Yes but there's the low crime, efficient government and low taxes.
Storefront vacancies have remained high around the city, including downtown, while the suburbs are luring some frustrated business owners away from their communities.
Reporting by Amy Yee, Suntimes
Aug 13, 2024
There's a reason small businesses feel like they're treading water in Chicago, and it all comes down to red tape. In today's newsletter, we're looking into the complications of running a shop within city limits — and what's slowing the rollout of reforms.
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Small businesses are frustrated with Chicago's bureaucracy as they wait for reforms
The Chicago way?: During the eight years Dwan "Dee" Martin has been a business owner in Chicago, doing business in the city hasn’t gotten easier. A thicket of red tape — from city permits, inspections and licenses to other bureaucracy — is an ongoing barrier. She’s a proud native Chicagoan but said, "I have considered not opening up another business in the city limits."
One example: Martin owns Urban Luxe Cafe in South Shore, Urban Luxe Salon in Ashburn and Nail Riot in Englewood. Special-use permits are required for nail salons and other businesses. Special-use permit applications cost about $1,000. A hard copy must be delivered in person to the Zoning Board of Appeals office so the applicant can pay the fee and pick up a public notice sign to post outside the proposed business. The applicant must also send notices to nearby property owners, then wait about 30 to 60 days for a hearing with the zoning board. The wait time can be longer if plans must be revised. Meanwhile, the applicant may be paying rent and utilities on an empty space as they wait months for a permit that could be denied.
Calls for reform: The Small Business Advocacy Council is pressing to "cut red tape, streamline processes and reduce the costs of launching and expanding Chicago businesses," according to a proposal released by the nonprofit this spring. It was endorsed by more than 30 chambers of commerce and business advocacy groups and 15 alderpersons.
Mayoral support: In April, Mayor Brandon Johnson unveiled the "Cut the Tape" report, with more than 100 recommendations to expedite residential and commercial development. Last month, Johnson announced steps already taken from the report, including the creation of a 50-person task force to help implement proposed initiatives and appointing an inaugural director of process improvement.
Key context: For decades, Chicago mayors have attempted to ease City Hall’s notoriously slow and arcane bureaucracy by accelerating the approval of licensing, permitting and development plans. Johnson’s initiative is still in the early stages. The first task force meeting was July 29.
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