East Garfield Park · Then vs Now
East Garfield Park: 2025-01 vs 2026-01
A side-by-side look at how East Garfield Park shifted between two periods.
| 2025-01 | 2026-01 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building permits | 21 | 16 | -24% |
| Construction value ($) | $808,796 | $1,380,060 | +71% |
| New business licenses | 7 | 6 | -14% |
| Business closings (proxy) | 0 | 0 | — |
| 311 service requests | 661 | 780 | +18% |
| Reported crimes | 319 | 237 | -26% |
| Violent crimes | 95 | 69 | -27% |
| Failed food inspections | 3 | 2 | -33% |
2025-01
East Garfield Park permit value climbs to $809k
Twenty-one permits pulled in January totaled roughly $809,000, up 28% from December's $631,000. Most of that activity came through the express permit program (14 permits). Snow complaints dominated 311 calls—90 reports of uncleared sidewalks—while graffiti removal requests and abandoned vehicle complaints also cracked the top five. Overall crime rose 19%, though violent offenses dipped slightly. No new business licenses issued.
2026-01
East Garfield Park permit value falls to $1.4M
Sixteen permits totaling $1.4 million is a steep drop from December's $10.8 million, though that month likely carried a big-ticket project. Nine of January's permits were express jobs. Five new businesses launched, including a Marathon gas station that picked up filling, tobacco, and retail food licenses all at once. Cajun Cafe Chicago opened as a shared kitchen tenant. Fly dumping complaints hit 74, the most of any 311 category. Crime counts are 136 incidents this month, 37 of them violent, but there's no prior month to compare against yet.
New businesses — 2025-01
- Prairie Tree Care (Regulated Business License)
- MADISON FOODS AND FISH MARKET INC. (Retail Food Establishment)
- MADISON FOODS AND FISH MARKET INC. (Tobacco)
- MARATHON GAS (Tobacco)
- JR AUTO REBUILDERS, INC. (Motor Vehicle Services License)
- CHICAGO CITY ICE CREAM EXPRESS INC. (Mobile Food License)
- GORDITAS Y TACOS JULI #2 (Mobile Food License)
New businesses — 2026-01
- MARATHON GAS (Filling Station)
- WILLIE P'S BBQ & CATERING VIN # 4UZAAPBW85CV11131 ; PLATE # 210724H (Mobile Food License)
- Cajun Cafe Chicago (Shared Kitchen User (Long Term))
- MARATHON GAS (Tobacco)
- MARATHON GAS (Retail Food Establishment)
- COZY PUFF (Tobacco)