Near North Side · Then vs Now
Near North Side: 2025-05 vs 2026-05
A side-by-side look at how Near North Side shifted between two periods.
| 2025-05 | 2026-05 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building permits | 226 | 0 | -100% |
| Construction value ($) | $58,935,057 | $0 | -100% |
| New business licenses | 182 | 64 | -65% |
| Business closings (proxy) | 0 | 0 | — |
| 311 service requests | 1,373 | 0 | -100% |
| Reported crimes | 978 | 0 | -100% |
| Violent crimes | 209 | 0 | -100% |
| Failed food inspections | 27 | 0 | -100% |
2025-05
Near North Side logs 133 express permits in May
May brought 226 permits worth $59 million, down 8% from April's $64 million. Express permits accounted for 133 of those, with signs (38) and renovations (36) trailing. A dozen elevator permits also cleared. New construction stayed quiet—just six permits for the month.
2026-05
Warwick Allerton Hotel picks up four licenses
The Warwick Allerton Hotel Chicago grabbed four licenses in May: retail food, two for consumption on premises, and a regulated business permit. Sixty-four new business licenses landed across the neighborhood, down 38% from April's 103. Avec River North got food and liquor approvals. RPM Steak and Arbella picked up amusement licenses. Permits, service requests, and crime reports all hit zero for the month—91 permits worth $30.8 million in April, 581 service requests, 52 crimes. The across-the-board flatline points to a reporting gap, not a genuine pause.
New businesses — 2025-05
- IKLER INFORMATICS INC (Regulated Business License)
- SAHARA HARISSA (Shared Kitchen User (Long Term))
- Beehive Bindery & Crafts (Regulated Business License)
- DJ'S GREAT ROOM / LAYLA & RINGO'S (Outdoor Patio)
- Three Cities Social (Public Place of Amusement)
- ALLSTAR CLEANERS LLC (Regulated Business License)
- ALL TEXTURES (Limited Business License)
- VENTYV (Limited Business License)
- The Artistry Vibe (Limited Business License)
- KARL MAYER (Peddler License)
New businesses — 2026-05
- WARWICK ALLERTON HOTEL CHICAGO (Retail Food Establishment)
- WARWICK ALLERTON HOTEL CHICAGO (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
- WARWICK ALLERTON HOTEL CHICAGO (Regulated Business License)
- WARWICK ALLERTON HOTEL CHICAGO (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
- PAYTON BOOSTER ASSOCIATION, INC. (Raffles)
- RENEE DAY SPA II, LLC (Regulated Business License)
- ARBELLA (Public Place of Amusement)
- AVEC RIVER NORTH / BAR AVEC (Retail Food Establishment)
- AVEC RIVER NORTH / BAR AVEC (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
- RPM STEAK (Public Place of Amusement)