City In Review: Chicago

East Side · Then vs Now

East Side: 2024-08 vs 2025-08

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

2024-08 2025-08 Change
Building permits 15 14 -7%
Construction value ($) $1,645,979 $242,050 -85%
New business licenses 8 6 -25%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 1,045 694 -34%
Reported crimes 105 130 +24%
Violent crimes 29 39 +34%
Failed food inspections 0 1 +1

2024-08

East Side 311 calls nearly double on tree requests

Service requests in East Side jumped 86% in August, hitting 1,045. Tree Planting Requests led the surge with 248 calls, followed by 82 for tree emergencies and 79 for debris clean-up. Permits dipped slightly to 15, but their total value climbed 45% to $1.6 million. Twelve of those permits came through the express program. Crime fell 19% overall, with violent offenses down 43% to 29. No new businesses opened and no food establishments failed inspections.

2025-08

East Side permit value drops 91% to $242k

Permit dollars fell from $2.6 million in July to $242k in August, even as the neighborhood issued 14 permits — 13 of them through the express program. Crime rose 12% to 130 incidents, though violent offenses dipped from 45 to 39. Service requests dropped 9% to 694, led by 70 abandoned vehicle complaints and 58 each for street lights and garbage carts. One food inspection failure showed up this month.

New businesses — 2024-08

  • TWINS AUTO SERVICE, INC. (Motor Vehicle Services License)
  • DOLEX DOLLAR EXPRESS (Limited Business License)
  • MARISCOS ALMADA (Retail Food Establishment)
  • GERARDOS BAKERY 1 (Retail Food Establishment)
  • CHURCH OF THE ANNUNCIATA (Raffles)
  • J & P CASA DE CAMBIO, INC. (Limited Business License)
  • EAST SIDE FLORIST (Limited Business License)
  • TWISTED DOUGH LLC / BENS SOFT PRETZELS (Special Event Food)

New businesses — 2025-08

  • TOTAL WIRELESS (Limited Business License)
  • LEGEND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES INC. (Regulated Business License)
  • TITAN BARN MANAGEMENT INC. (Regulated Business License)
  • CHURCH OF THE ANNUNCIATA (Raffles)
  • MANDUJANO'S BARBER & BEAUTY (Limited Business License)
  • AUTO SERVICE EXPERTS (Motor Vehicle Services License)