Lower West Side · Then vs Now
Lower West Side: 2024-09 vs 2025-09
A side-by-side look at how Lower West Side shifted between two periods.
| 2024-09 | 2025-09 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building permits | 50 | 31 | -38% |
| Construction value ($) | $4,632,550 | $2,028,804 | -56% |
| New business licenses | 40 | 40 | 0% |
| Business closings (proxy) | 0 | 0 | — |
| 311 service requests | 1,103 | 1,076 | -2% |
| Reported crimes | 242 | 225 | -7% |
| Violent crimes | 88 | 77 | -12% |
| Failed food inspections | 8 | 3 | -62% |
2024-09
Lower West Side permits jump 25%, value craters
Lower West Side pulled 50 permits in September, up from 40 the month before. But total dollar value dropped 58% to $4.6 million—down from $11.2 million in August. Most of the paperwork was small-bore stuff: 22 express permits, 12 renovation jobs, nine signs. Five new construction permits kept the total from being entirely routine. Whatever big-ticket project drove August's numbers didn't repeat.
2025-09
Lower West Side logs 299 graffiti requests in September
Graffiti removal requests led September's 311 calls in Lower West Side with 299—almost five times the next-highest category (63 information-only calls). Overall service requests fell 23.5% to 1,076. Permits rose to 31 from 27, though their total value dropped 12% to roughly $2 million. Nineteen came through the express program, six for renovations. Crime inched up 6.6% to 225 incidents, while violent offenses slipped from 83 to 77. Food inspection failures dropped from five to three.
New businesses — 2024-09
- CHICAGO'S FRESH LIVE POULTRY (Retail Food Establishment)
- HAROLDS ON WHEELS, INC. (Mobile Food License)
- UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT (Public Place of Amusement)
- SENSATIONAL HEATING & AIR LLC (Regulated Business License)
- UNICO LATIN FUSION CONTEMPORARY CUISINE (Retail Food Establishment)
- ST. PIUS V PARISH (Pop-Up Retail User)
- GOOD MOOD TATTOO (Regulated Business License)
- DA PIZZA DUDE (Mobile Food License)
- EL AZTECA (Mobile Food License)
- EVERYTHING 29 (Limited Business License)
New businesses — 2025-09
- HEFFER BBQ LLC (Shared Kitchen User (Long Term))
- CYNTHIA'S GUMBO EXPRESS VIN# 5988 & PLATE#139856F (Special Event Food)
- SUPER DEEP Media LLC (Limited Business License)
- LITTLE LEAF MARKET (Shared Kitchen User (Long Term))
- New Rose (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
- NEW PILSEN CAR WASH (Limited Business License)
- KONA ICE OF NILES (Mobile Food License)
- REFINED BARBER CO (Limited Business License)
- AZTECA EXPEDITER (Regulated Business License)
- UNITY HOMEWARE (Limited Business License)