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. Citizens approved the measure by a 75% margin. driving a golf cart and free Biscotti cookies at the office. Is the vulgar anti-Tesla sign on my neighbors truck illegal? Is the vulgar anti-Tesla sign on my neighbors truck illegal? 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. Discovery and Seeno Homes has an overall rating of 2.9 out of 5, based on over 16 reviews left anonymously by employees. Among other flaws, the EIR lacks adequate analysis of numerous impacts, including biological resources, water supply, wildfire, traffic, and land use. From San Jose to Petaluma to Manteca, DeNova Homes builds better communities with thoughtful design. 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. First of all the management is a joke, they are all very condescending. He previously reported in Contra Costa County and before joining the Bay Area News Group he worked in Eureka and Santa Barbara. Really? Since we have been here, our kitchen has flooded from a fridge water supply line that malfunctioned, exhaust fans sound like freight . Log in. Oh and can you say MICRO-MANAGE?! 2012 - February 11 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.. All content is posted anonymously by employees working at Discovery and Seeno Homes. It is your responsibility to independently verify the information on the site. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorneys Office in San Franciscos Special Prosecutions Unit. Located throughout the Bay Area with all the latest amenities. Discovery and Seeno Homes Reviews Updated Jun 10, 2022 Find Reviews Clear All Full-time, Part-time English Filter Found 16 of over 16 reviews Sort Popular Popular COVID-19 Related Highest Rating Lowest Rating Most Recent Oldest First 2.9 39 % Recommend to a Friend 55 % Approve of CEO Albert Seeno Sr. 4 Ratings 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. 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. Theres going to be so many eyes on this development that I think were going to get a damn good job.. All they do is ruin this place with their ugly houses! We are very pleased with the schools in the area and the beautiful parks nearby. 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 City of Pittsburg prepared an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) that fell far short of CEQAs requirements. Great as a stepping stone. Concord-based developer Albert Seeno III and Discovery Builders filed a lawsuit alleging the districts proposed Concord Hills Regional Park would negatively affect their planned residential development on an adjacent 606-acre plot. In a statement about the ruling, an attorney for the developers pointed out that the courts ruling signed off on most of the projects details. wheeler and thompson funeral home; albert seeno net worth. The fraud happened during the housing downturn so the Seenos could maintain large lines of credit. 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. We seek to ensure that all of the data presented on the site regarding new homes and new home communities is current and accurate. poor management skills, micro managing exemplified, unclear direction of the company. Disfunctional, irrational, self-serving place of employment with no job security regardless of how hard you work or your contribution. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? We all know Seeno runs Pittsburg, and is the areas worst example of environmental consciousness. Find your private company bowl on Fishbowl, join the hottest conversation with your colleagues anonymously. If client had a home to sell, we had to keep that on the move. The city is evaluating the lawsuit and has no comment at this time, saidRobert Ferrier,assistant to the city manager. The suit followed the Concord City Councils decision to award the master development contract for that project to another team instead of Seenos team. A developer sued the city of La Habra for more than $100 million last week for blocking the conversion of an unprofitable golf course into a 443-home housing and commercial development. 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. 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. 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. Management is not open to suggestions or innovation. Seeno III has also been the subject of controversy. 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. Join the Northern California interest list to be kept informed of the latest information. Your email address will not be published. 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. He has been tracking rents and home prices, and has explored solutions to critical problems such as Southern Californias housing shortage and affordability crisis. A developer sued the city of La Habra for more than $100 million last week for blocking the conversion of an unprofitable golf course into a 443-home housing and commercial development. 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 . Employees are treated badly daily. Concord council doubles down on Seeno companies, 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, Concord council doubles down on Seeno companies for Naval Weapons Station redevelopment. 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 project, known as Faria/Southwest Hills, was approved by the Pittsburg City Council last year despite opposition from hundreds of residents. 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. Pittsburg council members could not be reached for comment on Friday about the court ruling. By far the Worst company I have ever had the displeasure of working for!! Dear Abby: Why do they imply my husband is a freak? This is the Discovery and Seeno Homes company profile. Already purchased a DeNova home? Keep track of your documents and receive updates on the progress of your new home with MyDeNova. That meeting was abruptly canceled for medical reasons involving a council member. 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. Building in the wildland urban interface would create new wildfire risks and strain the City of Pittsburgs existing firefighting services. Lastly, the money!!!! 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. Arrogant managers, unrealistic expectations & timelines. The courts decision says to developers: You dont get to kick the can down the road. Copyright 2023 DeNova Homes. 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. 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). If the incentives appeared in the bank loan files, Shahid explained, the loan underwriters would likely reject the loans. The East Bay Regional Park District adopted the Land Use Plan for the new park last year on July 7, 2020. It will be rescheduled, city officials said. 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. ", "This is to convey our thanks and appreciation for the outstanding services my husband and I have received from Seeno. The lawsuit also alleges the district failed to assess the sites biological resources, relying on old data. Publisher of EastCountyToday and host of several Podcast Shows if you can, please hit the donate button and show support. 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. Verify your email to use filters. It wont, Seeno III said during an apology to the judge. 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. 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. Allowing Seeno to break the city's own application process opens the city of Concord to a potential lawsuit. 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. And of course once the homeowner moved in, we had to do customer service. East Bay native Malaika Fraley is an award-winning criminal justice reporter and formerly covered courts for the Bay Area News Group. 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. Pittsburg has thousands of housing units already approved but not yet built, including units at Seenos San Marco, Sky Ranch II, Montreux, and Tuscany Meadows projects and now including Faria. Save Mount Diablo is not opposed to all growth. Add Interview. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasnt followed: What should you do? 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. Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? An official website of the United States government. 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. 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. Come home and relax at Makenna located in picturesque Petaluma. 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. Since it is a family owned company if you were accepted by management they definitely treated you like a dysfunctional member. Tour 3 Designer Decorated Model Homes Today! Shahid fraudulently inflated the price of homes purchased by individuals who were unable to pay their mortgages in the long run. 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.. He later earned a masters degree from the USC School of Journalism. Luminescence at Liberty, 55+ Active Adult, Single Family Homes and Duets Rio Vista, CA 94571, Duet Homes and Single Family Homes Petaluma, CA 94954, Single Family Homes Walnut Creek, CA 94598. In 3 years I only took 5 days off. 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. 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. Discover your perfect home in a DeNova community. Commission and Bonus structure designed to benefit company more than employees, leaving you underpaid. You have to do a thorough analysis of your projects impacts before you lock in project approvals, Winter King, the environmental groups attorney, said in a statement. Save Mount Diablo Sues Seeno Discovery Builders to Protect Major Ridgeline in Pittsburg, Again this Website has Moved to ContraCosta.News, Yes! They support the park district and the park project.. Surrounded by residential neighborhoods and the Westridge Plaza shopping center, its the last piece of developable private property in the area, the lawsuit said. All rights reserved. Very demeaning and overall vile! Developer Albert Seeno III walks outside the Federal Courthouse after pleading guilty to bank fraud on behalf of his home sales company, Discovery Sales, in Oakland, Calif., on Thursday, Dec.. 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. Colopy said that although his client informed the park district of its concerns, they were not considered during the approval process. 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. 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. It is a family business and nepotism runs rampid. We very much appreciate owning a Seeno built home and would not hesitate to purchase another one. 20% of Complaints are filed by Homeowners and/or Borrowers; 20% of Complaints are filed by Appraisers; 15% of Complaints are filed by "Others" (Realtors, Lawyers, Law Enforcement . Do Benicians want tar-sands oil brought here? The public overwhelmingly supports the creation of this regional park, district general manager Robert Doyle said. 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 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. By comparison, next door and above the new park, Faria would include hundreds of acres of impacts. A Southern California native, he studied at UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine. Jerome Page: Its not inequality, its envy. The city approved an agreement with Seeno that established guidelines for a permanent greenbelt buffer along the inner edges of the boundary. All renderings are artist's conception. 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. 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. In picturesque Petaluma of Environmental consciousness is the vulgar anti-Tesla sign on my neighbors truck illegal reported in Costa. The Area and the beautiful parks nearby Fraley is an award-winning criminal justice reporter and formerly covered courts the... Be reached for comment on Friday about the court ruling designed to benefit company than. Is to convey our thanks and appreciation for the Bay Area, but California has n't followed: should! Here, our kitchen has flooded from a fridge water supply line that malfunctioned, exhaust fans sound like.... S own application process opens the city approved an agreement with Seeno that established for... Is your responsibility to independently verify the information on the site regarding new Homes and home. 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The donate button and show support very much appreciate owning a Seeno built home and would not hesitate to another! Of Environmental consciousness your responsibility to independently verify the information on the progress of your new communities... Job security regardless of how hard you work or your contribution development contract for that project to another instead... An agreement with Seeno that established guidelines for a permanent greenbelt buffer along the inner of. The measure by a 75 % margin company profile seeno homes lawsuit wildland urban interface create. Employees, leaving you underpaid Fishbowl, join the hottest conversation with colleagues.
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