Copyright 2023 DeNova Homes. 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. Discovery was founded by a member of the Seeno family, which has built and managed properties in Contra Costa County for several generations. The city council ignored hundreds of letters and public comments that opposed the project. 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). 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. The overall vibe is a somber place to work. Any future disagreements would need to involve the projects details and not Seenos track record. 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. All rights reserved. Selling their homes is like having an over-priced listing. New ideas or processes for efficiency, thoroghness or future retention were discouraged and bluntly rejected without any thought or discussion. 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. Having problems? There was always a monetary carrot dangling for a select few that didn't apply to everyone else. Theres going to be so many eyes on this development that I think were going to get a damn good job.. Save Mount Diablo Sues Seeno Discovery Builders to Protect Major Ridgeline in Pittsburg, Again this Website has Moved to ContraCosta.News, Yes! 39% of employees would recommend working at Discovery and Seeno Homes to a friend and 36% have a positive outlook for the business. However, we do not assume any liability for inaccuracies. Just keeping the buyers spirits up and pushing time lines along with construction and financing. Come home and relax at Makenna located in picturesque Petaluma. 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. 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. And the mitigation adopted for many impacts is plainly inadequate or ineffective. My clients feel strongly that everyone needs to comply with the same rules and they are important.. 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. 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. 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. "Save Mount Diablo is simply trying to protect one of the East Bay's most prominent and well-known ridgelines. Sales managers can make or break your salary potential as they will move agents around to different communities when they feel like it. Looking for a new home? 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. Inspiring cities. 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. 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. Who let the Seenos into Pittsburg and why havent they all been kicked out of Pittsburg and other places long ago? They approved it the same moment. The park district opposed the project. All renderings are artist's conception. If you are looking to get your feet wet in the new home industry give them a try but dont have high expectations. Traffic on Bailey Road, San Marco Blvd., and Highway 4 would be made much worse. Pittsburg council members could not be reached for comment on Friday about the court ruling. 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). During slow times it was extremely hard to be positive and I feel as though I have tough nerves. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasnt followed: What should you do? 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. From San Jose to Petaluma to Manteca, DeNova Homes builds better communities with thoughtful design. I would tread lightly here. 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. The project, known as Faria/Southwest Hills, was approved by the Pittsburg City Council last year despite opposition from hundreds of residents. Plans to develop the hills date back to 2005 when voter-approved Measure P moved the Faria site within Pittsburgs urban boundary. Select homes are offered at unbeatable prices with discounts up to $150,000. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? Contact us here for assistance. 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. Luminescence at Liberty is DeNova Homes' newest 55 + Active Adult gated community in Rio Vista, California. Part of the councils decision stemmed from a desire to proceed with the project after a long dormancy. Management was untrained and one ruler ( Ayman) CEO was the last word although this was a love hate relationship. Save Mount Diablo is simply trying to protect one of the East Bays most prominent and well-known ridgelines. Paying off someone in the city. 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. 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. For more than a decade, Jeff Collins has followed housing and real estate, covering market booms and busts and all aspects of the real estate industry. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. ", "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. Open space, even privately owned open space is just too precious and too scarce to turn over part of it to development, former Mayor Tom Beamish said during an October city council meeting that set the stage for a 3-0 vote on Nov. 2 to kill the project. The development company, owned by prominent Bay Area builders Thomas Seeno and Albert Seeno Jr., filed suit in district court in Las Vegas on June 8 seeking to overturn King's decision. 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 Concord Naval Weapons Station. 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.. Find him taking walks around town; he is always looking for story tips. Run now. Accordingly, Shahid instructed DSI employees not to inform appraisers of the incentives being given to buyers. 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. 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 were supposed to get the loan process started and picking our upgrades for the interior this week. About 55% of the land would be preserved as open space, and the golf courses clubhouse would be converted into a community center. This rating has been stable over the past 12 months. Because Shahid is cooperating with the ongoing FBI investigation, a sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. 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. 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 company was also placed on probation for five years, which gives the federal government another way to ensure payments are made, Hemann said. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Discovery and Seeno Homes employees rate their compensation and benefits as 2.6 out of 5. It would be nice to have a weekend off once in a while. Among other flaws, the EIR lacks adequate analysis of numerous impacts, including biological resources, water supply, wildfire, traffic, and land use. One of the many residents who called into Tuesdays meeting complained that regardless of what the agreement says, Seeno might use litigation as a weapon in negotiations. 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. I really appreciate having someone take the time to answer questions patiently and without having someone being over persistent on selling me something. 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. Located throughout the Bay Area with all the latest amenities. 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. Discovery and Seeno Homes has an overall rating of 2.9 out of 5, based on over 16 reviews left anonymously by employees. A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Find your private company bowl on Fishbowl, join the hottest conversation with your colleagues anonymously. 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. 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. The response was classic Seeno: A lawsuit charged that the city's construction permit didn't spell out a precise height. This is our third home, however, our first home purchased from Seeno. They also successfully pressed for a development agreement that precludes the companies from suing the city at some future point. 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The treat the employees as if they were worthless. 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. There are endangered species, threatened species in this park, but the data on them is outdated, he said. 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. Shahid was charged in April 2014 with one count of bank fraud conspiracy and 17 individual counts of bank fraud. 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. 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 prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, with assistance from IRS-CI and FHFA-OIG. So where is the personal responsibility?. Allowing Seeno to break the city's own application process opens the city of Concord to a potential lawsuit. 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. Seenos Discovery Builders and Faria Land Investors filed suit to stop the new regional park. 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. Northern California is the perfect region. The owner of the company might pop into your community occasionally but he is always really humble and tries to blend like a regular buyer. Candice Nguyen reports. The best aspects about working for Seeno was the income that you could achieve. Verify your email to use filters. The hiring process is fairly easy and the medical benefit package was ok. Those are the only real pros that I can really recall. We checked out the new Seeno homes on Cunningham Dr in Fairfield and signed on one late Friday 12/23/16 and gave them a $7500 deposit check. 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. Lastly, the money!!!! The pay at that time was the most that I have ever made, in my life. 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. Specifically, Shahid ensured the details of the incentives that were being given to specific buyers would not appear in the bank loan files because the loan-to-value ratio would not support the requested loan on the inflated sales price of the home. With that being said you can only be pushed so far. Everything is professional and team building. The extensive grading would increase landslide risks and degrade creeks and streams. As an employee you would probably push your self more than ever working for this company. CEQA requires legally adequate environmental review, consideration of appropriate alternatives, and implementation of mitigations to reduce impacts. 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. Argentina. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. 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. The Seeno family of development companies wants to build 1,650 homes in the hills that overlook the Concord Naval Weapons Station. 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