Welcome to the Coastal Plains

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Update 10: region view

The Coastal Plains highway department has been considering how to prepare for the inevitable expansion into neighboring cities.  In order to accurately deside how best to design the layout for neighboring cities, a flight was commissioned to take several airial photos of the countryside.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Region%20-%20sat%20view%202.jpg align=baseline>

 

City planners decided that just north of the junction of Galveston and Panama City will eventually become the commerical and tourism center of the Coastal Plains region owning to its location at the split of the Sioux River.  Construction on highways in the city began and is expected to continue for three years.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Region%20-%20transport%20view%202.jpg align=baseline>

 

City planners hope to take advantage of the region's ample flat space by constructing a new airport North of Panama City for a more central location

 

 

[sharkbait16 0]

Update 11: Ports and push-ups

The Galveston got a makeover this year, taking advantage of it's ample coastline.  THe original Galveston coastline appeared dreary and empty according to many tourists and local workers. 

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//port-original.jpg align=baseline>

 

However, the new port includes ample boardwalk space, and a railroad and monorail connection for faster travel.  The rest of the coast has been rebuilt with seawalls for protection from incoming hurricanes.  While the city council has plans for expanding the sea port further, they believe that it's current form will function for several years.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//port-update%201.jpg align=baseline>

 

 

While Galveston has been revamping it's port, it's neighbor Plano recently constructed an expansive fitness center to encourage healthier lifestyles among Planoites.  The center includes an indoor swimming pool (that looks more like an indoor soccer field for some odd reason) and numerous outdoor basketball and tennis courts.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//fitness%20center.jpg align=baseline>

 

After the fitness center, the Plano mayor turned his attention to a brand new city wide park and expanding the already large suburban areas.  Questions about a new industrial district in Plano were quashed when the mayor pointed towards Galveston explaining that there's enough smog in Plano as it is from their dirty neighbors. 

 

 

[sharkbait16 0]

Update 12: Panama's competition

After local residential buildings broke Panama City zoning codes, rather than have the residences demolished, the city council voted to rezone the surrounding region to allow for higher density residences to better balance the region out.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Panama%20suburbs.jpg align=baseline>

 

In other news, Panama City's nightview was popularized in Skyliner's Weekly.  The Skyline features the grandeur of Panama's downtown skyline lit up at night.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//night%20skyline%201.jpg align=baseline>

 

 

Unfortunetly, Panama City's recent prominence was overshadowed by the announcement of the new Capitol location for tyhe Coastal Plains.  Panama City lost the title to it's northern neighbor, the recently founded Manhattan.  Arcitects (sp?) region wide are vying for the opportunity to design Manhattan's capitol plaza.  One artist rendered the plaza to look something like this:

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Capitol%20City.jpg align=baseline>

 

 

[sharkbait16 0]

Um, does anyone know why one of my pictures randomly changed to something else?  I didn't accidently upload that top picture from my last update instead of the correct one because that isn't even in my city or my computer for at all. 

[sharkbait16 0]

Update 13: A maze of traffic

While traffic has been kept down recently by the arrival of a region wide dual rail line, concerns have been escalating over street and avenue congestion.  The monorail was recently hooked up to Galveston to provide for greater commuters back and forth.  How ever, many experts believe the congestated state of the rail and highway system is to blame for the high demand of Family Inns sprouting along Galveston's streets.  So many workers are finding it easier to spend the work week at the hotel rather than face the long commute and the grumpy spouse.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Family%20Inn%20galore.jpg align=baseline>

 

In other transportation news, Panama City and Manhatten have released aerial views of their highway system in order to drop the large numbers of commuters that get lost on their way home from work and find themselves in the Piggly Wiggly market instead. 

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//highway%20turnabout.jpg align=baseline>

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//highway%20loop.jpg align=baseline>

 

As readers can see, Manhatten is growing nicely, though it's high density is making traffic a sticky dilema for crafty city planners.  City planners are currently working on a method to bring monorail to the city and to expand it's already expansive subway system, though for the time being, the cities alarming growth rate is keeping traffic spread out rather than centralized.

 

In other news, our newsletter appears to be the victim of vandalism to confuse readers with pictures of other cities outside of the Coastal Plains region.  (I really have no idea why some of my pictures are changed, it's only two but it seems to happen randomly, if anyone has any suggestions, I'd appreciate it, but I really don't want people to confuse my region with another.)

 

 

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Update 14: Manhattan's renewal

Manhattan's downtown has been steadily growing at an impressive rate.  City planners have been at work 24 hours a day to insure that the layout of this downtown region is both exciting and functional. 

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//downtown%20overview.jpg align=baseline>

 

 

Manhattan has been working hard to attract large businesses to its downtown buidlings.  While it has yet to have any functional commerical skyscrapers, residential buildings are appearing left and right.  To compensate for the impbalance, the city council commissioned city planners to construct a new stadium, named after the local sports hero, Dean Keaton.  Dean Stadium stands majestically next to the Sioux River banks.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Dean%20Stadium.jpg align=baseline>

 

 

Similarly, local philantropist and greek mythology enthusiast had a moment build to goddess Nike on the bayfront to ensure victory for the Fighting Sea Hawks soccer team.  She might watch over fisherman as well or something.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//goddess%20plaza.jpg align=baseline>

 

 

[mayormommy 8]

Looks like you have a good city core - maybe you could flesh it out a little with some more trees and some sprawly suburbs because it looks a little bare. Nice waterfront and highway system! 

[sharkbait16 0]

Thanks, that's the general plan.  Manhattan has a long way to go before it's a sprawling commerical region like it's namesake.  I'll figure all that out sooner or later.

[sharkbait16 0]

I figured out why some pcitures will randomly replace my - if someone else posts a new picture for their CJ or just in general with the same name, it will immediately replace the last one of the same name, I guess I need to be more original with my picture names, has anyone else never had this problem?????

Anyways, expect a nice update soon!

[sloppet 3]

very nice CJ ... great pics! keep up the good work!!

[sharkbait16 0]

Update 15: Tourists arrive

 

Manhattan has been swamped by the swarm of tourists coming to visit for fieldtrips, sporting events and just to get away.  Living up to its entreprenurial spirit, Manhattan businessmen becan heavily investing in the high value land surrounding Manhattan and a range of resorts popped up on the south side of Manhattan at the base of the penninsula.  It wasn't much until the tourists arrived:

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//resort%20district-before.jpg align=baseline>

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//resort%20district-after1.jpg align=baseline>

 

While there are still some lots under development, the local Yatch Club now has a 2 year waiting list and expects it to grow steadily with the growing region.

 

The Marriot Capitol resort and the Dolphin Lounge resort were the first two resorts built and are therefore among the most highclass resorts in the area.  Rumors have been circulating that the Prince and his mistress stayed at the Lounge for their anniversary. 

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Marriot%20and%20goober%20resort.jpg align=baseline>

 

Just down the road, the latest high-end resort, the Sunset BLVD resort, caters to the plentiful middle class tourists coming through Manhattan's sites.  The resort boasts numerous tennis courts and a sparkling beach for getting that perfect tan.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//sunset%20resort.jpg align=baseline>

 

While the Sunset resort hosts most tourists now, consturction has already begun just next door for a much larger resort complex that plans to overtake the other resorts in every way.

 

While the resort rule the penninsula, many rentable condos have become available on the other coast near the boardwalk.  The boardwalk/marina was the master plan of former Mayor Rudy and a monument was erected in his honor at the center of the marina.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//monument%20to%20mayor.jpg align=baseline>

 

Look for more news on Panama City and Plano soon.

[sharkbait16 0]

Update 16: Review Session

In Panama City, the residential subrbs began to grow much farther and faster than previously expected.  Soon the suburban house wives were living across the highway from the industrial smokestacks, high-tech notwithstanding.  With the proximity of the such high air polution and other unwanted factors, the residences boarding the highway began to look like a slum, so some necessary measures were taken by the neighborhood watch group to improve the area.  Foremost was the expansion of commercial offices and services along the highway access road.  The highway department also repsonded by fortifying the above ground highway with concrete walls so as to limit the view to the not-so-clean industrial district next door.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//highway%20autobahn.jpg align=baseline>

 

While the new system solved the problem of unsightly industry, the suburbs were still outpacing the other city districts at an alarming pace.  City planners have begun to look at alternatives to the medium density suburbs and are looking to the North Western region where multiple high-density, tall residences lie.  City planners are hoping to implement more high density zoning into its plan for the development of the northern region. 

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//suburbs%20overview.jpg align=baseline>

 

In Manhattan city news, the construction of the Three Rivers condos/resort was completed in a record breaking time.  The condos opens up new opportunities to visiting tourists and commericial services in the region.  The condos are at the northern end of the Antone penninsula completing the entire Manhattan resort area.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//3%20rivers%20condos.jpg align=baseline>

 

City locals are now calling for new types of mass transportation to accomadate the recent sruge of vistors to the city.  Some planners believe the extenstion of the lower Coastal Plains rail line into Mahattan's Capitol District is the only answer.  Other council members claim that this won't be enough and a new international airport should not only help the city's commericial demands but releive the mass transport stress.

 

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Update 17: Manhattan's nightlife

Manhattan has been growing in leaps and bounds and the locals finally cired out in one loud voice - we need a country club.  So as regional businesses finally constructed a country club, the protestant population in Manhattan skyrocketed and led to the construction of the regional Duke Chapel Facility:

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//resort%20district%20country%20club.jpg align=baseline>

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//resort%20district-duke%20chapel.jpg align=baseline>

 

With the huge leap in residential growth, Manhattan has also been experiencing a a resurgence of commerical development.  The now titled Capitol District is well known for its impressive skyline (all buildings grown not plopped) and never ending nihgt life.  Whether it's partying down-town, touring the local parks, catching a game at Dean Stadium or the Nike Center, Manhattan's capitol district has it all.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//capitol%20district%20nightlife.jpg align=baseline>

 

The center of the Capitol District's nightlife, commericialism and traffic is COngressional Blvd where it all goes down.  The Avenue is lined with walkways for an enjoyable stroll near Lamar Park, the Govenor's Mansion, or the ancient Pantheon Church. 

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Congressional%20Blvd%20nightlife.jpg align=baseline>

 

 

[sharkbait16 0]

Update 18: Region Overview

The Coastal Plains region has been steadily growing mostly from the four main cities in the area: Galveston, Manhattan, Panama City and Plano.  The region has over half a million residents and is growing everyday.  Here's a review of each city:

 

Galveston:

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Galveston%20stats%201.jpg align=baseline>

 

As you can tell, I have a little extra funds, the same goes for every city - it really helps when you have to adjust terrain, lots and roads to a certain degree.  As for Galveston, it has no residenctial zones and is purely industrial and commericial.  It also functions as the region's trash dump, so the disgusting water surrounding that island is evidence of how messy the whole region really is, and how many waste encinerators are loaded up on one little area.

 

Manhattan:

 

 

This city is where I've been spending most of my time.  It's skyscrapers and high density make it the funnest to mess around with and most difficult to keep traffic and crime down, and everything else looking good.  I'll show some more pictures of this city soon, hopefully you'll be impressed.  There are canals, stadiums, some fancy blvds, resorts, chapels, fancy country clubs and what not.

 

Panama City:

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Panama%20City%20stats%201.jpg align=baseline>

 

Ah, Panama City, where the whole region started.  While Panama was interesting to build all the beaches alongside the coast and plenty harbors to show off, it has been a little difficult for the rest of the main land.  I also got a little to overzealous with high-density zoning and the skyscrapers in Panama City over shadow the little houses and condos too much.  That will have to be fixed, and more industrial zoning in the future too to make up for so much reisdential zoning.

 

Plano

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Plano%20stats%201.jpg align=baseline>

 

Plano has an interesting zoned layout, there's a lot of low desnity zoning near the bay and high denisty near the midlands.  That will have to change too.  I hope to balance everything out a but more and include more suburbs looking regions.

 

The region as a whole has been filling out nicely, though the lack of a lot of cities has left it boxy to say the least:

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Region%20-%20sat%20view%203.jpg align=baseline>

 

As you can see, it seems a little off due to the abrupt change between the zoned areas and the wide open lands.  It also doesn't seem to show any of the trees in the region view, no idea why.  I decided one way to give it a better look was to found some new cities made up mostly of farming towns with small city centers:

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Region%20-%20sat%20view%204.jpg align=baseline>

 

Unfortunetly, Plano, Panama City, and Manhattan are far too large to have any demand for agricultural farms, so it's still a little off, but soon most of it ought to be replaced with small suburban residences. 

 

[sharkbait16 0]

Update 19: Up close and personal

Manhattan's increased size has brought the need for more commericial development.  On the opposite shore from the Capitol District, a new district has developed, appropriately called the Finance District:

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Cathedral%20de%20Arch.jpg align=baseline>

 

The Cathedral de Arch was my favorite addition to the region, with it's large sunken canal (a little too sunken, but it looks good now).  The bordering retaining wall and the beach frontare also nice touches I thought.  I don't know what the tall glass towers are, but they appear in hordes in my city, they're not named and CS$$$ - which is a nice change, but I had 4 in this picture alone - 4 others on the opposite shore and plenty others scattered through out the region, it's really ridiculous, hopefully more CO$$$ will develop in their place.

 

Too make the Finance District and Resort District conspicously divided, I placed the Finance on a hille, and added a nice road barrier to distinquish between them:

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//district%20borders.jpg align=baseline>

 

Notice the nice sidewalk along the side of the avenue and the two arenas, which look really good I think.  With so much new commericial buildings being, er, built, Manhattan needed some new residential zones as well, so without further ado, I present some fancy suburbs with river access:

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//canal%20district.jpg align=baseline>

 

I've actually been to places that look just like this, though its real-life double was a bit bigger and less boxy.  Hopefully, the wealthy citizens take advantage of their canals and have some great boating fun. 

 

All these rich kids gotta have some kind of stress relief, right?  So Manhattan initiated a peewee sports program and constructed the Robert Green Sports Fields - the perfect arena for soccer dads to fight at:

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//pee-wee%20fields.jpg align=baseline>

[Cjah 15]

Wow not a bad C.J. at all...

I hope to see more development!

[rustawilliams 0]

Nice region, the outsides of the cities could be more natural but your city centres are awesome, if you want I could do a mod to get rid of that building if I spend a bit of time finding out where you got it from.

I suggest you do not upload your pics to ST and rather use a wesite host like DudyIMG or www.imageshack.us . This means that there is more bandwidth for those loading pages.

Very well done,

rusta

[jacqulina 162]

starting to get there love the night pics

[godwin1020 1]

good cj, keep it up

[sloppet 3]

nice updates indeed!! great pics! keep up thye great work!

[sharkbait16 0]

Thanks for all the comments, I defly do need to improve on the outter limits of my cities, that'll change next time I start a new city.  One thing I'm really trying to do is give each city a different look, something unique to it.  My next project is going to be a Dubai style city with scattered skyscrapers and extremely high-class looking.

[sharkbait16 0]

Update 20: Middle Eastern influences

The influence is specifically from Dubai's coastline and fancy malls.  Just a forewarning this is an extremely early look at Dubai, I actually had to remove the skyscrapers afterwards because the city or the entire region for that matter doesn't have the residential population to support the commericial demands. 

 

This first shot is the new stadium with a great view of the ocean:

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Stadium%20and%20ocean.jpg align=baseline>

 

As you'll notice, it's really just an extension of the coast, I really haven't done anything with the inlands.  Here's another addition to the coast, a lengthy semi-circle beach with an extensive pier:

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//board%20walk%20pier.jpg align=baseline>

 

The long pier was originally only going to be two tiles wide, but I couldn't get the board walk lined up properly.  Of course, what would any rich country with billions from oil money do with out skyscrapers any malls:

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Finance%20towers%20base.jpg align=baseline>

 

While the other future Dubai landmark isn't yet available, I had to place Burj al Arab into city.  And those sea walls sure have been coming in handy:

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Burj%20al%20Arab.jpg align=baseline>

 

I'll be sharing some larger screenshots so you can se the bigger picture later.  Any suggestions for how I can tweak the city?

[luckydakota 0]

Wow.. I think this C.J is pretty good! I love the fact that you are trying to give each cities a different look. Also, I like the way you are using lots in a unique way. It's very creative!

 

I cannot wait to see more landmarks you will put in your city. Good Job!

 

[sharkbait16 0]

Update 21: Suburban Fever

Plano is the city of suburbs, and I've chosen a lot of different styles for different styles of neighborhoods.  I originally started with a very straight forward block structure to the suburbs, that's what my neighborhood looks like and I figured it ight translate well, I was wrong:

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//suburbs%201.jpg align=baseline>

 

You'll perhaps notice the shopping centers next to the highway.  Unfortunetly, shopping centers have parking lots and are a lot more scattered and less boxed up. 

 

The next neighborhood in Plano still has some boxed up looks to it, but it really bases it's layout from surrounding areas, such as a near-by country club and another swimming facility.  It's not as wigh-wealth as something next to a country club ought to be, so you'll just have to excuse that.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//suburbs%202.jpg align=baseline>

 

It's proximity to the highway probably cancels out any effect from the countryclub, guess that wasn't the best placement on my part.  You can see another example of my attempt at sunken highway systems in this picture.  I wasn't able to (or didn't want to put too much effort into) having the 4-way highway interchange being sunken as well, so that looks a little off - can't see it in this picture, but when I figure out what to do, I'll post a pic.

 

This last suburban neighborhood is my favorite.  It's bounded in every direction, to the south by the highway, on the right is the city edge, just north of it is the sunken mass rail region and the airport a little further.  To the left is the end of the high-density area on the other side of an avenue; I'll let you make your own assumptions:

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//suburbs%203.jpg align=baseline>

 

The diaganol streets, the avenue that splits it with commercial buildings, the slow trasformation from tall buildings to the smallest housing, it all works out.  I've tried to model all my other neighborhoods off of something like this.  My next goal is to have a new style to use for a real wealthy region that is gated and has it's own private school, country club and other amendities.

 

 

[mayormommy 8]

The suburbs are coming along and will really help fill out your city. You must have your details set on low, because those high wealth homes usually have a lot more props and trees that aren't showing up. Otherwise it's looking good!

[Mdz1001 0]

I really like the stadium on the peninsula, although it would be very tough to get to because of the two-lane road leading to it. This is a very spread out, but nice CJ.

[sharkbait16 0]

Yeah, my machine can barely handle the large cities as it is, so I had to turn down the detail, maybe I'll turn it up one time in a small city some I can see all the great detail.

[jacqulina 162]

great suburbs

[sharkbait16 0]

Update 22: A second look

Dubai is growing steadily, with all the construction going on it's hard for the city council to keep up with everything going on, and it finally became apparent that the city had a major trash problem when the new stadium was covered with litter after the fans stormed the field in celebration:

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//trashed%20stadium.jpg align=baseline>

 

In other Dubai news, another pier was constructed for the local yacht club, the basic who's who of the Coastal Plain's rich and famous.  The pier's odd design made for difficult sea walls unfortunetly and the yacht club may request a renovation before the begining of Hurricane season.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//pier%207.jpg align=baseline>

 

In Manhattan, the mayor cut the ribbon for the region's first class state university - State Tech, who's school mascot is the Clashing Clams.  Their baseball team is ranked first in the nation.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//university%20and%20stadium.jpg align=baseline>

 

State Tech's famous boardwalk is a popular hangout for students and faculty alike.  Just west of Campus, apartments are popping up left and right to fill up the student's need for close affordable housing.

 

[sharkbait16 0]

Update 23: Panama City's filling out

Panama City's steady growth has meant an increase in suburbs and a decrease in my computer's performance.  Recently, little valleys or creek beds were formed due to Panama City's overly wet rainy season.  Small ponds and streams have begun to form, and the city planners had to zone around them and take future rainy season into account.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Panama%20creeks%201.jpg align=baseline>

 

Some day I'll actually start uploading these pictures to an off-site host, but I'm always too busy at the moment.  For the time being, take a look at this new Panama City suburb, it's right next to the begining of the stream run off just below the rise in elevation.  It's also bounded by two highways, one to the east with a large industrial region and another to the north that is the border for a small commercial district.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//more%20suburbs.jpg align=baseline>

 

In this final picture, you'll notice a large empty area between the intersection of the diagonal highway above and another perpendicular highway below, so the question is what should I put in this open area, a small commerical region, a TV tower (though that is already taking up space in another roundabout) or just a big blank park?

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//diagonals%20intersection.jpg align=baseline>