I'm studying concepts and the lingo of real estate at the moment and look forward to learning the math, law, zoning, and anything that has to do with the cost of building materials and labor in the Seattle metro area. 

Of course, I would imagine an undertaking like this would require incredibly in-depth demographic and feasibility studies among other things - worst nightmare is to be in debt with your only asset being a beautiful new but vacant building in a location no one wants to be.

I know my value very well, and that's why I have no problem with "proving my value", even if that means working for free for a little while for someone where I am adding value to their team and they are adding value to my goals.

There are some exceptions for commercially zoned properties.In the NOLA.com article posted above, you will find this info:"The main change in the rules will allow short-term rentals to operate in residential areas only if the owner lives on the site and has a homestead exemption to prove that it’s their primary home.

Its like a funnel: you study everything that is for sale, do drive by's on the best, schedule showings on a few and make an offer if there is one left that makes sense. 

Instead of studying just what's on the market, try driving around communities that fit your model and look for properties that are not currently listed for sale.

It may be an interesting case study for either failed projects or container housing success, depending on how it ends up. https://www.dispatch.com/business/20190422/work-to-resume-on-landmark-cargominium-shipping-container-complex

-Are we obligated to comply with her request to have a 'meeting' to prove cooperativeness or can we just tell her it's not a good fit and let that be reason enough to ask her to leave?  

As another case study, the Spanish Flu of 1918 led to 675,000 deaths in the US alone.

The study started with this hypothesis:When we set out to achieve a goal, our focus is on the reward.