City In Review: Chicago

West Town · Then vs Now

West Town: 2025-02 vs 2026-02

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

2025-02 2026-02 Change
Building permits 58 100 +72%
Construction value ($) $29,047,461 $11,449,698 -61%
New business licenses 91 77 -15%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 2,521 2,237 -11%
Reported crimes 439 475 +8%
Violent crimes 104 107 +3%
Failed food inspections 13 9 -31%

2025-02

West Town permit value jumps to $29M despite fewer filings

West Town logged 58 permits in February, down 41% from January's 99, but the total dollar value climbed 52% to just over $29 million. Express permits led the count with 27, followed by 10 each for signs and renovation work. Six new construction permits also came through. No new business licenses, closures, or service requests showed up in the data this month.

2026-02

West Town logs 604 graffiti requests, adds 77 businesses

Graffiti removal requests hit 604 in February, nearly four times the next category (potholes, 160). Service requests jumped 40% to 2,237. Seventy-seven new business licenses came through—up 43% from January—including Chick-fil-A, Baggu, and something called Puppysphere. Violent crime rose 73% to 107 incidents, and overall crime was up 43%. Permit value climbed 23% to $11.4 million, driven by 50 express permits and 21 renovation jobs. Traffic signal complaints (132) and rodent baiting requests (122) also ticked up.

New businesses — 2025-02

  • VINTAGE HOUSE CHICAGO (Pop-Up Retail User)
  • VINTAGE HOUSE CHICAGO (Limited Business License)
  • NADC BURGER (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
  • NADC BURGER (Retail Food Establishment)
  • HONORE WICKER PARK (Pop-Up Retail User)
  • SBK DOG CLUB (Animal Care License)
  • BEAUTY COMMONS (Limited Business License)
  • DECORATING DEN INTERIORS (Regulated Business License)
  • HOUND DOG'S BURGER & FUSION ASIAN (Retail Food Establishment)
  • Gadget Salvation (Limited Business License)

New businesses — 2026-02

  • BAGGU (Limited Business License)
  • CHICK-FIL-A WICKER PARK (Retail Food Establishment)
  • MAD CHICKEN (Retail Food Establishment)
  • PACK CONTRACTING LLC (Limited Business License)
  • PERFORMERS CLUB WEST TOWN (Regulated Business License)
  • Puppysphere (Regulated Business License)
  • STUDIO E (Limited Business License)
  • ECO NAIL SALON (Limited Business License)
  • Zentro Internet, LLC (Limited Business License)
  • 3 IN 1 NAILS AND SPA (Limited Business License)