Compare your home, or a home you are considering renting or purchasing, to the rest of the city.
Get your Walk Score
By Chris Knape | The Grand Rapids Press
March 24, 2010, 8:00AM
GRAND RAPIDS — A dilapidated produce distribution center at the southern end of downtown could become a hub of commerce for local farmers, food makers and artisans as part of a $27 million urban market concept unveiled Wednesday.
Grand Action, the private group that led efforts to build the Van Andel Arena and DeVos Place, said it would forge ahead with plans to develop an urban market offering space for vendors to create and sell a variety of foods and other goods.
The market also is envisioned as an educational facility with a greenhouse, demonstration kitchen and meeting rooms that will help people better understand local food systems while teaching about healthier eating.
The preferred location is the 3.5-acre former Sonneveldt Produce Co. complex, 435 Ionia Ave. SW. The site is visible from U.S. 131, south of Wealthy Street.
From GRAR.com:
The latest MEAP scores released on Friday, March 12, 2010 showed that GRPS students and schools are continuing a five year streak of dramatic academic gains. The MEAP results demonstrated that since 2005, MEAP scores increased across the board – at every grade level tested – in math, science and reading.
The greatest gains were in MEAP Math. In 2005, the percentage of students scoring proficient or higher was in the high 20s and low 30s. Today, students scoring proficient are in the 60s, 70s, and 80s – in some cases doubling or tripling the percent of proficient scores.
As a result of these dramatic academic gains, GRPS has seen the number of schools meeting AYP skyrocket since 2006. In 2006, only 26 of 55 schools met federal standards. Today, 45 of 55 schools are meeting AYP – just 10 schools shy of every school in the district “making the grade.”
“I want to commend the students, teachers, and school leaders for the hard work that went into preparing for the MEAP,” said Dr. Bernard Taylor, Jr. “There is still a lot of work to be done and many areas where we need to make improvements, but these results further demonstrate that the reforms and improvements we are making are taking root and GRPS is on the right track.”
Link: http://bit.ly/98Einw
Excerpt: “Grand Rapids has been able to accomplish some amazing things in a month.
Since Google’s Feb. 10 announcement of its plans to establish ultra high-speed Internet fiber networks in select communities, the Google Fiber for Grand Rapids Facebook fan page has grown to 27,000 members and counting — far surpassing any other Facebook Google Fiber group in the country. At least three separate groups — Grand Rapids Technology Partnership, In the 616, and the Google Fiber for Grand Rapids Steering Committee — have been established to promote the push for bringing Google Fiber to West Michigan.
And they’re working on everything from video contests to a “flash mob” event to attract Google’s attention…”
12131 Reyburn, Sparta MI $214,900
OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 12:30-3pm.
Directions: Take Division N of 13 Mile to Hull E to Reyburn S to home.
1745 Sq Ft home with 155′ frontage on Camp Lake channel and unbeatable lake view. Immaculately and perfectly remodeled inside and out. Hardwood floors, ceramic tile, paint, fixtures,
appliances, maple cabinetry, carpet, etc. Newly refinished walkout basement that could be a master suite. Fireplace with wood stove insert, custom mantel and stone surround, new bathroom and great living area! New 14 x 25 deck, new roof, siding…
Even buyers who nail down a contract with the seller by the April 30 deadline can’t be sure the purchase will close within the required two months.
“That’s where you get into that riverboat-gambling mentality,” said Jim Ruddy, the longtime real-estate agent representing Nacion-Ograyensek and her husband.
“Is it worth gambling that $8,000?”
At this point in the tax-credit countdown, buyers interested in purchasing a short sale must decide whether they are really committed to that property — enough that they would still want to purchase it if they miss the June 30 tax-credit deadline, Ruddy said.
Today, Friday, February 12, 2010 is the last day of this year to file a property tax appeal! Don’t let the process scare you away. Filing the basic appeal is simple. You do not need all the proof, etc. when completing the initial appeal. So, if you think your property’s taxable value is too high, take a big breath, a short drive and visit the appropriate Tax Assessor’s office in your community today. You could save hundreds, if not thousands of dollars, over the next few years.
Here’s a link to the form you need. Simply fill it out and bring it to the Assessor’s office today.