West Town · Then vs Now
West Town: 2025-01 vs 2026-01
A side-by-side look at how West Town shifted between two periods.
| 2025-01 | 2026-01 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building permits | 99 | 92 | -7% |
| Construction value ($) | $19,101,408 | $9,333,198 | -51% |
| New business licenses | 84 | 57 | -32% |
| Business closings (proxy) | 0 | 0 | — |
| 311 service requests | 2,493 | 2,453 | -2% |
| Reported crimes | 512 | 508 | -1% |
| Violent crimes | 97 | 104 | +7% |
| Failed food inspections | 19 | 8 | -58% |
2025-01
West Town permit value jumps 138% to $19.1 million
West Town logged 99 permits in January, up 80% from December, with a combined value of $19.1 million—a 138% increase from the prior month's $8 million. Express permits accounted for 42 of them, followed by 24 renovation jobs. Service requests climbed 18% to 2,493, with graffiti removal leading at 650 reports—more than a quarter of all requests. Tree trim submissions hit 272 despite that category no longer being accepted. Rodent complaints reached 106. Crime fell 15%, with violent incidents down 26% to 97. Food inspection failures edged up to 19 from 17.
2026-01
West Town permit value drops 56% despite new tattoo shops
West Town logged 92 permits in January worth $9.3 million, down 56% in value from December's $21 million even as permit count edged up 4.5%. Express permits led the way with 34 filings. New businesses included Barrio Ink Tattoos and Art Spirit Tattoo, plus Ola Barra, Cocina & Lounge. Graffiti removal topped the 1,594 service requests—301 calls—followed by 183 complaints about uncleared sidewalks. Crime tallied 332 incidents, 62 of them violent. Seven food establishments failed inspections.
New businesses — 2025-01
- TITLE Boxing Club (Regulated Business License)
- J W Rejuvenating Massage (Regulated Business License)
- HD Training (Regulated Business License)
- Tortello / DeSora by Tortello (Retail Food Establishment)
- Tortello / DeSora by Tortello (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
- HONORE WICKER PARK (Pop-Up Retail User)
- FOXTROT MARKET (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
- FOXTROT MARKET (Retail Food Establishment)
- LAZ PARKING LLC (Commercial Garage)
- C&M DELI (Tobacco)
New businesses — 2026-01
- BARRIO INK TATTOOS (Regulated Business License)
- Dylan Roman (Shared Housing Unit Operator)
- OLA BARRA, COCINA & LOUNGE (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
- EMPTY BOTTLE INC (Special Event Liquor)
- JFG (Limited Business License)
- MATCH | A (Limited Business License)
- ART SPIRIT TATTOO (Regulated Business License)
- ELISE SEIGENTHALER GALLERY, LLC (Limited Business License)
- SURFACE EXPERTS CHICAGO NEAR NORTH (Regulated Business License)
- REBEL AND RYE TAVERN (Retail Food Establishment)