@Andrea Minnillo, unless this is something you specifically asked about and were lied to, I don't think you have any recourse.

Before my days it was a steel city on the decline after the 80s but it is now an up and coming town filled with younger people and growing technology. 

In speaking with one of my agents in the area, they said that small multi families lying units were all but phased out in favor of larger apartment complexes. 

That pre-empts the taxpayer coming to them and lying and saying they don't owe anything, but you ignored the letter or refused to sign it.

The responsibility lies with the HOA as far as maintenance and repairs deemed necessary.

Technology changes fast nowadays.

I know it's harder than the mindset I'm in right now, but shouldn't I just borrow what I need to demo/build (roughly $1.5m) from someone who has capital lying around, and pay that back (of course with interest/juice/premium, whatever you may call it) upon completion of the project?

I work in IT (Information Technology) and enjoy my job most of the time but what I don't enjoy is the time it takes away from my family.

If they are willfully ignoring the lease and lying to you then what else do they plan to keep secrets about and lie about in the future .

Your not only going to get a better deal, but you can avoid a lot of shady realtors that lie cheat and steal to dump a house.