Near West Side · 2025-05
Near West Side permit value jumps to $354 million
A handful of big-ticket permits pushed the Near West Side's May construction value to $354 million, up from $19 million in April. The neighborhood issued 121 permits, down slightly from 131, with express permits accounting for more than half. Violent crime rose 29%, from 198 incidents to 256. Food inspection failures doubled to 15. The 311 line logged 49,391 information-only calls—roughly 1,600 per day—dwarfing every other request category. Graffiti removal requests came in second at 454.
By the numbers
| Building permits | 121 |
|---|---|
| Declared construction value | $354,493,135 |
| New business licenses | 250 |
| Business closings (proxy) | 0 |
| 311 service requests | 51016 |
| Reported crimes | 922 |
| Violent crimes | 256 |
| Failed food inspections | 15 |
New businesses
- SUAREZ MARKET (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
- Hampton Inn & Suites Chicago Medical District UIC (Package Goods)
- BITTER EX BITTERS & SYRUPS (Wholesale Food Establishment)
- FIRE LANE 7 LLC (Manufacturing Establishments)
- SUSHI PINK CHICAGO INC. (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
- FREE SPIRIT INTERNATIONAL LLC (Regulated Business License)
- Pacific Air Travel (Limited Business License)
- THE GREAT AMERICAN BAGEL (Retail Food Establishment)
- Comvest Capital Advisors, LLC (Limited Business License)
- TAQUERIA CHINGON 2.0 (Retail Food Establishment)
Top permit types
- PERMIT – EXPRESS PERMIT PROGRAM — 63
- PERMIT - SIGNS — 22
- PERMIT - RENOVATION/ALTERATION — 22
- PERMIT - NEW CONSTRUCTION — 7
- PERMIT - ELEVATOR EQUIPMENT — 7
Top 311 request types
- 311 INFORMATION ONLY CALL — 49391
- Graffiti Removal Request — 454
- Traffic Signal Out Complaint — 145
- Pothole in Street Complaint — 142
- Finance Parking Code Enforcement Review — 67