Although the bank in FLA is not small regional its GA based regional .Other wise for some of my spec loans I did in Charleston when I was at my credit limit with the local bank I used Lima one for over flow.  18 unit might be bigger than they will do.Can you develop it in phases so your not having to go out on the limb and borrow a big chunk at once ?? 

banks like that for when your doing deals and you want to borrow spec money..  

Things would get easier to do if you go down to a duplex in terms of viable lots and code, but that's a lot of effort to end up with two units at the end of it when the current market would likely support better returns on a spec single family home.

You may be describing a good Tear Down Lot...Trying to save the Duplex to Rent may be a short-term way to get to build out as a Spec House later on.

I vote you move to Roswell/Alpharetta, or better yet Smyrna/Atl near The Battery.

$1B renewable energy project expected to create 700 jobs in Caldwell, Hays countiesUndisclosed incentives approved for solar, battery facilities south of AustinMore jobs and economic expansion announced south of Austin, TX.  

Live here, and own a PM company in addition to building specs, and flipping everything from houses to apartments. 

You can call some local production and spec builders and ask them what they can pay for lots.

@Stephen KunenI'll need to see the specs but fire-rated windows are typically either steel or aluminum.

So now we have it, a nation of batteries whose sole mission in life is to make money for other people, and that's why rent control legislation and other measure to curb the greed and cupidity of landlords who can't help themselves from "maximizing their income per tenant" are going in everywhere.