City In Review: Chicago

Chatham · Then vs Now

Chatham: 2025-05 vs 2026-05

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

2025-05 2026-05 Change
Building permits 43 0 -100%
Construction value ($) $2,204,428 $0 -100%
New business licenses 15 2 -87%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 1,532 0 -100%
Reported crimes 456 0 -100%
Violent crimes 160 0 -100%
Failed food inspections 2 0 -100%

2025-05

Chatham gets 333 tree emergency calls

Chatham logged 1,532 service requests in May, up 46% from April. Tree emergencies drove the surge—333 calls, more than double the next category (172 for debris cleanup). Residents also flagged 87 abandoned vehicles and 86 potholes. Permits jumped 72% to 43, though total construction value fell by half to $2.2 million. Most permits (33) came through the express program. Violent crime rose 23%, from 130 incidents to 160. Food inspection failures dropped sharply, from nine to two.

2026-05

Chatham gets a Dunkin Donuts and a collision shop

Two new businesses opened in Chatham in May: a Dunkin Donuts and Riverdale Collision Center, a motor vehicle shop. Permits, 311 requests, and crime reports all zeroed out after April logged seven permits worth $44k, 368 service requests, and 21 crimes. The month was otherwise silent.

New businesses — 2025-05

  • BARBIES MBM DANCE COMPANY LLC (Limited Business License)
  • EXPRESS BEAUTY SUPPLY (Limited Business License)
  • J & J FISH AND CHICKEN (Retail Food Establishment)
  • HIP HOP NAILS (Limited Business License)
  • PARADISE GROCERY INC., (Tobacco)
  • BIG O MOVER (Limited Business License)
  • WALGREENS # 05124 (Tobacco)
  • HOT CHI (Retail Food Establishment)
  • RBG CHICAGO, LLC (Regulated Business License)
  • BOOST MOBILE (Limited Business License)

New businesses — 2026-05

  • Dunkin Donuts (Retail Food Establishment)
  • RIVERDALE COLLISION CENTER (Motor Vehicle Services License)