As part of the deal, Seeno promised to build a recreation center in Pittsburg. 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. Seeno also previously sued the U.S. Navy to stop its transfer of nearby land to the city of Concord for eventual development of a 13,000-home community. Jason Sterlino was sentenced in February to six months in prison for what Assistant U.S. Attorney John Hemann called minor fraud conducted to further the scheme. Do not waste your time/talent on this job. Looking for a new home? Please enter a valid location or select an item from the list. 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. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasnt followed: What should you do? Jerome Page: Its not inequality, its envy. It is refreshing to be an owner of a home from a company that not only builds quality homes, but also stands behind their product with a chain of personnel committed to having happy and satisfied homeowners. 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. Among other flaws, the EIR lacks adequate analysis of numerous impacts, including biological resources, water supply, wildfire, traffic, and land use. It makes it easy to go into the sales office everyday and give it your all. 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. 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. Dear Abby: Why do they imply my husband is a freak? Miss Manners: I shouldn't call because the phone scares people? All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! In a plea deal accepted by the judge on Thursday, Seeno III agreed to pay $3 million in restitution toFannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two taxpayer-sponsored financial services companies, within 120 days. I really enjoyed the office culture, as my space was my space. A very important factor when buying anything is the service after the purchase. Discovery Sales was prosecuted as a company. Shahid told investigators that Seeno III knew about the criminal activity. Fill out the form below and Dayna will be in touch shortly. Management was untrained and one ruler ( Ayman) CEO was the last word although this was a love hate relationship. Tour 3 Designer Decorated Model Homes Today! Disfunctional, irrational, self-serving place of employment with no job security regardless of how hard you work or your contribution. As if any open space is a bad thing. You don't know who is related to who or why, but favoritism is prevalent. 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). Whom are they paying off? With that being said you can only be pushed so far. 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. 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. Seeno is no stranger to the project. He agreed to pay a $8 million fine, with interest, over five years. Hmmm.. Where do I begin?? And of course once the homeowner moved in, we had to do customer service. 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 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. 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.. 39% of employees would recommend working at, According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Discovery and Seeno Homes employees rate their compensation and benefits as 2.6 out of 5. I take responsibility. Are you having trouble accessing your account? Last year, Seeno. As a result, rare habitat for special status species would be lost. Save Mount Diablo is not opposed to all growth. 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. But, he added, Discovery Builders believes an environmental review of the park proposal was inconsistent with California Environmental Quality Act requirements. We were the "Face on The Company.". All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Limited time only. According to anonymously submitted Glassdoor reviews, Discovery and Seeno Homes employees rate their compensation and benefits as 2.6 out of 5. 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. 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. 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. Discover your perfect home in a DeNova community. 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. The lawsuit also alleges the district failed to assess the sites biological resources, relying on old data. Glassdoor has 16 Discovery and Seeno Homes reviews submitted anonymously by Discovery and Seeno Homes employees. 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. EVERYONE takes lunch at the same time, 12 noon to 1pm. Come home and relax at Makenna located in picturesque Petaluma. The district is creating a large regional park on the former weapons site. New ideas or processes for efficiency, thoroghness or future retention were discouraged and bluntly rejected without any thought or discussion. 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. Cherry trees bloom early in DC due to confusing weather, This is unprecedented: Avian flu has killed 12,000 birds in Colorado, Garamendi's bill would extend water treatment facility permits, Chart: Bay Area rainfall totals for this week, a separate lawsuit with the East Bay Regional Park District, to take over the Naval Weapons Station project as master developer. Carey Hendrickson and Jason Sterlino, sales managers for Seeno properties, were previously charged. They tend to let those they really like stay at high volume communities which keeps the same people as the highest earners. Would dismantling Interstate 980 repair damage to Black neighborhoods? 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. But opponents of Seeno have won the latest skirmish, at least for now. Single Family Homes and DuetsRio Vista, CA, 1,090 - 1,569 Sq. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. If you are interested in a career with DeNova Homes, please send us an email hr@denovahomes.com with a copy of your resume to inquire about open positions and opportunities. 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. The city council ignored hundreds of letters and public comments that opposed the project. 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. Council members Carlyn Obringer and Laura Hoffmeister, who voted in August to give the job to rival developer Brookfield Properties, joined their colleagues Tuesday to make the Seeno teams selection unanimous. We are very happy with the courts decision.. Your email address will not be published. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasnt followed: What should you do? 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. 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. "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. An official website of the United States government. The courts decision says to developers: You dont get to kick the can down the road. Measure X, which specifically targets the Rancho La Habra plan, would take development decisions from the city council ensuring no further development on the property, the lawsuit said. A Save La Habra website by development opponents argued the project would cause traffic and parking nightmares, overtax city and school resources and boost production of greenhouse gas emissions. Luminescence at Liberty is DeNova Homes' newest 55 + Active Adult gated community in Rio Vista, California. 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.. DeNova Homes builds better communities with thoughtful design. Inspiring cities. 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. Specifically, the line of credit could be reduced or terminated, or additional collateral would be required to secure the line of credit. 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. Schedule a tour today and take advantage of this limited time opportunity before it's gone. I am very grateful for the opportunity to work for a such a great family owned business. Lees said he favors new construction and believes La Habra will approve enough housing to meet state goals. 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. A city spokesman on Thursday, Jan. 21 declined to respond to the lawsuit. Developers and opponents of a neighboring 760-home project in Fullertons West Coyote Hills litigated for years over that housing plan. I and a partner set up the office to our liking and just "Sold" homes. Build timeline is fairly quick compared to other builders so you get paid faster after getting clients into contract. 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. The extensive grading would increase landslide risks and degrade creeks and streams. A Southern California native, he studied at UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine. Management is not open to suggestions or innovation. But the developers promised to also build a youth recreation center at the project site and preserve 265 additional acres of land as open space. If client had a home to sell, we had to keep that on the move. 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. The public overwhelmingly supports the creation of this regional park, district general manager Robert Doyle said. They are also in other counties ruining them step by step. This is the true culmination of a decades-long community effort, Beverly Lane, who has represented Concord on the East Bay Regional Park District board since 1994, said in a written statement. 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).. Shahid fraudulently inflated the price of homes purchased by individuals who were unable to pay their mortgages in the long run. 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. 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