City In Review: Chicago

Near South Side · Then vs Now

Near South Side: 2024-05 vs 2025-05

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

2024-05 2025-05 Change
Building permits 47 28 -40%
Construction value ($) $44,688,325 $745,405 -98%
New business licenses 30 13 -57%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 482 431 -11%
Reported crimes 203 216 +6%
Violent crimes 61 50 -18%
Failed food inspections 6 8 +33%

2024-05

Near South Side logs $44.7M permit, mostly new construction

Near South Side issued 47 permits in May, up from 10 in April, with total value hitting $44.7 million—a jump driven by new construction activity. Fifteen permits were for new construction, 20 went through the express program. Service requests climbed 5.5% to 482, with graffiti removal leading at 113 calls. Crime reports rose 8% to 203; violent crime ticked up 3.4% to 61 incidents. No businesses opened or closed.

2025-05

Near South Side permit value drops 80% to $745k

Near South Side pulled 28 permits in May, same count as April, but total value plunged nearly 80% to $745,000. Most of the activity came through the express program—21 of the 28 permits—with five new construction permits and one each for signs and elevator equipment. No new businesses opened, none closed, and service requests stayed at zero.

New businesses — 2024-05

  • TANYA MARIE BOND (Peddler License)
  • FRANCO MILLWORK, LAB, & DESIGN (Regulated Business License)
  • BT AMERICAS INC. (Limited Business License)
  • 1845 S STATE INC. (Limited Business License)
  • Hue Chicago (Public Place of Amusement)
  • Slumber Stay LLC (Regulated Business License)
  • Slumber Stay LLC (Regulated Business License)
  • Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI) (Limited Business License)
  • SLUMBER STAY LLC (Regulated Business License)
  • THE SPOKE AND BIRD (Outdoor Patio)

New businesses — 2025-05

  • MICHAEL ROMANI (Peddler License)
  • Field Museum (Limited Business License)
  • SIGN-A-RAMA DOWNTOWN CHICAGO (Limited Business License)
  • HOTEL BNB (Regulated Business License)
  • SUMI (Retail Food Establishment)
  • CHICAGO MARINE RIGGING (Limited Business License)
  • AVELORE INC. (Regulated Business License)
  • REGGIE'S BAR & GRILL (Special Event Food)
  • SYZYGY GALLERIA 89 LLC (Regulated Business License)
  • Mr.X HVACR Solutions (Regulated Business License)