Should I pull permits?

Permits and materials/dumpster.

It also takes longer and is more expensive (permits) so you need to know where the market it heading.

You would never get a permit to re-open a restaurant on that property in this era. 

I have a clause in my lease agreements which is common that states that violence is not permitted on premises and if police have records of violence on premises, then landlord has right to evict.

Basically they said anything after the main meter is the home owners responsibility and that I would need to file permits as per the permitting requirements. 

The land records show only 823 sq feet, but they dug out the basement years back- without permits.

The recent Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has a transition rule permitting 1031 exchanges of qualified personal property.

That includes zoning, building, permits, sales tax, licensing, and more.  

If I know from the start that I can't get the addition all the way through permitting and inspection, I'll just specify tearing it down to begin with and save $5-10k in fees to redo the drawings and go through Urban Design approvals again to come to the same conclusion.