If this is the case, consider new service tenants, like architects or a CPA.To evaluate your deal, take a look at the commercial leases. 

Unfortunately I am not working with a zoning attorney but I am working with an architect who has sort of taken on this role informally and also a slight mentor through the entire process.Unfortunately it is a lower income neighborhood which I didn't realize before that the gentrification is starting to displace people and it's obvious that the current residents are extremely upset about this.

I will check with my architect to see if a 1/2 acre will be big enough to build a 12000 sqft building on.

Architect or Engineer is not the answer I am looking for.

In Austin, we have a decent variety of industries for the size of the city: lots of tech, creative class jobs (small businesses like restaurants, designers, architects, video production, gaming...), city and state government (Austin is the capital of Texas), nationally recognized entrepreneurialism and incubators, education (UT + other smaller, but respected colleges), and others that I'm sure I'm missing.Combine these job opportunities with a fairly business-friendly state, a city that people want to live in, good jobs that allow people to relocate, and this has created several years of insane growth.

Simultaneously building a brain trust consisting of civil Engineer / architect / initial sweet equity partners/ ?

GC's, roofers, architects etc. tend to give a quote for free, especially if there's a lucrative contract involved.

I'm a data architect at a major insurance company. 

I am an optometrist and my business partner is an architect/contractor. 

Would an architect be the first point of contact?