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. 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. Inspiring cities. Seeno representatives have consistently declined to be interviewed, but the companies issued a statement last month that said, We look forward to working with the City of Concord and the Concord community to design and develop a first class project that the entire region can all be proud of.. Everything is professional and team building. The 21-year-old golf course near Imperial Highway and South Beach Boulevard is part of the former 915-acre West Coyote oil fields. Last week, a Democratic Party of Contra Costa County committee rejected a resolution opposing Seenos selection after party members worried that taking a stance would jeopardize council members seats in future elections. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Shahid fraudulently inflated the price of homes purchased by individuals who were unable to pay their mortgages in the long run. 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. His attorney William Keane occasionally comforted him with pats on the back. The court got it right.. All rights reserved. Tour 3 Designer Decorated Model Homes Today! 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. The city approved an agreement with Seeno that established guidelines for a permanent greenbelt buffer along the inner edges of the boundary. Oh and can you say MICRO-MANAGE?! Do not waste your time/talent on this job. 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. If you are looking to get your feet wet in the new home industry give them a try but dont have high expectations. Shomik Mukherjee covers Oakland, with a focus on local politics, developments and activism. If approved by the City Council, the Local Agency Formation Commission still must approve the propertys annexation before homes can be built. One being in middle school, one in elementary and one toddler. 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. The suit also seeks to invalidate the initiative approved in November, known as Measure X, requiring voter approval ofchanges to open space zones. He previously reported in Contra Costa County and before joining the Bay Area News Group he worked in Eureka and Santa Barbara. 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. Those units represent approximately 60,000 new car trips per day that will soon impact local roads and Highway 4. Answer: Complaints filed against Appraisers: 45% of Complaints are filed by Lenders, AMCs, and Government Agencies (FHA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FDIC, OCC, etc.) We very much appreciate owning a Seeno built home and would not hesitate to purchase another one." Dallas and Judy Shahid told investigators that Seeno III knew about the criminal activity. Faria Land Investors, a Seeno/Discovery Builders associate, wants to build some 1,500 homes clustered in the valleys in the southwest Pittsburg hills, which overlook the former Concord Naval . Shahid was the president of DSI, which was the sales arm of affiliated residential construction companies, including Discovery Home Builders and Albert D. Seeno Construction Co. This Website Has Moved to ContraCosta.news, East Bay Regional Park District Celebrates Green Friday. A Southern California native, he studied at UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine. Lennar begrudgingly paid those extortive fees for fear of losing its investment in the project and in effort to show collaboration with the city, the lawsuit said. If the incentives appeared in the bank loan files, Shahid explained, the loan underwriters would likely reject the loans. Very demeaning and overall vile! It makes it easy to go into the sales office everyday and give it your all. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, with assistance from IRS-CI and FHFA-OIG. Jim Lees, co-founder of Save La Habra, noted that none of the proposed housing would help La Habra meet state-mandated affordable housing requirements. 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. 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. Find your private company bowl on Fishbowl, join the hottest conversation with your colleagues anonymously. In order to support the functionality of our website and to tailor our ads to match your likely interests, we and our service providers collect information about your use of this site. An official website of the United States government. It is your responsibility to independently verify the information on the site. 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! Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Judith Prieve is a reporter and editor for the Bay Area News Group who covers eastern Contra Costa County for the East Bay Times and The Mercury News. Although it felt as if they were pushing you off a ledge almost every week at the end of the day if you worked hard for them they would take care of you. 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. Plans to develop the hills date back to 2005 when voter-approved Measure P moved the Faria site within Pittsburgs urban boundary. 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. It is the third largest fine ever ordered within the criminal division of the U.S. District Courts Northern District of California, according to Hemann, the prosecutor. We all know Seeno runs Pittsburg, and is the areas worst example of environmental consciousness. This is the true culmination of a decades-long community effort, Beverly Lane, who has represented Concord on the East Bay Regional Park District board since 1994, said in a written statement. Who let the Seenos into Pittsburg and why havent they all been kicked out of Pittsburg and other places long ago? Luminescence at Liberty is DeNova Homes' newest 55 + Active Adult gated community in Rio Vista, California. The lawsuit also alleges the district failed to assess the sites biological resources, relying on old data. It was very hard to have a life outside of Seeno. 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. This rating has been stable over the past 12 months. The park project, which will include miles of trails, campgrounds and a visitor center, is the product of years of community advocacy and partnership among the park district, U.S. Navy, National Park Service and the city of Concord. Two of three former Seeno employees who cooperated with FBI investigators have yet to be sentenced for their guilty pleas as part of this scheme. We need workers that are getting good on-the-job training, said Israel Avila, a local carpenter, and we need the council to support good partners like (the Seeno team).. Exactly what you said. Judge halts high housing development in East, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Alameda County DAs new policy will reduce prison sentences through widespread elimination of sentencing enhancements, Judge halts high housing development in East Bay hills. Both urged city staff to make sure that key features of the eventual development including a guarantee that 25% of the new homes would be affordable survive the negotiations. Add Benefits. Before joining the Orange County Register in 1990, he covered a wide range of topics for daily newspapers in Kansas, El Paso and Dallas. 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. Run now. The park district opposed the project. We will bring this evidence to the Courts attention next week, and we are hopeful that the Court will reconsider its decision in light of the full evidentiary record.. 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. The public overwhelmingly supports the creation of this regional park, district general manager Robert Doyle said. Whittemore also bought nine homes in the names of his children using the money from the Seeno acquisition, the lawsuit said, and in 2009 and 2010, Thomas Seeno personally loaned Whittemore $1.4 . 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. We identified deficiencies in the CEQA review, he said. According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Discovery and Seeno Homes employees rate their compensation and benefits as 2.6 out of 5. By far the Worst company I have ever had the displeasure of working for!! 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, https://www.ebparks.org/parks/concord_hills/default.htm. 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. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 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. CONS: family owned company does not have checks and balances. The ruling also determined that the city failed to account for the possible environmental impacts of 150 accessory dwelling units, which were added to the development just before the council approved it, according to Save Mount Diablo. According to Pittsburgs Current Project Pipeline List, there are currently 5,853 housing units approved or under construction, 88 percent of them by Seenos Discovery Builders (5,141 housing units). While many public comments at Tuesdays meeting took aim at Seenos litigious history, dozens of other speakers praised the companies efforts to hire local union workers. Since it is a family owned company if you were accepted by management they definitely treated you like a dysfunctional member. Limited time only. Seeno is no stranger to the project. From San Jose to Petaluma to Manteca, DeNova Homes builds better communities with thoughtful design. To the dismay of Seenos critics, the exclusive negotiating agreement also effectively prevents the council from arbitrarily changing its mind, Bjerke said. 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. Open space, habitat for wildlife, and the communitys scenic views have won the day, and poorly planned development will not go forward, for now. Sales & marketing by DeNova Homes Sales, DRE #01247582 Equal Housing Opportunity. 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. The problem with that project is what theyre doing is building on open space, Lees said. Whenever we have had a problem, no matter how major or minor, the response from the service department, both prompt and courteous, has been exceptional. Even thought they had a number at main office to call. You don't know who is related to who or why, but favoritism is prevalent. We very much appreciate owning a Seeno built home and would not hesitate to purchase another one. 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. Why havent the Seenos been kicked out of this area decades ago! DeNova Homes builds better communities with thoughtful design. Keep track of your documents and receive updates on the progress of your new home with MyDeNova. 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. Dennis Lund: George Zimmermans Oxbow Incident. Northern California has it all. Three Bay Area men, including justice reform activist, plead guilty in Norteo RICO murder case, Californias hardest to book campground isnt in a famous park. 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. Citizens approved the measure by a 75% margin. He has been tracking rents and home prices, and has explored solutions to critical problems such as Southern Californias housing shortage and affordability crisis. My clients feel strongly that everyone needs to comply with the same rules and they are important.. 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. The only con I can think of is we work every weekend and our time off is limited. Among other flaws, the EIR lacks adequate analysis of numerous impacts, including biological resources, water supply, wildfire, traffic, and land use. One hears horror stories when buying a home where workmanship is poor and the builder does not stand behind their mission statement. Commission and Bonus structure designed to benefit company more than employees, leaving you underpaid. 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. wheeler and thompson funeral home; albert seeno net worth. Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? There will be people who wont be happy until every inch of undeveloped land had houses and traffic. DeNova Homes reserves the right to make changes in price, material, and specifications without notice and without liability for such changes. 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. And the mitigation adopted for many impacts is plainly inadequate or ineffective. All of these defendants have pleaded guilty pursuant to cooperation agreements with the government, except Xiao, who is a fugitive. 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. poor management skills, micro managing exemplified, unclear direction of the company. No regard/plan for customer service. 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. Seeno III said Thursday the company has an entirely new staff, and now has more oversight. This employer has not claimed their Employer Profile and is missing out on connecting with our community. Copyright 2008-2023, Glassdoor, Inc. "Glassdoor" and logo are registered trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc. Pittsburg council members could not be reached for comment on Friday about the court ruling. More than 80 families have come forward alleging elder neglect and financial abuse as part of a federal lawsuit targeting the largest senior living provider in the country . Shomik Mukherjee covers Oakland, with a focus on local politics, developments and activism. Publisher of EastCountyToday and host of several Podcast Shows if you can, please hit the donate button and show support. Hours are very strict - either 7am to 4pm or 8am to 5pm. It is a family business and nepotism runs rampid. 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. At NewHomeSource.com, we update the content on our site on a nightly basis. Colopy said that although his client informed the park district of its concerns, they were not considered during the approval process. 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. Join the Northern California interest list to be kept informed of the latest information. The district is creating a large regional park on the former weapons site. With that being said you can only be pushed so far. Compare and save your favorite communities and floorplans with MyDeNova. Northern California is the perfect region. 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. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. 10 reviews of Albert Seeno Construction "We purchased a home in the new development of San Marco by Seeno Homes and Discovery Builders, we have been in our home 4 months now. Ayman Shahid, 39, of Danville, California, the former president of Discovery Sales Inc. (DSI), pleaded guilty in federal court in Oakland, California, to conspiracy to commit bank fraud announced U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag for the Northern District of California, Special Agent in Charge David J. Johnson of the FBIs San Francisco Division, Acting Special Agent in Charge Thomas McMahon of the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) and Special Agent in Charge Leslie DeMarco for the Federal Housing Finance Agencys Office of Inspector General (FHFA-OIG). Pursuant to the plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to the lead conspiracy count, which encompassed the conduct alleged in the remaining counts. Delightful climate. Management is not open to suggestions or innovation. Sales managers can make or break your salary potential as they will move agents around to different communities when they feel like it. 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. A lot of favoritism. 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. Barring any more significant setbacks like those that have long plagued the planned development, the equivalent of a small town of 13,000 homes and millions of square feet in office and retail space could rise from the abandoned 2,300-acre Navy property over the next couple of decades. They approved it the same moment. Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? 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. Contact us here for assistance. CEQA requires legally adequate environmental review, consideration of appropriate alternatives, and implementation of mitigations to reduce impacts. Looking for a new home? Save Mount Diablo is not opposed to all growth. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasnt followed: What should you do? 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