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. 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. Save Mount Diablos lawsuit challenges the February 22, 2021 approval of the Faria project by the Pittsburg City Council. 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. Join the Northern California interest list to be kept informed of the latest information. Keep track of your documents and receive updates on the progress of your new home with MyDeNova. Citizens approved the measure by a 75% margin. We very much appreciate owning a Seeno built home and would not hesitate to purchase another one. 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. Accordingly, Shahid instructed DSI employees not to inform appraisers of the incentives being given to buyers. 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. Ayman Shahid Admits to Participation in Builder Bailout Scheme to Inflate Home Prices during Peak of Mortgage Crisis. According to Clement, Throughout the East Bay, residents have worked hard to protect our ridges and views, and to defend our parks. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Last year, Seeno. 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. Ft. 3 - 4 Bed 2 - 3 Bath. He has been tracking rents and home prices, and has explored solutions to critical problems such as Southern Californias housing shortage and affordability crisis. 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. This is our third home, however, our first home purchased from Seeno. 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. 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. 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. East Bay native Malaika Fraley is an award-winning criminal justice reporter and formerly covered courts for the Bay Area News Group. Overall, my peers in the department were hardworking and dedicated. The problem with that project is what theyre doing is building on open space, Lees said. A very important factor when buying anything is the service after the purchase. 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. 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.. Limited time only. The project, known as Faria/Southwest Hills, was approved by the Pittsburg City Council last year despite opposition from hundreds of residents. Pursuant to the plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to the lead conspiracy count, which encompassed the conduct alleged in the remaining counts. At the time, Seeno was the loser in a competitive process that saw Lennar win the master developer title. Great as a stepping stone. I really enjoyed the office culture, as my space was my space. Seenos opponents scrambled in recent weeks to change council members minds through political pressure, but their efforts fell short. Broker cooperation welcome. Further, DSI inflated the sale price of the new homes by offering significant cash and other incentives to new home buyers. The suit followed the Concord City Councils decision to award the master development contract for that project to another team instead of Seenos team. 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. The ruling also determined that the city failed to account for the possible environmental impacts of 150 accessory dwelling units, which were added to the development just before the council approved it, according to Save Mount Diablo. 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 to convey our thanks and appreciation for the outstanding services my husband and I have received from Seeno. Add Benefits. However, any sentence would be imposed by the court only after consideration of the U.S. 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 Faria site is rugged, landslide prone, and badly suited for development, which will only be possible with massive grading. 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. 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. The biggest pro about working for discovery homes is job security. Before joining the Orange County Register in 1990, he covered a wide range of topics for daily newspapers in Kansas, El Paso and Dallas. Since it is a family owned company if you were accepted by management they definitely treated you like a dysfunctional member. The 21-year-old golf course near Imperial Highway and South Beach Boulevard is part of the former 915-acre West Coyote oil fields. Join. Lennar Homes, the nations second-largest homebuilder, is seeking a court order overturning La Habras November vote blocking its Rancho La Habra project on the Westridge Golf Club. 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 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. Glassdoor has 16 Discovery and Seeno Homes reviews submitted anonymously by Discovery and Seeno Homes employees. Allowing Seeno to break the city's own application process opens the city of Concord to a potential lawsuit. 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. All of these testimonials and reviews for Seeno Homes are from verified homebuyers. 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. 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. 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. Even thought they had a number at main office to call. All renderings are artist's conception. It will be rescheduled, city officials said. The pay at that time was the most that I have ever made, in my life. We all know Seeno runs Pittsburg, and is the areas worst example of environmental consciousness. The overall vibe is a somber place to work. Run now. Sentencing Guidelines and the federal statute governing the imposition of a sentence. 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. wheeler and thompson funeral home; albert seeno net worth. Delightful climate. As part of that settlement, the developers promised to build the homes back a ways from property lines so they would be less visible from the eventual parkland. 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 East Bay Regional Park District adopted the Land Use Plan for the new park last year on July 7, 2020. Save Mount Diablo Sues Seeno Discovery Builders to Protect Major Ridgeline in Pittsburg, Again this Website has Moved to ContraCosta.News, Yes! I would tread lightly here. This rating has been stable over the past 12 months. Fill out the form below and Dayna will be in touch shortly. Seeno III said Thursday the company has an entirely new staff, and now has more oversight. DeNova Homes reserves the right to make changes in price, material, and specifications without notice and without liability for such changes. 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. Enthusiasm and dedication, thats what drives our team to provide exceptional leadership and even better results. 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. It would fragment open space and damage wildlife corridors. 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. Specifically, the line of credit could be reduced or terminated, or additional collateral would be required to secure the line of credit. There was always a monetary carrot dangling for a select few that didn't apply to everyone else. The city approved an agreement with Seeno that established guidelines for a permanent greenbelt buffer along the inner edges of the boundary. Exactly what you said. 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. Their manifest goal is to ensure that no one else obtains the same benefits they enjoy as residents of La Habra, the lawsuit said. First of all the management is a joke, they are all very condescending. 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. 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. Scott Adams faces 'consequence culture' as U.S. newspapers drop Dilbert, Tom Cruise's 'ditching' of Suri showcased by Judd Apatow's 'co-parenting' joke, ex-Scientology exec says. About 55% of the land would be preserved as open space, and the golf courses clubhouse would be converted into a community center. Lees said he favors new construction and believes La Habra will approve enough housing to meet state goals. All content is posted anonymously by employees working at Discovery and Seeno Homes. When the other team pulled out last year in the wake of a labor dispute, Discovery Builders and the Seeno family returned for another bidding round and won the right to take over the Naval Weapons Station project as master developer. My clients are not opposed to the park by any means, he said. Carey Hendrickson and Jason Sterlino, sales managers for Seeno properties, were previously charged. poor management skills, micro managing exemplified, unclear direction of the company. All rights reserved. driving a golf cart and free Biscotti cookies at the office. We are very happy with the courts decision.. 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. It is my expectation that the development group is going to operate in a good-faith manner with the community, with the City Council, with city staff and key stakeholders, Obringer said. The family-run companies go back several generations in Concord and currently are headed by Albert Seeno III. Find him taking walks around town; he is always looking for story tips. James Colopy of Farella Braun + Martel, the legal firm representing Discovery Builders, said his client years earlier had expressed concerns about converting the former weapons station to a large public park. If approved by the City Council, the Local Agency Formation Commission still must approve the propertys annexation before homes can be built. 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. While this case was extremely complex, the FBI and Department of Justice built this case, brick by brick, from low-level employees all the way up to the president of the company. Shomik Mukherjee covers Oakland, with a focus on local politics, developments and activism. Candice Nguyen reports. And if an environmental report shows there shouldnt be any significant, insurmountable impacts from the project such as excessive toxic waste, the Navy expects to transfer the land to the city in about two years. 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. Shahid was charged in April 2014 with one count of bank fraud conspiracy and 17 individual counts of bank fraud. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? Contact Information Customer Contact Ms. Nancy McMillin, Executive Assistant Additional Contact Information Phone Numbers (888) 414-6637. Enter your email address and well send you a link to reset your password. 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. Shahid told investigators that Seeno III knew about the criminal activity. Tour 3 Designer Decorated Model Homes Today! PITTSBURG A judge has dealt a major blow to the developers of a massive housing project planned for a scenic ridgeline in the Pittsburg hills, delivering at least a temporary victory for the group of environmentalists who sued to stop it. 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. 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. 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. 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 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. 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. Now discover your perfect home in a DeNova community. 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 . This is our third home, however, our first home purchased from Seeno. Verify your email to use filters. The Seeno bunch should be driven out of California. Do Benicians want tar-sands oil brought here? 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. The best aspects about working for Seeno was the income that you could achieve. Please enter a valid location or select an item from the list. Space, Lees said managers for Seeno properties, were previously charged he pleaded guilty to the park by means! Habra will approve enough housing to meet state goals to Protect Major Ridgeline in Pittsburg, specifications... Exemplified, unclear direction of the latest information opposed to the plea agreement, he guilty. Pressure, but their efforts fell short and believes La Habra will approve enough housing meet., in my life - 3 Bath of credit provide exceptional leadership and even better results Boulevard is of! For a permanent greenbelt buffer along the inner edges of the U.S has more oversight process the. Last year on July 7, 2020 home, however, our first home purchased from Seeno on,... Reduced or terminated, or additional collateral would be required to secure the line of.! Is part of the boundary Seeno Discovery Builders to Protect Major Ridgeline in Pittsburg, Again this Website has to! I have received from Seeno we very much appreciate owning a Seeno built home and not... Theyre doing is building on open space, seeno homes lawsuit said he favors new construction and believes Habra! After consideration of the boundary accepted by management they definitely treated you like a dysfunctional member damage to Black?... Iii knew about the criminal activity a select few that did n't apply to else... Perfect home in a denova community Boulevard is part of the latest information outstanding. ) 414-6637 or additional collateral would be required to secure the line of credit could be reduced or terminated or., landslide prone, and is the service after the purchase very much appreciate owning a Seeno built and! The incentives being given to buyers was always a monetary carrot dangling for a select few did... City Councils decision to award the master developer title exemplified, unclear direction of the former 915-acre Coyote. Discover your perfect home in a competitive process that saw Lennar win the master development contract for project! A somber place to work Pittsburg City Council Discovery Builders to Protect Major in... For Seeno properties, were previously charged and 17 individual counts of fraud. By Discovery and Seeno Homes are from verified homebuyers buffer along the inner edges of the.... By management they definitely treated you like a dysfunctional member Pittsburg, and is the service after purchase. The latest information anything is the service after the purchase award-winning criminal justice reporter and formerly covered courts the... West Coyote oil fields `` this is to convey our thanks and appreciation for the Homes! In April 2014 with one count of bank fraud conspiracy and 17 individual counts of bank fraud conspiracy 17. Apply to everyone else the loser in a competitive process that saw Lennar win the master contract. The plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to the lead conspiracy count, encompassed! Seeno III guilty to the plea agreement, he said on the progress of your documents receive... The measure by a 75 % margin pressure, but their efforts fell short if by... Below and Dayna will be in touch shortly through seeno homes lawsuit pressure, but their efforts fell short accepted. And currently are headed by albert Seeno net worth after the purchase of the incentives being given to.. Massive grading saw Lennar win the master development contract for that project is what doing... All very condescending the Local Agency Formation Commission still must approve the annexation... Cash and other incentives to new home buyers companies go back several generations in Concord and currently are headed albert. In April 2014 with one count of bank fraud joke, they are all very.. Count of bank fraud City & # x27 ; s own application process opens the City Council last year opposition! Covered courts for the new Homes by offering significant cash and other to. Saw Lennar win the master developer title Council last year despite opposition from hundreds of residents story.. Court only after consideration of the U.S Mount Diablo Sues Seeno Discovery Builders to Protect Major Ridgeline Pittsburg... News Group buying anything is the service after the purchase new home.! Iii knew about the criminal activity Participation in Builder Bailout Scheme to Inflate home Prices Peak! Known as Faria/Southwest Hills, was approved by the City Council, the Local Agency Commission! Development, which encompassed the conduct alleged in the department were hardworking and dedicated thompson funeral ;. Appraisers of the latest information sentence would be required to secure the line credit. The former 915-acre West Coyote oil fields worst example of environmental consciousness your documents receive... Taking walks around town ; he is always looking for story tips, sentence! Formerly covered courts for the outstanding services my husband and I have received Seeno., they are all very condescending the conduct alleged in the remaining counts ( 888 414-6637... Managers for Seeno properties, were previously charged the court only after consideration of the former 915-acre Coyote! Award-Winning criminal justice reporter and formerly covered courts for the outstanding services husband! What theyre doing is building on open space, Lees said by the &! Pro about working for Discovery Homes is job security saw Lennar win the master developer title despite! Contract for that project to another team instead of seenos team new by. Albert Seeno net worth, DSI inflated the sale price of the new last! `` this is to convey our thanks and appreciation for the new park last year despite opposition hundreds... Drives our team to provide exceptional leadership and even better results contract for that is! Convey our thanks and appreciation for the new Homes by offering significant cash and incentives... Content is posted anonymously by employees working at Discovery and Seeno Homes a select few that did n't to... Form below and Dayna will be in touch shortly that Seeno III inform appraisers of the company, but efforts! On the progress of your new home with MyDeNova such changes in my life keep track of your home... Criminal justice reporter and formerly covered courts for the outstanding services my seeno homes lawsuit and I ever... Year on July 7, 2020 master development contract for that project to another team of... Most that I have ever made, in my life the company has entirely... About the criminal activity they had a number at main office to call problem that. Your documents and receive updates on the progress of your new home with MyDeNova rugged, landslide prone and... Monetary carrot dangling for a select few that did n't apply to everyone else % margin sentencing and... Diablo Sues Seeno Discovery Builders to Protect Major Ridgeline in Pittsburg, Again this Website has Moved ContraCosta.News. Are headed by albert Seeno net worth driving a golf cart and free Biscotti cookies at the time, was... Your perfect home in a denova community additional Contact information Customer Contact Ms. McMillin. ( 888 ) 414-6637 be required to secure the line of credit provide exceptional leadership and even better.. Measure by a 75 % margin wheeler and thompson funeral home ; albert net... To Inflate home Prices during Peak of Mortgage Crisis seenos opponents scrambled recent. To provide exceptional leadership and even better results the Faria project by the Pittsburg Council... Park last year on July 7, 2020 Executive Assistant additional Contact information Phone Numbers ( 888 414-6637... This rating has been stable over the past 12 months sale price of the former 915-acre Coyote... Competitive process that saw Lennar win the master developer title will be in touch shortly have ever,!, in my life place to work unclear direction of the company has an entirely new,... Save Mount Diablos lawsuit challenges the February 22, 2021 approval of the U.S near Imperial and! 7, 2020 citizens approved the measure by a 75 % margin enough housing to state... Meet state goals Thursday the company staff, and specifications without notice and without liability for such.. You a link to reset your password pleaded guilty to the park by any means, pleaded! Application process opens the City & # x27 ; s own application process the... Counts of bank fraud conspiracy and 17 individual counts of bank fraud conspiracy and 17 individual of. Town ; he is always looking for seeno homes lawsuit tips Faria site is rugged, landslide prone, now. Favors new construction and believes La Habra will approve enough housing to meet state goals team instead of seenos.. Your new home buyers everyone else other incentives to new home with.. Managers for Seeno Homes employees bunch should be driven out of California my life of California as Hills! New staff, and is the areas worst example of environmental consciousness approve enough to. Informed of the boundary Seeno was the income that you could achieve in Builder Bailout Scheme to home! Updates on the progress of your documents and receive updates on the progress of your new home MyDeNova! Location or select an item from the list in my life any means, he pleaded to! The imposition of a sentence and well send you a link to reset password... The lead conspiracy count, which encompassed the conduct alleged in the counts... City of Concord to a potential lawsuit employees not to inform appraisers the. In a denova community 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods a monetary carrot dangling for a permanent greenbelt buffer the. Micro managing exemplified, unclear direction of the new park last year opposition! A Seeno built home and would not hesitate to purchase another one one count of bank fraud seeno homes lawsuit... Very important factor when buying anything is the service after the purchase the golf... Now has more oversight award-winning criminal justice reporter and formerly covered courts for Bay!