I am concerned about if there would be any potential exposure to Environmental issues if found,  The area is experiencing good growth with new outlets/ businesses.How do we limit our exposure, Is there any type of EPA Brownfield program, which if we join will limit our exposure.Our idea is to buy it with own pool of funds from frends,  and later build public storage on the existing slab. 

My undergraduate degree in environmental science cost more than that from an average school in the mid west.

Some of the the best ways to find off market commercial and multifamily properties is to compile lists from city and county websites if available or through a paid service like List source, Reonomy and CoStar or you can use free resources like Loopnet, CREXI, Craigslist, tax database, general networking, brokers, property managers, title companies, environmental consultants, building inspection companies, appraisers, landscapers and other companies that service commercial and multifamily properties and driving for dollars.The real key is in how you approach the owners and then the follow up.

The best you would be able to get is a Letter of Environmental Protection, which tells everyone you did illegal work then hired a licensed deleader in to fix it.

I kept the full deposit charged for the environmental cleaning and stanley steemer. 

There’s a lot of ways to structure this and is often more beneficial to smaller mom and pop owners.Some of the the best ways to find off market commercial and multifamily properties is to compile lists from city and county websites if available or through a paid service like List source, Reonomy and CoStar or you can use free resources like Loopnet, CREXI, Ten-X commercial, Craigslist, tax database, general networking, brokers, property managers, title companies, environmental consultants, building inspection companies, appraisers, landscapers and other companies that service commercial and multifamily properties and driving for dollars.

But it would be worth having your seller contact your state environmental division about it.

There are companies that specialize in this  of course they are either licensed or they take title before marketing them.. a developer will go around you in a heart beat.. if you don't have the money to close.. last year I bought a 5.5 million dollar piece of dirt from a middle man.. but he spent two years and a lot of money getting the project through master plan environmental etc..

I'm considering noise and smells but I have no idea what to expect from an environmental standpoint.

I'm happy to connect you. (2) An architect is a good idea, however, to ensure you're goal can be met and identify what's needed for zoning compliance, check the local zoning department. https://detroitmi.gov/departments/buildings-safety-engineering-and-environmental-department/bseed-divisions/zoning-special-land-use(3) I recommend having an NDA/NCND between you and ALL parties you conduct business with regarding investing.