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ARTHUR MAYS VILLAS PHASE ONE, LLC vs FLORIDA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AND MHP FL I, LLC, 21-000610BID (2021)

Court: Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Number: 21-000610BID Visitors: 6
Petitioner: ARTHUR MAYS VILLAS PHASE ONE, LLC
Respondent: FLORIDA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION AND MHP FL I, LLC
Judges: J. BRUCE CULPEPPER
Agency: Florida Housing Finance Corporation
Locations: Miami Lakes, Florida
Filed: Feb. 15, 2021
Status: Closed
Recommended Order on Wednesday, May 26, 2021.

Latest Update: Dec. 24, 2024
Summary: The issue in this bid protest matter is whether Respondent, Florida Housing Finance Corporation's, intended award of funding under Request for Applications 2020-203 was contrary to its governing statutes, rules, or the solicitation specifications.Petitioner failed to prove that Florida Housing’s intended award of housing tax credits is contrary to its governing statutes, rules, or the solicitation specifications.
21000610_282_06212021_13274886_e


STATE OF FLORIDA

FLORIDA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION


ARTHUR MAYS VILLAS

PHASE ONE, LLC,


Petitioner,


v.

FHFC Case No. 202 l-005BP DOAH Case No. 21-0610BID


FLORIDA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION,


Respondent,


and


MHP FL I, LLC,


Intervenor.



FINAL ORDER


/,;


This cause came before the Board of Directors of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation ("Board") for consideration and final agency action on June 18, 2021. Petitioner Arthur Mays Villa Phase One, LLC ("Arthur Mays") and Intervenor MHP FL I, LLC ("MHP" or "Southpointe Vista") were Applicants under Request for Applications 2020-203, "Housing Credit Financing for Affordable Housing Developments Located in Miami-Dade County" (the "RFA"). The matter for consideration before this Board is a Recommended Order issued pursuant to

§§ 120.569 and 120.57(3), Fla. Stat.


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Filed June 21, 2021 1:27 PM Division of Administrative Hearings

On August 26, 2020, Florida Housing Finance Corporation ("Florida Housing") issued the RFA, and posted notice of its intended funding decision on January 22, 2021. Through the ranking and selection process outlined in the RFA, three applicants were preliminarily selected for funding, including MHP. Arthur Mays was found eligible but was not selected for funding.

Arthur Mays timely filed a notice of intent to protest and a formal written protest challenging the eligibility ofMHP. The petition was referred to the Division of Administrative Hearings. Two other petitions were filed but were dismissed prior to hearing.

The hearing was conducted on March 16 and 19, 2021 before Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ") J. Bruce Culpepper by Zoom video conference in Tallahassee, Florida. Arthur Mays contended that MI-IP should have been found ineligible for funding because one of the principals of the applicant was not registered to transact business in Florida, and because MHP had materially misrepresented the total land cost of the development site. After the hearing, the parties filed proposed recommended orders.

After consideration of the oral and documentary evidence presented at hearing, the parties' proposed recommended orders, and the entire record in the proceeding, the ALJ issued a Recommended Order on May 26, 2021. A true and correct copy of the Recommended Order is attached hereto as "Exhibit A." The ALJ

found that Arthur Mays failed to demonstrate that Florida Housing's initial determination that MHP met the eligibility requirements in the RFA was contrary to applicable statutes, rules, policies, or RFA specifications, and failed to meet its burden to show that Florida Housing's initial determination was clearly erroneous, contrary to competition, arbitrary, or capricious. The ALJ recommended that Florida Housing enter a final order finding that MHP was eligible for funding and dismissing the petition of Arthur Mays. No exceptions to the Recommended Order were filed.

Ruling on the Recommended Order


  1. The Findings of Fact set out in the Recommended Order are supported by competent substantial evidence.

  2. The Conclusions of Law set out m the Recommended Order are reasonable and supported by competent substantial evidence.

  3. The Recommendation of the Recommended Order is reasonable and supported by competent substantial evidence.

ORDER


In accordance with the foregoing, it is hereby ORDERED:


The Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Recommendation of the Recommended Order are adopted as Florida Housing's and incorporated by reference as though fully set forth in this Order.

The application ofMHP is awarded funding under RFA 2020-203, subject to credit underwriting.

DONE and ORDERED this 18th day of June 2021.


FLORIDA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION


Chair

Copies to:

Hugh R. Brown, Esq. Chris McGuire, Esq.

Florida Housing Finance Corporation Hugh.Brown@floridahousing.org Chris.McGuire@floridahousing.org


Jeffrey S. Woodburn Jason L. Maine Woodburn & Maine

jeff@woodbummaine.com jason@woodbummaine.com

Attorneys for Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC


Tiffany A. Roddenberry Lawrence E. Sellers, Jr.

Holland & Knight, LLP tiffany.roddenberry@hklaw.com larry.sellers@hklaw.com

Attorneys for Southpointe Vista, MHP FL I, LLC


NOTICE OF RIGHT TO JUDICIAL REVIEW


A PARTY WHO IS ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THIS FINAL ORDER IS ENTITLED TO JUDICIAL REVIEW PURSUANT TO SECTION 120.68, FLORIDA STATUTES. REVIEW PROCEEDINGS ARE GOVERNED BY THE FLORIDA RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE. SUCH PROCEEDINGS ARE COMMENCED BY FILING ONE COPY OF A NOTICE OF APPEAL

WITH THE AGENCY CLERK OF THE FLORIDA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, 227 NORTH BRONOUGH STREET, SUITE 5000, TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32301-1329, AND A SECOND COPY, ACCOMPANIED BY THE FILING FEES PRESCRIBED BYLAW, WITH THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST DISTRICT, 2000 DRAYTON DRIVE, TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32399-0950, OR IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL IN THE APPELLATE DISTRICT WHERE THE PARTY RESIDES. THE NOTICE OF APPEAL MUST BE FILED WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS OF RENDITION OF THE ORDER TO BE REVIEWED.


Docket for Case No: 21-000610BID
Issue Date Proceedings
Jun. 21, 2021 Agency Final Order filed.
Jun. 04, 2021 Transmittal letter from the Clerk of the Division forwarding Respondent's exhibits to Respondent.
Jun. 02, 2021 Transmittal letter from the Clerk of the Division forwarding Petitioner's exhibits to Petitioner.
May 26, 2021 Recommended Order (hearing held March 16 and 19, 2021). CASE CLOSED.
May 26, 2021 Recommended Order cover letter identifying the hearing record referred to the Agency.
Apr. 30, 2021 Respondents' Joint Notice of Supplemental Authority filed.
Apr. 15, 2021 Respondent MHP FL I, LLC's Notice of Filing Proposed Recommended Order filed.
Apr. 15, 2021 Respondent MHP FL I, LLC's Proposed Recommended Order filed.
Apr. 15, 2021 Respondent Florida Housing's Proposed Recommended Order filed.
Apr. 15, 2021 Proposed Recommended Order Of Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC filed.
Apr. 06, 2021 Notice of Filing Transcript.
Apr. 05, 2021 Transcript (not available for viewing) filed.
Mar. 19, 2021 CASE STATUS: Hearing Held.
Mar. 16, 2021 CASE STATUS: Hearing Partially Held; continued to March 19, 2021; 09:30 a.m.; Tallahassee, FL.
Mar. 12, 2021 Joint Pre-Hearing Stipulation filed.
Mar. 12, 2021 Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC Notice of Filing Exhibits filed.
Mar. 12, 2021 (Respondent's) Notice of Filing Exhibits filed.
Mar. 12, 2021 Petitioner's Proposed Exhibits filed (exhibits not available for viewing).
Mar. 12, 2021 Respondent's Proposed Exhibits filed (exhibits not available for viewing).
Mar. 12, 2021 Joint Exhibits filed. (Exhibits not available for viewing).
Mar. 12, 2021 Notice of Filing Joint Exhibits filed.
Mar. 11, 2021 Notice of Taking Deposition (L. Swezy) filed.
Mar. 10, 2021 Order Severing Case No. 21-0611BID and Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction.
Mar. 09, 2021 Notice of Voluntary Dismissal filed.
Mar. 09, 2021 Notice of Taking Deposition of Florida Housing Finance Corporation's Corporate Representative filed.
Mar. 08, 2021 Respondent MHP FL I, LLC's Response to Petitioner Hibiscus Grove, LP's Second Request for Production of Documents filed.
Mar. 08, 2021 Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC Notice of Service of Answers to MHP FL I, LLC's First Set of Interrogatories to Arthur Mays Villias Phase One, LLC filed.
Mar. 08, 2021 Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC Responses and Objections to MHP FL I LLC's First Request for Production filed.
Mar. 08, 2021 Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC Responses to MHP FL I, LLC's First Request for Admissions filed.
Mar. 08, 2021 Hibiscus Grove, LP's Third Request for Production of Documents to Southpointe Vista, MHP FL I, LLC filed.
Mar. 08, 2021 Hibiscus Grove LP's Third Request for Production of Documents to Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC filed.
Mar. 08, 2021 Order Granting Motion to Amend Notice of Hearing.
Mar. 08, 2021 Amended Notice of Taking Deposition of Marison Button (as to date only) via Zoom Conference Call filed.
Mar. 08, 2021 Notice of Taking Deposition of Marisa Button via Zoom Conference Call filed.
Mar. 05, 2021 Motion to Amend Notice of Hearing filed.
Mar. 04, 2021 Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC Second Request for Admissions from Hibiscus Grove, LP filed.
Mar. 03, 2021 Respondent MHP FL I, LLC's Notice of Service of First Set of Interrogatories to Petitioner Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC filed.
Mar. 03, 2021 Hibiscus Grove LP's Second Request for Production of Documents to SouthPointe Vista MHP FL I LLC filed.
Mar. 03, 2021 Respondent MHP FL I, LLC's First Requests for Admission to Petitioner Hibiscus Grove, LP filed.
Mar. 03, 2021 Respondent MHP FL I, LLC's First Request for Production to Petitioner Hibiscus Grove, LP filed.
Mar. 03, 2021 Respondent MHP FL I, LLC's Notice of Service of First Set of Interrogatories to Petitioner Hibiscus Grove, LP filed.
Mar. 03, 2021 Respondent MHP FL I, LLC's First Request for Production to Petitioner Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC filed.
Mar. 03, 2021 Respondent MHP FL I, LLC's First Requests for Admission to Petitioner Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC filed.
Mar. 03, 2021 Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC Notice of Service of First Set of Interrogatories to Hibiscus Grove, LP filed.
Mar. 03, 2021 Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC First Request for Production to Hibiscus Grove, LP filed.
Mar. 03, 2021 Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction (Case No. 21-0612BID is closed).
Mar. 01, 2021 Respondent MHP FL I, LLC's Responses to Petitioner Hibiscus Grove, LP's First Request for Production of Documents filed.
Mar. 01, 2021 Respondent MHP FL I, LLC's Notice of Service of Answers and Objections to Petitioner Hibiscus Grove, LP's First Set of Interrogatories filed.
Mar. 01, 2021 Respondent MHP FL I, LLC's Answers and Objections to Petitioner Hibiscus Grove, LP's First Request for Admissions filed.
Mar. 01, 2021 Florida Housing Finance Corporation's Responses to Hibiscus Grove, LLC's First Request for Production of Documents filed.
Mar. 01, 2021 Florida Housing Finance Corporation's Responses to Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC's First Requests for Admission filed.
Mar. 01, 2021 Respondent MHP FL I, LLC?s Answers and Objections to Petitioner Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC?s First Request for Admissions filed.
Mar. 01, 2021 Respondent MHP FL I, LLC?s Answer and Challenge to the Responsiveness of Hibiscus Grove?s Application filed.
Mar. 01, 2021 Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC Notice of Service of Answers to Hibiscus Grove's Second Set of Interrogatories to Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC filed.
Mar. 01, 2021 Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC Notice of Service of Answers to Hibiscus Grove's First Set of Interrogatories to Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC filed.
Mar. 01, 2021 Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC Responses and Objections to Hibiscus Grove LP's Second Request for Production of Documents filed.
Mar. 01, 2021 Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC Responses and Objections to Hibiscus Grove LP's First Request for Production of Documents filed.
Mar. 01, 2021 Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC Responses to Hibiscus Grove, LP's First Request for Admissions filed.
Mar. 01, 2021 Hibiscus Grove's Response to Arthur Mays' First Request for Admissions filed.
Feb. 26, 2021 Florida Housing Finance Corporation's Responses to Hibiscus Grove, LLC's First Requests for Admission (filed in Case No. 21-000611BID).
Feb. 26, 2021 MHP FL I, LLC?S Response to Florida Housing's Motion to Dismiss Petition in Case No. 21-0612BID filed.
Feb. 25, 2021 Notice of Service of Florida Housing's Answers to Hibiscus Grove, LLC's First Set of Interrogatories filed.
Feb. 24, 2021 Notice of Appearance (Kristen Dobson) filed.
Feb. 24, 2021 Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC First Request for Admissions to MHP FL I, LLC filed.
Feb. 24, 2021 Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC First Request for Admissions to Hibiscus Grove, LP filed.
Feb. 24, 2021 Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC First Request for Admissions to Florida Housing Finance Corporation filed.
Feb. 23, 2021 Notice of Serving Hibiscus Grove LLC's Second Set of Interrogatories to Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC filed.
Feb. 23, 2021 Hibiscus Grove LP's Second Request for Production of Documents to Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC filed.
Feb. 23, 2021 Hibiscus Grove LP's First Request for Admissions to Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC filed.
Feb. 23, 2021 Hibiscus Grove LLC's First Request for Admissions to Florida Housing Finance Corporation filed.
Feb. 23, 2021 Hibiscus Grove LP's First Request for Admissions to Southpointe Vista, MHP FL I, LLC filed.
Feb. 23, 2021 Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
Feb. 23, 2021 Notice of Hearing by Zoom Conference (hearing set for March 16 and 19, 2021; 1:00 p.m., Eastern Time).
Feb. 23, 2021 Order of Consolidation (DOAH Case Nos. 21-0610, 21-0611, 21-0612)
Feb. 22, 2021 CASE STATUS: Pre-Hearing Conference Held.
Feb. 17, 2021 Notice of Telephonic Status Conference (status conference set for February 22, 2021; 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time).
Feb. 16, 2021 Notice of Appearance (Jason Maine) filed.
Feb. 15, 2021 Motion to Consolidate Cases filed.
Feb. 15, 2021 Notice of Appearance (Chris McGuire).
Feb. 15, 2021 Notice of Appearance as a Specifically-Named Party (Lawrence Sellers, Jr.).
Feb. 15, 2021 Notice to All Bidders on RFA 2020-203 filed.
Feb. 15, 2021 Formal Written Protest and Petition for Administrative Hearing filed.
Feb. 15, 2021 Agency referral filed.

Orders for Case No: 21-000610BID
Issue Date Document Summary
Jun. 18, 2021 Agency Final Order On August 26, 2020, Florida Housing Finance Corporation ("Florida &#xD;&#xA;Housing") issued the RF A, and posted notice of its intended funding decision on January 22, 2021. Through the ranking and selection process outlined in the RF A, three applicants were preliminarily selected for funding, including MHP. Arthur Mays was found eligible but was not selected for funding. &#xD;&#xA;Arthur Mays timely filed a notice of intent to protest and a formal written protest challenging the eligibility ofMHP. The petition was referred to the Division ofAdministrative Hearings. Two other petitions were filed but were dismissed prior to hearing. &#xD;&#xA;The hearing was conducted on March 16 and 19, 2021 before Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ") J. Bruce Culpepper by Zoom video conference in Tallahassee, Florida. Arthur Mays contended that MHP should have been found ineligible for funding because one of the principals of the applicant was not registered to transact business in Florida, and because MHP had materially misrepresented the total land cost of the development site. After the hearing, the parties filed proposed recommended orders. &#xD;&#xA;After consideration of the oral and documentary evidence presented at hearing, the parties' proposed recommended orders, and the entire record in the proceeding, the ALJ issued a Recommended Order on May 26, 2021. A true and correct copy ofthe Recommended Order is attached hereto as "Exhibit A." The ALJ &#xD;&#xA;found that Arthur Mays failed to demonstrate that Florida Housing's initial &#xD;&#xA;determination that MHP met the eligibility requirements in the RF A was contrary to applicable statutes, rules, policies, or RFA specifications, and failed to meet its burden to show that Florida Housing's initial determination was clearly erroneous, contrary to competition, arbitrary, or capricious. The ALJ recommended that Florida Housing enter a final order finding that MHP was eligible for funding and dismissing the petition ofArthur Mays. No exceptions to the Recommended Order were filed. &#xD;&#xA;Ruling on the Recommended Order &#xD;&#xA;1. &#xD;&#xA;The Findings of Fact set out in the Recommended Order are supported by competent substantial evidence. &#xD;&#xA;2. &#xD;&#xA;The Conclusions of Law set out m the Recommended Order are reasonable and supported by competent substantial evidence. &#xD;&#xA;3. &#xD;&#xA;The Recommendation of the Recommended Order is reasonable and supported by competent substantial evidence. &#xD;&#xA;ORDER &#xD;&#xA;In accordance with the foregoing, it is hereby ORDERED: &#xD;&#xA;The Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Recommendation of the Recommended Order are adopted as Florida Housing's and incorporated by reference as though fully set forth in this Order. &#xD;&#xA;The application ofMHP is awarded funding under RFA 2020-203, subject to credit underwriting. &#xD;&#xA;DONE and ORDERED this 18th day of June 2021. &#xD;&#xA;Chris McGuire, Esq. Florida Housing Finance Corporation Hugh.Brown@floridahousing.org Chris.McGuire@floridahousing.org &#xD;&#xA;JeffreyS. Woodburn Jason L. Maine Woodburn & Maine jeff@woodburnmaine.com j ason@woodburnmaine.com &#xD;&#xA;Attorneys for Arthur Mays Villas Phase One, LLC &#xD;&#xA;Tiffany A. Roddenberry Lawrence E. Sellers, Jr. Holland & Knight, LLP tiffany.roddenberry@hklaw.com larry .sellers@hklaw.com &#xD;&#xA;Attorneys for Southpointe Vista, MHP FL I, LLC &#xD;&#xA;NOTICE OF RIGHT TO JUDICIAL REVIEW &#xD;&#xA;A PARTY WHO IS ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THIS FINAL ORDER IS ENTITLED TO JUDICIAL REVIEW PURSUANT TO SECTION 120.68, FLORIDA STATUTES. REVIEW PROCEEDINGS ARE GOVERNED BY THE FLORIDA RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE. SUCH PROCEEDINGS ARE COMMENCED BY FILING ONE COPY OF A NOTICE OF APPEAL WITH THE AGENCY CLERK OF THE FLORIDA HOUSING FINANCE CORPORATION, 227 NORTH BRONOUGH STREET, SUITE 5000, TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32301-1329, AND A SECOND COPY, ACCOMPANIED BY THE FILING FEES PRESCRIBED BYLAW, WITH THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL, FIRST DISTRICT, 2000 DRAYTON DRIVE, TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA 32399-0950, OR IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL IN THE APPELLATE DISTRICT WHERE THE PARTY RESIDES. THE NOTICE OF APPEAL MUST BE FILED WITHIN THIRTY (30) DAYS OF RENDITION OF THE ORDER TO BE REVIEWED.
May 26, 2021 Recommended Order Petitioner failed to prove that Florida Housing?s intended award of housing tax credits is contrary to its governing statutes, rules, or the solicitation specifications.
Source:  Florida - Division of Administrative Hearings

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