Near South Side · 2026-03
Near South Side permit count jumps 74%, value slides 41%
Near South Side pulled 40 permits in March, up from 23 the month before, but total permit value dropped to $11 million from $18.6 million. Most of the activity—27 permits—came through the city's express program. New business licenses slid by half, from 23 to 12, though a Jewel Food Store and an Osco Drug opened along with a couple of salons (Evan Hair Salon, AAL Textures). Potholes led the 347 service requests, followed by 39 broken traffic signals. Crime stayed about flat: 186 incidents, including 49 violent offenses, both barely above February's tally.
By the numbers
| Building permits | 40 |
|---|---|
| Declared construction value | $11,028,888 |
| New business licenses | 12 |
| Business closings (proxy) | 0 |
| 311 service requests | 347 |
| Reported crimes | 186 |
| Violent crimes | 49 |
| Failed food inspections | 3 |
New businesses
- EVAN HAIR SALON (Limited Business License)
- AAL TEXTURES SALON COMPANY LLC (Limited Business License)
- REA JOHNSON (Peddler License)
- OPEN TAB STUDIOS LLC (Regulated Business License)
- WORLDWIDE EATS (Shared Kitchen User (Long Term))
- Polish Me Nail (Limited Business License)
- JEWEL FOOD STORE # 3345 (Retail Food Establishment)
- 1250 CLEANERS (Regulated Business License)
- OSCO DRUG STORE #3345 (Tobacco)
- OSCO DRUG STORE #3345 (Package Goods)
Top permit types
- PERMIT – EXPRESS PERMIT PROGRAM — 27
- PERMIT - RENOVATION/ALTERATION — 7
- PERMIT - NEW CONSTRUCTION — 3
- PERMIT - SIGNS — 1
- PERMIT - REINSTATE REVOKED PMT — 1
Top 311 request types
- Pothole in Street Complaint — 42
- Traffic Signal Out Complaint — 39
- Tree Trim Request (NO LONGER BEING ACCEPTED) — 24
- Graffiti Removal Request — 16
- Building Violation — 16