Gov. DeSantis announces action against developers of rat-infested housing complex

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — On Friday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that Florida Housing is taking action against companies associated with Hilltop Village, a housing development in Jacksonville.

The Florida Housing Finance Corporation is taking action in response to a recent inspection that found a rodent infestation at the property.

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The recent unsatisfactory inspection was the latest in a series of reports of poor management and inspections by several local, state and federal agencies.

Since April, officials from the local to federal level asked the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to investigate conditions at Hilltop Village Apartments, and to take action to address conditions in the complex.

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On Sept. 13, HUD issued a letter in response to calls from Sen. Marco Rubio, saying in part, “The Owner has been cooperative,” and “HUD will continue to monitor the physical condition and work with the Owner and Agent to develop a plan that will provide increased maintenance and management oversight.”

Florida Housing is placing several conditions of future transactions involving the property’s management company, Cambridge Management, Inc. as well as advising the property developer, Southport Development Services, Inc. that all outstanding noncompliance issues must be resolved before leasing any units in the future.

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“Despite recent statements by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that ‘The management agent has continued to work with the most critically affected tenants,’ in reality the persistent and deplorable conditions that dozens of Hilltop residents have endured is simply unacceptable,” said DeSantis. “Our patience has run out for this developer and their management company’s failed stewardship of safe, decent and affordable housing for Floridians.”

“Florida Housing needs complete resolution of the health and safety concerns at the Hilltop Property. We believe the conditions placed on the new Southport Developments moving forward will bring accountability to the management company,” said Trey Price, executive director for the Florida Housing Finance Corporation.

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Florida Housing remains committed to providing residents with safe and healthy housing and is committed to its process of evaluating the compliance status of existing developers prior to closing on new funding awards.

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