Has anyone in Birmingham done any new construction or extensive renovations with structural components which required an architect/engineer?

You will need to ask the City of Kirkland if this is the case and ask if you raised the floor, are you still compliant.For the second point, yep, I think putting shelves will define it as a closet.Best of luck!

Finding a great agent and property manager are two key components to making a deal like that work so I would focus on finding those two people ASAP.

I recommend clearly defining your investing goals first before doing anything else.https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/850/topics/895660-my-first-investment-property-an-out-of-state-dealBest Wishes!

Takes the emotion out of it and as long as your criteria is not discriminatory (as defined by federal, state and local regulations), it should help keep you out of trouble in the event that someone you reject claims that you did so for some illegal reason. 

What property management companies can you recommend in the Atlanta area who can handle 100+ unit multifamily properties that have a value-add component?

Who knows what has happened since that time to the electrical components of the house?

An Advanced Fee Scheme as defined by the FBI is "a victims pays money in anticipation of receiving something greater such as a loan and receives little to nothing in return".

Which numbers do you need help defining? 

For instance my wife would feel more comfortable in a duplex with clearly defined boundries vs someone staying in our house now that we have kids.