City In Review: Chicago

North Center · Then vs Now

North Center: 2024-10 vs 2025-10

A side-by-side look at how North Center shifted between two periods.

2024-10 2025-10 Change
Building permits 72 71 -1%
Construction value ($) $8,620,400 $14,272,828 +66%
New business licenses 22 34 +55%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 1,037 955 -8%
Reported crimes 119 143 +20%
Violent crimes 15 27 +80%
Failed food inspections 5 2 -60%

2024-10

North Center permit value doubles to $8.6 million

Permit values in North Center more than doubled in October, climbing from $4.2 million to $8.6 million. The neighborhood logged 72 permits, up from 59 the month before. Express permits led the pack with 30, followed by 14 renovation jobs and 10 demolition permits. New construction accounted for nine permits. No new businesses opened and none closed during the month.

2025-10

North Center permit value drops 53% to $14.3M

North Center pulled 71 permits in October, up 9 from the month before, but total value fell 53%—from $30.5 million to $14.3 million. More than half the permits (37) came through the express program, followed by 13 for signs and 11 for new construction. No new businesses opened or closed during the month.

New businesses — 2024-10

  • KRINGLE BROTHERS (Pop-Up Retail User)
  • TRAVIS SHIVE (Regulated Business License)
  • I CRAFT INC. (Limited Business License)
  • LIGHTWRITERS NEON CHICAGO (Limited Business License)
  • BEAUTY STUDIO BY AP LLC (Regulated Business License)
  • Boonie's Filipino Restaurant (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
  • NEW CHINA 2, INC. (Retail Food Establishment)
  • DEPAUL COLLEGE PREP (Raffles)
  • EVETTE'S LINCOLN PARK (Shared Kitchen User (Long Term))
  • Lovely Pets Chicago (Animal Care License)

New businesses — 2025-10

  • Rush Physical Therapy (Limited Business License)
  • SAVANNA RESTAURANT (Retail Food Establishment)
  • PARTNERS IN CRIME BOOKSHOP (Limited Business License)
  • BUGHOUSE THEATER (Public Place of Amusement (PAV))
  • CONSTELLATION (Public Place of Amusement (PAV))
  • KHUBZ (Retail Food Establishment)
  • ALTITUDE PARK (Retail Food Establishment)
  • KRINGLE BROTHERS LLC (Pop-Up Retail User)
  • ALTITUDE PARK (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
  • ALTITUDE PARK (Public Place of Amusement)