The UrbanPlaneteer Survival Kit

[GRDadof3]

I've had people ask me where I find building permits, city agendas/packets, etc.. And since there's a handful of us who know where these resources are at our fingertips, and in case we collectively get hit by a Laker Line bus, I thought I would share resources to make you all better informed UPer's:

List of all current commercial building permits. You can save this URL and it is updated daily (using the same URL). 

https://inspections.grcity.us/CitizenAccess/Report/ShowReport.aspx?module=Permits&reportID=224&reportType=LINK_REPORT_LIST

A mapping tool of all commercial building permits (just click "Continue" and then go over to the left and change the Filter because it goes all the way back to 2011 by default, which they should fix):

https://grandrapids.buildingeye.com/planning

All city department public meeting agendas and minutes are held in one spot now.  New agendas for upcoming meetings are usually uploaded on FRIDAYs. 

http://grandrapidscitymi.iqm2.com/Citizens/calendar.aspx

If you're into transit and mobility and parking issues:

https://www.grandrapidsmi.gov/Government/Departments/Mobile-GR-and-Parking-Services

If you're into road projects/MDOT:

https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,4616,7-151-9621_11008---,00.html

Kent County Parcel Viewer, if you want to stalk your neighbors:

https://gis.kentcountymi.gov/public/publicviewerjs/

Ottawa County parcel viewer, if you want to stalk your dutch neighbors

https://gis.miottawa.org/ottawa/geocortex/propertymapping/

If you want to look up an LLC and investigate who owns it:

https://cofs.lara.state.mi.us/corpweb/CorpSearch/CorpSearch.aspx

If you want to post a picture on UrbanPlanet, you no longer have to have a photo hosting site. I know it's been that way for a few years but for newcomers. You can go down to the paper clip under the posting window and "choose files" and load a jpg right to your post. They're compressed so the image quality isn't as good unless people click on the image. 

If you find something in a city agenda packet, you can take a screenshot/snipping tool and post it. It's public info once it's on the city's site. I try to capture the architect's name too so that they get credit. 

If I think of other tools I use I'll share those. 

 

 

 

 

 

[egrguy]

I will add East GR as that's the one I follow:

https://www.eastgr.org/AgendaCenter/City-Commission-1

[walker]

GRDadof3,

Maybe this should be pinned or made a Grand Rapids subforum so it doesn't fall off the page and can be added to as more resources become known.

[ChevalierNoir]

BS&A is another property search tool that I have found helpful as it usually includes more ways to search. It even will find water bills in some cases. Linked is the Grand Rapids page, but if you click on "Municipalities" in the upper right corner, most area cities/townships/counties have data available.

https://bsaonline.com/?uid=115