Through multiple layers of hearsay, I have learned that the major player here in my neighborhood has stated that he will no longer develop rental units and instead focus on commercial. 

I am thinking developers/operators and some funds/institutional money will be big players in these zones, although if smaller investors can find big enough value add opportunities there could be the potential for some big long term savings.Interestingly enough it appears that the Mall of America is smack dab in the middle of one of the OZ's.

I am sure there is truth in this, if attendance jumps- people eat around the stadium and also vacation to LA to see the possibly greatest player.

Where do you normally start researching the economic clout players in a given area then since you do not use a database?

This article should give you a better understanding on how to roughly grade neighborhoods. https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2015/12/09/class-a-b-c-d-real-estate/.

I was a football, basketball, soccer, hockey player but never had the grades to be able to play for my schools so i was part of the school drama and later speech and debate team wich let me expirince life and environments completely different from mine while also providing a family feeling i was in search for. 

Bates-Hendricks is easily between a C-D area right now. 

The idea of investing in C/D class is to do minimum repairs only and by doing so provide a safe place to live.

It helps you decide if the risk to your capital is worth pulling your money out of a CD, etc. 

I am avoiding C, D, F areas currently as I don't have time for war zone and high turn places.