YOUR Membership
Matters
We believe that your CREDA Pittsburgh membership is an investment that pays dividends. Our goal is that our advocacy work will directly impact your bottom line by removing regulatory barriers, reducing project costs, and accelerating timelines. When we push for permitting reforms that save months of delay, or when we advocate for funding reforms or extensions, that is real money back in your pocket and your projects.
We deliver results that make doing business in Western Pennsylvania more profitable and predictable. From defeating burdensome city regulations to reforming state programs to influencing federal infrastructure and tax policy, CREDA Pittsburgh is your voice at every level of government. Join us, and see your advocacy dollars work for you.
Local Level
We’re working towards permitting reform and impactful funding sources at the County and City Level to promote Economic Development.
Inclusionary Zoning Victory:
- Major Win: In October 2025, Pittsburgh City Council voted 5-4 to approve Councilwoman Erika Strassburger’s amendments transforming Mayor Gainey’s mandatory inclusionary zoning proposal into a voluntary Affordable Housing Program. This represents a significant victory for market-driven housing policy.
- The Result: This balanced approach encourages affordable housing creation without the punitive mandates that would have stifled housing production. CREDA Pittsburgh’s sustained advocacy, testimony, and collaboration with stakeholders were instrumental in achieving this outcome, and we applaud the Pittsburgh City Council for its tireless effort on the issue.
Permitting Streamlining Support:
- Progress in Motion: On his first full day in office (January 6, 2026), Mayor Corey O’Connor signed Executive Order 2026-01 directing city departments to “revamp” Pittsburgh’s permitting process within 60 days. This executive order acknowledges that the city’s permitting regimen is outdated, inefficient, and insufficient.
- CREDA’s Position: We strongly support Mayor O’Connor’s commitment to accelerating permitting timelines and stand ready to assist in the review and reform process. Our position:
- Professional -certification for smaller, less intensive projects with annual audits, allowing for faster permits.
- A singular housing zoning district for single-family homes to triplexes to streamline zoning efficiency.
- Simple variance requests (height, setback, FAR) to be administrative exceptions, to allow for faster zoning approvals with fewer Zoning Board of Adjustments hearings, which are costly and time-prohibitive.
- An overhaul of the RIV Bonus Point framework to a more attainable and realistic program.
Pittsburgh 2050 Comprehensive Plan:
CREDA Pittsburgh is engaged with Pittsburgh’s first citywide comprehensive plan, the document that will shape zoning, land use, and development decisions through 2050. Executive Director, Tom Frank, sits on the steering committee and many CREDA members have been engaged in the process. Our focus is ensuring that the plan supports economic growth and gives developers the predictability they need to invest in the region.
Pittsburgh Land Bank:
CREDA Pittsburgh is working with the Pittsburgh Land Bank to return vacant, blighted, and tax-delinquent properties to productive use. CREDA is actively engaging with the Land Bank to address lot consolidation and the redevelopment of larger parcels. Getting these parcels back on the market strengthens neighborhoods, grows the tax base, and opens new opportunities for development across the city.
State Level
At the state level, CREDA Pittsburgh works directly with Pennsylvania legislators and agencies to create a more competitive business environment for commercial real estate development. We are optimistic about the Governor’s budget proposal recently released.
NPDES Permitting Reform
- Competitive Timelines: Pennsylvania’s current NPDES permitting timelines significantly lag behind Ohio. Faster approvals are vital to our region’s competitiveness, and we are actively pursuing a revised framework and timelines to NPDES permitting.
- Reduce Regulatory Burden: Remove burdensome new requirements, including excessive forms, pre-site characterization, multiple PCSM recordings, erosion potential analysis forms requiring easements, annual reports for general permits, and post-construction infiltration testing which exceed national Army Corps of Engineers standards and add significant time and cost.
- Increase DEP Capacity: Invest in adequate DEP resources to enable timely project reviews and create legislative oversight committees including stakeholders to review proposed regulatory changes before implementation.
SPEED Program Enhancement:
Support Third-Party Review: While we welcome Governor Shapiro’s SPEED Program to accelerate DEP permits, we are working to address implementation concerns that could limit participation by Western PA’s most experienced civil engineering firms. We are working with our members to receive feedback on the successes and shortcomings of the program and will continually inform our elected officials of our feedback. Other ideas on reform include:
- Reform of the “One Strike” Policy.
- Address the District inconsistency across the State’s DEP offices.
- Refine conflict-of-interest rules to encourage more participation while maintaining the program’s integrity.
Energy Legislation: Microgrids & Energy Districts
For the first time in our chapter’s history, CREDA Pittsburgh is actively working on state energy legislation to address Pennsylvania’s “last mile” transmission challenges and industrial site readiness. We seek to accomplish this by allowing microgrids to serve multiple end users and also through the creation of “Energy Districts.”
PA SITES Program Investment
CREDA Pittsburgh advocates for renewal and expanded funding of the Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites Program (PA SITES Program), a critical tool for preparing shovel-ready development sites that attract business investment and job creation throughout the Commonwealth.
Office to Multi-Family Conversions
CREDA Pittsburgh supports converting Pittsburgh’s vacant office space into housing. With a 17.5 percent downtown office vacancy rate and 5.2 million square feet ready for conversion, we advocate for a statewide 20-year LERTA abatement, a higher state Historic Tax Credit cap, and a rehabilitation code track that makes these projects financially feasible.
Tracking Commercial Real Estate Legislation
We are currently monitoring 10+ bills in the PA House and Senate that are directly related to Commercial Real Estate. We are a proactive advocacy force that is ready to support or oppose any legislation that positively or negatively impacts Commercial Real Estate Development.
Federal Level
CREDA Pittsburgh, through our partnership with CREDA National, advocates for federal policies that support commercial real estate development and economic growth.
Transportation & Infrastructure
- Reauthorize & Fund: Pass a multiyear surface transportation reauthorization in early 2026 and, at minimum, maintain current federal funding to keep pace with rising material, labor, and land costs.
- Streamline Permitting: Modernize regulatory review with clear timelines and adequate staffing to cut costs and speed up delivery.
Energy & Electrification Policy
- Expand the Grid: Invest in grid modernization and an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy so new facilities can connect faster.
- Reform Permitting: Shorten energy permitting timelines and improve multi-state coordination on major transmission projects, which can take seven times longer to build than generation.
Adaptive Reuse & Housing Affordability
- Incentivize Conversions: Pass the bipartisan Revitalizing Downtowns and Main Streets Act (H.R. 2410), creating a 20% tax credit for converting vacant commercial buildings to residential use.
- Address the Shortage: Repurpose older, high-vacancy Class B and C office space into housing to help meet the 4.3 million rental units needed by 2035.
Our Commitment
CREDA Pittsburgh is prepared to provide technical expertise, share member experiences with the current system, and work collaboratively with city departments to identify specific bottlenecks and implement practical solutions.
We have been meeting with Mayor O’Connor’s team to offer our industry’s perspective on what reforms would have the greatest impact on accelerating responsible development.
Get Involved
CREDA Pittsburgh’s advocacy success depends on engaged members. Here’s how you can amplify our impact:
Donate to our CREDA Pittsburgh PAC: Established in 2025, our PAC strengthens our advocacy efforts and enables direct engagement with elected officials.
Share Your Story: Help us illustrate the real-world impact of policies by sharing how regulations affect your projects and costs.
Stay Informed: Follow our advocacy updates and respond to calls for action when we need member voices on critical issues.
Contact: Tom Frank, Executive Director