https://www.strongtownsgr.org/strongtowns-gr-journal daily 0.75 2025-10-24 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/strongtowns-gr-journal/bike-lane-propaganda-goes-here monthly 0.5 2025-10-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/e8acb1a7-c3e2-47b4-9876-dfe327f2a5c1/wealthy-st-new+perspective.PNG StrongTowns GR Journal - A Case for Protected Bicycle Infrastructure on Wealthy Street - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/strongtowns-gr-journal/wealthy-st-bike-lanes monthly 0.5 2025-10-23 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/strongtowns-gr-journal/the-hidden-costs-of-our-city-budget monthly 0.5 2025-10-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/cf836a5e-e237-486a-9adb-608e8d8a5cd8/Interest-to-Total+Revenues.png StrongTowns GR Journal - The Hidden Costs of Our City Budget - Interest-to-Total Revenues What it is: The percentage of annual revenue spent on interest payments. What it tells you: This shows how much of the budget is consumed by past borrowing. The higher the percentage, the less room for services, maintenance, or investment. What the trend shows: An increasing trend limits future choices and can crowd out basic services. A decreasing trend improves flexibility and budget health. GR Specific Analysis: This chart shows that one source of our recent fiscal improvements is from lower interest rates. As GR has been accumulating liabilities, interest rates have reached historically low levels and reduced the share of the budget dedicated to paying interest. Now that interest rates have risen, refinancing to lower rates isn't possible, so more of the city's budget will go towards paying interest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1383476a-9fb1-4a1a-be10-ff404df47316/Property+Taxes.png StrongTowns GR Journal - The Hidden Costs of Our City Budget - Property Taxes What it is: The orange line represents the total property tax revenue collected within GR. The white line shows this figure as a percentage of the city’s total revenue, illustrating how property tax fits within broader fiscal trends. What it tells you: While property tax revenue has grown 43% since 2010, its shrinking percentage of total revenue suggests that GR is increasingly relying on alternative funding sources. What the trend shows: If the white line is falling, while the orange line is increasing, GR is relying less on property tax revenues due to other income sources. GR Specific Analysis: GR hasn't been very aggressive in upzoning properties to allow incremental density and the higher property tax revenues that come with more dense property. If we were still at 2010's 13.4% of total revenue, our property tax revenue would be almost $20M higher each year, indexed to inflation! This is the cost of us dragging our feet on updating our zoning for over a decade. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/ce5e9a21-feed-4235-9b38-c470d1202387/Unrestricted+Shared+State+Revenue.png StrongTowns GR Journal - The Hidden Costs of Our City Budget - Unrestricted Shared State Revenue What it is: The funds that the State of Michigan gives to GR without specific spending requirements (e.g. sales tax distributions and revenue-sharing agreements). GR can use this money flexibly, often for general operations, infrastructure, or balancing budgets. What it tells you: High dependency on outside funding makes the city vulnerable to political or economic shifts beyond its control. What the trend shows: If the trend is rising, the city is becoming more dependent on outside help. If it’s falling, the city is strengthening its local revenue base. GR Specific Analysis: Over time, Michigan is sharing less money with GR, although since 2020, this trend has been reversing. It's good to see that even with this increased state funding, as a % of GR's total revenue, it's shrinking. This indicates GR is diversifying its revenue streams to depend less on the state. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/ea4e8673-7c76-46fd-8795-bce4bcc73a44/Government+Transfers-to-Total+Revenue.png StrongTowns GR Journal - The Hidden Costs of Our City Budget - Government Transfers-to-Total Revenue What it is: The share of the city’s income that comes from state or federal aid. What it tells you: High dependency on outside funding makes the city vulnerable to political or economic shifts beyond its control. What the trend shows: If the trend is rising, the city is becoming more dependent on outside help. If it’s falling, the city is strengthening its local revenue base. GR Specific Analysis: The pandemic relief funds are running out, and GR should strive to replace these temporary funds with more permanent revenue streams (like legalizing dense developments, which bring reliable, inflation-adjusted, perpetual revenue. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/85efd170-90fb-4e9b-b9a5-dd6429f33204/Total+Assets-to-Total+Liabilities.png StrongTowns GR Journal - The Hidden Costs of Our City Budget - Total Assets-to-Total Liabilities What it is: The value of all the city’s assets (including infrastructure) divided by its total liabilities. What it tells you: A ratio above 1 means the city owns more than it owes (solvent). Below 1 means it owes more than it owns (insolvent). What the trend shows: A downward trend means the city is becoming less solvent. An upward trend shows improving financial resilience. GR Specific Analysis: Grand Rapids is solvent (on paper)! After a concerning drop between 2014-2017, GR has been slowly improving. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/4b9cd06c-bed6-44ca-ac88-dab73355f784/Financial+Assets-to-Total+Liabilities.png StrongTowns GR Journal - The Hidden Costs of Our City Budget - Financial Assets-to-Total Liabilities What it is: The city’s financial assets—such as cash, receivables, and other short-term holdings—divided by its total liabilities. This is a different way of presenting the Net Financial Position. What it tells you: This ratio shows whether the city has enough liquid financial resources to cover what it owes. A ratio below 1 means it would not be able to pay off its liabilities using only its financial assets, which is a sign of financial stress. What the trend shows: A rising trend means the city is improving its financial buffer. A falling trend suggests the city is becoming less able to handle its obligations without borrowing or cutting services. GR Specific Analysis: Most cities report their Net Financial Position as total assets to total liabilities. But you can't sell a road to pay for a liability, so a better metric is current assets (money in the bank) to total liabilities. A ratio of 1 means we're solvent. Anything less means we're not. The upward trend is good news, but we're still about 30% shy of being solvent. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/587c6c39-129c-4d8b-9b6b-a3453c367e00/Net+Debt-to-Total+Revenues.png StrongTowns GR Journal - The Hidden Costs of Our City Budget - Net Debt-to-Total Revenues What it is: The total liabilities the city owes compared to how much revenue it collects in a year. What it tells you: This shows how many years of income it would take to pay off all debts if every dollar went to debt repayment. What the trend shows: If the ratio is rising, debt is growing faster than income—this is unsustainable. If it’s falling, the city is gaining control of its obligations. GR Specific Analysis: The downward trend is a good sign, especially as interest rates continue to rise and economic conditions tighten. A rising ratio would mean that a growing share of future revenue is already spoken for. A falling ratio means we have options. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/ad89e0de-8b4c-4366-b339-c6207e6003f6/Tax+Revenue+As+%25+of+Total+Revenue+%281%29.png StrongTowns GR Journal - The Hidden Costs of Our City Budget - Tax Revenue as a Percentage of Total Revenue - View 3 The same information as above, just with the rest of the revenue added in for better context. This version normalizes the numbers by displaying them as percentages to allow for easier comparison of the proportional tax revenue over time. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/4e033c85-3f43-49c2-b053-4aec7431696f/Surplus_Deficit+%28in+millions%29.png StrongTowns GR Journal - The Hidden Costs of Our City Budget - Surplus/Deficit What it is: The extra money available after meeting operational needs (surplus) or the amount required to maintain services (deficit). A surplus provides financial flexibility for investments beyond core operations, while a deficit necessitates borrowing or service reductions. What it tells you: A surplus allows the city to reinvest in infrastructure, services, or financial reserves. A deficit requires difficult trade-offs, such as borrowing or service cuts. What the trend shows: If the gap between surplus funds and the declining asset value continues to grow, GR may be prioritizing short-term financial stability at the expense of long-term infrastructure resilience. A shrinking net book value suggests that surplus funds should be strategically directed toward asset maintenance, preventing deferred maintenance from escalating into costly future repairs. GR Specific Analysis: GR has a healthy surplus, but the negative trend in capital asset valuation suggests a growing infrastructure gap. Redirecting funds toward asset maintenance and strategic reinvestment would help sustain the city’s physical foundation, ensuring long-term financial stability and reducing future liabilities from deferred maintenance. A true StrongTowns approach wouldn’t just redirect this surplus broadly; instead, we’d push for a bottom-up approach: test small-scale investments (maintenance, Vital Streets, DASH service, pedestrian safety, or bike lanes), measure productivity, and reinvest where returns are strongest. The path to resilience is not just maintaining infrastructure broadly, but prioritizing high-return investments at the block and neighborhood scale, ensuring that every dollar spent builds lasting wealth for residents. For example, investing in or subsidizing ADUs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/30a23427-4626-4b3a-9452-abe5ef2d8810/Net+Book+Value-to-Cost+of+Tangible+Capital+Assets.png StrongTowns GR Journal - The Hidden Costs of Our City Budget - Net Book Value-to-Cost of Tangible Capital Assets What it is: The current value of the city’s physical assets compared to their original cost. What it tells you: This indicates how well the city is maintaining its infrastructure. A low value means assets are aging and wearing out. What the trend shows: A declining trend means the city is falling behind on maintenance. A stable or rising trend suggests it is keeping up. GR Specific Analysis: Deferring maintenance on our core infrastructure systems has contributed to our recent budget surpluses. Because our infrastructure is depreciating faster than it is being repaired (i.e., the downward slope), repair costs are expected to increase in the future. In GR, the remaining useful life of our infrastructure has declined from 55.9% in 2010 to 46.1% in 2024. This is a sign that the city is not keeping pace with its maintenance obligations. Every year that maintenance is deferred, repair costs increase, pushing GR into financial distress. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/9b2309bb-002d-47b0-ba72-ad4ee659dc4b/Tax+Revenue+As+%25+of+Total+Revenue.png StrongTowns GR Journal - The Hidden Costs of Our City Budget - Tax Revenue as a Percentage of Total Revenue - View 1 What it is: The white and orange lines represent revenue as a percentage of the whole for income and property tax, respectively. What it tells you: Grand Rapids is attracting higher-income residents, leading to rising income tax collections. However, with a limited supply of high-end housing, these residents bid up older housing stock, accelerating appreciation beyond the 5% cap on taxable value growth. Since Michigan law limits how much taxable value can rise annually, the city struggles to fully capture the benefits of rising home values. What the trend shows: If the gap between property tax revenue and total revenue keeps shrinking, GR will rely more on income tax while missing out on property tax revenue growth. Since the taxable property value is capped at a 5% increase annually, appreciation beyond this limit means the city fails to fully leverage rising home values. Increasing housing supply could help keep appreciation in check while ensuring the city collects more revenue. GR Specific Analysis: Grand Rapids is currently experiencing an all-time high difference between State Equalized Value (SEV) and taxable value, as reported by the city’s assessor. This gap represents lost potential revenue, as rising home values exceed taxable growth limits. If Grand Rapids allowed more housing construction, annual appreciation could stay below the 5% cap, enabling the city to capture additional property tax dollars while maintaining affordability. Expanding housing supply would stabilize home prices, reduce dependence on income tax, and maximize property tax potential. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/48b1cd62-1fcb-4e8f-a3ca-f01d6827672a/Tax+Revenue+As+%25+of+Total+Revenue+%282%29.png StrongTowns GR Journal - The Hidden Costs of Our City Budget - Tax Revenue as a Percentage of Total Revenue - View 2 What it is: The same information as above, just with the rest of the revenue added in for better context. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/29809acb-aefe-49dc-9b65-6d0ba3b1a8c4/Net+Financial+Position+%28In+Thousands+of+Dollars%29.png StrongTowns GR Journal - The Hidden Costs of Our City Budget - Net Financial Position The closer you are to ZERO the more sustainable the deficit is. The further way from ZERO the less sustainable the deficit is. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/strongtowns-gr-journal/category/Newsletter monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/strongtowns-gr-journal/category/January+2024 monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/strongtowns-gr-journal/category/Grand+Rapids monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/strongtowns-gr-journal/category/December+2023 monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/strongtowns-gr-journal/category/April+2024 monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/strongtowns-gr-journal/category/March+2024 monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/strongtowns-gr-journal/category/Housing monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/events daily 0.75 2026-01-06 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/events/october-general-meeting-2025 monthly 0.5 2025-10-23 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/events/general-meeting-august-2025 monthly 0.5 2025-08-19 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/events/adu-bootcamp- monthly 0.5 2025-08-14 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/events/june-general-meeting-2025 monthly 0.5 2025-06-21 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/events/stgr-may-meeting-gemtlichkeit monthly 0.5 2025-05-21 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/events/general-meeting monthly 0.5 2025-03-24 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/events/october-general-meeting monthly 0.5 2024-10-12 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/events/active-commute-week monthly 0.5 2024-08-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/5e62c3e4-ab6b-4858-a356-fffe7e3ac737/ACWPC2024-08-14+200435.png Events - Active Commute Week - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/11f4550d-bc52-41ae-8d72-e5fe30457abe/ACW+Photo+Challenge.png Events - Active Commute Week - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/events/stgr-ahmi-happy-hour monthly 0.5 2024-08-20 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/events/september-general-meeting monthly 0.5 2024-09-04 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/events/august-general-meeting monthly 0.5 2024-08-14 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/events/july-general-meeting monthly 0.5 2024-07-03 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/events/june-general-meeting monthly 0.5 2024-05-28 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/events/april-general-meeting monthly 0.5 2024-04-09 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/events/march-general-meeting monthly 0.5 2024-03-13 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/events/february monthly 0.5 2024-02-14 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/events/january-2024-general-meeting monthly 0.5 2024-01-16 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/events/november-general-meeting monthly 0.5 2023-11-20 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/events/event-one-zk68k monthly 0.5 2023-08-25 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/events/event-three-ade45 monthly 0.5 2023-10-20 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/events/event-two-jpwa6 monthly 0.5 2023-10-03 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive daily 0.75 2025-09-21 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/corewell-health-place-north-monroe-campus-special-land-use-permit monthly 0.5 2025-02-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1740622132680-WED9U6Y7UKXWNKF9OFH6/2025-02-03.01.jpg Archive - Corewell Health Place North Monroe Campus Special Land Use Permit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1740622132554-7PUL5SG5BERN0X633L9F/2025-02-03.02.jpg Archive - Corewell Health Place North Monroe Campus Special Land Use Permit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1740622133594-WP7T1BO4F0FYNW7VQJYT/2025-02-03.03.jpg Archive - Corewell Health Place North Monroe Campus Special Land Use Permit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1740622134549-QGP8RBMWHMBQ9LFGKYN6/2025-02-03.04.jpg Archive - Corewell Health Place North Monroe Campus Special Land Use Permit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1740622135575-UG8B6UOLFIOT3E31QH4E/2025-02-05.00.jpg Archive - Corewell Health Place North Monroe Campus Special Land Use Permit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1740622138458-77B5MY9Z3YLII25UJZ7J/2025-02-07.00.jpg Archive - Corewell Health Place North Monroe Campus Special Land Use Permit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1740622139595-0TGG2NJSEFKEVW2UAIIG/2025-02-10.00.jpg Archive - Corewell Health Place North Monroe Campus Special Land Use Permit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1740622140691-2YLLHKS3SHCG5N2ZO219/2025-02-10.jpg Archive - Corewell Health Place North Monroe Campus Special Land Use Permit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1740622141454-WZU31U9H9VBG7GK9OXZC/2025-02-17.jpg Archive - Corewell Health Place North Monroe Campus Special Land Use Permit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1740622141825-5XY90U2U1OMOA37ISH2T/2025-02-11-0245pm.01.jpg Archive - Corewell Health Place North Monroe Campus Special Land Use Permit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/639614aa-8a22-4040-aa51-dd30d084aa81/Current+Buildings+on+647+Ottawa.png Archive - Corewell Health Place North Monroe Campus Special Land Use Permit - Make it stand out Current Buildings at 647 Ottawa. Since Corewell has purchased these building from previous occupants the buildings have been “unused and blighted buildings” per the project narrative. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/0ab6b1b5-e678-4309-9b4b-b72e4598fe0c/Corewell+Health+Surface+Lot+SLU.png Archive - Corewell Health Place North Monroe Campus Special Land Use Permit - Make it stand out The land in question is inside of the RED outline. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/opposition-letter-to-the-special-land-use-application-by-corewell-health monthly 0.5 2025-02-27 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/the-fulmar-three-towers-development-and-tsp monthly 0.5 2025-01-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/c41c9512-8460-4c0f-bf1a-1e985f37020a/mlive3towersrender.jpg Archive - The Fulmar “Three Towers” Development and TSP - Make it stand out Overview of the Three Towers project, reproduced from MLive1. Currently the project does not have a public website for information. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/gvmc-regional-safety-action-plan monthly 0.5 2025-01-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1711748149927-JKV3JJAKUVUFOVFFJC52/GVMC2.png Archive - GVMC Regional Safety Action Plan - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/cnu-highways-to-boulevards monthly 0.5 2024-10-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1701647911571-GSLKI8NPVO6TMACLS24A/131northbound.jpg Archive - CNU: Highways To Boulevards - Make it stand out US 131 Northbound at Hall Street. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/road-construction-projects-in-gr monthly 0.5 2024-06-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/3dda05e8-7dba-4c6c-820d-25823a0d06c6/Downtownmonroe.jpg Archive - Road Construction Projects in GR - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/the-rapid-master-plan-public-feedback monthly 0.5 2024-06-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/c9802392-7251-4ee1-bebe-060d0bd9edaf/logo.png Archive - The Rapid Master Plan- Public Feedback - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/april2024-newsletter monthly 0.5 2024-04-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/f29c45b7-5ee5-444a-bb67-54ae752ae151/CommisionNightOut.jpg Archive - April Newsletter - Make it stand out Who had more fun at Commission Night out? The citizens or the Commissioners? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/545a074f-b9e9-432c-84fa-dbb59bd288df/InfrastructureFailure.jpg Archive - April Newsletter - Make it stand out This months Failed Infrastructure Feature! Northbound Kalamazoo where the speed limit is 35 mph! Imagine if we had a sidewalk on that side of the road! https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/the-bike-commuting-season-is-upon-us monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/d8f902d4-7ed3-4ec8-a3e7-514a98a81269/PXL_20230826_011204230.jpg Archive - The Bike Commuting Season is Upon Us - Make it stand out Bike repair stands are all over the City! https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/community-clean-up-15th monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/c778e9ce-b3d0-40fc-b546-1f4ca588cb3b/community+clean+up.jpg Archive - Community Clean Up- 15th - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/housing-step-down monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/6dfb6239-c17c-4562-9834-1a9c487344ec/HousingNextInfoGraph.png Archive - Housing Step Down - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/the-rapid-etc-ridership-survey monthly 0.5 2024-04-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/c9802392-7251-4ee1-bebe-060d0bd9edaf/logo.png Archive - The Rapid - ETC Ridership Survey - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/grand-valley-metropolitan-council-metropolitan-transportation-plan monthly 0.5 2024-03-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/a4b1d94d-6abf-4042-bea2-5060516e6063/GVMC2.png Archive - Grand Valley Metropolitan Council- Metropolitan Transportation Plan - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/letter-of-support-for-zoning-changes-april-2024 monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/why-you-should-support-the-zoning-changes-in-2024 monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/commission-night-out monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/b82ddc95-3a49-4d2f-abfd-2e6a3ee29e48/cno-march-19-2024-1920x1005.png Archive - Commission Night Out - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/gr-food-coop-survey monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/e9766a87-dad1-44ad-9e24-1d388d22d19f/MonroeDining2_WRempel.jpg Archive - GR Food Coop Survey - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/the-impact-of-zoning monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/c66c51d3-6e8a-454f-8b69-09b7bf1d0b56/3rdspace.png Archive - The Impact of Zoning - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/making-grand-rapids-a-great-cycling-city monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/86fa3f83-8dab-4663-aa04-e187991dea94/Screenshot+2024-03-06+202603.png Archive - Making Grand Rapids a Great Cycling City - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/us-131-we-are-broke monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/788ee340-cff3-4466-a8c5-5cad25682631/WarrenRemple131Render.PNG Archive - US - 131 “We are broke!” - Make it stand out US 131 as a Boulevard in Downtown GR- Render provided by Warren Rempel https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/strongest-town-contest monthly 0.5 2024-03-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/316acc0a-6a98-46f3-9fa6-4496ad7e11ef/stc_logo-lock_blue.jpg Archive - Strongest Town Contest - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/strongest-towns-competition monthly 0.5 2024-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1709598166588-FK6WNVF91GQLS3UPU5AP/PXL_20240209_233921067.MP.jpg Archive - Strongest Towns Contest https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1709598162071-XMX55XIUOBJXYZ6G5ALI/PXL_20240209_235923044.MP.jpg Archive - Strongest Towns Contest https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1709598142373-D407GLZOS9LJGEHZAR3S/PXL_20230916_225805127.jpg Archive - Strongest Towns Contest https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1709598142927-BL2IMOS3N6NF42PZWJQK/PXL_20231017_224257346.jpg Archive - Strongest Towns Contest https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1709598134437-B607EQV50B1TJ5BC6JD4/PXL_20230826_203521623.MP.jpg Archive - Strongest Towns Contest https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1709598133953-Z0VWFEG14ITECSU56QCI/PXL_20230907_143036545.jpg Archive - Strongest Towns Contest https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1709598123310-3B7H2ZKUV8VNFMT6BW60/PXL_20230826_234156396.jpg Archive - Strongest Towns Contest https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1709598107061-AH76M4KW5ELSGP2ADVFE/IMG_2793.jpg Archive - Strongest Towns Contest https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1709598111248-9EZTQ5KDA0HJ1FR4E37P/IMG_4237.jpg Archive - Strongest Towns Contest https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1709598111855-TSWJ09V6TQ78W7BVM78U/MonroeDining2_WRempel.jpg Archive - Strongest Towns Contest https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1709598116167-1CFLMWL6PWGS1RPIIT6Z/PopUpCoffee1_WRempel.jpg Archive - Strongest Towns Contest https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1709598106587-OSPV4TE9ZCACMCP73V1T/GRAM_WRempel.jpg Archive - Strongest Towns Contest https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1709598102715-FFIKTJBCXSUN1T12LNYS/DJI_0605-Edit.jpg Archive - Strongest Towns Contest https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1709598102593-BH13BCCK78R20TMQ05DQ/DSC00186-Edit.jpg Archive - Strongest Towns Contest https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1709598093250-PWHGYN7QQ1TTS04FEV1V/2015.jpg Archive - Strongest Towns Contest https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1709598096641-C6YTV0FJFMQ8AZ6CBC2L/DGRI_NoParking_WRempel.jpg Archive - Strongest Towns Contest https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1709598096159-JZ0UIZV8O3G3QTPLFYWP/BreweryBonVivant_Bikes_WRempel.jpg Archive - Strongest Towns Contest https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1709598094055-1FF47EEXI5JRAYH2ENGA/20230929_143056.jpg Archive - Strongest Towns Contest https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1709598092367-1RE0S0GZ3LOQ0OWDMCGN/20230825_193255.jpg Archive - Strongest Towns Contest https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/066cb483-3b34-4ee8-9e93-f4ec9f2747eb/MonroeDining2_WRempel.jpg Archive - Strongest Towns Contest https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/oxford-trail-improvement-project monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/e7862aef-b2da-46db-823f-0bde1930e8c3/20240112BannerMap120x96.jpg Archive - Oxford Trail Improvement Project - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/transportation-riders-united- monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/grand-action-20-soccer-stadium-focus-groups monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/mdot-road-use-charging-survey monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/planning-commission-zoning-changes monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/housing-breakdown-in-gr monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/c2fb5af1-0e64-445a-a13b-0c4096b6d2d1/Vehicle+Ownership+Per+Household.png Archive - A Housing Breakdown in Grand Rapids - Vehicle Ownership Per Household Interestingly the number of household that have one car is the largest segment, in 2022. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/4a9ebef5-cdfa-4846-9be9-f82ca52db581/Units+per+Structure+in+GR++%284+year+Average%29.png Archive - A Housing Breakdown in Grand Rapids - What kind of housing do we have right now? Mostly the housing in GR is 1 unit, detached. The next largest segment is 20 or more units in a structure. This is referred to by housing experts as the missing middle, which has between 2 units per structure and 5-9 units per structure. These types of housing increases density within a structure, without increasing the footprint of the building. These types of developments can be cleverly integrated into neighborhoods to avoid changing the character of the neighborhood from single family housing, to more multi family housing. Some prime examples of these would be rowhouses commonly found in eastern seaboard cities. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/aef836f8-390e-46a6-baed-2472717195e6/OccupiedUnitsPayingRent.png Archive - A Housing Breakdown in Grand Rapids - The median rent in Grand Rapids has increased by $353 since 2018. The median rent in Grand Rapids has increased by three hundred and fifty three dollars since 2018. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/c17732c2-ac05-4080-bace-89b4e30976cc/YEAR+STRUCTURE+BUILT-+4+year+Average_.png Archive - A Housing Breakdown in Grand Rapids - How old is the housing stock in GR? 76.76% of structures that people live in have been built before 1979. The other 23.24% have been built in the last 44 years. Only 267 Structures have been build in the last 10 years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/dd636b80-e7e4-4b0d-9d17-0663ae3312e2/HOUSING+TENURE.png Archive - A Housing Breakdown in Grand Rapids - Rent or Buy? Buying a home is only one way to live in Grand Rapids, and arguably the more static figure. The rental market in Grand Rapids has only been growing in the last 2 years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/4bdf1b68-33d1-40c5-8794-648adc16b2ce/Value_of+_Owner_Occupied_Units.png Archive - A Housing Breakdown in Grand Rapids - Value of Owner Occupied Units over the last 5 years. The value of these housing structures has increased over time as well. The Median value has increased by $83,300 in the last 5 years! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/cbca69dd-8691-4f51-97df-25cbdf02b4c2/Rent+over+Time+in+The+Grand+Rapids+Market+%282%29.png Archive - A Housing Breakdown in Grand Rapids - Changes in the Rental Market Looking at trends here, we can see that the $500-$999 range has slowly shrinking. While at the same time $1000-$1499 range has increased in the same time and nearly doubled in 2022. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/06ff3f94-4c9a-4ba3-a4b1-5d3fdf2832da/Owner+Occupied_+Housing+Values+Per+Year+in+GR.png Archive - A Housing Breakdown in Grand Rapids - A Breakdown of Owner Occupied Housing Values Unfortunately though, it is not because we are building more housing. It is because valuations for houses have shifted, due to demand in the area for housing. Notice the shrinking segment of everything under $200,000. Starter homes are almost non-existent now in the Grand Rapids market. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/a4b2e12c-46ad-42b4-955e-0166d1ec40ec/Number+of+Rooms+Per+Structure.png Archive - A Housing Breakdown in Grand Rapids - What does the average house look like in GR? Unsurprisingly, the average house in Grand Rapids has a median number of rooms at 5.4, with between 2 and 3 bedrooms. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/02083677-0334-4034-b279-3db398ba26a7/YEAR+HOUSEHOLDER+MOVED+INTO+UNIT-+4+Year+Average+%281%29.png Archive - A Housing Breakdown in Grand Rapids - What kind of changes have been happening in GR? According to the US census data 30% of people have moved in 2017 and later. Another 20.7% have moved in between 2015 and 2016. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/friends-of-slow-streets monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/067484d0-14bb-4a96-bc09-f73470764b2a/PXL_20230826_235855013.jpg Archive - Friends of Slow Streets - Friends of Slow Streets has a petition that you can sign to build more protected bike lanes in Grand Rapids. Find that here. They are also having an Advocacy Day at the City Commission Meeting on January 23rd. You can find that sign up here. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/a-hallmark-neighborhood monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/81ae6f8e-d0df-442f-9817-d6d37deaf51b/202censusgrvshousehold.png Archive - A Hallmark Neighborhood - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/a8f00f4d-c764-4ce2-ad2c-61e10df76dfe/2020+census+data.png Archive - A Hallmark Neighborhood - Make it stand out 2020 Census Data- 1,153,091 people combined. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/6864bf70-0f90-4901-b27f-cdb0f9a806f5/2010+census+data.png Archive - A Hallmark Neighborhood - Make it stand out 2010 Census data- 1,054,463 people combined. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1cb74305-adca-49b9-89c7-b457c5b68a19/Counties+Around+GR+Population+Breakdown+%281%29.png Archive - A Hallmark Neighborhood - Make it stand out Compared to the surrounding counties. Data for; Kent County, Ottawa County, Ionia County, Muskegon County, Allegan County, Montcalm County, Barry County. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/0495c2b2-cea1-4888-8779-584b7bc42e6b/Grand+Rapids+Population+Breakdown+%281%29.png Archive - A Hallmark Neighborhood - Make it stand out Grand Rapids is a young city! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/09a6f07f-d1d8-458a-967f-19c48fd39981/scatterplotgrvshousehold.png Archive - A Hallmark Neighborhood - Make it stand out Average is calculated using data for; Kent County, Ottawa County, Ionia County, Muskegon County, Allegan County, Montcalm County, Barry County. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/how-michigan-funds-local-public-transportation monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/0817edf4-3466-41da-bab3-458bf1c36676/fundinggraphic.png Archive - How Michigan Funds Local Public Transportation - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/transforming-grand-rapids-a-call-for-innovative-transit-solutions monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/michigan-department-of-environment-mi-hcp monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/8a091bf2-61ba-41c3-9701-d424aac71c4d/MIEGLE.png Archive - Michigan Department of Environment - MI Healthy Climate Plan Implementation Public Input - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/grand-rapids-museum-school-9th-grade-presentation monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1701543435111-9K8SYAKECRUERHB5Z0ON/Sustainable+Transit+Neighborhood+2023.jpg Archive - Grand Rapids Museum School 9th Grade Presentation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1701543434711-CPKDJET22RXBU9BC0IDX/Sustainable+Transit+Neighborhood+2023+%281%29.jpg Archive - Grand Rapids Museum School 9th Grade Presentation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1701543433776-Q9EO8CTJ3BXJWI7YLM5F/Sustainable+Transit+Neighborhood+2023+%283%29.jpg Archive - Grand Rapids Museum School 9th Grade Presentation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1701543433435-083X6HSP1AC2GGJH81XJ/Sustainable+Transit+Neighborhood+2023+%284%29.jpg Archive - Grand Rapids Museum School 9th Grade Presentation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1701543432930-IIEX7MMZMB3O6B2MPEGU/Sustainable+Transit+Neighborhood+2023+%285%29.jpg Archive - Grand Rapids Museum School 9th Grade Presentation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1701543432659-AD9FJ64YJS6QM136I1YW/Sustainable+Transit+Neighborhood+2023+%286%29.jpg Archive - Grand Rapids Museum School 9th Grade Presentation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1701543432167-6PKEA8JSLMJ4JQG722PW/Sustainable+Transit+Neighborhood+2023+%287%29.jpg Archive - Grand Rapids Museum School 9th Grade Presentation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1701543431835-X0AOUZERLQJW5R63E15L/Sustainable+Transit+Neighborhood+2023+%288%29.jpg Archive - Grand Rapids Museum School 9th Grade Presentation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1701543431375-ND2JRD9DAV250BWT0Z5E/Sustainable+Transit+Neighborhood+2023+%289%29.jpg Archive - Grand Rapids Museum School 9th Grade Presentation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1701543430773-3L1WDEVB07E0O685VN1U/Sustainable+Transit+Neighborhood+2023+%2810%29.jpg Archive - Grand Rapids Museum School 9th Grade Presentation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1701543430528-TNH7KRFV5IALPREBEUZA/Sustainable+Transit+Neighborhood+2023+%2811%29.jpg Archive - Grand Rapids Museum School 9th Grade Presentation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1701543429963-I82QXQQJENR8XR10L9H9/Sustainable+Transit+Neighborhood+2023+%2812%29.jpg Archive - Grand Rapids Museum School 9th Grade Presentation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1701543429678-QZ8WF02KDFJ6JYI57A3T/Sustainable+Transit+Neighborhood+2023+%2813%29.jpg Archive - Grand Rapids Museum School 9th Grade Presentation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1701543428872-A297LTU2A6JJBXDY74GP/Sustainable+Transit+Neighborhood+2023+%2814%29.jpg Archive - Grand Rapids Museum School 9th Grade Presentation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1701543428803-KZ6ZOB3OVI6X3UI24T2C/Sustainable+Transit+Neighborhood+2023+%2815%29.jpg Archive - Grand Rapids Museum School 9th Grade Presentation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1701543712958-O3HDWGPCP2ZERB1OADGZ/Sustainable+Transit+Neighborhood+2023.jpg Archive - Grand Rapids Museum School 9th Grade Presentation https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/grand-rapids-community-surveys monthly 0.5 2023-12-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1701541817381-Z0DYRDFTSDNVCLRJW03D/bluebridgeatnight.jpg Archive - Grand Rapids- Engage GR - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/mdot-us-131-pel-study monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/76aaac34-b80f-41aa-ad46-6c7d3e493eb7/demographics.png Archive - MDOT US-131 PEL Study - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/cc6ba4b1-43c9-46ad-8c32-21bdf66e245b/wealthystreetquestion.png Archive - MDOT US-131 PEL Study - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/be8001af-d9b4-447a-95b5-e347a21e24b9/cooridorneedsquestion.png Archive - MDOT US-131 PEL Study - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/b512385e-fd40-42c2-b914-628b5a5390c9/commentbox.png Archive - MDOT US-131 PEL Study - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/50fb10e7-81d4-4096-8e7b-d9cac581ae55/mdotpelstudybutton.png Archive - MDOT US-131 PEL Study - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/24ebb172-b717-40ca-9b75-edcac6b692e8/nextbutton.png Archive - MDOT US-131 PEL Study - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/2a301c94-92eb-4760-9669-c890fdfaa8cb/pelstudylandingpage.png Archive - MDOT US-131 PEL Study - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/34b6ab5a-34b0-4c21-9b3b-69675316e3c8/submit.png Archive - MDOT US-131 PEL Study - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/f04d258e-331a-4ae0-9e44-860400b8592d/Freewaylanedesignquestion.png Archive - MDOT US-131 PEL Study - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/dab6ac27-c13a-4f29-a66d-c5e2920b8161/mlkredesignquestion.png Archive - MDOT US-131 PEL Study - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/shea-ravines-apartments-wyoming monthly 0.5 2023-12-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/cf90b2bf-6025-4a17-aa09-216a1e07debe/WodaCooperConcept.jpg Archive - Shea Ravines Apartments- Wyoming - Make it stand out Proposed development with a partnership with Cherry Health next door. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/john-ball-park monthly 0.5 2023-11-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/a53a15b0-683f-4261-b82b-0caa00db5cde/Screenshot+2023-10-31+185146.png Archive - Guest Contribution: Save John Ball Park: 40 Years of Fighting Parking Lot Expansion on Grand Rapids’ Westside - Make it stand out Parking expansion proposal; everything in orange would be paved. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/bd4f6339-482c-4611-8140-405e02d08dfb/2015Masterplanexpansion.png Archive - Guest Contribution: Save John Ball Park: 40 Years of Fighting Parking Lot Expansion on Grand Rapids’ Westside - Make it stand out 2015 master plan parking proposal; the white box is proposed parking expansion. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/9889fa82-2a19-461a-843b-b5517d7cdad4/20231023_164942-EDIT.jpg Archive - Guest Contribution: Save John Ball Park: 40 Years of Fighting Parking Lot Expansion on Grand Rapids’ Westside - Make it stand out The John Ball Zoo stop on the Laker Line. Do you know where the Zoo is from here? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/8d3e2290-e1d0-4ece-aa68-72dfb6c6e2f5/JBPlanduse.jpg Archive - Guest Contribution: Save John Ball Park: 40 Years of Fighting Parking Lot Expansion on Grand Rapids’ Westside - Make it stand out The park-zoo divide, as per the zoo’s lease with Kent County. Zoo is on the top of the parcel, Park is on the bottom. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/ef5dac3f-2f7c-4902-a8a9-602a57177eb0/jbzparkingoverlay.jpg Archive - Guest Contribution: Save John Ball Park: 40 Years of Fighting Parking Lot Expansion on Grand Rapids’ Westside - Make it stand out A rough overlay of the current Park and Zoo line compared to the lease agreement. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/7ed93d2e-cb58-464d-adee-5290aaf8e0f4/2022JBPcars.png Archive - Guest Contribution: Save John Ball Park: 40 Years of Fighting Parking Lot Expansion on Grand Rapids’ Westside - Make it stand out John Ball Park filled with cars in 2022. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/john-ball-park-and-the-zoo monthly 0.5 2023-12-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/9eb5d014-5a8c-4abe-84bf-7c7ce280e962/JBZ.png Archive - John Ball Zoo Parking at John Ball Park - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/corewell-health-parking monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/a7385142-cb60-44ce-ad56-774052ea8b02/PXL_20230912_233310729.jpg Archive - Corewell Health Parking - Make it stand out Think of how many parking ramps are placed in this corner of town and how many cars get stored there, rather than on the street! https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/therapid-thrivingmasterplan monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/66a403a2-9148-4ac4-94f6-7f77bf7ee233/the+rapid+thriving+logo.png Archive - The Rapid - Thriving Master Plan</span> - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/grand-rapids-office-of-sustainability monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/2e28fbe2-067a-4de1-a658-f7fc867f86ba/Screenshot+2023-10-21+140331.png Archive - Grand Rapids- Office of Sustainability</span> - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/grand-rapids-community-master-plan monthly 0.5 2024-06-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/fc7b2395-34fb-49c5-8cb6-e72966acc7b1/btof-logo_color.jpg Archive - Grand Rapids- Community Master Plan Review - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/category/John+Ball+Park monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/category/Grand+Rapids monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/category/December+2023 monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/category/Zoning monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/category/April+2024 monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/category/John+Ball+Zoo monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/category/Housing monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/category/Michigan monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/category/Newsletter monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/category/US-131 monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/category/January+2024 monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/category/Kent+County monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/category/City+Commission monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/category/MDOT monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/category/EGLE monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/category/March+2024 monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/category/The+Rapid monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/tag/Action monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/tag/Transportation monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/tag/Parking+Lots monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/tag/Mobility monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/tag/Zoning monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/tag/Housing monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/tag/Transit monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/tag/Newsletter monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/tag/January+2024 monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/tag/Survey monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/tag/STGR+Journal monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/tag/Guest+Publication monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/tag/Letter+of+Support monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/tag/Community+Building monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/tag/MDOT monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/archive/tag/March+2024 monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/action- daily 0.75 2025-08-18 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/action-/gr-planning-update-zoning-ordinance-update monthly 0.5 2025-08-18 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/action-/category/US-131 monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/action-/category/City+Commission monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/action-/category/Grand+Rapids monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/action-/category/MDOT monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/action-/category/Zoning monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/action-/category/EGLE monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/action-/category/The+Rapid monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/action-/category/Michigan monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/how-to-guides daily 0.75 2025-01-25 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/how-to-guides/how-to-engage-the-city-commission monthly 0.5 2024-03-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/bd7d0211-0140-4f12-8413-a9fcd5963655/citycommissionmeetingbutton.png How To Guides - How to Engage the City Commission - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/0cf8d29f-429d-4165-afd9-c1336f531bcc/meetingportalcurrentmeetings.png How To Guides - How to Engage the City Commission - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.strongtownsgr.org/how-to-guides/category/January+2024 monthly 0.5 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/home daily 1.0 2025-07-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/57b24072-117d-4f21-a092-84d270480e3a/Meyer_May_House.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/3b4c7186-d15d-4a5d-bf64-a7970ba6defc/Blue_Bridge_Grand_Rapids%2C_Michigan.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/83cdca47-581d-4a6f-a721-45e726354d90/IMG_3164.jpeg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1692908931886-4O3LK4ZANIOBCMQ9R7XA/image-asset.jpeg https://www.strongtownsgr.org/contact daily 0.75 2025-01-25 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/about daily 0.75 2025-02-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/f145cfa0-589e-44c5-bd19-f8391ebb8ddc/Screenshot+2023-08-24+173347.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/488a2000-10ba-41b0-9c29-3afc0569d66d/PXL_20230718_221125134.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/0aecca39-967f-469a-8775-db0f9b7cbd7d/Annaprofile+pic.jpg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/4e5f555f-e70d-4b00-9028-b83cf9142509/PXL_20211023_165408111.PORTRAIT.jpg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/6b3f01a0-609b-4d7c-b079-34b0a00c407d/1682115342502.jfif About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/14b84f2e-11c4-4115-83e7-ab0866092e43/AdamWilliams.picture.jpg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/114b9ada-a6b7-4670-9c2b-2ed11c54dd50/PXL_20231019_231712386.jpg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/d9d31fb1-eee8-42c1-9a84-e188a0c74c79/janellepic.jpg About https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/351ff46f-a836-4451-84ab-203277a5845a/LauraCesa.jpg About https://www.strongtownsgr.org/thankyou daily 0.75 2023-08-26 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/privacypolicy daily 0.75 2024-03-07 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/partner-organizations daily 0.75 2024-03-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/30dd2fe4-ad5d-4739-ac82-464944e001ec/8dbec7_35b7db7cfe774e54bcac1df01c74b0ec%7Emv2.jpg Community Partners https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/358f5ad6-6501-465b-b64e-0a08dae0bd73/GGRBC_Header-Navigation_Logo.png Community Partners https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/39909846-b75c-4174-97ae-b92636868324/Blue+Print+%281%29.png Community Partners https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/bbab0fe7-04f7-4b65-bf94-dba82aaa9335/Screenshot+2024-03-04+194838.png Community Partners https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/99daeea5-3b26-4eae-9a4f-832b063ce947/Slow%2BStreets%2Bworkmark%2Bpink%2Btransparent%2Bbg.png Community Partners https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/473d14a6-8e2d-44fc-96c6-fd77e78f5ffd/Screenshot+2024-03-04+195344.png Community Partners https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/c9802392-7251-4ee1-bebe-060d0bd9edaf/logo.png Community Partners https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/21cfe6a7-16a7-4c97-aaef-4070b48dc9d4/MI-West-Michigan_horizontal-header.png Community Partners https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/7b765006-115d-46bc-92ec-956bb0cff7a4/ICCF50-PrimaryLogo-FullColor-300x132.png Community Partners https://www.strongtownsgr.org/education daily 0.75 2023-10-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/cd92df97-e3d9-4d29-99c7-3f16cdc85f72/PXL_20230827_000731510.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/b498ba89-19c1-42d1-8f95-a008491fa0f2/Blue+Print.png Education https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1c9e74d6-094c-4e2d-bb5a-eda5866d786b/Screenshot+2023-08-24+170750.png Education https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1697907404831-T0M1XSRF63RXBTX6TCKF/image-asset.jpeg Education https://www.strongtownsgr.org/safe-and-productive-streets daily 0.75 2024-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/9889fa82-2a19-461a-843b-b5517d7cdad4/20231023_164942-EDIT.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/e9766a87-dad1-44ad-9e24-1d388d22d19f/MonroeDining2_WRempel.jpg https://www.strongtownsgr.org/transparent-local-accounting daily 0.75 2024-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1704763930781-VQYEDIU0R9KO0ZLOS1W9/PXL_20240101_194009326.jpg https://www.strongtownsgr.org/end-highway-expansions daily 0.75 2024-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1701647911571-GSLKI8NPVO6TMACLS24A/131northbound.jpg https://www.strongtownsgr.org/end-parking-mandates-and-subsidies daily 0.75 2024-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/821e7f36-635f-4f0e-8dfe-a5311fd888d7/MallParking.jpg https://www.strongtownsgr.org/incremental-housing daily 0.75 2024-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/cd59d6c3-86cd-41a8-aad8-81cf74ba2017/AlgerNeighborhood.jpg https://www.strongtownsgr.org/maps daily 0.75 2025-02-02 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/14743ed9-37c5-4b0e-ade4-4e3f0e6ae046/Grand%2BRapids%2Bholc-scan.jpg https://www.strongtownsgr.org/store daily 0.75 2025-08-08 https://www.strongtownsgr.org/store/p/stgr-glossy-skyline-mug monthly 0.5 2025-08-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/f385b3c3-4c08-4c7e-a8e8-7b8e5604b3b9/white-glossy-mug-white-11-oz-office-environment-68965819c03d3.png Store - STGR Glossy Skyline Mug https://www.strongtownsgr.org/store/p/premium-stgr-skyline-sweatshirt monthly 0.5 2025-08-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1754683189576-R72E4WK5ECBSVWLLJU6S/unisex-premium-sweatshirt-navy-blazer-front-689657246cf15.jpg Store - Premium STGR Skyline Sweatshirt https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1754683195609-CM4Z7ZE8QDE2LVOWGSL6/unisex-premium-sweatshirt-navy-blazer-back-689657247057f.jpg Store - Premium STGR Skyline Sweatshirt https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1754683191484-7UQQ9YAFACKRRL26PBRP/unisex-premium-sweatshirt-black-front-689657246f1cc.jpg Store - Premium STGR Skyline Sweatshirt https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1754683193616-L8OND7A6B17QY5CMWNIE/unisex-premium-sweatshirt-black-back-689657246f913.jpg Store - Premium STGR Skyline Sweatshirt https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1754683196904-ZFVP1ZE2FE9PIUCVFK6M/unisex-premium-sweatshirt-forest-green-front-6896572471f18.jpg Store - Premium STGR Skyline Sweatshirt https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1754683198316-JIFNUZUDGLQJEUWGU983/unisex-premium-sweatshirt-forest-green-back-6896572473ea0.jpg Store - Premium STGR Skyline Sweatshirt https://www.strongtownsgr.org/store/p/strong-towns-grand-rapids-line-art-logo-shirt monthly 0.5 2025-08-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1754574792705-KNOIM6PM8Y5ROW6YCRZ6/unisex-staple-t-shirt-black-front-6894afc045acc.jpg Store - Strong Towns Grand Rapids Line Art Logo Shirt https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1754574569524-32DM2S2JS4FB3CUGWSEA/unisex-staple-t-shirt-black-back-6894aedd81871.jpg Store - Strong Towns Grand Rapids Line Art Logo Shirt https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1754574795601-7VMD0XSX18GQP2TYHZKW/unisex-staple-t-shirt-navy-front-6894afc04922d.jpg Store - Strong Towns Grand Rapids Line Art Logo Shirt https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1754574573567-ZOO3M87TIE98GEUKMSPZ/unisex-staple-t-shirt-navy-back-6894aedd86d99.jpg Store - Strong Towns Grand Rapids Line Art Logo Shirt https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1754574798600-9AFJYAX7VXCHH9FIQ1QY/unisex-staple-t-shirt-berry-front-6894afc0510ce.jpg Store - Strong Towns Grand Rapids Line Art Logo Shirt https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1754574577555-42T5EOW046RWHVMEARX3/unisex-staple-t-shirt-berry-back-6894aedd918cd.jpg Store - Strong Towns Grand Rapids Line Art Logo Shirt https://www.strongtownsgr.org/store/p/stronger-grand-rapids-t-shirt monthly 0.5 2025-08-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1754575371636-15MQI9CUE0LZMSNOCK4N/unisex-staple-t-shirt-navy-front-6894b2026584d.jpg Store - Stronger Grand Rapids T-Shirt https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1754575373796-XPLQ0TPDK8EAAZZXM165/unisex-staple-t-shirt-black-heather-front-6894b20269882.jpg Store - Stronger Grand Rapids T-Shirt https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1754575375644-EDMSIKU89FIG32B3Q3NO/unisex-staple-t-shirt-maroon-front-6894b2026bfe4.jpg Store - Stronger Grand Rapids T-Shirt https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1754575377839-3BYBZB1UQ2SR4OW8KCF5/unisex-staple-t-shirt-heather-forest-front-6894b202723ba.jpg Store - Stronger Grand Rapids T-Shirt https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/64e67b259973c43b3d7b5367/1754575379601-HMVF7ESCG43VJ8LISHHU/unisex-staple-t-shirt-berry-front-6894b2027aa4b.jpg Store - Stronger Grand Rapids T-Shirt