City In Review: Chicago

New City · Then vs Now

New City: 2025-04 vs 2026-04

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

2025-04 2026-04 Change
Building permits 52 24 -54%
Construction value ($) $4,077,270 $2,305,014 -43%
New business licenses 73 22 -70%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 1,389 1,355 -2%
Reported crimes 282 177 -37%
Violent crimes 113 66 -42%
Failed food inspections 2 3 +50%

2025-04

New City permit value jumps to $4.1 million

New City logged $4.1 million in permit value this April, up nearly 400% from March's $817,000. The 52 permits included 25 through the express program, 15 for signs, and 10 for renovations. One new-construction permit accounted for much of the dollar jump. No new businesses opened, none closed, and 311 requests stayed flat.

2026-04

New City permits drop 83% to $2.3M

New City logged 24 permits worth $2.3 million in April, an 83% drop from March's $13.8 million. Most permits were express-program jobs; just one new-construction permit appeared. Twenty-two businesses opened, including M&S Jewelry, Yao's Cafe, and Mi Tiendita Bakery Store. Crime fell 35% to 177 incidents, with violent offenses down 44%. The neighborhood fielded 1,355 service requests, nearly flat with last month. Graffiti removal led at 222 calls, followed by 121 pothole complaints.

New businesses — 2025-04

  • CHICAGO SPECIAL EVENTS MANAGEMENT (Pop-Up Retail User)
  • REYES JEWELRY, LLC (Limited Business License)
  • TAQUERIA LA CIUDAD (Special Event Food)
  • TAQUERIA LA CIUDAD (Mobile Food License)
  • Fat Ice (Limited Business License)
  • TAQUERIA TEOTIHUACAN (Shared Kitchen User (Long Term))
  • TOTAL WIRELESS (Limited Business License)
  • SANTO NINO DE ATOCHA (Limited Business License)
  • RENE GONZALEZ (Limited Business License)
  • MICHELE BURGER (Limited Business License)

New businesses — 2026-04

  • M&S JEWELRY, CORP. (Limited Business License)
  • RAINBOW SHOP # 372 (Limited Business License)
  • JS AND SON AUTO REPAIR LLC (Motor Vehicle Services License)
  • USA DETERGENT WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTORS (Limited Business License)
  • MI TIENDITA BAKERY STORE (Retail Food Establishment)
  • POSITANOS PIZZA (Retail Food Establishment)
  • DEPORTES MAYA INC., (Limited Business License)
  • YAO'S CAFE (Retail Food Establishment)
  • UM PLUS NAIL SPA (Limited Business License)
  • 3D NAILS LTD. (Limited Business License)