I am not familiar with the other DST (Deferred Sales Trust) and am not sure I have enough time to become educated and find an attorney with sufficient knowledge to assist.I have spoken with a number of broker dealers and noticed that each has a different mix in their portfolio offerings (although many of the same offerings show up on each platform). 

Do you have an onsite property manager and/or onsite maintenance tech?.

Tech said that should fix the problem. 

Planning 70,000 sqft mixed use development (40,000 retail, 30,000 office).

A good amount of mixed use though. 

In this case you can try a FHA loan and go for a mixed use property which is a building that ,the first floor is for business related,rental office ,mini store etc..

If the proposed use doesn't match the property's zoning, then obviously you can't do the lease.Duplex and other multi-family is probably disqualified, unless it's a multi-use property (mixed business / residence) zoned as such with enough open (outdoor) or floor (indoor) space to meet the requirements of the animals and the business.

Does it have anything to do with being an auto tech?

anything over 100 units is pretty much full time job for a property manager and a maintenance tech,, depending on age of building..It's whats available today and gone tomorrow story,, you never know what can come up for sale..Good Luck. 

My friends, previous co-workers, etc. all of which make >100k working in tech.