PGHSNAP.com will assist communities in planning for future

"You can't possibly know where you're going if you don't know where you are," Ravenstahl said. "What we're launching today represents a big step toward providing the public with comprehensive and easy to access information that will help them make smarter decisions on how to best plan for their neighborhood."

PGHSNAP is a dynamic planning tool that can assist community stakeholders in investment decision making. It is intended to inform and complement ongoing community planning, and will serve as a foundation for future planning at all scales, from neighborhood plans to PLANPGH, the Citywide Comprehensive Plan.

The website includes a virtual snapshot of the conditions of each of the City's 90 neighborhoods in two integrated modules: Asset Profiles and Action Planning.

The Asset Profiles module is the central location for data and maps. It includes information such as demographic data, existing physical conditions, transportation and other amenities and features a large number of maps to accompany the datasets. PGHSNAP data is drawn from the US Census Bureau, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and a variety of City/County departments and agencies.

The Action Planning module is intended to take the baseline data a step further—data is aggregated and analyzed in order to create a general "strategy manual" to assist neighborhood stakeholders in decision-making processes. DCP has created two new neighborhood indicator sets that form the basis for PGHSNAP: the Housing Conditions Index (HCI) and Quality of Life Index (QLI). The HCI consists of data relevant to housing conditions and trends; the QLI consists of social/demographic conditions and trends. Together, they form the basis for an Action Planning strategy map and corresponding action items. They will also be updated regularly, in order to provide as timely an analysis as possible.

All components of PGHSNAP are directly linked to PGHGIS, the City's new interactive online mapping service. The DCP received $100,000 from the Department of Community and Economic Development for data collection.

City Planning Director Noor Ismail will work with planning staff to promote PGHSNAP throughout the year through various presentations and workshops.

"The Department of City Planning is committed to providing assistance and support for PGHSNAP so that users can get the most from this new and exciting information tool," said Ismail.

PGHSNAP is presented in an easy-to-use format and can be accessed via the City's website (http://snap.pittsburghpa.gov), or at www.pghsnap.com.