City In Review: Chicago

Washington Heights · Then vs Now

Washington Heights: 2024-10 vs 2025-10

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

2024-10 2025-10 Change
Building permits 33 29 -12%
Construction value ($) $13,930,637 $451,120 -97%
New business licenses 7 10 +43%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 922 943 +2%
Reported crimes 227 270 +19%
Violent crimes 78 71 -9%
Failed food inspections 3 2 -33%

2024-10

Washington Heights permit value rockets to $13.9 million

Washington Heights logged $13.9 million in permit value this October, up nearly 680% from September's $1.8 million. The 33 permits included mostly express work, though one new construction permit likely drove the jump. Service requests ticked up 4.4% to 922, led by 88 calls for garbage cart maintenance and 63 for tree debris cleanup. Violent crime fell 8.2% to 78 incidents. Three food establishments failed inspections, up from two the prior month.

2025-10

Washington Heights logs 24 express permits in October

Washington Heights issued 29 permits in October, down from 37 the month before. Twenty-four came through the express program, the city's fast-track lane for smaller jobs. Two more covered renovations, and one was for wrecking or demolition. Total permitted work was valued at $451,000, compared to $515,000 in September. No new businesses opened, none closed, and service requests stayed quiet.

New businesses — 2024-10

  • HALSTED FOOD MART (Tobacco)
  • Scoop's Hair Mechanics (Limited Business License)
  • NA NA LOVE BIRD CAGE (Regulated Business License)
  • KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN #5288 (Retail Food Establishment)
  • GULF (Tobacco)
  • THE LEGACY SUITES (Limited Business License)
  • BUSINESS SOLUTION CENTERS LLC (Limited Business License)

New businesses — 2025-10

  • POPPIN DOUGH (Retail Food Establishment)
  • BRAINBOX NPS (Children's Services Facility License)
  • GULF (Filling Station)
  • GULF (Tobacco)
  • GULF (Retail Food Establishment)
  • Cynthia's Gumbo Express (Retail Food Establishment)
  • ALVIZO AUTO SALES (Limited Business License)
  • ABC LEARNING CENTER INC. (Children's Services Facility License)
  • ALVIZO AUTO SALES (Limited Business License)
  • MOE 96 FOOD INC. (Retail Food Establishment)