City In Review: Chicago

Near North Side · Then vs Now

Near North Side: 2025-04 vs 2026-04

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

2025-04 2026-04 Change
Building permits 229 202 -12%
Construction value ($) $63,783,202 $47,335,371 -26%
New business licenses 163 103 -37%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 1,303 1,546 +19%
Reported crimes 855 473 -45%
Violent crimes 225 111 -51%
Failed food inspections 25 6 -76%

2025-04

Near North Side permit value slips to $63.8M

Permit filings in Near North Side rose slightly to 229, but their combined value dropped 14 percent to $63.8 million. Express permits accounted for 123 of those cases, with signs and renovations filling out the rest. Residents filed 243 graffiti removal requests—the top 311 category—and 108 pothole complaints. Crime fell 6 percent to 855 incidents; violent offenses held nearly steady at 225. Food inspectors flagged 25 failures, down from 34 the month before.

New businesses — 2025-04

  • HOKA (Limited Business License)
  • ANASTASIA ANALYTICS LLC (Regulated Business License)
  • MILK BAR LLC dba The Shore Club Chicago (Special Event Liquor)
  • BOWLICIOUS (Retail Food Establishment)
  • WHITE DIAMOND EVENTS LLC (Limited Business License)
  • THE CHICAGO HOTEL COLLECTION MAGNIFICENT MILE (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
  • CULLIGAN (Limited Business License)
  • CHI-TOWN PARKING SOLUTIONS INC. (Commercial Garage)
  • THE CHICAGO HOTEL COLLECTION MAGNIFICENT MILE (Retail Food Establishment)
  • Dialtone Cafe (Package Goods)

New businesses — 2026-04

  • Gold Coast Social (Tavern)
  • Gold Coast Social (Tobacco)
  • Gold Coast Social (Late Hour)
  • Gold Coast Social (Retail Food Establishment)
  • TRUE FOOD KITCHEN (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
  • TRUE FOOD KITCHEN (Retail Food Establishment)
  • CBD KRATOM (Limited Business License)
  • DICK'S SPORTING GOODS (Limited Business License)
  • CHINA EASTERN AIRLINES (Limited Business License)
  • CAVA STREETERVILLE (Retail Food Establishment)