Pittsburgh Mayor Pitches a New 'P4' Standard for Development Proposals

The city of Pittsburgh could adopt a new set of standards for measuring development projects to focus on people, planet, place, and performance.

1 minute read

October 13, 2016, 11:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Pittsburgh Bridge

jessicakirsh / Shutterstock

Joyce Gannon reports on a new way of measuring the impact of potential development projects, under consideration in Pittsburgh.

Saying the era of public and private development driven mainly by political interests is over, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto on Tuesday unveiled a plan under which the city’s real estate projects would be measured against a set of metrics designed to ensure they are environmentally sustainable, inclusive and accessible to a wide population.

Mayor Peduto is calling the new standards the P4 Performance Measures (for people, planet, place, and performance), totaling 12 metrics in all. The city's Urban Redevelopment Authority will still have to review the P4 Performance Measures, and the mayor is hoping for a vote to adopt them early next year.

Wednesday, October 12, 2016 in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Aerial view of Albuquerque, New Mexico at sunset.

New State Study Suggests Homelessness Far Undercounted in New Mexico

An analysis of hospital visit records provided a more accurate count than the annual point-in-time count used by most agencies.

May 16 - Source NM

Close-up on white bike helmet lying on pavement with blurred red bike on its side in background abd black car visible behind it.

Michigan Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Deadly Crashes

Proposed state legislation would close a ‘legal gap’ that lets drivers who kill get away with few repercussions.

May 16 - Wood TV 8

Muni bus on red painted bus-only lane in downtown San Francisco, California.

Report: Bus Ridership Back to 86 Percent of Pre-Covid Levels

Transit ridership around the country was up by 85 percent in all modes in 2024.

May 16 - Mass Transit