City In Review: Chicago

Albany Park · Then vs Now

Albany Park: 2025-01 vs 2026-01

A side-by-side look at how Albany Park shifted between two periods.

2025-01 2026-01 Change
Building permits 27 13 -52%
Construction value ($) $2,551,212 $942,700 -63%
New business licenses 19 24 +26%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 1,065 992 -7%
Reported crimes 189 135 -29%
Violent crimes 44 40 -9%
Failed food inspections 7 0 -100%

2025-01

Albany Park permit value hits $2.6M, up 176%

Permit value in Albany Park jumped to $2.6 million in January, up 176% from December's $926,000. The 27 permits included 18 through the express program and one new construction project. Violent crime fell 36%, from 69 incidents to 44. Residents filed 1,065 service requests, up 25%. The top category was Tree Trim Request (which is no longer accepted), with 90 submissions. Seven food establishments failed inspections, up from five.

2026-01

Albany Park permits drop to $943k from $19M

Permits in Albany Park fell from $19 million to $943k, down 95% on just 13 filings versus 18 last month. Eight were express permits. Twenty-four businesses opened—LA MICHOACANA CHICAGO ICE CREAM, O'Reilly Auto Parts, FLOWER SHOP BETTY, and a Tropical Smoothie Cafe among them—and none closed. Residents logged 992 service requests, up 10%. Graffiti removal led with 146 calls, followed by 112 tree trim requests and 102 pothole complaints. Crime dropped 24%, with violent offenses down from 52 to 40. No food inspections failed.

New businesses — 2025-01

  • KATKOUT (Retail Food Establishment)
  • HOUSE OF FRAGRANCE (Limited Business License)
  • GR'S CAFE (Retail Food Establishment)
  • ATLAS EXPRESS PADALA, INC. (Limited Business License)
  • Lucky Smoke Shop (Tobacco)
  • ARZAN MARKET & CAFE (Retail Food Establishment)
  • U S REPAIR INC. (Limited Business License)
  • ISABELA'S CORP. (Limited Business License)
  • PAWN CHICAGO (Pawnbroker)
  • LUX GLASS (Tobacco)

New businesses — 2026-01

  • LA MICHOACANA CHICAGO ICE CREAM (Retail Food Establishment)
  • O'Reilly Auto Parts #7038 (Limited Business License)
  • FLOWER SHOP BETTY (Limited Business License)
  • LUX GLASS (Tobacco)
  • NICK PANTRY (Tobacco)
  • LAS DELICIAS LATINAS, INC. (Retail Food Establishment)
  • CLUB DE NUTRICION UN NUEVO AMANECER (Retail Food Establishment)
  • Lucky Smoke Shop (Tobacco)
  • TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFE (Retail Food Establishment)
  • VICTOR'S LAUNDRY SUPPLIES N-2 (Limited Business License)