City In Review: Chicago

Washington Heights · Then vs Now

Washington Heights: 2024-12 vs 2025-12

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

2024-12 2025-12 Change
Building permits 12 28 +133%
Construction value ($) $382,304 $549,727 +44%
New business licenses 9 11 +22%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 679 796 +17%
Reported crimes 192 182 -5%
Violent crimes 57 52 -9%
Failed food inspections 2 0 -100%

2024-12

Washington Heights permits drop by half in December

Washington Heights pulled 12 permits in December, down from 23 the month before—a 48% slide. Dollar value fell at the same clip, from $734k to $382k. Nine of those permits came through the express program. No new businesses opened or closed. Residents filed 679 service requests, down 10%. Garbage cart maintenance led the list at 73 calls, followed by 68 tree-trim requests. Crime dipped 8% to 192 incidents; violent offenses dropped to 57 from 60. Two food establishments failed inspection, up from one in November.

2025-12

Washington Heights permit value drops 55% to $550k

Washington Heights pulled 28 permits in December, down from 36 the month prior, with total value falling to $550k from $1.2 million. Twenty-one of those permits came through the express program. Service requests dipped slightly to 796, led by 60 calls about ice and snow removal. Violent crime fell 19% to 52 incidents. No new businesses opened or closed.

New businesses — 2024-12

  • CRADLE 2 CREATIONS LEARNING CENTER (Children's Services Facility License)
  • WRIGHT EARLY CARE & LEARNING CENTER (Children's Services Facility License)
  • CITGO (Tobacco)
  • THE CRAB HOUSE (Retail Food Establishment)
  • DOLLAR GENERAL STORE #13157 (Retail Food Establishment)
  • BOOST (Limited Business License)
  • CITGO (Tobacco)
  • FRESH MART EXPRESS INC. (Retail Food Establishment)
  • JORDYN'S JERK PALACE (Retail Food Establishment)

New businesses — 2025-12

  • Plows Gift Shop (Limited Business License)
  • CITGO (Retail Food Establishment)
  • CITGO (Filling Station)
  • CITGO (Tobacco)
  • CITGO (Tobacco)
  • CITGO (Retail Food Establishment)
  • INFINITY LITTLE VILLAGE CARS AND SERVICES LLC (Motor Vehicle Services License)
  • CITGO (Filling Station)
  • McDonalds (Retail Food Establishment)
  • ALINDUSTRIES.US LLC (Motor Vehicle Services License)