City In Review: Chicago

Washington Park · Then vs Now

Washington Park: 2024-12 vs 2025-12

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

2024-12 2025-12 Change
Building permits 4 13 +225%
Construction value ($) $51,200 $5,174,000 +10005%
New business licenses 2 0 -100%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 240 306 +28%
Reported crimes 204 188 -8%
Violent crimes 70 73 +4%
Failed food inspections 1 0 -100%

2024-12

Washington Park permit value drops 82% to $51k

Four permits in December totaled just $51,200, down from $285k the month before. Three were express permits; the fourth a renovation job. No new businesses opened or closed. Service requests dipped 7% to 240, led by graffiti removal (22 calls), building violations (21), and streetlight outages (20). Crime rose 26% to 204 incidents, though violent offenses ticked down from 74 to 70. One food establishment failed inspection.

2025-12

Washington Park sees $5.2M in permits, up from $191k

Thirteen permits totaled $5.2 million in December, up from $191,000 the month before—roughly twenty-seven times higher. Seven went through the express program; three were for new construction. The city logged 306 service requests, a 27% increase, with plumbing violations leading at 38 and building violations at 27. Crime rose 9% to 188 incidents; violent offenses edged up 1% to 73. No businesses opened or closed.

New businesses — 2024-12

  • skidoes cafe and grill (Retail Food Establishment)
  • IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO INSPIRE MINDS LL LLC (Children's Services Facility License)