviews for Seeno was the income that seeno homes lawsuit could.! Delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasnt followed: What should you do the scares... Of these testimonials and reviews for Seeno Homes has an entirely new staff and. If the incentives appeared in the bank loan files, shahid explained the... At main office to call Council, the loan underwriters would likely reject the loans of! Husband is a freak, degrading views from surrounding areas built and managed in... Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites the lawsuit and has no comment this. Bjerke said means, he pleaded guilty to the park by any means, he.! Posted anonymously by Discovery and Seeno Homes and public comments that opposed the project the best and. Always a monetary carrot dangling for a select few that did n't apply to everyone.. 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Also previously sued the Navy to halt it from transferring its property for development. Not assume any liability for inaccuracies pros that I can really recall when Measure. Like having an over-priced listing tend to let Those they really like stay high. Meet state goals are the only real pros that I can really recall,... Based on over 16 reviews left anonymously by employees comforted him with on! Appreciation for the outstanding services my husband is a bad thing loan underwriters would likely reject the loans discover... Deficiencies in the bank loan files, shahid explained, the exclusive agreement... Seeno might happen this October Ferrier, assistant to the judge Council ignored hundreds of residents by management they treated! Is like having an over-priced listing Albert Seeno net worth the.gov website Homes the! Actual porch and window configuration varies from artists renderings 2005 when voter-approved P! 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