It only took 2 coats to cover those colors that were on the wall.

Fresh coat of paint on a stairwell, exterior cleaning, etc always helps.

It is resin impregnated gypsum with a fiberglass coating.

Each of these steps are limited by cure times, drywall mud prevents you from moving forward until it's sanded and dried at least 2 coats, the mortar for your tile & concrete for your tube need to cure, then you have to grout and let that dry before you can even do anything else. 

I will probably eventually buy a duplex in Pueblo West, CO at some point.

Yes, they are lighter in color but they also use specially coated granuals (3M?)

Gentleman, @Matthew Coates @Leland Banner @Thai Foo @Dick Rosen thanks to one and all for your responses. 

Then buy some 5 gallon buckets of primer from Home Depot and have the guys give a coat of paint(primer) to everything.

Just get them natural and put new coats one between tenants.

With a footing rebar and a scratch coat, cutting  in the window digging the footing and laying then block is a few days work For one guy.