Chrome extensions can do so much more than transformpresidential nominee into people with flyspeck bridge player . Take this smart as a whip Chrome extension that uses public 311 data point to give you the often - frightening full tarradiddle on any New York City property .
Simply install theRenter Be Awareapp and your Chrome browser app becomes a window into the sordid past tense of that suspiciously low-priced two - sleeping room walkup . The annex works on a wide range of real estate sites including Streeteasy , Padmapper , Zillow , Zumper , and Trulia . If there are any 311 complaint associated with the property , the list icon bend blood-red and click it will reveal the list of complaints . ( It only mould for listings , so if you ’re checking your current domicile , look for the old listing . )
Most of the 311 complaints are pretty basic ones about heat or noise . ( Actually quite a few are specifically about chopper randomness . ) But then there are some more , um , unparalleled reports .
Like the concerning “ bee / Wasps – not a beekeeper ”
Or perhaps “ Air , Odor , Sweet From unidentified informant ”
And who can forget “ 12 Dead Animals ” ? ! ? ! ? ! ! ! !
The app is the brainchild of Aliza Aufrichtig , who wait on the recentNYC School of Dataconference and learned about New York City’spublicly available trove of 311 information . She realized that an easy way to see complaints could really be quite helpful for apartment - seeker . Aufrichtig then built the telephone extension in three days with collaborator Hari Mohanraj , and both are both currently at a programing retreat calledRecurse Center .
“ New York City is satisfy with so much information in plain sight , but the challenge is to turn that overwhelming current of information into something meaningful or utilitarian , ” she said . “ I ’m now even more interested in diving event into other New York City datasets to help bring to light information that could be really helpful for people . ”
In fact , thanks to the study of undefended data counsel , it would be just as easy to build up similar applications using 311 data for other cities . Just a quick lookup shows thatSan Francisco , Los Angeles , andBostonhave open 311 data set , and you’re able to view this “ nosecount ” of metropolis data point to see which other cities have opened up their data to the public .
landlord are required to bring out trouble with their properties , but they might not name detail like the time there were a DOZEN DEAD ANIMALS there . So a site like this could avail tenant verify their rights .
But is there such a thing as having too much information ? If I spent every day checking the real - clip crime mapping of my region I ’d for certain never go outside . peradventure there are some thing — SWEET FROM UNKNOWN SOURCE odour — you might not require to sleep together . A few brave Gizmodo staff member used the puppet to count up their apartments using the university extension and luckily no one found anything too disturbing : saddle horn , potholes , homeless assistance , dead Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , and the casual rat rager .
But I ask Aufrichtig , who has now seen it all , if this changed the room she saw the metropolis . “ It ’s corroborate , ” she said . “ New York City apartment are indeed arrant . ”
CitiesNew York Cityurbanism
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