Has anyone attempted something similar before? 

I evict over 100 people every year & have never attempted an eviction without an attorney.

You want to be able to use this as your platform to building your future wealth, this is a great start and enough to be a little dangerous with. 1) You can by a duplex, triple or quad up to $300k using a 203k loan - live in one unit and rent the others - save money while you live for free, use your new found savings for your next investment2) You can attempt to get an investor renovation loan using 20% down payment, up to $150,000.00 flip 3) You can attempt to finance (1-2) SFR or Multi Family Turnkey Buy & Hold for Cash Flow4) Your creativity and ambition = no limits to the potentialIt all depends but at minimum you seem to be heading down a good path, do your homework, weigh your options, consider doing the things that will help you build your wealth and align with your goals/strategy.

Go over and meet him with  paper work to sign if he will not sign a new lease advice him he has 30 days to move out  .Not responding to your attempt to reach out is rude not  a smart move on his side .

For ex: I have a section 8 tenant ( one of my best tenants) who has been with me for several year, the housing authority has denied every attempt of a rent increase each year for even an amount as low as $5 ( yes $5 bucks, I was testing them).Some of the things I love about section 8:* You can use the rules to your advantage.

So the next step was to attempt to get permits.

Thanks @Doug McLeod and @Upen Patel for the feedback.I'm going to attempt to get confirmation of permits needed in an email from the city.  

It is not something you should attempt to do though.

I may have to pass on the property as the profit margins are not high enough to deal with a neighbor who attempts to sabotage deals.Any advice????

Here is a quote right out of the Notice: "FTB is aware of arrangements in which a taxpayer or QI attempts to convert proceeds from a failed like-kind exchange, or the unreinvested portion of proceeds from a partial like-kind exchange, into an installment payment structure such as an installment note or similar arrangement in which payments are to be paid out over two or more years (the "Transaction").