West Town · 2026-01
West Town permit value drops 56% despite new tattoo shops
West Town logged 92 permits in January worth $9.3 million, down 56% in value from December's $21 million even as permit count edged up 4.5%. Express permits led the way with 34 filings. New businesses included Barrio Ink Tattoos and Art Spirit Tattoo, plus Ola Barra, Cocina & Lounge. Graffiti removal topped the 1,594 service requests—301 calls—followed by 183 complaints about uncleared sidewalks. Crime tallied 332 incidents, 62 of them violent. Seven food establishments failed inspections.
By the numbers
| Building permits | 92 |
|---|---|
| Declared construction value | $9,333,198 |
| New business licenses | 57 |
| Business closings (proxy) | 0 |
| 311 service requests | 2453 |
| Reported crimes | 508 |
| Violent crimes | 104 |
| Failed food inspections | 8 |
New businesses
- BARRIO INK TATTOOS (Regulated Business License)
- Dylan Roman (Shared Housing Unit Operator)
- OLA BARRA, COCINA & LOUNGE (Consumption on Premises - Incidental Activity)
- EMPTY BOTTLE INC (Special Event Liquor)
- JFG (Limited Business License)
- MATCH | A (Limited Business License)
- ART SPIRIT TATTOO (Regulated Business License)
- ELISE SEIGENTHALER GALLERY, LLC (Limited Business License)
- SURFACE EXPERTS CHICAGO NEAR NORTH (Regulated Business License)
- REBEL AND RYE TAVERN (Retail Food Establishment)
Top permit types
- PERMIT – EXPRESS PERMIT PROGRAM — 34
- PERMIT - RENOVATION/ALTERATION — 22
- PERMIT - SIGNS — 17
- PERMIT - WRECKING/DEMOLITION — 6
- PERMIT - NEW CONSTRUCTION — 5
Top 311 request types
- Graffiti Removal Request — 503
- Snow – Uncleared Sidewalk Complaint — 186
- Pothole in Street Complaint — 171
- Ice and Snow Removal Request — 122
- Rodent Baiting/Rat Complaint — 105