South Chicago · 2026-02
Violent crime nearly doubles as 311 requests jump 32%
South Chicago's violent crime count shot up 90% in February—99 incidents compared to 52 the month before—while overall crime climbed from 164 to 239 reports. Residents also flooded 311 with complaints, up 32% to 737 requests. Abandoned vehicles topped the list at 96 calls, followed by 83 pothole reports. On the business front, four new licenses appeared: Stacked & Saucy joined a shared kitchen, Kobes Kids Academy opened a children's facility, and Shawar's Food Inc. launched a retail food operation. Permit activity stayed flat at 20, but dollar value cratered 95% to $389k after last month's $7M. Fifteen of those permits went through the express program.
By the numbers
| Building permits | 20 |
|---|---|
| Declared construction value | $388,723 |
| New business licenses | 4 |
| Business closings (proxy) | 0 |
| 311 service requests | 737 |
| Reported crimes | 239 |
| Violent crimes | 99 |
| Failed food inspections | 1 |
New businesses
- STACKED & SAUCY (Shared Kitchen User (Short Term))
- KOBES KIDS ACADEMY (Children's Services Facility License)
- DA UMBRELLA INC. (Limited Business License)
- SHAWAR'S FOOD INC. (Retail Food Establishment)
Top permit types
- PERMIT – EXPRESS PERMIT PROGRAM — 15
- PERMIT - RENOVATION/ALTERATION — 3
- PERMIT - WRECKING/DEMOLITION — 1
- PERMIT - NEW CONSTRUCTION — 1
Top 311 request types
- Abandoned Vehicle Complaint — 96
- Pothole in Street Complaint — 83
- Water Lead Test Kit Request — 47
- Garbage Cart Maintenance — 44
- Street Light Out Complaint — 39