City In Review: Chicago

North Center · Then vs Now

North Center: 2025-02 vs 2026-02

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

2025-02 2026-02 Change
Building permits 36 18 -50%
Construction value ($) $16,493,113 $2,753,529 -83%
New business licenses 41 23 -44%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 742 1,154 +56%
Reported crimes 78 116 +49%
Violent crimes 8 21 +162%
Failed food inspections 3 1 -67%

2025-02

North Center permit value jumps to $16.5 million

Permit value in North Center more than doubled in February, climbing from $7.2 million to $16.5 million. The 36 permits included 19 through the express program, plus five new construction filings. No new businesses opened and no service requests were logged during the month.

2026-02

North Center permit dollars drop 67% despite more filings

Eighteen permits were filed in North Center in February, up from 16, but their combined value dropped 67%—from $8.3 million to $2.8 million. Eleven were express permits. New businesses included Roscoe Pawtroll and CVS/Pharmacy #8751, which picked up package goods and retail food licenses. Lou Malnati's added an outdoor patio. Crime reports rose 21% to 116, though violent offenses fell to 21 from 23. Service requests climbed 10% to 1,154, led by tree trim requests (196) and potholes (161).

New businesses — 2025-02

  • MIDWEST AIKIDO CENTER (Limited Business License)
  • CUSTOM EYES (Limited Business License)
  • DAVE AND COMPANY (Limited Business License)
  • LAZY DOG ANTIQUES (Limited Business License)
  • O'DONOVAN'S (Outdoor Patio)
  • EMERALD LASHES (Limited Business License)
  • LUCKY MINI MART (Tobacco)
  • LUCKY MINI MART (Retail Food Establishment)
  • PRAIRIE HOME BUILDERS LTD (Regulated Business License)
  • SIRKKA LABS (Manufacturing Establishments)

New businesses — 2026-02

  • ROSCOE PAWTROLL (Regulated Business License)
  • CVS/PHARMACY #8751 (Package Goods)
  • LOU MALNALTI'S PIZZERIA (Outdoor Patio)
  • ClimbZone (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
  • CVS/PHARMACY #8751 (Retail Food Establishment)
  • LOU MALNALTI'S PIZZERIA (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
  • TORTORICE'S PIZZA (Retail Food Establishment)
  • Friends of Coonley (Raffles)
  • LOU MALNALTI'S PIZZERIA (Retail Food Establishment)
  • ClimbZone (Retail Food Establishment)