Magee oversaw several developments in the city, the most notable of which were the opening of the first National League concrete baseball park Forbes Field in the city's Oakland neighborhood. To top that achievement the Pittsburgh Pirates won their first World Series in their first season in the park.
On policy the Magee administration instituted a motorized police force for the first time in the city. He also oversaw the local institution of the national prohibition laws during his second term in office. He was the first man to serve the new expanded four-year term for the Mayor's office.
Magee and the Magee political family, including Magee's uncle, Christopher Lyman Magee, are the namesake of both Magee-Women's Hospital and Magee Street in the city.
Magee also wrote an informative article about what he considered to be the inefficiencies of city government. Magee wrote that city governments should be more centralized and focused to be effective.[5]