City In Review: Chicago

East Side · Then vs Now

East Side: 2024-04 vs 2025-04

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

2024-04 2025-04 Change
Building permits 4 12 +200%
Construction value ($) $206,130 $991,394 +381%
New business licenses 0 6 +6
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 620 652 +5%
Reported crimes 103 129 +25%
Violent crimes 22 47 +114%
Failed food inspections 3 1 -67%

2024-04

East Side logs four permits worth $206k

East Side logged four permits totaling $206,130 in April, up from zero the month before. Three came through the express permit program; the fourth was for wrecking or demolition work.

2025-04

East Side permit value doubles to $991k

East Side pulled $991,393 in permits during April, nearly double the prior month's $505,275, even though the count dropped from 18 to 12. Eight permits came through the express program, with three renovation projects and one elevator job rounding out the activity. No new businesses opened or closed, and 311 requests stayed at zero.

New businesses — 2025-04

  • VipCutz (Limited Business License)
  • CHICAGO PORT & RAIL, LLC (Limited Business License)
  • Z-force Transportation inc. (Limited Business License)
  • LAKESIDE AUTO COLLISION, INC. (Motor Vehicle Services License)
  • T-Mobile (Limited Business License)
  • CD ONE PRICE CLEANERS (Limited Business License)