Smith & Van Allen's Addition
Walkable and connected
Walkability 6.5/10·Schools 4.3/10
Most people expect West Grand to feel removed from the action, but this 8-acre stretch sits just five minutes from downtown Grand Rapids—close enough that a coffee run happens in steps and a full grocery haul takes seven minutes on foot. The neighborhood grew up around the furniture industry a century ago, and that working-class bones still show in the brick, the density, and the sheer number of places to eat within a mile: over 230 restaurants ranging from pierogi joints to breweries that helped make the city famous for beer. Transit access is immediate, and while errands require some planning, dining is genuinely walkable at under ten minutes. Richmond Hills Park and Harrison Park anchor the area with baseball, skating, and swimming; the Grand River Fish Ladder draws crowds most spring and summer mornings. Fifteen parks within a mile means green space isn't hard to find, and the boat launch at Comstock sits just over a mile away for anyone with a canoe or kayak.
Why people love it here
Very walkable
- Canal Street Park Trail: 5 min walk
- 12 places within a 10 min walk
Park-rich area
- 75 parks within 1 mile
- Canal Street Park Trail: 5 min walk
- Unnamed bike path: 5 min walk
Walkability
Good
Overall walkability score out of 10
Based on actual walk/bike/drive times to nearby amenities via Mapbox
Supermercado Michoacan
Two Scotts Barbecue
Ferris Coffee & Nut Co.
Broadway Bar
Canal Street Park
Canal Street Park Playground
Fisk Lake
Unnamed beach
Grand Rapids Riverwalk West
Downtown Westside Dog Park
+1 more
Canal Street Park Trail
Comstock Riverside Park Launch
The Loading Dock
7th Street (CCW)
+1 more
Walgreens
+1 more
West Side Library
+1 more
daycare
Celebration Cinema Studio Park
Flood Risk
None
Not in flood zone
Nearest Park
Canal Street Park
0.5 mi
Parks Nearby
75
within 1 mile
Based on 30 rated schools nearby
Range: 1/10 to 8/10
School District: NexTech High School
Crime in Smith & Van Allen's Addition is reported at the city level, not the neighborhood level. The FBI doesn't publish reliable crime rates for individual neighborhoods, and within any community crime varies street to street. For an accurate, comparable picture, see the jurisdiction-wide figures for Kent County.
Kent County crime & safety stats →Association and local-government details are compiled from public records, municipal sites, and state registries, and can change. Confirm directly with the association or municipality before relying on them.
Solar potential
~$885/yr in electricity from a typical rooftop solar system
Produces ~6,458 kWh/yr · offsets ~62% of a typical home's use
City of Grand Rapids Water System
Regional water provider serving ~280,000 across Kent and Ottawa counties.
City of Grand Rapids Environmental Services (Water Resource Recovery Facility)
WRRF treats ~40 MGD of wastewater.
City of Grand Rapids Refuse & Recycling
City-run refuse/recycling cart program for residents.
Consumers Energy Co · ~13.7¢/kWh
Investor-owned utility serving the region.
Confirm by addressDTE Energy
DTE Gas serves much of Grand Rapids natural gas; verify by address.
Confirm by addressServices for Grand Rapids · Source: grandrapidsmi.gov
Utility, solar, and service details for Smith & Van Allen's Addition are compiled from public records, municipal sites, and NREL / U.S. data.gov, and can change. Electric/gas can vary by address — confirm with the provider before relying on them.
🛒 Grocery(29)
Supermercado Michoacan
Grocery Store
Rodriguez Supermarket
Grocery Store
Meijer
Grocery Store
+26 more within 5 miles
🍕 Restaurants(10)
Two Scotts Barbecue
Restaurant
Chicago Style Gyro
Restaurant
Big 50 Bbq
Restaurant
Ananda Ice
Restaurant
+5 more within 5 miles
☕ Coffee(17)
+14 more within 5 miles
🍺 Bars(12)
+9 more within 5 miles
🏫 Schools(30)
School
Turner School
Saint Adalberts School
Stocking School
Saint Marys School
+25 more within 5 miles
💪 Gyms(15)
The Loading Dock
Fitness Center
Communitea Wellness
Fitness Center
8th Day Gym
Fitness Center
+12 more within 5 miles
🌳 Parks(4)
+1 more within 5 miles
🐕 Dog Parks(9)
Downtown Westside Dog Park
Dog Park
Richmond Hills Dog Park
Dog Park
Covell Dog Park
Dog Park
+6 more within 5 miles
🚴 Trails(3)
⛵ Boat Launches(2)
Boat Launch
Boat Launch
🚌 Transit(30)
Transit Stop
Transit Stop
Transit Stop
+27 more within 5 miles
💊 Pharmacies(12)
+9 more within 5 miles
👶 Childcare(4)
Children's Choice Learning Center at Spectrum Health Child Development Center
Childcare Center
Kenowa Hills Early Childhood Center
Daycare
Tutor Time on Grand Ridge Drive
Childcare Center
+1 more within 5 miles
📚 Libraries(11)
+8 more within 5 miles
⚡ EV Charging(4)
Unnamed ev_charging
EV Charging
Unnamed ev_charging
EV Charging
EV Charging
Frequently asked about Smith & Van Allen's Addition
- What schools serve Smith & Van Allen's Addition?
- Smith & Van Allen's Addition is served by NexTech High School. Its highest-rated assigned school is Center for Economicology (8/10).
- Is Smith & Van Allen's Addition walkable?
- Smith & Van Allen's Addition scores 6.5/10 for walkability — a measure of walking, biking, and driving access to groceries, dining, parks, schools, and transit.