By Tony Hicks – The Concord City Council on Saturday voted 3-2 to exclusively negotiate with a group of developers, including Seeno Homes, to become master developer for the massive former Concord Naval Weapons Station.
Seeno Companies, Discovery Builders Inc., Lewis Group of Companies, and California Capital Investment Group are the benefactors of Saturday’s close vote.
Mayor Tim McGallian, Vice Mayor Dominic Aliano and council member Edi Birsan voted for the Seeno team. Council members Carlyn Obringer and Laura Hoffmeister threw their support behind the team of Sunset Development and Brookfield Properties. Sunset built and maintains interest in much of Bishop Ranch in San Ramon.
Having local developers with ties to local organized labor was key. Concord selected Lennar Five Point as master developer in 2016. The company pulled out of the project in March 2020 when its initial exclusive negotiating agreement expired and its negotiations with local labor unions failed.
The fate of 5,046 acres on the city’s northeast side has been one of Concord’s biggest issues since the Navy abandoned the area in 1999. The Navy officially designated it as surplus and made Concord the local reuse authority for the site, of which 2,300 acres are targeted for 13,000 units of housing and millions of square feet of commercial space.
The site will also be home to a new 2,540-acre East Bay Regional Park, named Thurgood Marshall Regional Park – Home of the Port Chicago 50, commemorating the nearby Port Chicago tragedy during World War II.
Wow what a huge surprise!
The stench is overwhelming.
https://bit.ly/2WgPF9C
Figures Seeno would have Concord in its pockets- don’t you guys get it?
Watch movie MARSHALL to get idea of why county might have chosen name of this name of new park.
Well, that sux …
Does anyone remember how Seeno builders and it’s group of affiliates were deemed corrupt several years ago. These guys are crooks.
Why is the City of Concord even dealing with these devils?
Can someone please check the donations made to those who made a vote on this exclusive negotiation?
You don’t go into politics without being a crook in the first place. The few that do don’t make it.
Seeno and their reputation for building crap homes and doing shady deals and land grabs…who woulda figured they’d get it..
I knew Concord would select them (who got PAID OFF on that one) BUT was really hoping they wouldn’t lower themselves.
If you think about it. Concord probably wanted Seeno all along but they missed the last bidding opportunity and probably WHY Concord gave Lennar such a hard time until they finally said F that S and pulled out.
Now lets see if Concord makes Seeno adhere to the promises of Union Labor etc etc etc. Concord is just as bad as Seeno, Look at how they weaseled the huge sales tax in Concord. Do you really think that was voter approved? Not!!!!
Interesting…
Well this is good and I’m glad to hear of it. Seeno is based here and has been building very good homes here for a 50 years.
After I made my post I was surprised to see all the other negative ones about Seeno. I always had good results with them and respect for the family. I know there was a little bit of trouble with their involvement with the casino in Reno but it was cleared up.
@badge1104
Seeno houses suck. They build their homes in 90 days and use cheap products. All Seeno cares about is the money. This 3rd generation that’s now running the business doesn’t care about the environment. They squeeze homes on small land. It’s sad that Seeno pays the Concord leaders to say yes. Seeno also pays Pittsburg leaders. Say good bye to our beautiful hills 🥲
Sure, when they’re not in jail.
108RS
I bought a new seeno home years back. Owned it for 3 years. Shoddy workmanship throughout. Glad I got out.
Seeno left Brentwood and Discovery Bay holding the “bag” when it came to his unkept infrastructure promises. Literally told the City to go pound sand, and then (knowingly) wound up in Court settling for pennies on the dollar.- – – The same thing will happen to Concord.
Did Tim McGallian, Dominic Aliano, and Edi Birsan get promises of future campaign contributions in exchange for their votes?
Edi Birsan is running for County Supervisor.
Theres a shocker
HEY, I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION WE HAVE A WATER SHORTAGE AND NOT ENOUGH ELECTRICITY.
Well, I’m going to wash the car today, then I’m going to hose off the house. There’s dirt, and spider webs that need to come down.
This is my cynicism, and I will refuse to cut back water or electricity until the state takes the lead and becomes a role model.
@Dawg I’m with you buddy!
Not to mention freeway congestion and BART at capacity (during normal times).
If there is water for weed, there is water for my weeds.
shocked that seno bribe was high enough
not enough water or power and yet these idiots are building more homes
Yep! Definitely not surprised! And yeah … what about our water shortage and electricity? How does Concord justify building 13,000 more housing units? Oh … wait … I know … MONEY! Concord and Seeno are both horribly greedy!
Follow the money.
I’d like a detailed accounting of every dollar each council member has received from everyone involved in this bid process. Money talks with these people and I believe it is expected in order to get their backing. Beyond disappointed in this decision.
Financial disclosure forms for Concord City Council members can be viewed online.
https://bit.ly/3keRPPz
Spot on Ranch Girl.
This choice shows our descent into lawlessness continues.
Time to recall these dopes.
+1
Concord had the best politicians money can buy!
And Seeno & Garaventa’s know that
I guess the City Council has a very short memory.
Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown.
Sort of odd that the male members voted for Seeno and the female members did not ?
You can’t trust the Broads… they talk, they always talk.
Lennar pulls out of the original agreement because they said that they couldn’t make money by using union labor and now Concord awards the contract to Seeno? Hey Concord city counsel I have a big orange bridge for sale (or maybe some spirit polls) if you are interested.
The government is totally corrupt can’t you people see that? Seeno involved in felonies during the last housing bust. But aside from that our federal government or state government or city governments are just about 99% corrupt and nobody does anything so you people get what you deserve wait till the Taliban comes back here and they will. You guys believe all this crap from the woke agenda that’s funny. Approve Seeno? Lol
Bunch of crap. Did Ed B. Vote for this?
I guess the CNCD City Council is going the way of Biden/Newsom/etc. Yeah – local developers with ties to organized “labor” or is it organized crime syndicate??!!
What a sad state of affairs our overall government is in the US.
Quite a few folks got paid to have Seeno handle this development. Seeno’s history is completely tainted.
We need not get people in office in Concord that are not so easily paid off to forget who voted them in.
Time to clean house in Concord also.
Wow. McGallian, Aliano and Birsan we’re very obviously paid off! The council didn’t pick them last time because of their track record. Seeno is corrupt folks! That’s not a secret! You’re bought now and they own you! Watch out for the horse head in your bed! We REALLY need to recall the three of them! What the “H” we’re you thinking? Rest assured, we’ll see corruption charges down the line.
McGallian probably still does Grayson’s bidding, so most likely the money pot started in Sac, then went to Dom, Edi B, and Mc. State Farm. Hoffmeister is like the Queen of England, but she will get the boot in the next cycle or two. I think CPD/POA has her hamstrung more than Seeno.
BFF Out!
Enough to make a skunk vomit.
Surprise uhhh NOT
Geez does anyone pay attention to all the shoddy developments Seeno has built? Houses coming off foundations. Houses having major drainage issues under them. Houses sliding down hills. And then there is Seeno’s not so stellar environmental compliance record. Yeah not great
This is the company that was brought up on and convicted of racketeering in NV. They are banned from building homes in NV. They had to sell their casino, the Peppermill and are banned from owning casinos or any other commercial property in NV. ANd yet here we are…Concord picture the shoddiest most corrupt builder the could find. Great job Concord. Just another SNAFU for the “great” (snark snark) city
To to clean house of ALL politicians that have been in iffice more than 2 years! From the top on down ….
Well the Lenner/Willie Brown bribes ended up with a city lawyer diving off a parking structure in WC, so Seeno’s sue happy nature worked and eroded competition until they were only against “Wall Street” managed firms and brought on not one, but two companies to check all the boxes with the council for military base cleanup, and commercial res dev.
BFF Out!
Interesting. About six months ago Seeno was approved to build houses on the ridge overlooking the naval weapons facility with road access only from the san marco blvd bay point/pittsburg side. To me this means Seeno can now plan a get road access from the Concord side of the hill – which was not allowed in the previous plan. More traffic into concord just like the traffic on Kirker pass. And agree with the other comments on water shortage, power shortage, …
Oh, you are SO right.
Compare the development of Seeno homes on highway 4 and the Sunset Development in San Ramon – Bishop Ranch…Concord made the wrong choice. Seeno home will pack way too many homes in a small area and stack these home within arms reach of each other…gross
Kickbacks!!! 🦨
Mayflower
Convene a Federal Grand Jury…
will these new homes be exempt from the water reduction? will solar be mandated for them?
asking for everyone is this state 🙂
Badge,
I was cleared up alright. Seeno companies will never be issued any building permits in NV and are banded from owning casinos or any commercial property in NV.
Sooo…hear no evil, speak no evil, Seeno evil
Payola.
With the name Seeno, you know there’s some major fu#$*ary afoot.
Seeno always said you get the government you pay for. Did Concord come cheaply?
.
Seeno (Discovery Builders) will run roughshod all over the Concord City Council and Concord city staff just like they do over in Pittsburg and Fairfield.
.
Concord is making a BIG mistake..
.
And Discovery Builders constructs some of the crappiest homes in the area…. just ask any municipal building inspector.
When you get the best politician that money can buy, you get the ones bought by Seeno.
What do our senators, congressmen and the justice department think about this?
They’re probably lining up waiting for their share of the bribes.
C’mon – prove me wrong….. anyone?
Ha ha … be careful what you wish for … I hope all you Lennar Haters are happy. This feels like a world-class opportunity wasted!
Seeno has deep pockets and a few of our Concord Council members now have full pockets…what a joke!
This looks very suspicious considering Seeno’s reputation. These 3 City Council members will be long gone when the buildings have construction issues.
My experience with Seeno co. has been negative.
I don’t know how they get their homes built, they squeeze their subs to the point that they are the only one that make a profit.
I know someone is doing their specialty trades but I couldn’t work for them because of their mercenary nature.
I got no problem with Seeno winnning the contract to build these homes and commercials buildings. I thought from day one Seeno or Ken Hoffman would be great choices to build homes at the old Navy base. Both have, or had, their development offices in Concord. Both companies have a long history of employing local construction workers. real estate people too, Both Hoffman and Seeno have a long history of making generous charitable contributions locally.
The late Hoffman donated 50 million to my old high School, De La Salle. The money was used, among others things, to build and operate a grammar school for low income kids. I also recall Hoffman donated the land the Concord Pavillion was built on. As I understand it Hoffman, who died a few years back, stop building projects when he got very old, so he was never a bidder on the Navy base project, but had that navy base property been available 30 years ago he would have really worked as the developer. Hoffman was a generous benefactor to so many worthy local charities and institutions, And he had his offices in Concord, he cared about Concord, which was borne out by the generous donation of land for the Concord Pavillion.
I know less about the Seeno’s philanthropy, but I do recall the Seeno’s built a high rise office in Concord, which helped create jobs for ironworkers, and jobs for people who ended up working for companies that leased offices in the big high rise. Real estate people too. I recall when that high rise in Concord was being built there was all these ironworkers – who make big money – spending money in downtown bars and fine dining spots.. I have this memory of all these ironworkers hanging out at TR’s after they got off work, to the point it seemed like every third person in the TR’s was an ironworker. lol.
I don’t know the Seeno’s, never met them. But when I was a student at Los Medanos College one of my classmates worked for the Seeno’s, up at some big house in Clayton. I knew who the Seeno’s were, I’d read some unflattering stuff about them, so I asked him what they were like. He tells me the Seeno’s was super nice, they were generous and kind to him he reported. He also said they were totally down to earth too, not snobs at all. The final story he tells me is this, he said they worked all the time, they were total whirlwinds, they had all these project going on – non-stop projects, so they were busy all the time. And they were also busy putting people to work. a lot of people, you can surmise
In reading all these hyper critical posts above people seem to believe the Seeno’s are all crooks. Is that really true? Is it possible they made all that money because they work so hard? I think is. Also, is it fair to demonize the Seeno’s for being tough aggressive business people. Isn’t homebuilding a tough business, a business where litigation is the norm, just a part of doing business? I think so.
I have to differ completely from these other bloggers. I think Alliano, Birsan, and McGallian made the right choice. Seeno is local, he will hire local people, and he has his offices in Concord on top of that. Yes, he’s going to make a lot of money on this project, but down the line you will see some of these money spread around locally These things indicate to me the right choice was made. I think the project will move faster, if it doesn’t city officials will only have to walk two blocks to find out why.
I am crying no tears for these out of town developers who were aced out of the Navy base project. What did any of them do for Concord in the past? But also, look what Lennar did, the city with great fanfare gives them this great chance to develop the old Navy based, and they then pull out of the deal when they don’t get some things they wanted, This, of course, slowed the development down for years.
@ Lars ~ Now tell us…. how do you feel about Donald Trump?
I needed to refresh my memory and looked up Seeno on Google using obvious keywords. It led to stories of mortgage fraud and “chilling” death threats by one Seeno family member to someone opposed to them. I did not need to read further.
Never go against the family.
@Lars . . . and the people that breached our Capitol on January 6th and tried to prevent the certification of our Election as mandated by the Constitution are the “Law & Order” crowd, right?
That was the Blue Lives Matter crowd, right?
Follow the money. Somewhere along the line someone is getting payed off.
Seeno builders are crooks.
Seeno… got the thumb pinned on the Base Project… 😉 Was there ever any real doubt?
LOL
Concord should force Seeno to sub-divide the residential neighborhoods to allow for spec building and unique designs not in their cookie catalog. The small pockets of Eichlers contrasting with the old architecture downtown breaks up the stack n pack builds over the Seeno hill.
Say No to Beige bla Seeno!
BFF Out!
This is DEPRESSING! Doesn’t Seeno think it might be time to GET OUT OF DODGE?? His homes are sub-par and, as stated, cookie-cutter’ish. BORING! Buh-bye Seeno!!
The City Council couldn’t get this right the second time around either. San Ramon is beautiful and getting the same builders would have been a big plus. It is amazing that these council members are too easily swayed or too out of touch with the residents. This is going to be a mess.
Seeno left Discovery Bay with unkept promises on infrastructure, knowing full well that he could settle ten years later in court with pennies on the dollar.
He actually sued the East Bay Regional Park District with a baseless lawsuit AFTER a new regional park at the Concord Naval Weapons Station had acquired their land use permit after decades of collaboration with the public.
Recall Tim McGallian, Dominic Aliano, and Edi Birsan.
They dont represent our community.
Just their own pocketbook.
Fire station. Where is the new fire station in the plans. Out at Dougherty Valley the city of San Ramon in conjunction with SRVF demanded and got a new fire station paid for by the developer (obviously not Seeno) of the Dougherty Valley build out. But Concord in its brilliance is not demanding the same. This is a huge development without a fire station close by. Considering the traffic in Concord and at times its close to impossible to pull over for emergency vehicles it is negligent to not have a fire station in the development
And then there are schools. How many children will be living in the proposed 18,000 housing units? Yeah there also needs to be schools at the developers expense as well. This entire development reeks of piss poor planning
Petition here: https://www.concordcommunitiesalliance org/reverse_the_seeno_decision