Lower West Side · Then vs Now
Lower West Side: 2025-01 vs 2026-01
A side-by-side look at how Lower West Side shifted between two periods.
| 2025-01 | 2026-01 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building permits | 25 | 20 | -20% |
| Construction value ($) | $3,064,533 | $3,748,701 | +22% |
| New business licenses | 29 | 34 | +17% |
| Business closings (proxy) | 0 | 0 | — |
| 311 service requests | 1,093 | 1,272 | +16% |
| Reported crimes | 185 | 185 | 0% |
| Violent crimes | 66 | 61 | -8% |
| Failed food inspections | 7 | 6 | -14% |
2025-01
Lower West Side permit value drops 68% to $3.1M
Permit value in Lower West Side fell from $9.5 million to $3.1 million, a two-thirds drop even as the count only dipped slightly (28 to 25). Most permits were express types—15 of the 25—with five renovations and three sign permits rounding out the month. Service requests jumped 21%, driven by 280 graffiti removal calls and 159 tree trim requests. Crime dropped 17% overall, with violent offenses down a quarter. Seven food establishments failed inspections, up from five the month prior.
2026-01
Lower West Side permit value drops 76% to $3.7M
Permit dollars fell from $15.9M to $3.7M in January, even as 32 new businesses opened—including Chido Juice (mobile food), Tito Tattoo's, and a Costco Wholesale tobacco license. The 20 permits issued were mostly express-program jobs; five were new construction. Residents filed 857 service requests, led by 155 tree-trim calls and 133 graffiti reports. Crime logged 118 incidents, 44 of them violent. Six food establishments failed inspections.
New businesses — 2025-01
- Transformation Fitness (Regulated Business License)
- NEXUS CHICAGO (Regulated Business License)
- NO LIMIT NUTRITION (Retail Food Establishment)
- WELLROUNDED (Regulated Business License)
- BERNA'S APPLIANCES (Limited Business License)
- ESCARAMUZA USA (Limited Business License)
- G.M.@ NAILS (Limited Business License)
- CONFIGURATION CHICAGO INC. (Limited Business License)
- MR. QUILES MEXICAN FOOD (Mobile Food License)
- COSTCO WHOLESALE (Tobacco)
New businesses — 2026-01
- ATLAS ASSET MANAGEMENT SERVICES CORP (Limited Business License)
- CHIDO JUICE (Mobile Food License)
- TITO TATTOO'S (Regulated Business License)
- XOCO HOUSE GALLERY (Manufacturing Establishments)
- SHELL (Filling Station)
- urban treez Chicago (Retail Food Establishment)
- Plants Delivered Chicago (Limited Business License)
- JOSE R PEREZ AGENCY (Limited Business License)
- SHELL (Retail Food Establishment)
- COSTCO WHOLESALE (Tobacco)