City In Review: Chicago

Loop · Then vs Now

Loop: 2024-08 vs 2025-08

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

2024-08 2025-08 Change
Building permits 221 172 -22%
Construction value ($) $86,338,012 $65,393,580 -24%
New business licenses 105 90 -14%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 1,195 873 -27%
Reported crimes 918 835 -9%
Violent crimes 188 199 +6%
Failed food inspections 6 15 +150%

2024-08

Loop permit count drops 24% despite flat value

The Loop issued 221 permits in August, down 24% from July's 289, but construction value stayed essentially flat at $86.3 million (down 0.1%). Express permits made up 150 of the month's total, with another 41 for renovation or alteration work. New construction and elevator equipment each pulled 10 permits. No new businesses opened and no service requests were logged.

2025-08

Loop logs 172 permits, express filings dominate

The Loop issued 172 permits in August, down 30% from July's 245. Permit value dropped to $65.4 million, a 25% decline. Express permits accounted for 116 of those filings—more than two-thirds of the total. Another 27 permits went to renovations, 11 to signage, and 10 to elevator work. No new business licenses or closures appeared in the data.

New businesses — 2024-08

  • EY Government Services LLC (Limited Business License)
  • INTERNATIONAL WOMEN ASSOCIATES, INC. (Raffles)
  • NextCapital Group LLC (Limited Business License)
  • RedShelf (Limited Business License)
  • Futurehaus (Limited Business License)
  • YIJUN ZHOU (Regulated Business License)
  • Public Communication Inc. (Limited Business License)
  • 235 ASHLAND HOLDINGS, INC. dba COBRA LOUNGE (Special Event Liquor)
  • GEMIVIA JEWELRY (Manufacturing Establishments)
  • ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ALLIANCE, NFP (Pop-Up Retail User)

New businesses — 2025-08

  • GAYLE'S BEST EVER GRILLED CHEESE (Special Event Food)
  • 7-Eleven #33086H (Retail Food Establishment)
  • Smoothie King (Retail Food Establishment)
  • RBC Global Asset Management (U.S.) INC. (Limited Business License)
  • BP (Filling Station)
  • AJ Capital Partners (Limited Business License)
  • ALLIED PARKING SERVICES (Valet Parking Operator)
  • ADAMS STREET BREWERY (Special Event Food)
  • SAYBROOK FUND ADVISORS, LLC (Limited Business License)
  • BP (Retail Food Establishment)