City In Review: Chicago

Archer Heights · Then vs Now

Archer Heights: 2025-03 vs 2026-03

A side-by-side look at how Archer Heights shifted between two periods.

2025-03 2026-03 Change
Building permits 11 10 -9%
Construction value ($) $487,250 $110,595 -77%
New business licenses 12 6 -50%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 715 655 -8%
Reported crimes 99 83 -16%
Violent crimes 17 21 +24%
Failed food inspections 0 0

2025-03

Archer Heights permit value drops 76% despite more filings

Archer Heights issued 11 permits in March, up from 8 in February, but total value fell from $2.04 million to $487k. Nine of those permits came through the city's express program, suggesting smaller projects. Service requests climbed 12% to 715, with graffiti removal topping the list at 173 calls. Crime stayed flat at 99 incidents, though violent offenses dipped 15% to 17. No new businesses opened or closed. The swing in permit dollars—likely tied to one or two big jobs dropping off—shows how a single project can move the needle in a smaller neighborhood.

2026-03

Permit value crashes 85% in Archer Heights

Archer Heights saw permit value plunge from $752k to $111k in March—a drop of 85 percent—even as the count ticked up slightly to 10. All were express permits. New businesses included Nightmare on 47th Street, licensed as both a tavern and retail food spot, plus Cubanito Expres and Sensei Auto Repair & Sales. Service requests climbed 14 percent to 655, led by 160 graffiti removal calls. Crime was up 11 percent to 83 incidents, with violent offenses at 21.

New businesses — 2025-03

  • PORTILLO'S AUTO SERVICES LLC (Motor Vehicle Services License)
  • El Mezcalito Cantina & Grill (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
  • OLAEZ HAIR SALON, LLC (Limited Business License)
  • BRIDGESTONE FIRESTONE FIRST STOP AUTO (Motor Vehicle Services License)
  • LA MICHOACANA DE MARTHA, LLC (Retail Food Establishment)
  • DELICIAS TACOS INC. (Shared Kitchen User (Long Term))
  • EL TACO ENCEBOLLADO (Shared Kitchen User (Long Term))
  • Valvoline Instant Oil Change (Motor Vehicle Services License)
  • DUNKIN DONUTS (Retail Food Establishment)
  • ILLINOIS CREDIT UNION FOUNDATION (Raffles)

New businesses — 2026-03

  • NIGHTMARE ON 47TH STREET (Tavern)
  • TAX SERVICES (Limited Business License)
  • ILLINOIS CREDIT UNION FOUNDATION (Raffles)
  • NIGHTMARE ON 47TH STREET (Retail Food Establishment)
  • CUBANITO EXPRES (Retail Food Establishment)
  • SENSEI AUTO REPAIR & SALES LLC (Limited Business License)