City In Review: Chicago

West Ridge · Then vs Now

West Ridge: 2025-04 vs 2026-04

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

2025-04 2026-04 Change
Building permits 33 30 -9%
Construction value ($) $1,124,779 $1,240,178 +10%
New business licenses 34 15 -56%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 1,300 2,061 +59%
Reported crimes 218 143 -34%
Violent crimes 72 53 -26%
Failed food inspections 10 1 -90%

2025-04

West Ridge permit value drops 78% to $1.1 million

Thirty-three permits cleared in April, down slightly from 36 the month before, but the total value collapsed from $5.2 million to $1.1 million. Most of the work was minor—23 permits came through the express program, which handles small residential jobs. Six renovation permits and a couple each for signs and elevator equipment made up the rest. No new businesses opened or closed. Whatever big-dollar project drove March's numbers didn't repeat.

2026-04

West Ridge crime drops 49% as permit value falls

Crime in West Ridge fell sharply in April—143 incidents, down from 280 the month before. Violent offenses dropped 39%. At the same time, construction permit value cratered 74%, from $4.7 million to $1.2 million, though permit count only dipped from 36 to 30. Express permits accounted for most of the activity. New businesses included Safari Somali Cuisine, Ruman Chai Shai & Restaurant, and Domino's Pizza, plus Yasini Jewelers on Devon. Service requests ticked up 3%, led by 263 pothole complaints and 142 tree emergencies. One food inspection failure.

New businesses — 2025-04

  • TAXI TOWN AFFILIATION LLC (Limited Business License)
  • PETERSON BP (Tobacco)
  • LEBOWITZ IT SERVICES LLC (Regulated Business License)
  • Devon Sport Inc (Limited Business License)
  • JAXEN & JILLZ LLC (Limited Business License)
  • AKA COMP SOLUTIONS, INC. (Limited Business License)
  • PETERSON BP (Retail Food Establishment)
  • Kizin Creole Restaurant (Retail Food Establishment)
  • FUTURE FOCUS DAY CARE, INC. (Children's Services Facility License)
  • BULL AND BARREL (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)

New businesses — 2026-04

  • YASINI JEWELERS ON DEVON (Secondhand Dealer)
  • SAFARI SOMALI CUISINE (Retail Food Establishment)
  • DOMINO'S PIZZA (Retail Food Establishment)
  • RUMAN CHAI SHAI & RESTAURANT (Retail Food Establishment)
  • VERO DULCE HOGAR (Limited Business License)
  • VERONICA CARRERAS RODRIGUEZ (Peddler License)
  • OPERATION HOPE, INC. (Limited Business License)
  • L.K. PRECISION TUCKPOINTING, INC. (Limited Business License)
  • WINDY CITY BLINDS (Regulated Business License)
  • N SABAH CONNECTION INC., (Tobacco)