Near West Side · Then vs Now
Near West Side: 2024-04 vs 2025-04
A side-by-side look at how Near West Side shifted between two periods.
| 2024-04 | 2025-04 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building permits | 52 | 131 | +152% |
| Construction value ($) | $4,506,694 | $18,975,335 | +321% |
| New business licenses | 124 | 138 | +11% |
| Business closings (proxy) | 0 | 0 | — |
| 311 service requests | 65,258 | 49,465 | -24% |
| Reported crimes | 812 | 870 | +7% |
| Violent crimes | 241 | 198 | -18% |
| Failed food inspections | 18 | 7 | -61% |
2024-04
Near West Side adds 124 businesses in April
April brought a wave of new licenses to Near West Side, with 124 businesses registering—including BAKEWELL, a wholesale food operation, and MODE GYM. The neighborhood issued 52 permits worth $4.5 million, most of them through the express program. Residents filed 65,258 service requests, though 62,976 were logged as information-only calls. The area recorded 812 crimes, 241 of them violent. Eighteen food establishments failed inspections.
2025-04
Near West Side permit value drops 68% in April
Permit value on the Near West Side fell from $59 million in March to $19 million in April, a 68% drop. The neighborhood still processed 131 permits, down just five from the prior month. Express permits led the way with 71 filings, followed by 24 renovation permits and 22 sign permits. Six elevator permits and four demolition permits rounded out the activity. No new business licenses or closures appeared in the dataset for April.
New businesses — 2024-04
- JUST DESSERTS 4 YOU - MS. TITTLE'S CUPCAKES VIN# 1FTSE34L46DB06680 & PLATE# 1275796B (Special Event Food)
- J.F. HOLDER FOUNDATION (Indoor Special Event)
- BAKEWELL (Wholesale Food Establishment)
- SJ STARZZ/X'PECTATIONZ LLC (Regulated Business License)
- CELADYNE TECHNOLOGIES (Limited Business License)
- POVOS DOWNTOWN LLC (Limited Business License)
- HEAT VALET PARKING SERVICE (Valet Parking Operator)
- MODE GYM (Regulated Business License)
- BODY20 West Loop (Regulated Business License)
- TRANSMARKET HOLDINGS (Limited Business License)
New businesses — 2025-04
- Raymonds Tacos LLC (Retail Food Establishment)
- CHICAGO VINTAGE FESTIVAL (Pop-Up Retail User)
- SpeedPro Imaging of Chicago (Manufacturing Establishments)
- AUTO - CHLOR SYSTEM OF THE MID SOUTH, LLC (Regulated Business License)
- E-Elements (Public Place of Amusement)
- Zendable Card (Regulated Business License)
- E-Elements (Retail Food Establishment)
- E-Elements (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
- EVERYDAY FOOD MART (Tobacco)
- THREAD 'N' WAX AWAY (Limited Business License)