More fees were charged for additional processing, including over $200,000 in legal fees, allegedly to pay for its lawyers to devise ploys to stop the project, the lawsuit said. According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Discovery and Seeno Homes employees rate their compensation and benefits as 2.6 out of 5. Despite a thorough environmental analysis of the new Regional Parks plans, which include public access for recreation, permanent preservation of the land as natural habitat, and a joint visitor center with the National Park Services that will also honor the Black sailors who died in the massive Port Chicago explosion, Mr. Seenos Discovery Builders and Faria Land Investors filed suit to stop the new regional park. Pittsburg council members could not be reached for comment on Friday about the court ruling. Find your private company bowl on Fishbowl, join the hottest conversation with your colleagues anonymously. In 2018, the companies filed a short-lived lawsuit against the U.S. Navy to stop it from transferring thousands of acres where the new housing community will eventually be built to the city. 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. Save Mount Diablo Sues Seeno Discovery Builders to Protect Major Ridgeline in Pittsburg, Again this Website has Moved to ContraCosta.News, Yes! It wont, Seeno III said during an apology to the judge. Hours are very strict - either 7am to 4pm or 8am to 5pm. 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. 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. My clients are not opposed to the park by any means, he said. 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 . Find him taking walks around town; he is always looking for story tips. We very much appreciate owning a Seeno built home and would not hesitate to purchase another one. If you are interested in a career with DeNova Homes, please send us an email hr@denovahomes.com with a copy of your resume to inquire about open positions and opportunities. Save Mount Diablo is simply trying to protect one of the East Bays most prominent and well-known ridgelines. She has worked as a reporter, features editor and assistant metro editor at newspapers in Wisconsin and Northern California and has been at what is now the Bay Area News Group since 1990. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasnt followed: What should you do? Really? His attorney William Keane occasionally comforted him with pats on the back. This Website Has Moved to ContraCosta.news, East Bay Regional Park District Celebrates Green Friday. Councilman Edi Birsan, who vigorously defended the Seeno family at the August meeting from what he called personal attacks, said Tuesday he doesnt expect the companies history of litigation to be a factor in the naval weapons project. Plans call for 277 houses and 166 townhomes in four gated neighborhoods, 40 acres of parks with pools and trails, as well as more retail development. Fill out the form below and Dayna will be in touch shortly. And the mitigation adopted for many impacts is plainly inadequate or ineffective. Just keeping the buyers spirits up and pushing time lines along with construction and financing. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, with assistance from IRS-CI and FHFA-OIG. And of course once the homeowner moved in, we had to do customer service. 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. Seeno Construction had a permit to let its contractor bulldoze an old barn and a small house but had been instructed not to touch any trees. Candice Nguyen reports. Glassdoor gives you an inside look at what it's like to work at Discovery and Seeno Homes, including salaries, reviews, office photos, and more. wheeler and thompson funeral home; albert seeno net worth. The court got it right.. Run now. Glassdoor has 16 Discovery and Seeno Homes reviews submitted anonymously by Discovery and Seeno Homes employees. A Southern California native, he studied at UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine. Luminescence will feature Our New Home Specialist is here to answer any questions you have to help choose the home thats right for you. Verify your email to use filters. But opponents of Seeno have won the latest skirmish, at least for now. Allowing Seeno to break the city's own application process opens the city of Concord to a potential lawsuit. Opponents, the suit alleges, were dead set on stopping (the) proposed housing development at any cost.. The suit followed the Concord City Councils decision to award the master development contract for that project to another team instead of Seenos team. If we do nothing, massive grading will take place; the project will be built; the ridge damaged; other natural resources, including scenic vistas, will be harmed; and the new regional park, which we advocated for over many years, will be negatively impacted, said Ted Clement, Executive Director, Save Mount Diablo. Great to get your experience in New Home Sales. He previously reported in Contra Costa County and before joining the Bay Area News Group he worked in Eureka and Santa Barbara. When the other team pulled out last year in the wake of a labor dispute, Discovery Builders and the Seeno family returned for another bidding round and won the right to take over the Naval Weapons Station project as master developer. Dear Abby: Why do they imply my husband is a freak? Seeno III said Thursday the company has an entirely new staff, and now has more oversight. Your email address will not be published. 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. Add Benefits. In their lawsuit, Mr. Seeno alleges that the Park, after a decades long collaborative planning efforts to protect and preserve open space, would cause undisclosed impacts on the environment and would impact their planned Faria residential development in Pittsburg on a 606-acre parcel adjacent to the ridgeline of the park, stated the media release. Publisher of EastCountyToday and host of several Podcast Shows if you can, please hit the donate button and show support. I and a partner set up the office to our liking and just "Sold" homes. This is our third home, however, our first home purchased from Seeno. 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. Very demeaning and overall vile! Under proposed rules now under review, La Habra would be required to plan for the construction of more than 300 affordable housing units by 2030. Sales managers can make or break your salary potential as they will move agents around to different communities when they feel like it. The development team includes Seeno companies Discovery Builders, Inc. and Faria Investors LLC. However, we do not assume any liability for inaccuracies. Log in. Hemann told the judge Thursday that the FBI did a thorough investigation into Shahids claim, but could not find evidence to proveSeeno IIIs involvement to a jury. Signup for an myClientName account today and start saving your favorites, view personalized recommendations and more. Management showed FAVORTISM to a selected few which were put at the best communities and were able to double dip in commissions. Now discover your perfect home in a DeNova community. During slow times it was extremely hard to be positive and I feel as though I have tough nerves. Lennar Homes, the nations second-largest homebuilder, is seeking a court order overturning La Habras November vote blocking its Rancho La Habra project on the Westridge Golf Club. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Discovery Sales was prosecuted as a company. The Concord Hills Regional Park Land Use Plan provides for public access, preserves 95 percent of the areas natural habitat, and honors the unique natural and human history of the land. Tech, restaurant, logistics layoffs trigger more than 300 Bay Area job cuts, Shooting in Oakland hotel parking lot puts man in critical condition, East Bay lawmaker blasts open sore at BART, resigns from Senate committee, Skygazers will have a great view Wednesday of two planets that look like they are almost touching, Antioch: Homicide suspect arrested in Brentwood home, 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. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? The East Bay Regional Park District adopted the Land Use Plan for the new park last year on July 7, 2020. We identified deficiencies in the CEQA review, he said. 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. 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. Copyright 2023 DeNova Homes. Shahids plea agreement explained that it was important to the scheme to maintain inflated property values because if the home and property values dropped, the value of the collateral would drop and the line of credit would be put at risk. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. The Seeno family of development companies wants to build 1,650 homes in the hills that overlook the Concord Naval Weapons Station. 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. I have a great deal of experience and have been recognized for my sales achievements and clearly know what I'm doing so therefore I would NOT stand for it so I left! The location is great, close to shopping centers, grocery stores, BART, park and ride, gas stations, and the freeway. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorneys Office in San Franciscos Special Prosecutions Unit. Tech, restaurant, logistics layoffs trigger more than 300 Bay Area job cuts, Shooting in Oakland hotel parking lot puts man in critical condition, East Bay lawmaker blasts open sore at BART, resigns from Senate committee, Skygazers will have a great view Wednesday of two planets that look like they are almost touching, Antioch: Homicide suspect arrested in Brentwood home, 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. As part of the agreement passed Tuesday, the council wont be allowed to take political donations from employees of the development teams or their subcontractors. 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. 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. Whom are they paying off? 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. Discovery Builders recently settled a lawsuit it had filed last year against the East Bay Regional Park District to stop the Navys transfer of nearby land for the creation of a new park. Great as a stepping stone. The courts decision says to developers: You dont get to kick the can down the road. Already purchased a DeNova home? Building in the wildland urban interface would create new wildfire risks and strain the City of Pittsburgs existing firefighting services. 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. An official website of the United States government. We all know Seeno runs Pittsburg, and is the areas worst example of environmental consciousness. Jerome Page: Its not inequality, its envy. The Pittsburg City Council approved Seeno Discovery Builders Faria project. 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. Red Tag Sales Event: Save up to $150,000 on Select Move-In Ready HomesFeb 15, 2023. Are you having trouble accessing your account? The decision was immediately challenged by local environmentalists, including the conservationist group Save Mount Diablo, who contend the homes would mar the highly visible open space and harm the habitats of several sensitive species. I really enjoyed working for Seeno Homes, as it was the first builder to hire me with little experience. Part of the councils decision stemmed from a desire to proceed with the project after a long dormancy. 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. The property is between Kirker Pass Road and Highway 4. The pay at that time was the most that I have ever made, in my life. Measure X, which specifically targets the Rancho La Habra plan, would take development decisions from the city council ensuring no further development on the property, the lawsuit said. According to reviews on Glassdoor, employees commonly mention the pros of working at Discovery and Seeno Homes to be coworkers, career development and the cons to be senior leadership, benefits, management. Shahid fraudulently inflated the price of homes purchased by individuals who were unable to pay their mortgages in the long run. 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. Located throughout the Bay Area with all the latest amenities. Is the vulgar anti-Tesla sign on my neighbors truck illegal? Neither of these have started yet. 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. To see all the homes youve saved, visit the My Favorites section of your account. DeNova Homes reserves the right to make changes in price, material, and specifications without notice and without liability for such changes. Aside from their favorite agents everyone else was treated like dirt. This is a major victory for Pittsburgs hills, Save Mount Diablo Land Conservation Director Seth Adams said in a statement. The public overwhelmingly supports the creation of this regional park, district general manager Robert Doyle said. Lennar wants just compensation for business losses caused by La Habras alleged delay tactics, fees for studies and for an illegal taking, or the virtual appropriation of private property. 39% of Discovery and Seeno Homes employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews. They support the park district and the park project.. To the dismay of Seenos critics, the exclusive negotiating agreement also effectively prevents the council from arbitrarily changing its mind, Bjerke said. It seems really nave and really irresponsible to think our community would be immune to these same behaviors, said Kat Hannah. The buyers were not required to possess or post any of their own money when buying a home; DSI, the builders and their affiliates provided money to buyers to make down payments. Please enter a valid location or select an item from the list. Their suit said they are owed about $30 million by the Wingfield . This rating has been stable over the past 12 months. The 21-year-old golf course near Imperial Highway and South Beach Boulevard is part of the former 915-acre West Coyote oil fields. Join. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? 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. 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. Why havent the Seenos been kicked out of this area decades ago! We are very pleased with the schools in the area and the beautiful parks nearby. It also failed to discuss appropriate alternatives. I am very grateful for the opportunity to work for a such a great family owned business. We were supposed to get the loan process started and picking our upgrades for the interior this week. Management is not open to suggestions or innovation. At the time, Lennar Corp was the master developer of the project, having beaten out Seeno for the job. I really appreciate having someone take the time to answer questions patiently and without having someone being over persistent on selling me something. This rating has decreased by -3% over the last 12 months. poor management skills, micro managing exemplified, unclear direction of the company. Come home and relax at Makenna located in picturesque Petaluma. They tend to let those they really like stay at high volume communities which keeps the same people as the highest earners. As part of that settlement, the developers promised to build the homes back a ways from property lines so they would be less visible from the eventual parkland. The EIR failed to provide an adequate project description, for example, by omitting information about the location of elements of the planned residential development and about related public services, such as water consumption rates. It makes it easy to go into the sales office everyday and give it your all. 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