City In Review: Chicago

Riverdale · Then vs Now

Riverdale: 2024-07 vs 2025-07

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

2024-07 2025-07 Change
Building permits 1 5 +400%
Construction value ($) $24,380 $255,359 +947%
New business licenses 10 1 -90%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 149 101 -32%
Reported crimes 137 103 -25%
Violent crimes 63 47 -25%
Failed food inspections 0 0

2024-07

Riverdale crime up 43% amid quiet permit month

Crime in Riverdale jumped 43% in July—137 incidents, 63 of them violent. Seven businesses opened, including Garden Fast Food and a Key Food Liquor that secured retail, package goods, and tobacco licenses. Manufacturers Cygnus Corp, Innophos Inc., and General Pallet Inc. also registered. One permit pulled: a $24k demolition. Service requests dipped slightly to 149, led by 23 tree emergencies and 20 busted street lights.

2025-07

Riverdale permit value drops 98% to $255k

Riverdale issued the same five permits as last month, but their total value collapsed from nearly $13 million to $255,000. Three were express permits; two covered demolition. Residents called in 101 service requests, down 30% from June, led by 14 pothole complaints and nine stray animal reports. Crime ticked up slightly—103 incidents versus 100 the month before, with 47 classified as violent.

New businesses — 2024-07

  • RENTNER MARINE (Limited Business License)
  • ARAMARK EDUCATIONAL SERVICES (Retail Food Establishment)
  • CYGNUS CORP (Manufacturing Establishments)
  • INNOPHOS INC. (Manufacturing Establishments)
  • GENERAL PALLET INC. (Manufacturing Establishments)
  • INNOPHOS INC. (Wholesale Food Establishment)
  • KEY FOOD LIQUOR (Package Goods)
  • GARDEN FAST FOOD (Retail Food Establishment)
  • KEY FOOD LIQUOR (Tobacco)
  • KEY FOOD LIQUOR (Retail Food Establishment)

New businesses — 2025-07

  • KEY FOOD LIQUOR (Tobacco)