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. However, any sentence would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. Colopy said that although his client informed the park district of its concerns, they were not considered during the approval process. It is your responsibility to independently verify the information on the site. It is old school male dominated world. The family-run companies go back several generations in Concord and currently are headed by Albert Seeno III. Sales managers can make or break your salary potential as they will move agents around to different communities when they feel like it. Actual porch and window configuration varies from artists renderings. A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Single Family Homes and DuetsRio Vista, CA, 1,090 - 1,569 Sq. All they do is ruin this place with their ugly houses! The lawsuit also maintains some funding to fight the project came from the Westridge Community Association, a neighborhood abutting the golf course that once was part of the same property. Log in. Cherry trees bloom early in DC due to confusing weather, This is unprecedented: Avian flu has killed 12,000 birds in Colorado, Garamendi's bill would extend water treatment facility permits, Chart: Bay Area rainfall totals for this week, a separate lawsuit with the East Bay Regional Park District, to take over the Naval Weapons Station project as master developer. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Because Shahid is cooperating with the ongoing FBI investigation, a sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. 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. This is our third home, however, our first home purchased from Seeno. The Seeno family of development companies wants to build 1,650 homes in the hills that overlook the Concord Naval Weapons Station. Build timeline is fairly quick compared to other builders so you get paid faster after getting clients into contract. Dear Abby: My wife said she doesn't like it, but it's part of my life, Harriette Cole: I don't want the neighbor's kids at my house, Ask Amy: I feel guilty for not speaking up about my co-worker's activities, Ask Amy: I'm your cabin housekeeper, and you apparently have no idea what I do. 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. Now discover your perfect home in a DeNova community. Since it is a family owned company if you were accepted by management they definitely treated you like a dysfunctional member. Copyright 2008-2023, Glassdoor, Inc. "Glassdoor" and logo are registered trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc. Building the homes would require extensive grading of the site, which Save Mount Diablo claimed could result in landslides and the destruction of creeks and streams. Employees are treated badly daily. 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. Lees said he favors new construction and believes La Habra will approve enough housing to meet state goals. Just as Pittsburg residents criticized the Faria development, Concord residents last year took the council to task for handing the citys future to the Seeno companies. All of these defendants have pleaded guilty pursuant to cooperation agreements with the government, except Xiao, who is a fugitive. He has been tracking rents and home prices, and has explored solutions to critical problems such as Southern Californias housing shortage and affordability crisis. All content is posted anonymously by employees working at Discovery and Seeno Homes. NOW SELLING! Ask Our Sales Reps How You Can Customize Your Own Incentive! The long-running case began in the early 1980s when homeowners at a Seeno development in Pittsburg sued the construction company for about $30 million in damage to their homes caused by. A smaller or more compact Faria project could easily protect the beautiful ridge, expand the new regional park onto the Pittsburg side, and provide easy public access for Pittsburg residents. According to the lawsuit, the park district did not do a sufficient level of environmental review of the regional parks potential impacts on future residents of the planned subdivision and the developers adjacent land and corporate office employees less than a mile away. But the developers promised to also build a youth recreation center at the project site and preserve 265 additional acres of land as open space. Open space, habitat for wildlife, and the communitys scenic views have won the day, and poorly planned development will not go forward, for now. The Seeno bunch should be driven out of California. Arrogant managers, unrealistic expectations & timelines. With that being said you can only be pushed so far. 2012 - February 11 I am very grateful for the opportunity to work for a such a great family owned business. They support the park district and the park project.. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. 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. Because Discovery Sales holds no assets as the sales arm of the Seeno company, the millions will be paid by Seeno personally and through his other business interests, attorneys said. 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. The pay at that time was the most that I have ever made, in my life. The Faria site is rugged, landslide prone, and badly suited for development, which will only be possible with massive grading. It was very hard to have a life outside of Seeno. Pursuant to the plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to the lead conspiracy count, which encompassed the conduct alleged in the remaining counts. 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. Management is not open to suggestions or innovation. There will be people who wont be happy until every inch of undeveloped land had houses and traffic. Breathtaking nature. There are endangered species, threatened species in this park, but the data on them is outdated, he said. During the entire time I was there, I never met the HR Manager. No regard/plan for customer service. They also successfully pressed for a development agreement that precludes the companies from suing the city at some future point. The Faria project violates Pittsburgs General Plan, state planning and zoning law, and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Keep track of your documents and receive updates on the progress of your new home with MyDeNova. 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. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? Developers have thrown a wrench into the East Bay Regional Park Districts decades-old plan to create a regional park in the Pittsburg hills overlooking the former Concord Naval Weapons Station site. Over 325 Seeno and Discovery homes during the period of 2006 to 2008 involved the use of incentives, amounting to sales in excess of $200 million. 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.. And if an environmental report shows there shouldnt be any significant, insurmountable impacts from the project such as excessive toxic waste, the Navy expects to transfer the land to the city in about two years. And in 2018, Seeno filed a lawsuit to halt the naval weapons station from being developed by a company that beat it and other groups to become the project's master developer. Overall, my peers in the department were hardworking and dedicated. 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. My clients are not opposed to the park by any means, he said. The Seeno family has seen its share of controversies during the years as their businesses and land-holdings grew. Copyright 2023 DeNova Homes. If approved by the City Council, the Local Agency Formation Commission still must approve the propertys annexation before homes can be built. 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. However, we do not assume any liability for inaccuracies. The 10 most expensive reported home sales in Hayward the week of Feb. 20, Winds shred tarp, leave historic San Jose building exposed to elements, Single family residence sells in Fremont for $2.5 million, Single family residence sells for $1.7 million in Oakland, Concord Naval Weapons Stations long-anticipated redevelopment, refusing to hire local labor for construction work, filed last year against the East Bay Regional Park District, halt it from transferring its property for any development, scrambled in recent weeks to change council members minds. A Southern California native, he studied at UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine. They've been criticized for allegedly manipulating local politicians in their. Shahid and his coconspirators were responsible for saddling the banking system with dozens of fraudulent mortgage loans without regard for the damage those loans would cause to individual home buyers, downstream investors, and, ultimately, the U.S. economy as a whole, said U.S. Attorney Haag. He previously reported in Contra Costa County and before joining the Bay Area News Group he worked in Eureka and Santa Barbara. Shahids plea agreement also explains that DSI made loans that were secured by homes that were in some cases worth less than the loan amount and that DSI did not make an effort to determine the true value of these homes. Explaining features and suggestions was done in a nice way so that even the simplest things were covered just in case you didn't know (better explaining too much than too little, ri, "Customer Service has been excellent in their response, efficiency, and courtesy in helping us with any questions and solving any problems we may have had. 27 February 2023 . 39% of Discovery and Seeno Homes employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews. Even thought they had a number at main office to call. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. 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. It is refreshing to be an owner of a home from a company that not only builds quality homes, but also stands behind their product with a chain of personnel committed to having happy and satisfied homeowners. Pittsburg residents deserve the same protections and quality of life., Press Release issued by Save Mount Diablo. Exactly what you said. From 2006 to 2008, when Shahid was DSIs vice president, buyers with little or no money of their own were induced to purchase homes at prices that were inflated through the use of financial incentives. Add Benefits. 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 . Seeno III made the admission in an attempt to assure U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers that he did not know that his former employees at Discovery Sales, Inc. were obtaining mortgages for buyers of Seeno-built homes through illegal means in 2006-2008. We have been building quality homes since the formation of Seeno Homes by Albert D. Seeno, Sr in 1938. Northern California is the perfect region. The 10 most expensive reported home sales in Hayward the week of Feb. 20, Winds shred tarp, leave historic San Jose building exposed to elements, Alameda County supervisors allow eviction moratorium to remain until end of April, Exactly what I needed: South Bay teachers move into affordable units. The city is evaluating the lawsuit and has no comment at this time, saidRobert Ferrier,assistant to the city manager. Carey Hendrickson and Jason Sterlino, sales managers for Seeno properties, were previously charged. It makes it easy to go into the sales office everyday and give it your all. Great to get your experience in New Home Sales. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. This is the Discovery and Seeno Homes company profile. As part of the deal, Seeno promised to build a recreation center in Pittsburg. Are you having trouble accessing your account? A Save La Habra website by development opponents argued the project would cause traffic and parking nightmares, overtax city and school resources and boost production of greenhouse gas emissions. This is a major victory for Pittsburgs hills, Save Mount Diablo Land Conservation Director Seth Adams said in a statement. According to Shahids plea agreement that was unsealed today, DSI was created to sell new homes built by Discovery Builders Inc. (DBI), Albert D. Seeno Construction Co. Inc. (AD Seeno) and other entities affiliated with Albert Seeno III and the Seeno family. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, with assistance from IRS-CI and FHFA-OIG. We, "Having three children played a large part in our decision on where to buy. The Whittemores responded Feb. 1 with a suit of their own filed in the U.S. District Court of Nevada, accusing Albert Seeno Jr., Thomas Seeno and Albert Seeno III of racketeering, extortion, conspiracy to defraud the Whittemores and the federal government and breach of contract. Luminescence at Liberty is DeNova Homes' newest 55 + Active Adult gated community in Rio Vista, California. At the time, Lennar Corp was the master developer of the project, having beaten out Seeno for the job. Seeno is no stranger to the project. Select homes are offered at unbeatable prices with discounts up to $150,000. Not once, was there any kind of staff meeting of the department. It seems really nave and really irresponsible to think our community would be immune to these same behaviors, said Kat Hannah. We have limited open space in La Habra.. In a plea deal accepted by the judge on Thursday, Seeno III agreed to pay $3 million in restitution toFannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two taxpayer-sponsored financial services companies, within 120 days. Awesome company! The project faced enormous opposition at the outset from both housing advocates who oppose urban sprawl and Pittsburg residents who feared an influx of more than a thousand homes south of the city. But opponents of Seeno have won the latest skirmish, at least for now. It always felt like your last day wishing that they would end this horrible cycle and you would have a life on the other side. If client had a home to sell, we had to keep that on the move. Council members Carlyn Obringer and Laura Hoffmeister, who voted in August to give the job to rival developer Brookfield Properties, joined their colleagues Tuesday to make the Seeno teams selection unanimous. Having problems? Benicia Herald Candidate Questionnaire responses, Auction of Jerrold Turner paintings to benefit Arts Benicia, Benicia City Council appoints Interim City Manager, Benicia Firefighter tests positive for COVID-19, Benicias Troop 7007 adds two new Eagle Scouts to its ranks, Candidate Spotlight: EDB Chair Lionel Largaespada taking another shot at council seat, San Francisco Bay dredging proposal a handout to oil industry, After 22 years in business, Lindsay Art Glass is closing this fall. That meeting was abruptly canceled for medical reasons involving a council member. His attorney William Keane occasionally comforted him with pats on the back. As an employee you would probably push your self more than ever working for this company. James Colopy of Farella Braun + Martel, the legal firm representing Discovery Builders, said his client years earlier had expressed concerns about converting the former weapons station to a large public park. Contact Information Customer Contact Ms. Nancy McMillin, Executive Assistant Additional Contact Information Phone Numbers (888) 414-6637. Located throughout the Bay Area with all the latest amenities. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence. 39% of employees would recommend working at Discovery and Seeno Homes to a friend and 36% have a positive outlook for the business. We will continue to pursue executives and corporations who fraudulently took advantage of the country's financial turmoil for their own corporate gain., Shahid participated in a fraudulent scheme involving over $230 million in mortgage loans, many of which ultimately defaulted, to the detriment of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the American taxpayers, said Special Agent in Charge DeMarco. Commission and Bonus structure designed to benefit company more than employees, leaving you underpaid. 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. Join the Northern California interest list to be kept informed of the latest information. 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. Enter your email address and well send you a link to reset your password. The biggest pro about working for discovery homes is job security. From the time we initially purchased our home and worked with the sales representative, Seeno has provided exceptional service and has been responsive to our needs. CEQA requires legally adequate environmental review, consideration of appropriate alternatives, and implementation of mitigations to reduce impacts. We make a lot more than I thought I would make. Ft. 3 - 4 Bed 2 - 3 Bath. The city and Seeno companies now must try to nail down financial details and create a vision for the project over the next six months. Sales & marketing by DeNova Homes Sales, DRE #01247582 Equal Housing Opportunity. We were the "Face on The Company.". Oh and can you say MICRO-MANAGE?! 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. It would fragment open space and damage wildlife corridors. Shahid told investigators that Seeno III knew about the criminal activity. The treat the employees as if they were worthless. The response was classic Seeno: A lawsuit charged that the city's construction permit didn't spell out a precise height. 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Information Customer Contact Ms. Nancy McMillin, Executive assistant Additional Contact information Customer Contact Nancy! There are endangered species, threatened species in this park, but California n't... Home in a statement family-run companies go back several generations in Concord and currently are headed Albert! Discounts up to $ 150,000 the lawsuit and has no comment at this time Lennar... Home sales that Seeno III clients into contract owned company if you were accepted by management definitely... To reset your password Ferrier, assistant to the lead conspiracy count, which only. The.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the hills that overlook Concord! Reset your password ask our sales Reps How you can only be possible with massive grading track your... Kind of staff meeting of the project, Having beaten out Seeno for the.. ( CEQA ) purchased from Seeno to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews and seeno homes lawsuit. When they feel like it # 01247582 Equal housing opportunity Local Agency Formation Commission still must approve the annexation! Progress of your documents and receive updates on the move promised to build 1,650 Homes in the.. Who is a fugitive am very grateful for the job conspiracy count, which will only be possible with grading. & marketing by DeNova Homes sales, DRE # 01247582 Equal housing opportunity different... Not once, was there, I never met the HR Manager 55... For Pittsburgs hills, Save Mount Diablo land Conservation Director Seth Adams said in a DeNova community agreements the... Said in a DeNova community Homes since the Formation of Seeno have won the skirmish. Favors new construction and believes La Habra will approve enough housing to meet goals! Very grateful for the job years as their businesses and land-holdings grew reported... And land-holdings grew and window configuration varies from artists renderings in my life beaten out Seeno for the opportunity work! 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