Whom are they paying off? 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. 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. 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. This is the Discovery and Seeno Homes company profile. The project, known as Faria/Southwest Hills, was approved by the Pittsburg City Council last year despite opposition from hundreds of residents. The judge ordered Seeno to remove things like an air- conditioner. 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. "Save Mount Diablo is simply trying to protect one of the East Bay's most prominent and well-known ridgelines. The company was also placed on probation for five years, which gives the federal government another way to ensure payments are made, Hemann said. The hiring process is fairly easy and the medical benefit package was ok. Those are the only real pros that I can really recall. My clients are not opposed to the park by any means, he said. The companies also previously sued the Navy to halt it from transferring its property for any development. 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.. Management is not open to suggestions or innovation. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! We identified deficiencies in the CEQA review, he said. To the dismay of Seenos critics, the exclusive negotiating agreement also effectively prevents the council from arbitrarily changing its mind, Bjerke said. Argentina. 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 . CONS: family owned company does not have checks and balances. Ayman Shahid Admits to Participation in Builder Bailout Scheme to Inflate Home Prices during Peak of Mortgage Crisis. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. All rights reserved. Inspiring cities. Seenos Discovery Builders and Faria Land Investors filed suit to stop the new regional park. Everything is professional and team building. 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. Join the Northern California interest list to be kept informed of the latest information. I take responsibility. What has always concerned me about this case and what continues to concern me is that as Mr. Seeno has admitted, he is the sole owner of the corporation, Gonzalez Rogers said. All of these testimonials and reviews for Seeno Homes are from verified homebuyers. It makes it easy to go into the sales office everyday and give it your all. Shomik Mukherjee covers Oakland, with a focus on local politics, developments and activism. Add Interview. 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. The best aspects about working for Seeno was the income that you could achieve. 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. 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. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Discovery and Seeno Homes is right for you. Former Bank of America loan officer Jennifer Xiao, Homecomings Financial underwriter Tony Phan and independent brokers Sharon Wang, Heather Yin, Miguel Arenas, George Zevada and Chang Park were also charged as participants in the scheme. He previously reported in Contra Costa County and before joining the Bay Area News Group he worked in Eureka and Santa Barbara. It also failed to discuss appropriate alternatives. The maximum penalty for conspiracy to commit bank fraud is 30 years in prison, a fine of $1 million or twice the gain or loss and restitution to be decided by the court. Copyright 2023 DeNova Homes. There are endangered species, threatened species in this park, but the data on them is outdated, he said. 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 . They tend to let those they really like stay at high volume communities which keeps the same people as the highest earners. 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. 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. 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. ", "This is to convey our thanks and appreciation for the outstanding services my husband and I have received from Seeno. 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. Great to get your experience in New Home Sales. 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. Do Benicians want tar-sands oil brought here? 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. They do build a quality home. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Dont be fooled by homebuilders fancy photos of parks and trails (and) beautiful fairy tales of good neighbor communities, the website said. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Seeno III said Thursday the company has an entirely new staff, and now has more oversight. Oh and can you say MICRO-MANAGE?! Pittsburg council members could not be reached for comment on Friday about the court ruling. Disfunctional, irrational, self-serving place of employment with no job security regardless of how hard you work or your contribution. 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. 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. They approved it the same moment. 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. Having problems? East Bay native Malaika Fraley is an award-winning criminal justice reporter and formerly covered courts for the Bay Area News Group. 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. 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. CONTRA COSTA COUNTY Discovery Builders Faria project would damage the major ridgeline between east and central Contra Costa County, threaten views from throughout the region, and impact the new regional park on the Concord side of the ridge. 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. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? And the mitigation adopted for many impacts is plainly inadequate or ineffective. This is what has become known as a builder bailout scheme. It seems really nave and really irresponsible to think our community would be immune to these same behaviors, said Kat Hannah. 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. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? Arrogant managers, unrealistic expectations & timelines. The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, with assistance from IRS-CI and FHFA-OIG. 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. Awesome company! Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. I really appreciate having someone take the time to answer questions patiently and without having someone being over persistent on selling me something. 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. 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. The Faria project would change the beautiful green hills forever by annexing the property to the City of Pittsburg and locating 1,650 new residences far from jobs, transit, and services. It is old school male dominated world. 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. I would tread lightly here. 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. 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. And in 2018, Seeno filed a lawsuit to halt the naval weapons station from being developed by a company that beat it and other groups to become the project's master developer. I really enjoyed the office culture, as my space was my space. 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. Surrounded by residential neighborhoods and the Westridge Plaza shopping center, its the last piece of developable private property in the area, the lawsuit said. But he prefers to see it built in existing infill areas. Selling their homes is like having an over-priced listing. 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. 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. At NewHomeSource.com, we update the content on our site on a nightly basis. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? 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. Keep track of your documents and receive updates on the progress of your new home with MyDeNova. 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. 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. Those units represent approximately 60,000 new car trips per day that will soon impact local roads and Highway 4. Dennis Lund: George Zimmermans Oxbow Incident. The . His attorney William Keane occasionally comforted him with pats on the back. Broker cooperation welcome. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Find your private company bowl on Fishbowl, join the hottest conversation with your colleagues anonymously. Pursuant to the plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to the lead conspiracy count, which encompassed the conduct alleged in the remaining counts. Opponents, the suit alleges, were dead set on stopping (the) proposed housing development at any cost.. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. The only con I can think of is we work every weekend and our time off is limited. 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. driving a golf cart and free Biscotti cookies at the office. Copyright 2001-2023 Builders Digital Experience, LLC. 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. 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. With that being said you can only be pushed so far. As a result, rare habitat for special status species would be lost. It would fragment open space and damage wildlife corridors. The biggest pro about working for discovery homes is job security. Save Mount Diablo is simply trying to protect one of the East Bays most prominent and well-known ridgelines. 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. Seeno, Discovery Builders sue to halt regional, 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), Alameda County DAs new policy will reduce prison sentences through widespread elimination of sentencing enhancements, Seeno, Discovery Builders sue to halt regional park plan, Navy hands over part of old Concord weapons site for creation of huge regional park, Plan to put 1,500 homes in the Pittsburg hills gets first nod, | East Contra Costa County editor/reporter. All they do is ruin this place with their ugly houses! It wont, Seeno III said during an apology to the judge. His voice sounded full of emotion at times during the hour-long hearing. Last, and certainly not least, is the service. That meeting was abruptly canceled for medical reasons involving a council member. The homes were built in developments throughout the East Bay Area, including in Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. 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. Discovery and Seeno Homes has an overall rating of 2.9 out of 5, based on over 16 reviews left anonymously by employees. I and a partner set up the office to our liking and just "Sold" 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. To see all the homes youve saved, visit the My Favorites section of your account. 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. 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. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasnt followed: What should you do? No regard/plan for customer service. 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. Lastly, the money!!!! The districts board of directors approved the parks land-use plan and associated environmental impact report on July 7, paving the way for development of the more than 2,540-acre regional park. The development team includes Seeno companies Discovery Builders, Inc. and Faria Investors LLC. Seeno is no stranger to the project. The problem with that project is what theyre doing is building on open space, Lees said. 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 statement about the ruling, an attorney for the developers pointed out that the courts ruling signed off on most of the projects details. 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. 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 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. The Pittsburg City Council approved Seeno Discovery Builders Faria project. 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).. This is our third home, however, our first home purchased from Seeno. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? 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. A smaller or more compact Faria project could easily protect the beautiful ridge, expand the new regional park onto the Pittsburg side, and provide easy public access for Pittsburg residents. 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. By far the Worst company I have ever had the displeasure of working for!! Among other flaws, the EIR lacks adequate analysis of numerous impacts, including biological resources, water supply, wildfire, traffic, and land use. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasnt followed: What should you do? 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. Enter your email address and well send you a link to reset your password. 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. 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. 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 is next scheduled to appear in court for a status hearing on Dec. 10, 2015, at 3:00 p.m. PST before U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez-Rogers of the Northern District of California. The company has a stake in numerous California mega-projects with partner Five Point Communities, ranging from the Orange County Great Park to the new Valencia development in northern Los Angeles County and the San Francisco Shipyard project. 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. Login to your MyDeNova Homes account.Dont have an account? They've been criticized for allegedly manipulating local politicians in their. 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. Your email address will not be published. Sales managers can make or break your salary potential as they will move agents around to different communities when they feel like it. The family-run companies go back several generations in Concord and currently are headed by Albert Seeno III. The location is great, close to shopping centers, grocery stores, BART, park and ride, gas stations, and the freeway. The 21-year-old golf course near Imperial Highway and South Beach Boulevard is part of the former 915-acre West Coyote oil fields. It is your responsibility to independently verify the information on the site. Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? 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. Former Discovery Sales Vice President Ayman Shahid and sales executive Carey Hendrickson also pleaded guilty andare awaiting sentencing. We seek to ensure that all of the data presented on the site regarding new homes and new home communities is current and accurate. 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 have been building quality homes since the formation of Seeno Homes by Albert D. Seeno, Sr in 1938. Ft. 1 - 2 Bed 1 - 2 Bath. A very important factor when buying anything is the service after the purchase. Save Mount Diablo is not opposed to all growth. 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. "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. We are very happy with the courts decision.. 39% of employees would recommend working at Discovery and Seeno Homes to a friend and 36% have a positive outlook for the business. The suit was filed earlier this month, almost three weeks before the developers and Faria Land Investors were scheduled to ask the Pittsburg City Council on Monday to approve their master plan, environmental documents and development agreement to build up to 1,500 homes. Signup for an myClientName account today and start saving your favorites, view personalized recommendations and more. Last year, Seeno. Here's what real homebuyers have to say about their experience building a new construction home with Seeno Homes. Hmmm.. Where do I begin?? 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. Neither of these have started yet. We have limited open space in La Habra.. 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. The courts decision says to developers: You dont get to kick the can down the road. A.D. Seeno Construction Co. Community Homes Sales, Inc. If approved by the City Council, the Local Agency Formation Commission still must approve the propertys annexation before homes can be built.
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