City of Grand Rapids Assessor, Kent County, Michigan
The City Assessor is not responsible for historic information but that shouldn't mean he has a responsibility to destroy history yet many assessment officer personnel do just that. They go out of their way to make an extra effort to destroy history.
Prior to 1935 the only information kept on buildings was a monetary value without any architectural detail. In 1935, as a WPA project, a property card was done well on every structure that existed within the City limits at that time. This card holds a photograph dating from 1935/1936 and probably more recent ones as well. It will have a drawing of the building and the lot. It will show construction information. It will show how many rooms. It will estimate the year built. It will give the name of the 1936 owner. Some of these cards have been updated diligently, some carelessly. It's strictly luck of the draw..
If that building is still standing, even if heavily remodeled, the original photo should still be there. Another newer-styled card dating from 1951 might be present as well. Another city-wide survey was done in 1968. (Not as good as 1935) And of course there will be plenty of individual changes recorded between 1935 and today. If the building was torn down, the records should be down at the City Archives. Maybe. But I know some history-hating assessors threw them out in the trash as Bob Barber and I used to pull them out of the trash and send them down to the library. The library has now sent them down to the archives.
1935 sample:
As the City annexed land from four townships AFTER 1935, there will be no City 1935 property card for these annexed properties. Some of the townships had good property cards and sent them on to the city at annexation time and those early township cards will be in the City file. As I just happen to know Grand Rapids Township Clerk, Jan Hulbert, I know Grand Rapids Township has good historic property cards that are under her care.
Until after 2003, no city-wide survey had been done since 1968. It used to amuse me when I would find a card that still showed outhouses and coal furnaces.
You will need to do the searching yourself. There are no old-timers left at the assessor's office and the new younger I-know-everything generation does not know how to read these historic cards and don't want to be bothered by you (they're important). They will laugh at you and tell you that you should access the information on the computer or go to the library. These cards are not available at the library or available via the computer. You have the legal right to look at public records. But it will help if you know before you get there because these public servants will not help you, the unimportant public.
Sour grapes: the last time I, as a citizen, was there looking up these historic cards I helped another gentleman as the current employees had refused. They just pestered him with nonsensical condescending "questions" while I just went and got him what he wanted. How dare a taxpayer "help" another taxpayer? They tried to stop me. They tried to kick me out. They threatened to call the police. I told them to go ahead. They gave up. The man thanked me.
The residential cards and non-profit buildings such as schools are located in one area. Commercial cards are located in another area. Some of these cards are missing. But don't worry they are available on microfilm hidden in some old gypsum mine somewhere. Just fill out a request-to-find form and wait........................................................................................
To quote Miss Birdsall: "The only thing taxpayers do is fund us. Otherwise they have no say. The only thing important in this office is me, me, me, me, me, me, me".
I will let the Grand Rapids Press give you my Opinion as I wouldn't have been so polite.
From Heading: Geography and the City of Grand Rapids
From Website: MyGrandRapids.info