City In Review: Chicago

Washington Heights · Then vs Now

Washington Heights: 2024-09 vs 2025-09

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

2024-09 2025-09 Change
Building permits 34 37 +9%
Construction value ($) $1,790,756 $514,617 -71%
New business licenses 10 20 +100%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 883 1,022 +16%
Reported crimes 233 248 +6%
Violent crimes 85 83 -2%
Failed food inspections 2 0 -100%

2024-09

Washington Heights permit value jumps to $1.79 million

Permit value in Washington Heights shot up 231% in September, hitting $1.79 million despite five fewer permits issued than the month before. Most of the 34 permits came through the express program. Residents filed 883 service requests, down 16%, with Garbage Cart Maintenance leading at 92 calls. Violent crime ticked up 18% to 85 incidents, while overall crime dropped 14%. Two food establishments failed inspections.

2025-09

Washington Heights permit value drops 64% in September

Building permits in Washington Heights fell sharply in September, with total value down to $515k from $1.45 million the month before. The neighborhood logged 37 permits, 10 fewer than August. Thirty-five of those were express permits, the quick-turn category for routine work. One demolition permit and one elevator permit rounded out the list. No new business licenses or closures showed up in September's data.

New businesses — 2024-09

  • JIMMY'S BEST I (Retail Food Establishment)
  • EXXON MOBIL (Tobacco)
  • CREATIVE LITTLE ONES PRE-SCHOOL INC. (Children's Services Facility License)
  • Undercover Books (Limited Business License)
  • CREATIVE HANDZ SALON (Limited Business License)
  • MONARCH SALON STUDIO LLC (Limited Business License)
  • WINSTON' S AUTO REBUILDERS, INC. (Motor Vehicle Services License)
  • HALSTED SHELL, DUNKIN DONUTS, MR. SUB (Tobacco)
  • DAN'S HOT DOG STAND, INC. (Retail Food Establishment)
  • BIG FLEX 312 (Peddler License)

New businesses — 2025-09

  • MASTERS SHIPPING XPRESS, INC. (Limited Business License)
  • G.G. HAIRBRIDING (Limited Business License)
  • EXXON MOBIL (Tobacco)
  • EXXON MOBIL (Retail Food Establishment)
  • 9705 CORP (Tavern)
  • LITTLE GENIUS COMMUNITY DAYCARE II (Children's Services Facility License)
  • PIPE R/X MUFFLER (Motor Vehicle Services License)
  • ORGANICLIFE (Retail Food Establishment)
  • ORGANICLIFE (Retail Food Establishment)
  • BEGGAR'S PIZZA (Retail Food Establishment)