Near West Side · Then vs Now
Near West Side: 2024-05 vs 2025-05
A side-by-side look at how Near West Side shifted between two periods.
| 2024-05 | 2025-05 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building permits | 131 | 121 | -8% |
| Construction value ($) | $61,694,321 | $354,493,135 | +475% |
| New business licenses | 357 | 250 | -30% |
| Business closings (proxy) | 0 | 0 | — |
| 311 service requests | 60,293 | 51,016 | -15% |
| Reported crimes | 920 | 922 | +0% |
| Violent crimes | 267 | 256 | -4% |
| Failed food inspections | 22 | 15 | -32% |
2024-05
Near West Side permit value jumps to $61.7 million
Permit value on the Near West Side shot up nearly 1,300 percent in May, hitting $61.7 million compared to $4.5 million the month before. The 131 permits issued included 72 through the express program, more than double April's total count. Another 31 were for renovations or alterations. No new business licenses showed up in the city's data this month.
2025-05
Near West Side permit value jumps to $354 million
A handful of big-ticket permits pushed the Near West Side's May construction value to $354 million, up from $19 million in April. The neighborhood issued 121 permits, down slightly from 131, with express permits accounting for more than half. Violent crime rose 29%, from 198 incidents to 256. Food inspection failures doubled to 15. The 311 line logged 49,391 information-only calls—roughly 1,600 per day—dwarfing every other request category. Graffiti removal requests came in second at 454.
New businesses — 2024-05
- MIDWEST COAST BREWING COMPANY (Public Place of Amusement)
- DAVINCI STREET PRODUCTIONS (Limited Business License)
- MIDWEST COAST BREWING COMPANY (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
- MIDWEST COAST BREWING COMPANY (Outdoor Patio)
- RAZOR RED GROOMING SOLUTIONS LLC (Limited Business License)
- ASPEN DENTAL MANAGEMENT, INC. (Limited Business License)
- TONY'S BP (Retail Food Establishment)
- Kantar (Limited Business License)
- Kantar (Limited Business License)
- Starbucks Coffee #80598 (Retail Food Establishment)
New businesses — 2025-05
- SUAREZ MARKET (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
- Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago Medical District UIC (Package Goods)
- BITTER EX BITTERS & SYRUPS (Wholesale Food Establishment)
- FIRE LANE 7 LLC (Manufacturing Establishments)
- SUSHI PINK CHICAGO INC. (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
- FREE SPIRIT INTERNATIONAL LLC (Regulated Business License)
- Pacific Air Travel (Limited Business License)
- THE GREAT AMERICAN BAGEL (Retail Food Establishment)
- Comvest Capital Advisors, LLC (Limited Business License)
- TAQUERIA CHINGON 2.0 (Retail Food Establishment)