City In Review: Chicago

Portage Park · Then vs Now

Portage Park: 2025-02 vs 2026-02

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

2025-02 2026-02 Change
Building permits 26 33 +27%
Construction value ($) $1,559,684 $4,684,363 +200%
New business licenses 30 35 +17%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 1,572 1,635 +4%
Reported crimes 214 237 +11%
Violent crimes 47 60 +28%
Failed food inspections 6 3 -50%

2025-02

Portage Park permit value up 56% to $1.56M

Permits in Portage Park totaled $1.56 million in February, up 56% from January, though the count slipped three to 26. Most were express permits—quick-turnaround jobs. Thirty new businesses opened, including Tank Noodle and Sweatlodge/Rehydrate Water Bar & Cafe. Food inspection failures rose from two to six. Crime inched up two incidents to 214; violent offenses dropped from 51 to 47. Residents filed 194 tree-planting requests, the most common 311 item.

2026-02

Portage Park permit value jumps to $4.7M

Permit value in Portage Park hit $4.7 million in February, up 295% from January's $1.2 million. The 33 permits included 24 express permits and a couple of new-construction jobs. Business licenses doubled to 35, with a Planet Fitness, Culver's, and Dunkin Donuts among the new names. Service requests climbed 41% to 1,635—243 of those were tree-trim requests. Crime reports rose 68% to 237, with violent offenses up to 60 from 36. Three food spots failed inspections, down from four.

New businesses — 2025-02

  • MULTISERVICIOS ADELIZ (Limited Business License)
  • JEFFERSON SECRET TREASURES INC. (Limited Business License)
  • SANTI BOTANICA Wax Studio (Limited Business License)
  • 7-ELEVEN #27421 C (Tobacco)
  • PHD TAX SERVICES, INC. (Limited Business License)
  • FITNESS HOUSE (Regulated Business License)
  • TANK NOODLE (Retail Food Establishment)
  • EXHALE SMOKES (Tobacco)
  • SWEATLODGE / REHYDRATE WATER BAR & CAFE (Retail Food Establishment)
  • GISELL "SALON" (Limited Business License)

New businesses — 2026-02

  • DUBAI DISCOUNT PLUS (Tobacco)
  • UHLER DENTAL PRODUCTS & SOLUTIONS LLC (Limited Business License)
  • PLANET FITNESS (Regulated Business License)
  • Howling Pages LLC (Limited Business License)
  • A T & T (Limited Business License)
  • CULVER'S (Retail Food Establishment)
  • DUNKIN DONUTS (Retail Food Establishment)
  • KARS AUTO REPAIR (Motor Vehicle Services License)
  • 7-ELEVEN #27421 C (Tobacco)
  • COLLISION WORLD LLC (Motor Vehicle Services License)