At the city’s Department of Planning and Development, whose web site is a model for how governments can use technology to improve public access to information. (SPD, are you listening?) You can learn an incredible array of facts about any property or neighborhood in Seattle, from the general (the zoning in a particular area) to the specific (complaints and land-use history by property, going back to 1983; interactive maps, including detailed aerial photos, of every land parcel in the city) to the very, very specific (wind speed and exposure levels throughout the city; location, photos, and detailed information about every billboard in Seattle). They’re even working on a Google map that combines information on land use permits, complaints, and permits. The beta version is a little buggy, but it’s going to be a great resource for developers and land-use nerds like me once it’s up and running.