City In Review: Chicago

Washington Heights · Then vs Now

Washington Heights: 2024-11 vs 2025-11

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

2024-11 2025-11 Change
Building permits 23 36 +57%
Construction value ($) $733,913 $1,230,187 +68%
New business licenses 6 10 +67%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 751 833 +11%
Reported crimes 209 204 -2%
Violent crimes 60 64 +7%
Failed food inspections 1 0 -100%

2024-11

Permit value plunges 95% in Washington Heights

Washington Heights logged $734k in permit value during November, down from nearly $14 million the month before—a 95% drop. The neighborhood issued 23 permits, mostly through the express program, versus 33 in October. Service requests fell 19%, with streetlight outages (73 calls) and garbage cart issues (71) leading the list. Violent crime dropped 23%, from 78 incidents to 60. No businesses opened or closed, and one food establishment failed inspection.

2025-11

Washington Heights permit value triples on $1.2m in work

Permits in Washington Heights climbed from $451k to $1.23 million in November, a 173% jump. Thirty-one of the 36 permits came through the city's express program, which handles routine residential projects. Crime dropped 24%, with 204 incidents versus 270 the month prior. Violent crime fell from 71 to 64. Service requests eased off as well—943 in October, 833 in November—led by traffic signal complaints and garbage cart repairs. No new businesses opened and no restaurants failed inspections.

New businesses — 2024-11

  • POUR DECISION MAKERS (Regulated Business License)
  • LEARN TOGETHER GROW TOGETHER CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER. (Children's Services Facility License)
  • ABC CHOICE (Tobacco)
  • ABC CHOICE (Limited Business License)
  • TRANSIT SAFETY & SECURITY SOLUTIONS INC. (Limited Business License)
  • HAPPY JJ FISH, CHICKEN AND SEAFOOD MARKET (Retail Food Establishment)

New businesses — 2025-11

  • TOTAL WIRELESS (Limited Business License)
  • TOTAL WIRELESS (Limited Business License)
  • JOJO THE BALLOON AND FLOWER LADY, INC. (Limited Business License)
  • JDKKBK, INC. (Shared Kitchen User (Long Term))
  • SAMUEL BURTS (Peddler License)
  • FAMILY DOLLAR #2465 (Retail Food Establishment)
  • LIBERTY TAX SERVICE (Limited Business License)
  • FAMILY DOLLAR #5719 (Retail Food Establishment)
  • MICHELLE'S NAILS SALON (Limited Business License)
  • AARON'S HVAC PLUMBING & HEATING (Regulated Business License)