City In Review: Chicago

Lincoln Square · Then vs Now

Lincoln Square: 2024-12 vs 2025-12

A side-by-side look at how Lincoln Square shifted between two periods.

2024-12 2025-12 Change
Building permits 26 25 -4%
Construction value ($) $2,872,916 $3,510,849 +22%
New business licenses 25 24 -4%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 758 1,092 +44%
Reported crimes 154 141 -8%
Violent crimes 33 32 -3%
Failed food inspections 11 7 -36%

2024-12

Lincoln Square permit work drops to $2.9M

Lincoln Square pulled 26 permits in December, down from 32 the month before. The total value fell to $2.9 million from November's $12.4 million. Most of the work was routine—14 permits went through the express program, 8 covered renovations or alterations. No new business licenses showed up in the data.

2025-12

255 uncleared sidewalk complaints pile up in Lincoln Square

Residents filed 1,092 service requests in December, up 13.5% from November, with 255 complaints about snow-clogged sidewalks leading the list. Graffiti removal requests (106) and tree trim calls (77) rounded out the top three. Crime dropped 10.2%, to 141 incidents; violent offenses fell 23.8%, to 32. Permits slipped slightly—25 issued, down from 29—though total project value stayed near $3.5 million. Failed food inspections more than doubled, from three to seven.

New businesses — 2024-12

  • SMALL CHEVAL (Retail Food Establishment)
  • ARTFUL VIDA (Regulated Business License)
  • BLACK CRYSTAL TATTOOS (Regulated Business License)
  • WASTENOT (Shared Kitchen User (Long Term))
  • AXXUM CONSULTING LLC (Regulated Business License)
  • LYONS FAMILY EYE CARE (Limited Business License)
  • MINDFUL BAKING CAFE (Retail Food Establishment)
  • MYEYEDR. (Limited Business License)
  • THE DAVIS THEATER; SOJOURN (Public Place of Amusement)
  • THE DAVIS THEATER; SOJOURN (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)

New businesses — 2025-12

  • DINTZMX LIGHTING LLC (Regulated Business License)
  • NEW ERA REPAIR (Limited Business License)
  • Ardor (Retail Food Establishment)
  • Bon Femmes Studio (Limited Business License)
  • LS Food Wine & Spirits (Retail Food Establishment)
  • LS Food Wine & Spirits (Tobacco)
  • LS Food Wine & Spirits (Package Goods)
  • INTERSTELLAR SPACE RECORDS LLC (Secondhand Dealer)
  • AMOCO (Tobacco)
  • AMOCO (Filling Station)