City In Review: Chicago

North Park · Then vs Now

North Park: 2024-05 vs 2025-05

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

2024-05 2025-05 Change
Building permits 24 18 -25%
Construction value ($) $2,906,169 $5,561,246 +91%
New business licenses 8 12 +50%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 636 680 +7%
Reported crimes 75 80 +7%
Violent crimes 24 22 -8%
Failed food inspections 2 1 -50%

2024-05

North Park permit value jumps to $2.9 million

North Park pulled 24 permits in May, up from three the month before, with a total value of roughly $2.9 million—a near-hundredfold increase from April's $29k. Eleven of those were express permits, followed by six renovation or alteration jobs. Two new-construction permits also came through. No new businesses opened, none closed, and 311 requests stayed at zero for the second straight month.

2025-05

North Park permit value jumps 53% to $5.6M

North Park's construction value climbed to $5.6 million in May, up 53% from April, even as the number of permits ticked down slightly from 20 to 18. Most permits came through the express program (12 of 18). Service requests surged 49%, driven by 92 tree emergencies—likely storm-related—plus 62 graffiti calls and 59 tree debris requests. Crime dropped 11% overall (90 to 80 incidents), though violent offenses held steady at 22. One food establishment failed inspection, down from two last month.

New businesses — 2024-05

  • A&F PAINTING SOLUTIONS LLC (Regulated Business License)
  • WILLIAM NORRIS ALDEEN (Peddler License)
  • Manny's Barbershop (Limited Business License)
  • T-MOBILE (Limited Business License)
  • Chicago Plumbing Inspections (Regulated Business License)
  • ARABIA (Limited Business License)
  • Breath & Balance Bodywork (Regulated Business License)
  • A - FLOWERS (Limited Business License)

New businesses — 2025-05

  • BANH MI ONG MUOI (Retail Food Establishment)
  • MK NOODLE EXPRESS (Shared Kitchen User (Long Term))
  • HEXE COFFEE CO. (Wholesale Food Establishment)
  • MAC DYNAMITE (Special Event Food)
  • KOH-VARILLA GUILD INC (Limited Business License)
  • AMERICAN NAIL SPA LTD. (Limited Business License)
  • FIVE BELOW, INC. (Limited Business License)
  • BE UNLIMITED CLEANING LLC (Limited Business License)
  • 2 ASIAN BROTHERS (Retail Food Establishment)
  • DAR-ALHIJRAH CENTER (Children's Services Facility License)