Scraping SFH and building apartment complex

[Rob Newsom]

Hi BP!

I live in a house that is on a lot zoned for high density MFH.  I'm trying to educate myself on the process (if I decide that the economics make sense) of scraping my house and building a 12-unit apartment building.  The zoning is not an issue.  

Does anybody have experience with this?

Would I need to engage an architect? 

Are there pre-published cookie-cutter plans I could buy and then provide to a builder?

Are there any resources on how to evaluate the economics?

Will a bank finance this?  Assuming I have to pay off the existing mortgage before demolishing the existing house...

Any insights are greatly appreciated!  If i left out any information, let me know and i'll try to clarify.  Thanks!