City In Review: Chicago

New City · Then vs Now

New City: 2025-03 vs 2026-03

A side-by-side look at how New City shifted between two periods.

2025-03 2026-03 Change
Building permits 33 51 +55%
Construction value ($) $817,457 $13,821,827 +1591%
New business licenses 66 38 -42%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 1,500 1,344 -10%
Reported crimes 297 274 -8%
Violent crimes 98 117 +19%
Failed food inspections 9 3 -67%

2025-03

New City permit value falls 90% to $817k

Permits in New City rose 27% to 33 in March, but their total value dropped 90% to $817k — down from $7.9 million the month before. Twenty-four of the permits were express types, which carry smaller budgets. Service requests climbed 33% to 1,500, with graffiti removal leading at 384. Crime ticked up 25% to 297 incidents; violent offenses rose 14% to 98. Nine food establishments failed health inspections, up from one in February. No new businesses opened or closed.

2026-03

New City permit value triples to $13.8M

Permit value in New City jumped to $13.8 million in March, more than triple February's $4.3 million. The 51 permits issued included 25 express permits and four new construction projects. New businesses hit 38, up slightly from 36 the month before—among them Mi Nueva Venezuela, a retail food spot, and Big Z Halsted, a tobacco shop. Service requests climbed 22%, with graffiti removal leading the list at 149 calls. Violent crime ticked up 15% to 117 incidents, though overall crime stayed nearly flat. Three food establishments failed inspections after none did in February.

New businesses — 2025-03

  • LESLY LOPEZ (Limited Business License)
  • JNS CHICAGO CLEANING LLC (Regulated Business License)
  • ULISES GABRIEL LOPEZ (Limited Business License)
  • 2 Goods (Limited Business License)
  • Windy City Emporium (Regulated Business License)
  • BELL HEIRS BBQ (Special Event Food)
  • ANTONIA SOLANO FLORES (Peddler License)
  • EXTRA SPACE (Limited Business License)
  • TREASURES VINTAGE RETRO CP (Limited Business License)
  • BLUE VINTAGE HOUSE CHICAGO (Limited Business License)

New businesses — 2026-03

  • NOBLESSE EMPIRE (Limited Business License)
  • SANDRA VINALAY (Pop-Up Retail User)
  • NOVM (Regulated Business License)
  • KARLA VACA (Pop-Up Retail User)
  • BIG Z HALSTED (Tobacco)
  • EP CUSTOM FABRICATIONS (Limited Business License)
  • MI NUEVA VENEZUELA (Retail Food Establishment)
  • CASTREJON JEWELRY (Pop-Up Retail User)
  • Carlos Perez Hernandez (Pop-Up Retail User)
  • LUCKY PEONY INC. (Pop-Up Retail User)