City In Review: Chicago

East Side · Then vs Now

East Side: 2025-05 vs 2026-05

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

2025-05 2026-05 Change
Building permits 14 0 -100%
Construction value ($) $181,729 $0 -100%
New business licenses 12 1 -92%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 611 0 -100%
Reported crimes 123 0 -100%
Violent crimes 45 0 -100%
Failed food inspections 0 0

2025-05

East Side permit value drops 82% to $182k

Permit activity in East Side dropped sharply in May, with total value falling from $991k to $182k—an 82% decline—even as the number of permits ticked up slightly from 12 to 14. Thirteen of those 14 came through the Express Permit Program, suggesting minor work rather than big projects. One renovation permit rounded out the month. No new businesses opened, none closed, and 311 requests stayed at zero for the second month running.

2026-05

East Side gets LA MICHOACANA BONITA, INC., then goes quiet

One new business opened in East Side in May: LA MICHOACANA BONITA, INC., a retail food establishment. Everything else dropped to zero. No building permits were filed, down from three in April (which had totaled $17,700). No 311 service requests came in, down from 199. Crime reports fell to zero from two the previous month, including one violent offense.

New businesses — 2025-05

  • ACUARIES CS HAND CAR WASH LLC (Limited Business License)
  • GIFTED HANDS ACADEMY LLC (Limited Business License)
  • WALGREENS #147 (Tobacco)
  • ADOLPH HAIR DESIGN (Limited Business License)
  • TACOS EL REY (Outdoor Patio)
  • NUNEZ & LOPEZ TAX SERVICES (Regulated Business License)
  • AIS COIN LAUNDRY (Regulated Business License)
  • UPS Store (Limited Business License)
  • DALIA'S BUSY BEE ACADEMY, INC. (Children's Services Facility License)
  • SALON 106 INC. (Limited Business License)

New businesses — 2026-05

  • LA MICHOACANA BONITA, INC. (Retail Food Establishment)