I wouldn’t touch wholesalers or wholesale-ing with a ten-foot pole.

Intel is a great example, who is building the largest chip manufacturing plant in the US right here, and it will be a $20 billion dollar investment that brings a few new thousand jobs.https://www.dispatch.com/story/business/2022/01/21/intel-ohio-building-computer-chip-factories-licking-county-jersey-township/9173472002/ Another example of economic growth is the upcoming Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Inpatient Hospital which is a 1.9million square foot hospital that will bring over 800 new beds and a thousand new jobs. https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/new-osu-hospital-expected-to-transform-health-careHere are a few more recent investments https://www.10tv.com/article/money/business/hydrogen-power-company-hyperion-bringing-700-jobs-to-columbus/530-25907aab-5517-4661-a9f3-d2ed2d5be6b0 https://news.wosu.org/news/2022-02-08/rumpke-to-build-50-million-recycling-facility-in-columbus Check out The Complete Guide to the Columbus, Ohio Real Estate Market which goes through the Columbus, Ohio market in depth and will give you a better scope of where the highest levels of growth are taking place and where to look to invest. 

It is getting foot traffic, but no one is applying.

Physical asset investing does not grow linearly, you'll get some jabs in the face, maybe a tight slap like an AC stolen or a tenant flooding your bottom floor.

Still excellent value in terms of price per square foot and amenities but could be sometime before a full license is issued.

What you're describing is a pretty solid strategy, and a good way to get your foot in the door.

I'd echo @Jennie Berger on the cost per square foot here in Chicago! 

Personal opinion.. a couple restaurants/bars, a general convenience store, and a CVS/Rite-Aid would make a huge difference to foot traffic and a neighborhood feel. 

You could charge per square foot.

Build cost 2 million ($240 per square foot for a 5400 square-foot duplex) (Sale price $650 per square foot valuating the duplex at 3.5 million) Upon stabilization, the properties market value is projected to be between 4.5 and 5 million.