City In Review: Chicago

Lower West Side · Then vs Now

Lower West Side: 2024-11 vs 2025-11

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

2024-11 2025-11 Change
Building permits 26 14 -46%
Construction value ($) $2,515,301 $2,507,926 -0%
New business licenses 27 23 -15%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 945 1,097 +16%
Reported crimes 194 206 +6%
Violent crimes 64 70 +9%
Failed food inspections 4 5 +25%

2024-11

Lower West Side permit activity drops 38%

Lower West Side pulled 26 permits in November, down 38% from October's 42. Total permit value fell to $2.5 million from $3.3 million the month prior. Express permits led the way with 13, followed by 9 renovation or alteration jobs. No new business licenses were recorded, and the neighborhood didn't register any service requests in the city's 311 system during the month.

2025-11

Lower West Side permits drop to 14

The Lower West Side issued 14 permits in November, down from 38 the month before. The dollar value stayed roughly even at $2.51 million, up slightly from October's $2.45 million. Eight permits went through the express program. Crime dropped 21%—206 incidents versus 262—and violent offenses fell 29%. Graffiti removal topped 311 requests with 283 calls. Five food establishments failed inspections, up from three. No businesses opened or closed.

New businesses — 2024-11

  • George Lauterer Corporation (Manufacturing Establishments)
  • C-FOOD PLUS (Retail Food Establishment)
  • THOMAS CHRISTOPHER ARIAS (Peddler License)
  • PONTE CATRINA LLC (Limited Business License)
  • FLEET SERVICE (Motor Vehicle Services License)
  • HURON STREET DELIVERY, INC. (Limited Business License)
  • 88 Liquors (Package Goods)
  • Shine Zumba Fitness (Limited Business License)
  • MCDONALD'S RESTAURANT (Retail Food Establishment)
  • EVVZ STUDIO 22 (Limited Business License)

New businesses — 2025-11

  • Indigo (Retail Food Establishment)
  • CASA DEL TESORO (Limited Business License)
  • TWC COCKTAIL COLLECTIVE LLC (Shared Kitchen User (Long Term))
  • DIMENSION FINE ART SERVICES (Limited Business License)
  • MEXICO DISTRIBUTOR (Wholesale Food Establishment)
  • MEXICO DISTRIBUTOR (Wholesale Food Establishment)
  • DESTINATION 16TH LLC (Limited Business License)
  • FAMILY DOLLAR #5834 (Retail Food Establishment)
  • TOTAL BY VERIZON RETAILER (Limited Business License)
  • LA CASA DEL PUEBLO INC (Package Goods)