We had to get engineering set for door design, procure lumber via specialty suppliers, then engineer how lift would work.

Usually SFH are too small for engineered studies - I do algorithm based ones.

I am worried that the insurance will just drag this out, demanding more $1k letters, possibly engineering studies, etc.Any suggestions on what I should do?

You'll need meetings with the city, GC, architect, engineering, lawyer (for liability) at a minimum.

It’s actually in a really nice neighborhood and I would’ve been open to building a home on the property, but not at the expense of having to hire a civil engineer and all the other minutia I would have to go through.

We provide assistance with EV charging planning, site design, software/equipment selection, engineering/permitting, full in-house installation, and maintenance for EV charging.

That is the dumbest advise anyone will ever give you, and I am sure most engineers would agree with me.

It’s like someone getting a pilots license then wanting to go fly a commercial 757 after flying a single engine only.

I would contact a structural engineer like Gerard Duhon to look at the property.

So start with the big picture in mind and then reverse engineer your course to figure out what action is needed to get there.