There is a fairly simple way to deal with this, which requires a certain court action, in addition to the petition for probate. 

The calculus is really very simple -- I want to live in a nice, desirable, safe neighborhood, where landlords get killed with high house prices and low rents.

Simple.  

@Adam Valenta  Per the law, the seller must have fee simple title, so you couldn't do a SLO, but you can do assignments or just straight lease options. 

Obviously, if it blocks safe access to things, looks dangerous, etc. it will be an issue, but the simple fact its no longer a necessary part of the apartment shouldn't be.

Could be as simple as some of the connections in one box or the other being loose. 

If you don't use rent credits and use a simple lease and a simple option to purchase agreement chances are very good.

Assuming they're not condos, each land parcel is a fee simple "home site" parcel, therefore the developer still owns 54 properties, which is the majority, and voting rights.

In a simple statement, there is no reason a Lease Option Contract would disqualify you from a future mortgage, if you can afford the future mortgage.To some degree, it sounds like both are wrong.  

They shouldn't charge that much, as it's relatively simple to do.