City In Review: Chicago

West Town · 2026-02

West Town logs 604 graffiti requests, adds 77 businesses

Graffiti removal requests hit 604 in February, nearly four times the next category (potholes, 160). Service requests jumped 40% to 2,237. Seventy-seven new business licenses came through—up 43% from January—including Chick-fil-A, Baggu, and something called Puppysphere. Violent crime rose 73% to 107 incidents, and overall crime was up 43%. Permit value climbed 23% to $11.4 million, driven by 50 express permits and 21 renovation jobs. Traffic signal complaints (132) and rodent baiting requests (122) also ticked up.

By the numbers

Building permits100
Declared construction value$11,449,698
New business licenses77
Business closings (proxy)0
311 service requests2237
Reported crimes475
Violent crimes107
Failed food inspections9

New businesses

Top permit types

Top 311 request types

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