The prosecution is the result of an investigation by the FBI, with assistance from IRS-CI and FHFA-OIG. 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. His attorney William Keane occasionally comforted him with pats on the back. This company was indicted in many criminal things, especially in the mortgage side of things. Lennar begrudgingly paid those extortive fees for fear of losing its investment in the project and in effort to show collaboration with the city, the lawsuit said. The city of La Habra and its city council have willfully disregarded the law and were unduly influenced and coerced through a series of back-door threats and false information propagated by an angry group of fanatics, the lawsuit states. This rating has been stable over the past 12 months. Drives you hard and doesn't pay what you expect. Dont be fooled by homebuilders fancy photos of parks and trails (and) beautiful fairy tales of good neighbor communities, the website said. Plans to develop the hills date back to 2005 when voter-approved Measure P moved the Faria site within Pittsburgs urban boundary. 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. 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 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, https://www.ebparks.org/parks/concord_hills/default.htm. Everything is professional and team building. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Copyright 2023 DeNova Homes. 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. And of course once the homeowner moved in, we had to do customer service. According to Clement, Throughout the East Bay, residents have worked hard to protect our ridges and views, and to defend our parks. And the mitigation adopted for many impacts is plainly inadequate or ineffective. Last, and certainly not least, is the service. Duet Homes and Single Family HomesPetaluma, CA, 1,395 - 2,380 Sq. Shomik Mukherjee covers Oakland, with a focus on local politics, developments and activism. 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. 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. The pitch was ambitious enough to secure the councils unanimous approval last year. Sales managers can make or break your salary potential as they will move agents around to different communities when they feel like it. 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. 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At the time, Lennar Corp was the master developer of the project, having beaten out Seeno for the job. A very important factor when buying anything is the service after the purchase. Before joining the Orange County Register in 1990, he covered a wide range of topics for daily newspapers in Kansas, El Paso and Dallas. About 55% of the land would be preserved as open space, and the golf courses clubhouse would be converted into a community center. 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. Last week, a Democratic Party of Contra Costa County committee rejected a resolution opposing Seenos selection after party members worried that taking a stance would jeopardize council members seats in future elections. 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. We have been building quality homes since the formation of Seeno Homes by Albert D. Seeno, Sr in 1938. Seenos opponents scrambled in recent weeks to change council members minds through political pressure, but their efforts fell short. There is no developer without original sin, Birsan said. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Enter your email address and well send you a link to reset your password. During the entire time I was there, I never met the HR Manager. A city spokesman on Thursday, Jan. 21 declined to respond to the lawsuit. IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasn't followed: What should you do? The fraud happened during the housing downturn so the Seenos could maintain large lines of credit. Carey Hendrickson and Jason Sterlino, sales managers for Seeno properties, were previously charged. 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. 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. 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. 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. All rights reserved. Who let the Seenos into Pittsburg and why havent they all been kicked out of Pittsburg and other places long ago? 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. 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. It would be nice to have a weekend off once in a while. Inspiring cities. All of these testimonials and reviews for Seeno Homes are from verified homebuyers. The judge ordered Seeno to remove things like an air- conditioner. Actual porch and window configuration varies from artists renderings. In December 2016, he entered a guilty plea to bank fraud on behalf of his company and agreed to pay a $11 million fine. DeNova Homes reserves the right to make changes in price, material, and specifications without notice and without liability for such changes. With that being said you can only be pushed so far. Limited time only. 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. 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. Exactly what you 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. The property is between Kirker Pass Road and Highway 4. Discovery Sales was prosecuted as a company. Tech, restaurant, logistics layoffs trigger more than 300 Bay Area job cuts, Shooting in Oakland hotel parking lot puts man in critical condition, East Bay lawmaker blasts open sore at BART, resigns from Senate committee, Skygazers will have a great view Wednesday of two planets that look like they are almost touching, Antioch: Homicide suspect arrested in Brentwood home, 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. Join the Northern California interest list to be kept informed of the latest information. The problem with that project is what theyre doing is building on open space, Lees said. Commission and Bonus structure designed to benefit company more than employees, leaving you underpaid. Discover your perfect home in a DeNova community. All content is posted anonymously by employees working at Discovery and Seeno Homes. He previously reported in Contra Costa County and before joining the Bay Area News Group he worked in Eureka and Santa Barbara. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! Neither of these have started yet. PITTSBURG A group of eight families who bought homes from Discovery Homes and its Seeno family-related affiliates have sued the builder, claiming the company's sales associates and other. It is a family business and nepotism runs rampid. 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. Since we have been here, our kitchen has flooded from a fridge water supply line that malfunctioned, exhaust fans sound like freight . There are endangered species, threatened species in this park, but the data on them is outdated, he 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. 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 . Management showed FAVORTISM to a selected few which were put at the best communities and were able to double dip in commissions. 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. Surrounded by residential neighborhoods and the Westridge Plaza shopping center, its the last piece of developable private property in the area, the lawsuit said. It wont, Seeno III said during an apology to the judge. Publisher of EastCountyToday and host of several Podcast Shows if you can, please hit the donate button and show support. 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. 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. Zero-calorie sweetener linked to heart attack and stroke, study finds, OC students snowed in at science camps are coming home, Irvine announces plan to buy, close asphalt plant and make a preserve, Woman arrested on suspicion of killing her mother inside Lake Forest home, Fountain Valley collision leaves one driver dead, another hospitalized, Orange County Sheriffs deputies foil attempted jail escape, 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. That meeting was abruptly canceled for medical reasons involving a council member. Fill out the form below and Dayna will be in touch shortly. Founded Seeno Homes in 1938 We are dedicated to embodying the idea of the Discovery Difference, a mission to enhance your buying experience and offer new homes that exemplify the highest standards of craftsmanship. Save thousands on your dream home during DeNova Homes' Red Tag Sales Event! 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. Official websites use .gov IRS delays tax deadline for Bay Area, but California hasnt followed: What should you do? A selected few which were put at the best communities and were able to double dip in commissions during entire! Changes in price, material, and certainly not least, is the result of an by! 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