Near North Side · Then vs Now
Near North Side: 2024-10 vs 2025-10
A side-by-side look at how Near North Side shifted between two periods.
| 2024-10 | 2025-10 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building permits | 246 | 224 | -9% |
| Construction value ($) | $72,117,772 | $84,830,006 | +18% |
| New business licenses | 123 | 199 | +62% |
| Business closings (proxy) | 0 | 0 | — |
| 311 service requests | 1,512 | 1,473 | -3% |
| Reported crimes | 990 | 1,031 | +4% |
| Violent crimes | 226 | 217 | -4% |
| Failed food inspections | 39 | 34 | -13% |
2024-10
Near North Side permits jump 35%, led by express program
Permit activity spiked in October—246 permits, up from 182 the month before. Most of that came from the city's express program, which accounted for 162 permits. Renovation work added another 48. Despite the surge in volume, total construction value dipped 8% to $72 million. Elevator work and signage rounded out the top categories. No new business licenses or closures showed up in the data this month.
2025-10
Near North Side permit value drops 23% to $84.8M
Permit value fell from $110M to $84.8M in October, even as the count held roughly steady at 224. More than two-thirds of those were express permits (155), with renovation work a distant second (36). Service requests ticked up 3%—graffiti removal led the pack at 261 calls, followed by 93 for busted traffic signals. Reported crime rose 8% overall, though violent offenses dipped 6%. Food inspections flagged 34 failures, up from 29 the month before.
New businesses — 2024-10
- The Richard H. Driehaus Art Exhibition Lending Foundation (Limited Business License)
- La-Z-Boy (Limited Business License)
- SIP N DIP (Retail Food Establishment)
- AMAZON GO (Retail Food Establishment)
- CITY CLUB OF CHICAGO (Raffles)
- PingPod (Public Place of Amusement)
- Channing's Studio and Spa (Limited Business License)
- LAZ PARKING LLC (Valet Parking Operator)
- LAZ PARKING LLC (Valet Parking Operator)
- HANNAH'S BRETZEL (Retail Food Establishment)
New businesses — 2025-10
- CHI-TOWN PARKING SOLUTIONS, INC. (Commercial Garage)
- SLOW BOAT EDUCATION LLC (Regulated Business License)
- AESOP (Limited Business License)
- FIVE STAR HVAC (Regulated Business License)
- THE NORTH FACE (Limited Business License)
- MANGO NY, INC. (Limited Business License)
- Nimble (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
- Nimble (Retail Food Establishment)
- Harborside Health, LLC (Limited Business License)
- BENTLEY GOLD COAST (Limited Business License)