City In Review: Chicago

Chicago Lawn · Then vs Now

Chicago Lawn: 2024-12 vs 2025-12

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

2024-12 2025-12 Change
Building permits 31 16 -48%
Construction value ($) $281,186 $3,230,723 +1049%
New business licenses 20 11 -45%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 1,230 1,443 +17%
Reported crimes 382 363 -5%
Violent crimes 148 130 -12%
Failed food inspections 1 3 +200%

2024-12

Chicago Lawn permit value falls 63% on smaller jobs

Chicago Lawn logged $281k in permit value in December, down 63% from November's $763k. Permit count fell 9%, so the drop's in project size, not activity. Eighteen of the 31 permits came through the express program; ten were for signs. A single new-construction permit and a demo permit rounded out the mix. Service requests dipped 1% to 1,230. Graffiti removal led 311 calls with 206 tickets, followed by 102 abandoned-vehicle complaints and 101 tree-trim requests. Violent crime rose 6% to 148 incidents. No new businesses opened or closed.

2025-12

Chicago Lawn permit count drops by half

Chicago Lawn logged 16 permits in December, down 53% from November's 34, though total dollar value held roughly steady at $3.2 million. Thirteen of those permits came through the express program. Service requests jumped 15% to 1,443, led by 188 calls about tree trimming—a category the city no longer accepts. Abandoned vehicle complaints and graffiti removal rounded out the top three. Violent crime fell 17% to 130 incidents, while overall crime stayed flat. Three food establishments failed inspection, up from zero the month before.

New businesses — 2024-12

  • KIDDIE COLLEGE BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL CENTER (Children's Services Facility License)
  • LUXRY FOOD MART (Retail Food Establishment)
  • SERVICIOS USAMEX CORPORATION (Limited Business License)
  • CM1 CONSTRUCTION & WINDOWS INC. (Limited Business License)
  • CM1 CONSTRUCTION & WINDOWS INC. (Regulated Business License)
  • DATT EXPRESS (Limited Business License)
  • TOBACCO 5 STAR (Tobacco)
  • TOBACCO 5 STAR (Limited Business License)
  • Midway Water & Sewer LLC (Regulated Business License)
  • OGIE'S FOOD MARKET (Tobacco)

New businesses — 2025-12

  • SHARKS FISH AND CHICKEN (Retail Food Establishment)
  • OGIE'S FOOD MARKET (Package Goods)
  • OGIE'S FOOD MARKET (Retail Food Establishment)
  • CHICAGOMEX EXPRESS LLC (Limited Business License)
  • OGIE'S FOOD MARKET (Tobacco)
  • CLAUDIA MARGARITA CHANG-NORIEGA (Regulated Business License)
  • VALUE HOME FURNITURE II (Limited Business License)
  • SUPERMERCADO KUKITA INC. (Retail Food Establishment)
  • HAROLD'S CHICKEN (Package Goods)
  • TEMPLE FIT 59 LLC (Regulated Business License)