City In Review: Chicago

East Side · Then vs Now

East Side: 2025-04 vs 2026-04

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

2025-04 2026-04 Change
Building permits 12 9 -25%
Construction value ($) $991,394 $61,764 -94%
New business licenses 6 0 -100%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 652 510 -22%
Reported crimes 129 63 -51%
Violent crimes 47 22 -53%
Failed food inspections 1 0 -100%

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.

2026-04

East Side permit value drops 95% to $62k

East Side pulled nine permits in April totaling $61,764, down 95% from March's $1.3 million. All nine were express permits. No new businesses opened. Residents filed 510 service requests, led by 49 abandoned vehicle complaints and 48 garbage cart issues. Crime fell 37% to 63 incidents; violent offenses dropped from 29 to 22. No food establishments failed inspection.

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)