City In Review: Chicago

Loop · Then vs Now

Loop: 2024-11 vs 2025-11

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

2024-11 2025-11 Change
Building permits 172 211 +23%
Construction value ($) $93,325,766 $52,896,605 -43%
New business licenses 115 91 -21%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 1,265 752 -41%
Reported crimes 679 646 -5%
Violent crimes 146 144 -1%
Failed food inspections 8 22 +175%

2024-11

Loop permit value drops 74% to $93 million

The Loop issued 172 permits in November, down 38% from October's 276. Total construction value fell even harder — from $355 million to $93 million, a 74% drop. Most permits (127) came through the express program, which handles smaller jobs. Twenty-six went to renovations, thirteen to elevator work. Three new-construction permits rounded out the list. No new business licenses or closures showed up in the data this month.

2025-11

Loop permits drop to $53M in quiet November

The Loop issued 211 permits in November, down 18% from October, with total value falling to $53 million—a 29% drop. Express permits accounted for 131 of those, followed by 42 renovation jobs. Graffiti removal requests dominated 311 calls at 250, even as overall service requests fell 27% to 752. Crime dropped 18%, with violent incidents down a quarter to 144. Food inspection failures inched up from 20 to 22.

New businesses — 2024-11

  • Computer Aid Inc (Limited Business License)
  • PIONEER PARKING (Commercial Garage)
  • KAMERON R LYLES (Regulated Business License)
  • CHICAGO HOMES ONE (Regulated Business License)
  • INTERPARK (Valet Parking Operator)
  • ALIGN BALANCE (Limited Business License)
  • MAP LAB, INC. (Regulated Business License)
  • ZHI CHEN (Peddler License)
  • ELEVEN NORTH HOSPITALITY, LLC (Special Event Liquor)
  • ELEVEN NORTH HOSPITALITY, LLC (Special Event Liquor)

New businesses — 2025-11

  • Etheria Spa (Regulated Business License)
  • ArtVersion (Limited Business License)
  • Morgan Services, Inc. (Limited Business License)
  • DIA BY DIA LLC (Regulated Business License)
  • FARE (Retail Food Establishment)
  • TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFE (Retail Food Establishment)
  • Elite Business Solutions, LLC (Limited Business License)
  • AMERICANA SUBMARINE (Tobacco)
  • BAGEL & BEAN (Retail Food Establishment)
  • CHICAGO COZY COMFORTS / PALETA BELLY (Retail Food Establishment)