I dont mean to be blunt here but these all feel like questions that your agent should be giving you guidance on since they know the details of the purchase, the comps, the interest rates, the projections for your investment etc. 

Who can provide a referral or insight on managing this rental?

Is there a way to get a list of all permitted development projects ongoing in nyc?

I am re-routing my efforts to a smaller project.   

For most projects, we tend to go with an elevated warm neutral color palette that feels contemporary, fresh and approachable for most buyers.  

And like Chris notes, if you start getting added to a dozen syndicator lists, all of whom are buying large-scale, Class B, Value-Add Multifamily deals in the suburbs of major metros, and 2-3 are projecting 30% returns, 2-3 projecting 20% return, and the remainder are in the mid-teens, I would really dig hard as to what is going into those 20-30% projections.  

I’ve had to expand my search farther out to the Muskogee and Tahlequah areas to even find contractors who will answer their phone and take a look at the project.

If you struggle with creating a strong agreement and enforcing it, then you may be better off hiring a property manager.

He analyzes each student's deals, walks prospective purchases with students and continues to look over their project from rehab through the sale.

That could include business, law, financial, project management, etc.