City In Review: Chicago

West Garfield Park · Then vs Now

West Garfield Park: 2024-08 vs 2025-08

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

2024-08 2025-08 Change
Building permits 22 14 -36%
Construction value ($) $644,371 $1,720,168 +167%
New business licenses 59 22 -63%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 660 670 +2%
Reported crimes 336 274 -18%
Violent crimes 132 113 -14%
Failed food inspections 0 2 +2

2024-08

West Garfield Park permit value craters 98%

Permit value in West Garfield Park fell from $27.9 million in July to $644k in August—a 98% drop suggesting last month's figure was tied to a single large project now complete. The neighborhood issued 22 permits, up from 18, mostly express permits and renovations. Service requests dropped 38%, from 1,056 to 660. Abandoned vehicle complaints led the list at 54, followed by weed removal requests (50) and garbage cart issues (47). Crime ticked down 4% to 336 incidents, with violent offenses holding nearly flat at 132.

2025-08

West Garfield Park permit value drops 66% to $1.7M

Permit value in West Garfield Park fell from $5.1M to $1.7M in August, a two-thirds drop despite just two fewer permits issued (14 vs. 16). Eight of those were express-program permits, five were renovation jobs. Crime dropped 22% to 274 incidents, with violent offenses down 13% to 113. Service requests fell 20% to 670, led by 72 abandoned vehicle complaints and 47 garbage cart requests. No new businesses opened or closed. Food inspection failures held at two.

New businesses — 2024-08

  • HARV WAR BANGERZ BOXING CLUB CORP. (Indoor Special Event)
  • Total by Verizon (Limited Business License)
  • JAB ELECTRICAL CONSTRUCTION, LLC (Regulated Business License)
  • FINE GENERAL MERCHANDISE STORE (Limited Business License)
  • madison beauty supply (Limited Business License)
  • COMO TAILOR SHOP (Limited Business License)
  • CITY SPORTS ON MADISON (Limited Business License)
  • G K TOPS & BOTTOMS INC (Limited Business License)
  • CITY SPORTS ON MADISON II (Limited Business License)
  • U S SPICE MILLS INC (Wholesale Food Establishment)

New businesses — 2025-08

  • DADDY AND DAUGHTERS DUMPSTERS (Regulated Business License)
  • DADDY & DAUGHTERS DUMPSTERS (Regulated Business License)
  • PARADISE FOOD (Retail Food Establishment)
  • METRO BY T-MOBILE (Limited Business License)
  • I290 FOOD AND LIQUOR (Package Goods)
  • I290 FOOD AND LIQUOR (Retail Food Establishment)
  • AYA SUPERMARKET (Retail Food Establishment)
  • AFRICAN SUPERMARKET & LIQUOR (Tobacco)
  • DEARBORN WHOLESALE GROCERS (Tobacco)
  • OFF THE STREET CLUB (Raffles)