This Website Has Moved to ContraCosta.news, East Bay Regional Park District Celebrates Green Friday. They also successfully pressed for a development agreement that precludes the companies from suing the city at some future point. I am very grateful for the opportunity to work for a such a great family owned business. The Seeno family of development companies wants to build 1,650 homes in the hills that overlook the Concord Naval Weapons Station. Actual porch and window configuration varies from artists renderings. We seek to ensure that all of the data presented on the site regarding new homes and new home communities is current and accurate. All they do is ruin this place with their ugly houses! wheeler and thompson funeral home; albert seeno net worth. To the dismay of Seenos critics, the exclusive negotiating agreement also effectively prevents the council from arbitrarily changing its mind, Bjerke said. 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. Save Mount Diablo is not opposed to all growth. 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. The biggest pro about working for discovery homes is job security. Seeno III said Thursday the company has an entirely new staff, and now has more oversight. The Sales Management is sexist and entitled. 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. All of these testimonials and reviews for Seeno Homes are from verified homebuyers. Hours are very strict - either 7am to 4pm or 8am to 5pm. PITTSBURG A group of eight families who bought homes from Discovery Homes and its Seeno family-related affiliates have sued the builder, claiming the company's sales associates and other. The City of Pittsburg prepared an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that fell far short of CEQAs requirements. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. 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 . 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. He previously reported in Contra Costa County and before joining the Bay Area News Group he worked in Eureka and Santa Barbara. I did learn a lot, as far as getting loans for clients and helping them with choices, lots, customizing and guiding them into moving in- to their new home. For more information, please see our, Residence 4 (Duet) - Residence 4 (Duet) | Bay Area Bungalow, Residence 2 - Residence 2 | Spanish Bungalow, Residence 2 - Residence 2 | Traditional Elevation. Fill out the form below and Dayna will be in touch shortly. Specifically, the line of credit could be reduced or terminated, or additional collateral would be required to secure the line of credit. 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. 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. Come home and relax at Makenna located in picturesque Petaluma. Concord-based Seeno Construction Co., which has plans to build 152 homes on the site, received about $300 in fines from county code enforcement for illegally bulldozing the trees. This rating has decreased by -3% over the last 12 months. 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. Pursuant to the plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to the lead conspiracy count, which encompassed the conduct alleged in the remaining counts. Inspiring cities. If you are looking to get your feet wet in the new home industry give them a try but dont have high expectations. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. During the entire time I was there, I never met the HR Manager. It also failed to discuss appropriate alternatives. Selling their homes is like having an over-priced listing. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The 1,650 homes, as approved last year by the City Council, would be clustered in valleys along the ridgeline, encompassing 341 acres. Luminescence at Liberty is DeNova Homes' newest 55 + Active Adult gated community in Rio Vista, California. About 55% of the land would be preserved as open space, and the golf courses clubhouse would be converted into a community center. 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. They constantly humiliated employees by putting up charts in the meeting rooms and ranking them so that everyone could ridicule them. 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. Save Mount Diablos lawsuit challenges the February 22, 2021 approval of the Faria project by the Pittsburg City Council. Is the vulgar anti-Tesla sign on my neighbors truck illegal? Part of the councils decision stemmed from a desire to proceed with the project after a long dormancy. The city of Concord could be sued for not following it's own rules, just as Pittsburg is being sued for not following it's own legal guidelines. 39% of Discovery and Seeno Homes employees would recommend working there to a friend based on Glassdoor reviews. The property is between Kirker Pass Road and Highway 4. This is the Discovery and Seeno Homes company profile. A lot of favoritism. Whom are they paying off? 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. Northern California is the perfect region. 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. 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.. 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. The problem with that project is what theyre doing is building on open space, Lees said. No effort is made when new people start to introduce them to others in the company or provide any kind of orientation or overall training. Find him taking walks around town; he is always looking for story tips. The park district opposed the project. 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. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Are you having trouble accessing your account? ", "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. There is no developer without original sin, Birsan said. If the incentives appeared in the bank loan files, Shahid explained, the loan underwriters would likely reject the loans. We are proud to support our law enforcement partners in investigating and prosecuting this case.. Seeno is no stranger to the project. Verify your email to use filters. Enter your email address and well send you a link to reset your password. 39% of employees would recommend working at Discovery and Seeno Homes to a friend and 36% have a positive outlook for the business. 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. Located throughout the Bay Area with all the latest amenities. 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. It is old school male dominated world. It makes it easy to go into the sales office everyday and give it your all. We have limited open space in La Habra.. The fraud happened during the housing downturn so the Seenos could maintain large lines of credit. 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.. Red Tag Sales Event: Save up to $150,000 on Select Move-In Ready HomesFeb 15, 2023. Great to get your experience in New Home Sales. Because Shahid is cooperating with the ongoing FBI investigation, a sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. This is our third home, however, our first home purchased from Seeno. 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. 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. Arrogant managers, unrealistic expectations & timelines. 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. It was very hard to have a life outside of Seeno. The experience of navigating your way through such an irrational, disfunctional family business day after day, allows you to fully appreciate the benefits of working for any future employer. Candice Nguyen reports. Theres going to be so many eyes on this development that I think were going to get a damn good job.. My clients are not opposed to the park by any means, he said. Join the Northern California interest list to be kept informed of the latest information. 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. If client had a home to sell, we had to keep that on the move. I would tread lightly here. So where is the personal responsibility?. Select homes are offered at unbeatable prices with discounts up to $150,000. Join. First of all the management is a joke, they are all very condescending. Oh and can you say MICRO-MANAGE?! All renderings are artist's conception. 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. The judge ordered Seeno to remove things like an air- conditioner. 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. The Faria project would sit directly above the new park on a ridgeline, degrading views from surrounding areas. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? DeNova Homes reserves the right to make changes in price, material, and specifications without notice and without liability for such changes. That meeting was abruptly canceled for medical reasons involving a council member. Citizens approved the measure by a 75% margin. The project as approved by the city authorizes the development of a major, new residential subdivision on 606 acres of ridgeline and hillside grazing land in what is currently unincorporated Contra Costa County, immediately south of the City of Pittsburg. "I wanted to write and thank you all at Seeno Homes and tell you how much I've appreciated your help when I had questions about the purchasing process and the house. Build timeline is fairly quick compared to other builders so you get paid faster after getting clients into contract. He agreed to pay a $8 million fine, with interest, over five years. The final vote to formally approve Seeno might happen this October. This is what has become known as a builder bailout scheme. 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. If we were to reverse course today, Im not sure how many people, given what happened to Lennar would be willing to come in and participate in a process with Concord, Guy Bjerke, the citys economic development director, said about the prospect of rejecting Seeno and rebooting the search for a master developer. 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Do not waste your time/talent on this job. Awesome company! The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, with assistance from IRS-CI and FHFA-OIG. Thank you Seeno for building these homes.". 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. In a unanimous vote, the council formalized an exclusive agreement Tuesday that grants the companies the right to oversee the Concord Naval Weapons Stations long-anticipated redevelopment. Seenos Discovery Builders and Faria Land Investors filed suit to stop the new regional park. The Faria project would also impact the new Concord Hills Regional Park, which the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) has long planned at the former Concord Naval Weapons Station at the Faria sites southwestern edge. His attorney William Keane occasionally comforted him with pats on the back. Save thousands on your dream home during DeNova Homes' Red Tag Sales Event! The city approved an agreement with Seeno that established guidelines for a permanent greenbelt buffer along the inner edges of the boundary. Ft. 3 - 4 Bed 2 - 3 Bath. 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. 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 . Compare and save your favorite communities and floorplans with MyDeNova. The suit followed the Concord City Councils decision to award the master development contract for that project to another team instead of Seenos team. They support the park district and the park project.. 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. A very important factor when buying anything is the service after the purchase. 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. 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. 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 . By doing this to serve their own narrow economic interests, Shahid, and actors like him, contributed to the housing bubble., The actions of Ayman Shahid, certain sales managers and others directly contributed to one of the most significant housing and financial crises of recent memory, said Special Agent in Charge Johnson. This rating has been stable over the past 12 months. In voting to give Seeno the right to redevelop the site, council members made it clear theyre proceeding in good faith despite the companies track record of suing public agencies and fighting with environmental groups and housing advocates. 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. There were four issues where, respectfully, we believe the Court overlooked key evidence in the record, said Kristina Lawson, a managing partner for the Hanson Bridgett, LLP. 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. The location is great, close to shopping centers, grocery stores, BART, park and ride, gas stations, and the freeway. I take responsibility. 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. 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. My clients feel strongly that everyone needs to comply with the same rules and they are important.. 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. 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. Do is ruin this place with their ugly houses is building on open space, Lees said for! Interest list to be kept informed of the latest information no stranger to the plea,! All very condescending this is what has become known as a builder bailout scheme home purchased from.! I was there, I never met the HR Manager Seeno family of development companies wants to 1,650! The suit followed the Concord city councils decision to award the master development contract for that is... When buying anything is the Discovery and Seeno homes employees would recommend working there to friend! 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