Near North Side · 2026-01
Near North Side permit value plunges to $28M
Permit value dropped 79% to $28 million, down from $134 million the month before. The neighborhood issued 154 permits, 92 of them through the express program. New businesses included Sonesta ES Suites Chicago Downtown, L'Occitane en Provence, and a Lululemon. Graffiti removal led 311 requests with 226 calls, followed by 148 pothole complaints. Crime fell 8% to 787 incidents. Food inspection failures dropped from 19 to 8.
By the numbers
| Building permits | 154 |
|---|---|
| Declared construction value | $27,997,330 |
| New business licenses | 91 |
| Business closings (proxy) | 0 |
| 311 service requests | 1359 |
| Reported crimes | 787 |
| Violent crimes | 178 |
| Failed food inspections | 8 |
New businesses
- CHICAGO MINDS LLC (Limited Business License)
- CHICAGO LITERACY STUDIO LLC (Regulated Business License)
- Sonesta ES Suites Chicago Downtown (Regulated Business License)
- Sonesta ES Suites Chicago Downtown (Retail Food Establishment)
- L'Occitane en Provence (Limited Business License)
- LULULEMON (Limited Business License)
- GROBIZO WEB DESIGN LLC (Limited Business License)
- Prevention First, Inc (Limited Business License)
- BURDEEN YOUNG & COMPANY (Limited Business License)
- THE ORIGINAL GINO'S EAST OF CHICAGO (Retail Food Establishment)
Top permit types
- PERMIT – EXPRESS PERMIT PROGRAM — 92
- PERMIT - RENOVATION/ALTERATION — 31
- PERMIT - ELEVATOR EQUIPMENT — 15
- PERMIT - SIGNS — 10
- PERMIT - REINSTATE REVOKED PMT — 3
Top 311 request types
- Graffiti Removal Request — 226
- Pothole in Street Complaint — 148
- Snow – Uncleared Sidewalk Complaint — 108
- 311 INFORMATION ONLY CALL — 64
- Street Light Out Complaint — 62