Near South Side · Then vs Now
Near South Side: 2025-04 vs 2026-04
A side-by-side look at how Near South Side shifted between two periods.
| 2025-04 | 2026-04 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building permits | 28 | 18 | -36% |
| Construction value ($) | $3,641,040 | $15,896,229 | +337% |
| New business licenses | 16 | 8 | -50% |
| Business closings (proxy) | 0 | 0 | — |
| 311 service requests | 416 | 491 | +18% |
| Reported crimes | 225 | 88 | -61% |
| Violent crimes | 48 | 31 | -35% |
| Failed food inspections | 4 | 0 | -100% |
2025-04
Near South Side permit value drops 79% to $3.6M
Permit value in Near South Side fell sharply in April, down nearly 80% from March to $3.64 million. The neighborhood issued 28 permits, eight fewer than the previous month. Twenty of those were express permits. Service requests rose 16% to 416, led by parking enforcement reviews (38), graffiti removal requests (37), and pothole complaints (32). Violent crime climbed 26% to 48 incidents, while total crime was up 12% to 225 cases. Four food establishments failed inspections, the first failures recorded this year. No new businesses registered.
2026-04
Near South Side permit value hits $15.9M
Permit value reached $15.9 million in April, up 44% from March, even as permit count dropped 55% to 18. Ten jobs came through the Express Program; three were new construction. McCormick Market opened with retail food, tobacco, and package goods licenses. Esperanza Kitchen Delights and Dollop Diner Cafe & Bar also debuted. Service requests rose 41%, driven by 75 traffic signal complaints and 72 pothole reports. Crime fell 53% to 88 incidents.
New businesses — 2025-04
- BATTER & BERRIES (Retail Food Establishment)
- Limelight (Shared Kitchen User (Long Term))
- Limelight (Caterer's Liquor License)
- ECOATM (Secondhand Dealer)
- CHICAGO WAFFLES (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
- HERTZ EQUIPMENT RTL CORP (Limited Business License)
- McCORMICK MARKET (Tobacco)
- SLUMBER STAY LLC (Regulated Business License)
- THE HIVE PRINCIPLE LLC (Limited Business License)
- SHARKS FISH & CHICKEN (Retail Food Establishment)
New businesses — 2026-04
- Westrec SMI OpCo, LLC (Limited Business License)
- ESPERANZA KITCHEN DELIGHTS (Retail Food Establishment)
- McCORMICK MARKET (Retail Food Establishment)
- McCORMICK MARKET (Tobacco)
- McCORMICK MARKET (Package Goods)
- Dollop Diner Cafe & Bar (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
- Dollop Diner Cafe & Bar (Retail Food Establishment)
- ADORABLE BABY LLC (Limited Business License)