Near North Side · Then vs Now
Near North Side: 2025-01 vs 2026-01
A side-by-side look at how Near North Side shifted between two periods.
| 2025-01 | 2026-01 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building permits | 185 | 154 | -17% |
| Construction value ($) | $29,646,206 | $27,997,330 | -6% |
| New business licenses | 126 | 91 | -28% |
| Business closings (proxy) | 0 | 0 | — |
| 311 service requests | 1,145 | 1,359 | +19% |
| Reported crimes | 785 | 787 | +0% |
| Violent crimes | 179 | 178 | -1% |
| Failed food inspections | 25 | 8 | -68% |
2025-01
Near North Side permit count up 15%, value drops a third
Near North Side pulled 185 permits in January, up 15% from December, but their total value fell a third to $29.6 million. Express permits made up the bulk—110 of them—with renovation work (33 permits) and signs (21) trailing. Elevator equipment drew 18 permits. No new business licenses or 311 requests showed up in the data this month.
2026-01
Near North Side permit value plunges to $28M
Permit value dropped 79% to $28 million, down from $134 million the month before. The neighborhood issued 154 permits, 92 of them through the express program. New businesses included Sonesta ES Suites Chicago Downtown, L'Occitane en Provence, and a Lululemon. Graffiti removal led 311 requests with 226 calls, followed by 148 pothole complaints. Crime fell 8% to 787 incidents. Food inspection failures dropped from 19 to 8.
New businesses — 2025-01
- DJ'S GREAT ROOM / LAYLA & RINGO'S (Retail Food Establishment)
- ANGELA NICOLE (Peddler License)
- Two Sigma Construction Group, Inc. (Limited Business License)
- EUROPA BARBER SHOP LLC (Limited Business License)
- The Introverted Girlies (Limited Business License)
- ANDY WOWOR (Peddler License)
- Dialtone Cafe (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
- LAZ PARKING LLC (Valet Parking Operator)
- PRUDENT PROSPECTS COMPANY (Limited Business License)
- ALEKSANDRA OBETKOVSKI (Limited Business License)
New businesses — 2026-01
- CHICAGO MINDS LLC (Limited Business License)
- CHICAGO LITERACY STUDIO LLC (Regulated Business License)
- Sonesta ES Suites Chicago Downtown (Regulated Business License)
- Sonesta ES Suites Chicago Downtown (Retail Food Establishment)
- L'Occitane en Provence (Limited Business License)
- LULULEMON (Limited Business License)
- GROBIZO WEB DESIGN LLC (Limited Business License)
- Prevention First, Inc (Limited Business License)
- BURDEEN YOUNG & COMPANY (Limited Business License)
- THE ORIGINAL GINO'S EAST OF CHICAGO (Retail Food Establishment)