City In Review: Chicago

North Park · Then vs Now

North Park: 2025-03 vs 2026-03

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

2025-03 2026-03 Change
Building permits 13 7 -46%
Construction value ($) $870,404 $983,576 +13%
New business licenses 14 13 -7%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 531 585 +10%
Reported crimes 91 50 -45%
Violent crimes 27 17 -37%
Failed food inspections 1 3 +200%

2025-03

North Park permit value spikes 429% on $870k

Thirteen permits pulled in March totaled $870,404, up from $165k the month before—a 429% jump. Eight were express permits, four for signs, one for renovation. Service requests climbed 37% to 531, led by 120 pothole complaints. Violent crime spiked 125% to 27 incidents (from 12 in February), while total crime rose 14% to 91. No new business licenses or closures this month.

2026-03

North Park permit value jumps to $984k

Seven permits pulled in March totaled $984k, up from $226k the month before—a 334% spike. Five were express permits; one was tagged new construction. Thirteen businesses opened, including Guu Coffee & Boba and Pho Nam Lua, plus a Panda Express and a Pilates studio called Intentional Flow. Service requests shot up 58%, led by 113 pothole complaints. Crime dropped 23% overall, with violent incidents down 29%. Three food establishments failed inspections, one fewer than February.

New businesses — 2025-03

  • Car Key Locksmith Inc. (Limited Business License)
  • BANGKOK THAI CUISINE (Retail Food Establishment)
  • MILLI MINI MART INC. (Limited Business License)
  • PLATINUM (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
  • ASTER HOME HEALTH SERVICES (Limited Business License)
  • BOKI'S TEA HOUSE LLC (Retail Food Establishment)
  • BURGER KING #215 (Retail Food Establishment)
  • OSCO DRUG STORE #3442 (Tobacco)
  • JERSEY MIKE'S SUBS (Retail Food Establishment)
  • MCDONALDS RESTAURANT (Retail Food Establishment)

New businesses — 2026-03

  • INTENTIONAL FLOW PILATES (Limited Business License)
  • GUU COFFEE & BOBA (Retail Food Establishment)
  • H & R BLOCK TAX SERVICES INC (Limited Business License)
  • PHO NAM LUA (Retail Food Establishment)
  • THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY #3707 (Regulated Business License)
  • CORNELIO PALMA OLEGARIO (Peddler License)
  • PANDA EXPRESS #1345 (Retail Food Establishment)
  • F & E HEATING (Limited Business License)
  • JEWEL FOOD STORE #3442 (Retail Food Establishment)
  • OSCO DRUG STORE #3442 (Tobacco)