Near West Side · Then vs Now
Near West Side: 2024-08 vs 2025-08
A side-by-side look at how Near West Side shifted between two periods.
| 2024-08 | 2025-08 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building permits | 164 | 138 | -16% |
| Construction value ($) | $57,711,324 | $35,089,565 | -39% |
| New business licenses | 109 | 112 | +3% |
| Business closings (proxy) | 0 | 0 | — |
| 311 service requests | 51,551 | 62,480 | +21% |
| Reported crimes | 978 | 987 | +1% |
| Violent crimes | 278 | 265 | -5% |
| Failed food inspections | 12 | 16 | +33% |
2024-08
Near West Side permits jump to $57.7M
Permits in the Near West Side climbed 10% in August, hitting 164 total, with a combined value of $57.7 million—a 14.5% jump from July. More than half were express permits (76), followed by 29 new construction permits and 24 renovation or alteration jobs. No new business licenses or closures showed up in the month's data.
2025-08
Near West Side permit value drops 82% in August
Permit value on the Near West Side fell from $193 million in July to $35 million in August, an 82% drop. The number of permits also declined, from 157 to 138. Most of August's permits—76 of them—came through the express program, which typically covers smaller-scale work. Twenty-three renovation permits and 19 sign permits rounded out the bulk of activity. A dozen new-construction permits were issued, along with seven for elevator equipment.
New businesses — 2024-08
- Ahead, Inc. (Limited Business License)
- XSELL TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (Limited Business License)
- ALL WE REMEMBER (Regulated Business License)
- PUBLICAN QUALITY MEATS (Special Event Food)
- FACIAL HAUS (Limited Business License)
- Krispr Communications (Limited Business License)
- First & 42nd Inc. (Limited Business License)
- Edelman Miami Latin America Corporation (Limited Business License)
- Matter, Inc (Limited Business License)
- SAINT LOU'S ASSEMBLY (Special Event Liquor)
New businesses — 2025-08
- BKB WEST LOOP (Regulated Business License)
- CHICAGO VINTAGE FESTIVAL (Pop-Up Retail User)
- KOI NOODLE (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
- THE ORIGINAL PANCAKE HOUSE (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
- TRES TESOROS KIDS (Limited Business License)
- RYOTA (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
- Trixie Girl Blow Dry Bar (Limited Business License)
- Smoothie King (Retail Food Establishment)
- BC CLEANERS (Regulated Business License)
- CHEESE AND BOARD (Package Goods)