City In Review: Chicago

East Side · Then vs Now

East Side: 2024-10 vs 2025-10

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

2024-10 2025-10 Change
Building permits 13 19 +46%
Construction value ($) $147,541 $213,766 +45%
New business licenses 3 7 +133%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 1,024 585 -43%
Reported crimes 129 129 0%
Violent crimes 38 41 +8%
Failed food inspections 0 1 +1

2024-10

Tree planting swamps East Side service calls

East Side logged 532 tree planting requests in October — more than half its 1,024 total service calls, up 47% from September. Permit count rose 30% to thirteen, though their combined value fell 71% to $148k. Eleven were express permits. Crime dipped slightly to 129 incidents; violent crime held at 38. No new businesses opened or closed, and no food establishments failed inspection after three did last month.

2025-10

East Side crime jumps 10% in October

East Side saw 129 crimes in October, up 10% from September, though violent offenses fell 9% to 41. Permits held flat at 19, but their dollar value dropped 8% to $214k. Fourteen were express permits. Residents filed 585 service requests—68 about street lights out, 62 for garbage cart fixes. No businesses opened or closed.

New businesses — 2024-10

  • Gerardo's Auto Repair (Motor Vehicle Services License)
  • ORTEGA COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR AND TIRES (Motor Vehicle Services License)
  • DRAGON HEATING & COOLING LLC (Regulated Business License)

New businesses — 2025-10

  • LAS MOJARRAS RESTAURANT (Retail Food Establishment)
  • EAST SIDE NUTRITION (Retail Food Establishment)
  • MIRNA'S GIFT SHOP (Limited Business License)
  • TACOS EL REY (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
  • TACOS EL REY (Retail Food Establishment)
  • CARS IN MOTION INC. (Limited Business License)
  • DISCOVERY HEATING AND COOLING (Regulated Business License)