City In Review: Chicago

North Center · Then vs Now

North Center: 2025-04 vs 2026-04

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

2025-04 2026-04 Change
Building permits 44 45 +2%
Construction value ($) $9,779,458 $39,589,572 +305%
New business licenses 34 9 -74%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 1,084 1,188 +10%
Reported crimes 93 58 -38%
Violent crimes 19 17 -11%
Failed food inspections 5 2 -60%

2025-04

North Center permit value jumps to $9.8 million

Permit values in North Center climbed 43% in April, hitting $9.8 million across 44 permits. Renovation work led the way with 14 permits, followed by 13 under the express program and seven new construction filings. The bump in dollar value came despite permit counts holding roughly flat from March. No new business licenses or closures showed up in the data this month.

2026-04

North Center permit value jumps to $39.6 million

Permit value in North Center hit $39.6 million in April, up from $2.39 million in March. The neighborhood issued 45 permits, with 24 express permits leading the list. New businesses included Mochii Donut North Center and fitness studio Resistance Lagree. Crime fell 48 percent—58 incidents versus 111 the month before, with violent crime down slightly to 17. Service requests dropped to 1,188, led by 107 graffiti removal calls and 102 pothole complaints.

New businesses — 2025-04

  • DOMINO'S (Retail Food Establishment)
  • PUPUSERIA Y RESTAURANT EL CENTRO AMERICANO LLC (Retail Food Establishment)
  • Symmetry Physical Therapy LLC (Limited Business License)
  • Timber Lanes (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
  • INDIAN CLAY POT (Retail Food Establishment)
  • Timber Lanes (Public Place of Amusement)
  • SEMINARY ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS INC. (Limited Business License)
  • THE BAD APPLE (Retail Food Establishment)
  • SEMINARY ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS INC. (Regulated Business License)
  • STARBUCKS COFFEE #2369 (Retail Food Establishment)

New businesses — 2026-04

  • MOCHII DONUT NORTH CENTER (Retail Food Establishment)
  • BIRCH ROAD CELLAR (Limited Business License)
  • SHANGRI LA (Limited Business License)
  • KELLY BRASK ORGANIZING, LLC (Regulated Business License)
  • Stella Grey Blooms (Limited Business License)
  • FULTON GRACE REALTY, LLC (Limited Business License)
  • MOBIL (Tobacco)
  • BARE & BLOOM WAX STUDIO (Limited Business License)
  • Resistance Lagree (Regulated Business License)