City In Review: Chicago

Near North Side · Then vs Now

Near North Side: 2024-07 vs 2025-07

A side-by-side look at how Near North Side shifted between two periods.

2024-07 2025-07 Change
Building permits 249 248 -0%
Construction value ($) $82,326,716 $90,538,350 +10%
New business licenses 268 271 +1%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 1,524 1,545 +1%
Reported crimes 1,079 1,101 +2%
Violent crimes 253 268 +6%
Failed food inspections 40 33 -18%

2024-07

Near North Side permit value jumps to $82M

Building permits in Near North Side hit $82.3 million in July, more than double June's $33.8 million. The 249 permits included 154 express permits, 41 sign permits, and 41 renovation jobs. No new business licenses or closures showed up in the city's public data this month.

2025-07

Near North Side pulls 248 permits, $90.5M in work

Permit count climbed 13% in July—248 total—though dollar value dipped 6% to $90.5 million. Express permits accounted for 156 of those, with renovation work (51 permits) running a distant second. Elevator upgrades grabbed 19 permits. No new business licenses or closures showed up in the data this month.

New businesses — 2024-07

  • CITY MARKETS (Pop-Up Retail User)
  • QIAO LIN HOTPOT (Retail Food Establishment)
  • Gino DiFranco Salon (Limited Business License)
  • LAUREN TAYLOR HAIR LLC (Limited Business License)
  • FIRE BOWL HIBACHI (Retail Food Establishment)
  • POTBELLY SANDWICH SHOP (Retail Food Establishment)
  • MASSAGE BLISS AND BODYWORK (Regulated Business License)
  • ENDLESS SUPPLY (Limited Business License)
  • KKDD LLC (Commercial Garage)
  • CROSELL II (Limited Business License)

New businesses — 2025-07

  • Claridge House (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
  • Claridge House (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
  • Claridge House (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
  • Shore Club (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
  • Claridge House (Regulated Business License)
  • MICHAEL WALTERS ADVERTISING (Limited Business License)
  • LaserAway (Limited Business License)
  • April Flowhairs (Limited Business License)
  • CITY MARKETS (Pop-Up Retail User)
  • THE SET COLLECTIVE (Pop-Up Retail User)