City In Review: Chicago

South Lawndale · Then vs Now

South Lawndale: 2024-08 vs 2025-08

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

2024-08 2025-08 Change
Building permits 35 21 -40%
Construction value ($) $2,251,876 $3,335,800 +48%
New business licenses 347 55 -84%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 1,795 1,921 +7%
Reported crimes 363 356 -2%
Violent crimes 145 135 -7%
Failed food inspections 3 4 +33%

2024-08

South Lawndale permit value jumps 46% on flat count

South Lawndale pulled 35 permits in August, same as July, but their combined value hit $2.25 million—up 46% from the month prior. Express permits led the way with 19, followed by seven renovation-or-alteration jobs. No new business licenses were issued. Service requests dropped 11.5% to 1,795, driven by fewer graffiti removal calls (419, still the top category). Open fire hydrants drew 117 complaints. Crime fell 6.9% to 363 incidents, with violent offenses down slightly to 145. Three food establishments failed inspections, unchanged from July.

2025-08

South Lawndale permits drop 55%, down to $3.3M

Permit activity fell sharply in August — just 21 filed, down from 47 the month before, and total value slid from $11.6M to $3.3M. Most of the work came through the express permit program (11 permits). Service requests also eased, dropping 14% to 1,921. Graffiti removal led the list with 302 calls, followed by garbage cart maintenance and abandoned vehicle complaints. Crime ticked down modestly: 356 incidents overall, 135 of them violent, both off their July counts by single digits. Four food establishments failed inspections.

New businesses — 2024-08

  • MI TIERRA SOUTH RESTAURANT (Special Event Liquor)
  • LE FENIX (Retail Food Establishment)
  • ARTESANIAS (Limited Business License)
  • LIA SPORTS SOCCER, INC. (Limited Business License)
  • CRISTOL REY PARISH (Special Event Food)
  • LOLA'S BEAUTY SALON (Limited Business License)
  • OESTE WESTERN WEAR (Limited Business License)
  • RAUL'S GLASS (Limited Business License)
  • JAIME KIDS FASHION (Limited Business License)
  • TROPICAL OPTICAL (Limited Business License)

New businesses — 2025-08

  • Laramie Auto Sales (Limited Business License)
  • TACOS DE CANASTA EL CHISME (Mobile Food License)
  • LADIES UNDERWEAR (Limited Business License)
  • 26th St Cafe (Limited Business License)
  • FUENTES FAMILY INC (Special Event Liquor)
  • 4457 MARKET (Tobacco)
  • Cocina RX (Caterer's Liquor License)
  • CRISTOL REY PARISH (Special Event Food)
  • MOBIL - SUPER SAVE CARWASH (Tobacco)
  • Supermercado Santos (Tobacco)