Near West Side · 2025-08
Near West Side permit value drops 82% in August
Permit value on the Near West Side fell from $193 million in July to $35 million in August, an 82% drop. The number of permits also declined, from 157 to 138. Most of August's permits—76 of them—came through the express program, which typically covers smaller-scale work. Twenty-three renovation permits and 19 sign permits rounded out the bulk of activity. A dozen new-construction permits were issued, along with seven for elevator equipment.
By the numbers
| Building permits | 138 |
|---|---|
| Declared construction value | $35,089,565 |
| New business licenses | 112 |
| Business closings (proxy) | 0 |
| 311 service requests | 62480 |
| Reported crimes | 987 |
| Violent crimes | 265 |
| Failed food inspections | 16 |
New businesses
- BKB WEST LOOP (Regulated Business License)
- CHICAGO VINTAGE FESTIVAL (Pop-Up Retail User)
- KOI NOODLE (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
- THE ORIGINAL PANCAKE HOUSE (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
- TRES TESOROS KIDS (Limited Business License)
- RYOTA (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
- Trixie Girl Blow Dry Bar (Limited Business License)
- Smoothie King (Retail Food Establishment)
- BC CLEANERS (Regulated Business License)
- CHEESE AND BOARD (Package Goods)
Top permit types
- PERMIT – EXPRESS PERMIT PROGRAM — 76
- PERMIT - RENOVATION/ALTERATION — 23
- PERMIT - SIGNS — 19
- PERMIT - NEW CONSTRUCTION — 12
- PERMIT - ELEVATOR EQUIPMENT — 7
Top 311 request types
- 311 INFORMATION ONLY CALL — 60320
- Graffiti Removal Request — 302
- Traffic Signal Out Complaint — 117
- Pothole in Street Complaint — 115
- Finance Parking Code Enforcement Review — 85