Doesn't prevent your tenants from suing you because they slipped on an icy sidewalk.

It seems to be the pipes coming in from the street under the sidewalk, so it impacts the whole 2 family property.  

Same with trampolines, deep pools, loose railings, icy sidewalks or any other safety hazard. 

The issues mainly came in the winter when the lower unit tenants were out of town - the upper unit tenants were very upset when the sidewalks weren't shoveled after a huge storm. 

I always shovel the front side walk and stairs to create a way of entering and exiting.

Just set the bricks in a sand base, making the entry sidewalk as wide as the front porch.2.

Also, the city requires rental owners to live locally or have an on call property manager who lives locally when you file the paperwork to rent property in this city.The city requires landowners to shovel, they don’t shovel sidewalks for you.  

I like a 30% margin for net profit just to be safeNext step is to check with the city or county  to determine if you can do what you want to do and what is required for all zoning approvals and the time frame, Ask if you have to install curb, gutter, sidewalks, street signs, street lighting or any other special requirements. 

Even if it went under a sidewalk in the city, it’s a high “I know you’re in a emergency” price.

Check to see if you have to install any manholes, fire hydrants, curb, gutter, sidewalks, street signs, street lighting any specific street design or access requirements, Check DOT requirements for access, stop lights and permits, traffic studies, DWQ requirements for permits, permit fees and time frames.Once you have an idea of what you can build and what is required in terms of permitting and infrastructure you want to talk to some civil engineers, architects and commercial general contractors that do the type of projects and build the type of buildings you want to build so you can get an idea of costs, time frame and requirements.