Maybe the opportunity is buying it for less, demolishing it, and selling and land at a future date.

They sure make it simple, unlike us actual professionals

I am actually starting this same process right now.

The idea of going to court over a tenant smoking with the cost of court is kind of absurd, so this is more of a way to be firm up front and try to smoke out tenants who plan to flout the rules than it is to set ourselves up for a court date. 

Property tax in Cuyahoga County is based upon actual value. 

Potentially buying the property 5% or more above actual value.

Hah my real estate buddy is actually going to Amsterdam next week. 

I think the point is well made that one can actually find deals "off market" and then say instead "I bought this house with 10,000 bananas that cost $0.50 each."

Your actual problem is your asset is multi family with 7 units so definitely you have to follow the city and permit strictly.If it's primary owner occupant and/or SF and city is bit relax then you can 'almost' do whatever you want.

The city of East Cleveland actually asked the city of Cleveland to annex them, and the city of Cleveland said "ahhh, no thanks".The East side of Cleveland is everything East of the Cuyahoga River.