If its being used regulary, I have used permeable pavers.

A planting of bushes and trees and a call to the city fixed that.The City ticketed them for not having all 4 wheels of their vehicle(s) on paved surfaces.

So yes, I diversify investments, but into my own companies, not into something run by another usually.Though all roads can be paved with failure, do nothing is sure to lead to failure.I think the big lesson here is that you HAVE to watch your own portfolio numbers and know what they are so that you know the health of your money and what you should be doing with it.

Is there a paved drive way or only a dirt road leading to the existing house?

If you created patio spaces in the back with dividers you could do a low cost "paving" solution by having crusher fines brought in from a landscaping company and compacted. 

For example has anyone ever added a professionally paved fire pit?

There I learned the town required the new strip owners to add more parking by paving over an empty lot, part of the property not paved.

Most of the parks we're looking at have city water/sewage, paved roads. 

Also, maybe it's just coincidence, but all of the sudden the vacant gravel lot around the corner is a paved and landscaped parking lot and the yards in front of the cottages across the street are clean and trimmed.

I have the land already, it's a paved parking lot, what would be a ballpark figure for price per square foot, for a 10k sqft construction, about 8 different units with shell condition interior, comparable to a building like this http://s.lnimg.com/photo/poster_1920/60ba6879c8074db6b1861478d5597739.jpgthank you