City In Review: Chicago

Austin · Then vs Now

Austin: 2025-04 vs 2026-04

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

2025-04 2026-04 Change
Building permits 97 61 -37%
Construction value ($) $3,316,996 $4,164,598 +26%
New business licenses 54 25 -54%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 2,873 2,927 +2%
Reported crimes 1,003 610 -39%
Violent crimes 359 240 -33%
Failed food inspections 11 12 +9%

2025-04

Austin permit value plunges 90% to $3.3M

Austin pulled 97 permits in April, up 16% from March, but their combined value crashed from $32.8M to $3.3M—a 90% drop suggesting March had a few blockbuster projects that didn't repeat. Sixty permits came through the express program. Residents filed 257 complaints about abandoned vehicles, the most common 311 request, and violent crime ticked up 7% to 359 incidents. Food inspections found 11 critical violations, down from 13.

2026-04

Austin crime drops by a third in April

Crime in Austin fell sharply in April—610 incidents, down 34% from 921 the month before. Violent offenses dropped 30% to 240. Failed food inspections more than doubled, from 5 to 12. New businesses included RAINBOW # 1084, Loads of Fun Laudromat, and HYGGE, which picked up liquor and food licenses. Building permits dropped 33% to 61, totaling $4.2 million in declared work. Pothole complaints led the 311 queue at 320, followed by abandoned vehicle reports at 251. Service requests ticked down 2% to 2,927.

New businesses — 2025-04

  • FANNY SERRANO VILLALOBOS (Peddler License)
  • YANET CLEANING SERVICES LLC (Regulated Business License)
  • SPARKLE CAR WASH (Limited Business License)
  • 76 (Filling Station)
  • WE ALL CARE LEARNING ACADEMY (Children's Services Facility License)
  • GB Glass Block Factory (Manufacturing Establishments)
  • QUICK COMMUNICATION (Limited Business License)
  • 76 (Retail Food Establishment)
  • KS ENVIOS MULTI SERVICES (Limited Business License)
  • Flex Pay, Pay Monthly, Universal Credit (Regulated Business License)

New businesses — 2026-04

  • RAINBOW # 1084 (Limited Business License)
  • Loads of Fun Laudromat (Limited Business License)
  • CALI SMOKE SHOP INC (Tobacco)
  • NOAH IMPORT & EXPORT (Retail Food Establishment)
  • HYGGE (Caterer's Liquor License)
  • HYGGE (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
  • HYGGE (Retail Food Establishment)
  • SUNNY SUB (Retail Food Establishment)
  • SKECHERS (Limited Business License)
  • MOM'S WASH LAND AUSTIN (Regulated Business License)