requests/api/project_spec.rb speed up

**What does this MR do?**
It improves the speed of the `request/api/project_spec.rb` tests by ~3 minutes. It also removes some test duplication, and moves some assertions into the same tests so another API call is not needed.

**Before:** `~3.51 min`
**After:** `~ 50 sec.`
@jvanbaarsen can you try @dblessing recommendation first? I prefer old style but I am ok with your changes if its no other way. Tests should be fast - I agree with that