City In Review: Chicago

Near South Side · 2026-02

Near South Side permit value jumps to $18.6M

Permit values shot up 652% in February, hitting $18.6 million compared to $2.5 million the month before. Same number of permits (23), but something big got filed. Express permits led the pack with 13, followed by six elevator jobs. La Calle Tacos and Tequila and a Subway opened, plus several new Levy licenses at Soldier Field. Service requests climbed 37%, with graffiti removal topping the list at 69 calls. Crime reports rose 74% to 183, including 46 violent incidents. Three food inspections failed.

By the numbers

Building permits23
Declared construction value$18,564,218
New business licenses23
Business closings (proxy)0
311 service requests335
Reported crimes183
Violent crimes46
Failed food inspections3

New businesses

Top permit types

Top 311 request types

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