City In Review: Chicago

Clearing · Then vs Now

Clearing: 2024-05 vs 2025-05

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

2024-05 2025-05 Change
Building permits 20 11 -45%
Construction value ($) $272,124 $285,704 +5%
New business licenses 20 9 -55%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 697 656 -6%
Reported crimes 99 85 -14%
Violent crimes 36 21 -42%
Failed food inspections 3 1 -67%

2024-05

Clearing permit value jumps to $272k

Clearing logged 20 permits in May, worth $272,000—up 148% from April's $110,000. Fifteen of those permits came through the express program, with four for signs and one for renovation work. No new business licenses, closures, or 311 requests showed up in the data this month.

2025-05

Clearing logs $286k in permits, mostly express work

Clearing pulled 11 permits in May, down from 15 the month before, but their total value climbed to $286,000—up 10% from April's $261,000. Ten of those permits were express-program jobs. The other was a renovation or alteration. No new businesses opened this month.

New businesses — 2024-05

  • XINHUAXIN INC. (Limited Business License)
  • JG VINYL FLOORING LLC (Limited Business License)
  • CENTRAL PRINTERS & GRAPHICS (Limited Business License)
  • KERRY'S AUTO BODY INC. (Motor Vehicle Services License)
  • TOP NOTCH SEWING SOLUTIONS, LLC (Manufacturing Establishments)
  • WALGREENS # 06297 (Retail Food Establishment)
  • RAY'S AUTO MECHANIC SHOP INC. (Motor Vehicle Services License)
  • WALGREENS # 06297 (Tobacco)
  • ADMIRAL LOCK & KEYS (Limited Business License)
  • KERRY'S AUTO BODY INC (Motor Vehicle Services License)

New businesses — 2025-05

  • AIRPORT HEATING AND COOLING (Regulated Business License)
  • SPARKLE AND BOHO (Regulated Business License)
  • XINHUAXIN INC. (Limited Business License)
  • ELY'S FLOWERS & PERFUMES (Limited Business License)
  • Healthylilly Nutrition Club (Retail Food Establishment)
  • ELLA BEAUTY STUDIO (Limited Business License)
  • WALGREENS # 06297 (Tobacco)
  • SSP AMERICA, INC. (Retail Food Establishment)
  • TWISTED SHAMROCK (Public Place of Amusement)