City In Review: Chicago

Woodlawn · Then vs Now

Woodlawn: 2024-12 vs 2025-12

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

2024-12 2025-12 Change
Building permits 25 16 -36%
Construction value ($) $960,909 $2,321,745 +142%
New business licenses 4 7 +75%
Business closings (proxy) 0 0
311 service requests 515 502 -3%
Reported crimes 297 288 -3%
Violent crimes 95 88 -7%
Failed food inspections 0 4 +4

2024-12

Woodlawn permit value crashes 98% after November spike

Woodlawn's permit value dropped from $47.6 million in November to $961k in December—a 98% fall that suggests one monster project closed out last month. The 25 permits filed were mostly express program work (17 of them), with six reno jobs scattered in. No new businesses opened or closed. Service requests fell 10% to 515, led by 86 tree trim requests even though the city's no longer accepting that category. Crime ticked up 7% overall to 297 incidents, though violent offenses dropped 10% to 95.

2025-12

Woodlawn permit value falls 53% as snow complaints pile up

Woodlawn logged 16 permits worth $2.3 million in December, down from 33 permits and $4.9 million the month before. Most were renovations or express work; three were new construction. The 311 system lit up with 51 ice and snow removal requests and 39 uncleared sidewalk complaints, part of a 20% jump in service calls overall. Crime fell 7%, violent incidents down 19%. Food inspection failures dropped from 13 to 4. No new businesses or closures appeared in the data.

New businesses — 2024-12

  • SWIFT TAX SERVICE (Limited Business License)
  • TEENY TINY UNIVERSITY (Children's Services Facility License)
  • LA RABIDA CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL (Regulated Business License)
  • LA RABIDA CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL (Retail Food Establishment)

New businesses — 2025-12

  • THE GREEN LIVING ROOM (Retail Food Establishment)
  • THE GREEN LIVING ROOM (Limited Business License)
  • CCM CONSULTING GROUP, LLC (Regulated Business License)
  • VON POOF COTTON CANDY (Shared Kitchen User (Long Term))
  • BRIE'S CUISINE (Shared Kitchen User (Long Term))
  • SOUTHSIDE HOME SERVICES LLC (Regulated Business License)
  • OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER - HOME COURT (Public Place of Amusement)