Near North Side · 2026-02
Near North Side permit value doubles to $61 million
Permit value in Near North Side more than doubled in February, hitting $61 million—up 118% from January's $28 million. The 181 permits leaned heavily on express work (116 of them), with another 28 for renovations or alterations. New business licenses jumped from 85 to 577, though that spike likely reflects a data quirk or seasonal batch processing rather than a sudden retail invasion. Among the fresh names: Chicago's Dog House and Waffle Vibes 1, both retail food setups. Graffiti removal led 311 requests (258), followed by pothole complaints (197). Crime dropped 11%, with violent offenses down 18%. Ten food establishments failed inspections, up from eight the month prior.
By the numbers
| Building permits | 181 |
|---|---|
| Declared construction value | $60,937,006 |
| New business licenses | 577 |
| Business closings (proxy) | 0 |
| 311 service requests | 1502 |
| Reported crimes | 698 |
| Violent crimes | 146 |
| Failed food inspections | 10 |
New businesses
- CHICAGO'S DOG HOUSE (Retail Food Establishment)
- Waffle Vibes 1 (Retail Food Establishment)
- CHICAGO ESTATE ADVISORS (Limited Business License)
- LIZZIE MCNEILL'S (Pop-Up Retail User)
- Boguslaw (Regulated Business License)
- LIZZIE MCNEILL'S (Special Event Liquor)
- Sugaring NYC (Limited Business License)
- US VALET PARKING LLC (Valet Parking Operator)
- CONTRACTOR 360 LLC (Regulated Business License)
- LAUREN COLLANDER INTERIORS (Limited Business License)
Top permit types
- PERMIT – EXPRESS PERMIT PROGRAM — 116
- PERMIT - RENOVATION/ALTERATION — 28
- PERMIT - ELEVATOR EQUIPMENT — 21
- PERMIT - SIGNS — 11
- PERMIT - NEW CONSTRUCTION — 4
Top 311 request types
- Graffiti Removal Request — 258
- Pothole in Street Complaint — 197
- E-Scooter Parking Complaint — 131
- Divvy Bike Parking Complaint — 126
- Street Light Out Complaint — 67