Lower West Side · Then vs Now
Lower West Side: 2025-04 vs 2026-04
A side-by-side look at how Lower West Side shifted between two periods.
| 2025-04 | 2026-04 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building permits | 40 | 41 | +2% |
| Construction value ($) | $3,496,186 | $2,759,361 | -21% |
| New business licenses | 42 | 29 | -31% |
| Business closings (proxy) | 0 | 0 | — |
| 311 service requests | 1,112 | 1,263 | +14% |
| Reported crimes | 197 | 136 | -31% |
| Violent crimes | 61 | 48 | -21% |
| Failed food inspections | 5 | 5 | 0% |
2025-04
Lower West Side pulls 27 express permits in April
Lower West Side logged 40 permits in April, up from 30 the month before. Most of that activity—27 permits—came through the city's express program, which handles smaller interior jobs. Total permitted value hit $3.5 million, a 25% climb from March's $2.8 million. Eight renovation permits and three new-construction permits rounded out the month. No new business licenses appeared in the data, and 311 requests sat at zero.
2026-04
Lower West Side permit value drops by half
Permit value in Lower West Side fell 50% in April—down to $2.76 million from $5.56 million the month before—even as the permit count inched up slightly to 41. Most permits came through the Express program. New businesses included Ignotz One Door South, a retail food spot with liquor, and Workshop Apothecary. Crime dropped 34%, with violent incidents down from 58 to 48. Graffiti removal led 311 requests at 329, and pothole complaints took second with 136. Five food establishments failed inspection, up from three.
New businesses — 2025-04
- INFUNITE (Limited Business License)
- BENNY'S PIZZA (Pop-Up Retail User)
- TACO MOTORA VIN:1FCJE39L56HB04238 PLATE: 529428D (Special Event Food)
- JESSICA JIMENEZ (Peddler License)
- TACO MOTORA (Mobile Food License)
- HOSTE (Public Place of Amusement)
- EXTREME BURGER (Mobile Food License)
- FUNNEL CAKE & ICEE MAN VIN# H64F5KYYK0A07586 PL #183297F (Special Event Food)
- HOSTE (Retail Food Establishment)
- HOSTE (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
New businesses — 2026-04
- 18TH STREET CASA DE CULTURA, NFP (Limited Business License)
- 18TH STREET CASA DE CULTURA, NFP (Limited Business License)
- Clarence Griffin's Windy City Boxing Club (Limited Business License)
- ETAPE HAIR SALON (Limited Business License)
- IGNOTZ ONE DOOR SOUTH (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
- IGNOTZ ONE DOOR SOUTH (Retail Food Establishment)
- Workshop Apothecary (Limited Business License)
- MEMO'S HOT DOGS (Retail Food Establishment)
- MINI MAX ELECTRONICS (Limited Business License)
- a.salon (Limited Business License)