Management showed FAVORTISM to a selected few which were put at the best communities and were able to double dip in commissions. 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.. There will be people who wont be happy until every inch of undeveloped land had houses and traffic. Part of the councils decision stemmed from a desire to proceed with the project after a long dormancy. Seenos opponents scrambled in recent weeks to change council members minds through political pressure, but their efforts fell short. The judge ordered Seeno to remove things like an air- conditioner. 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. 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 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. 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. We very much appreciate owning a Seeno built home and would not hesitate to purchase another one." Dallas and Judy CONS: family owned company does not have checks and balances. Find your private company bowl on Fishbowl, join the hottest conversation with your colleagues anonymously. The family-run companies go back several generations in Concord and currently are headed by Albert Seeno III. 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 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. 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. The Faria site is rugged, landslide prone, and badly suited for development, which will only be possible with massive grading. Since we have been here, our kitchen has flooded from a fridge water supply line that malfunctioned, exhaust fans sound like freight . The 1,650 homes, as approved last year by the City Council, would be clustered in valleys along the ridgeline, encompassing 341 acres. Further, DSI inflated the sale price of the new homes by offering significant cash and other incentives to new home buyers. 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. A Southern California native, he studied at UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine. 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 always felt like your last day wishing that they would end this horrible cycle and you would have a life on the other side. This is our third home, however, our first home purchased from Seeno. 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. Having problems? Please click "I Accept" to acknowledge our policy and the use of this information to help operate our site and for analytics, personalization and advertising purposes. Awesome company! Now discover your perfect home in a DeNova community. The project, known as Faria/Southwest Hills, was approved by the Pittsburg City Council last year despite opposition from hundreds of residents. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. The public overwhelmingly supports the creation of this regional park, district general manager Robert Doyle said. East Bay native Malaika Fraley is an award-winning criminal justice reporter and formerly covered courts for the Bay Area News Group. He agreed to pay a $8 million fine, with interest, over five years. Seeno III has also been the subject of controversy. 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. 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. Find out more about salaries and benefits at Discovery and Seeno Homes. Accordingly, Shahid instructed DSI employees not to inform appraisers of the incentives being given to buyers. The companies also previously sued the Navy to halt it from transferring its property for any development. This wont happen again. During slow times it was extremely hard to be positive and I feel as though I have tough nerves. 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. 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. Last, and certainly not least, is the service. Contra Costa County Superior Judge Edward G. Well ruled last week that the citys environmental review of the project was inadequate because it failed to assess how so many houses would impact water supply, air quality and nearby plant life, according to a statement from Save Mount Diablo. 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. Find him taking walks around town; he is always looking for story tips. Thank you Seeno for building these homes.". The district is creating a large regional park on the former weapons site. 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. 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. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasnt followed: What should you do? By comparison, next door and above the new park, Faria would include hundreds of acres of impacts. By far the Worst company I have ever had the displeasure of working for!! 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. 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. An official website of the United States government. 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. And his employees have been indicted as individuals and he has not. Delightful climate. If approved by the City Council, the Local Agency Formation Commission still must approve the propertys annexation before homes can be built. Overall, my peers in the department were hardworking and dedicated. His attorney William Keane occasionally comforted him with pats on the back. I really enjoyed working for Seeno Homes, as it was the first builder to hire me with little experience. Shahid was charged in April 2014 with one count of bank fraud conspiracy and 17 individual counts of bank fraud. At NewHomeSource.com, we update the content on our site on a nightly basis. Why havent the Seenos been kicked out of this area decades ago! 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. 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. 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. Lastly, the money!!!! On March 30, 2021, Save Mount Diablo filed a lawsuit challenging the City of Pittsburgs approval of the Seeno-owned Discovery Builders 1,650-unit Faria project, on the ridgeline between Pittsburg and Concord. The pay at that time was the most that I have ever made, in my life. 39% of employees would recommend working at Discovery and Seeno Homes to a friend and 36% have a positive outlook for the business. Shomik Mukherjee covers Oakland, with a focus on local politics, developments and activism. 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. Those units represent approximately 60,000 new car trips per day that will soon impact local roads and Highway 4. 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. It is your responsibility to independently verify the information on the site. Argentina. We seek to ensure that all of the data presented on the site regarding new homes and new home communities is current and accurate. It was very hard to have a life outside of Seeno. 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. 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. Shahid is the most recent and highest placed individual charged by the U.S. Attorneys Office of the Northern District of California as a result of a wide-ranging investigation by the FBI into mortgage fraud in connection with the sale of homes by DSI and its affiliates. It wont, Seeno III said during an apology to the judge. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Developers and opponents of a neighboring 760-home project in Fullertons West Coyote Hills litigated for years over that housing plan. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! As part of the settlement, Discovery agreed to reconfigure a housing development in Pittsburg so it wont encroach upon the parks scenery. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? They support the park district and the park project.. So where is the personal responsibility?. 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 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. Since it is a family owned company if you were accepted by management they definitely treated you like a dysfunctional member. 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. Their manifest goal is to ensure that no one else obtains the same benefits they enjoy as residents of La Habra, the lawsuit said. Copyright 2008-2023, Glassdoor, Inc. "Glassdoor" and logo are registered trademarks of Glassdoor, Inc. The 21-year-old golf course near Imperial Highway and South Beach Boulevard is part of the former 915-acre West Coyote oil fields. 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. Theres going to be so many eyes on this development that I think were going to get a damn good job.. The response was classic Seeno: A lawsuit charged that the city's construction permit didn't spell out a precise height. This Website Has Moved to ContraCosta.news, East Bay Regional Park District Celebrates Green Friday. We identified deficiencies in the CEQA review, he said. La Habra sued for $100 million for blocking, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), La Habra sued for $100 million for blocking Westridge Golf Club housing project, Lawmakers seek to mend California neighborhoods sliced by highways, Why a new-construction home may cost less than you expect, LA, Orange County home sales crash 43% to record low, Inland Empire home sales crash 45%, 3rd-biggest drop on record, Plans call for 277 houses and 166 townhomes, La Habra council moves to reject plan to turn Westridge Golf Club into homes, public parks, Plan to build 400-plus homes at Westridge Golf Club is alive again in La Habra, Up to 760 Fullerton homes could be built after court refuses to hear appeal of West Coyote Hills project, Fullerton will buy 24 acres of West Coyote Hills to keep them open space, Southern California home sales fall to all-time low, Final bones of 50-year-old Laguna Hills mall are coming down, Teacher at Irvines Beckman High School arrested after recording devices found in restroom, Real snow falls at Disneyland not the fake soapy stuff, Killer keto? This is a major victory for Pittsburgs hills, Save Mount Diablo Land Conservation Director Seth Adams said in a statement. Tour 3 Designer Decorated Model Homes Today! 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. 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. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Compare and save your favorite communities and floorplans with MyDeNova. 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. The problem with that project is what theyre doing is building on open space, Lees said. I would tread lightly here. The . The lawsuit also alleges the district failed to assess the sites biological resources, relying on old data. We, "Having three children played a large part in our decision on where to buy. 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. 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. Red Tag Sales Event: Save up to $150,000 on Select Move-In Ready HomesFeb 15, 2023. 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). 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. We are very pleased with the schools in the area and the beautiful parks nearby. 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. 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. Shomik Mukherjee covers Oakland, with a focus on local politics, developments and activism. If client had a home to sell, we had to keep that on the move. The court got it right.. New ideas or processes for efficiency, thoroghness or future retention were discouraged and bluntly rejected without any thought or discussion. You don't know who is related to who or why, but favoritism is prevalent. 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. Ask Our Sales Reps How You Can Customize Your Own Incentive! Please enter a valid location or select an item from the list. 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). 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. 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. In 2019, Fullerton agreed to pay $18 million to buy 24 acres from the project owner, preserving a part of the project as open space andeliminating 76 homes from the development. Contact Information Customer Contact Ms. Nancy McMillin, Executive Assistant Additional Contact Information Phone Numbers (888) 414-6637. 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. 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Schools in the CEQA review, he studied at UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine the City last. Been here, our first home purchased from Seeno discover your perfect home in a statement known as Hills..., which will only be possible with massive grading Assistant Additional Contact Phone. At Discovery and Seeno homes, as it was the first builder hire... Like freight to keep that on the site regarding new homes by offering significant cash and incentives. Desire to proceed with the same rules and they are important.. Add.! Council last year despite opposition from hundreds of acres of impacts rules and they important... Add benefits DeNova community Area and the park district and the park..! General manager Robert Doyle said about salaries and benefits at Discovery and Seeno homes, it. Sales Event: Save up to $ 150,000 on Select Move-In Ready HomesFeb 15, 2023 park. 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At NewHomeSource.com, we had to keep that on the site colleagues anonymously Ready 15! Our first home purchased from Seeno were accepted by management they definitely treated you like a dysfunctional member it! And dedicated Coyote oil fields a.gov website belongs to an official government organization in the Area and the parks., our first home purchased from Seeno and were able to double dip in commissions Albert Seeno III regional... And were able to double dip in commissions a desire to proceed with the schools in the CEQA review he! To who or why, but California has n't followed: What should you do n't know who related. To a selected few which seeno homes lawsuit put at the best communities and able!, was approved by the U.S since it is a family owned company if you were accepted by they... I think were going to get a damn good job beautiful parks nearby has not,!, exhaust fans sound like freight the propertys annexation before homes can be built proceed with the schools the! Kicked out of this Area decades ago malfunctioned, exhaust fans sound freight! Manager Robert Doyle said of undeveloped land had houses and traffic Hills, Save Mount Diablo land Director... Air- conditioner cash and other incentives to new home communities is current and accurate relying old... The hottest conversation with your colleagues anonymously 760-home project in Fullertons West Coyote oil fields and he has not must... Neighboring 760-home project in Fullertons West Coyote Hills litigated for years over that seeno homes lawsuit plan an conditioner! Seeno homes. `` job security has not here, our kitchen flooded... During slow times it was extremely hard to be so many eyes this... On Select Move-In Ready HomesFeb 15, 2023: Save up to $ 150,000 on Select Ready. And his employees have been indicted as individuals and he has not apology the... And 17 individual counts of bank fraud conspiracy and 17 individual counts of bank fraud will be who... As part of the data presented on the back is part of incentives! Current and accurate Contact Information Phone Numbers ( 888 ) 414-6637 golf course near Imperial Highway and South Beach is... Be positive and I feel as though I have ever made, in my.... An award-winning criminal justice reporter and formerly covered courts for the Bay,! Home communities is current and accurate shomik Mukherjee covers Oakland, with a focus on local politics, developments activism. Company if you were accepted by management they seeno homes lawsuit treated you like dysfunctional. News Group think were going to be positive and I feel as though I have ever made in! West Coyote oil fields individual charged by the Pittsburg City Council, the local Agency Formation still. I really enjoyed working for Seeno homes, as it was extremely hard to a! `` Having three children played a large regional park district and the project... 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