Billiardsley lite

[homeandaway 1]

That looks absolutely great my friend, though it is abit run-down in the town centre it looks very cool + i am eagerly awaiting to see more of your brilliant work!. Take care my friend + i hope you are well!.

~Alex~

PM if you need anything!.

[psteverific 8]

jacqulina: thanks Jacky

homeandaway: You're right, of course, 'urban decay' seems to be settling in much sooner that I would have expected. I think it's mostly just plain old neglct on my part. But I'm slowly starting a "Restore the Core" movement... hopefully I can get it under contorl without too much hassle.

It's been awile since I've updated, due to the fact that work has kept me busy. 

Sorry, but I only have one image to share today, the tansit map with all the Passenger rail stations marked in.

The Pink is Heavy rail, while the others are subway/light rail/elevated rail.

The map is pretty hard to see, mind you... the little white dots are the stations

I still intend to name all those stations before I make a close up map... this cold take awhile, folks!

[GreekMan 246]

cool transit map

[homeandaway 1]

wowowow!, what a transit map, i love it, it looks like abit like Toronto map...

Anyway, cant wait to see more of your awesome work, oh, and yea...'urban decay' - is cool!.

Take care and PM if you need anything!

~Alex~

[jacqulina 162]

awesome transit map my friend nice work there

[psteverific 8]

Alex, I feel compelled to respond straight away.... yes, it is a Toronto map, created by Motima, albiet a bit squished east to west.

But my initial reacion to your post was 'I didn't realise you were American'... my thinking was why would a non-American be able to pick out Toronto terrain at sight.

I mean, I've been to Northampton a couple of times, but I'd never be able to pick it out from an unlabled topo map.

So 10 'good eye points' go out to homeandaway

By the way... it looks like I'll have to re-post that map, there's a thin sliver through the center missing... guess I didn't measure correctly when I sliced it into two sections.

[homeandaway 1]

Thanks my friend!, anyway i live in Northampton, UK!, im english, im going to Toronto in days!., cant wait to see the map itself and the in-game pics!.

Take care my good friend!

~Alex~

[psteverific 8]

Originally posted by: homeandaway Thanks my friend!, anyway i live in Northampton, UK!, im english, im going to Toronto in days!., cant wait to see the map itself and the in-game pics!.

Take care my good friend!

~Alex~quote>

 

Yeah, I have to admit I checked your profile, and that's why I chose Northampton as my example

But, listen, if you're going to be in Toronto, I'd highly (ever so highly) recomend going to Mitzi's Cafe located at 100 Sorauron st. (near Roncesvalles and Queen street west in Parkdale) for brunch/breakfast if you can.

 Laid back and homey atmosphere, but some of the most creative and delicious combinations you'll find anywhere. And the french toast is an absolute work of art!

And if you happen to be served by one of the owners, Leslie or Jessie, tell them Psteve sent you (pronounced Puh-Steve)... they'll treat you real nice. 

Well, to be honest, they'll treat you nice anyways, but I'd just like the 'free brunch points' next time I'm in Toronto!

[homeandaway 1]

thanks ever so much my friend, i have looked on loads of maps but cant find it, cna you pin-point it out on a map please?.

thanks ever so much!.

Take care

~Alex~

[psteverific 8]

Sorry, that'd be my mistake. I spelled sorauren wrong, no wonder you couldn't find it.

Anyways, here it is on google earth:

I really hope you can find time to try it out, I know you'll like it. Word of warning, though, if you go on the weekend, go early or be prepared to wait in line... it's real small and real popular!

this back and forth we're having... this isn't considered spam or anything, is it? 

I really would hate to be breaking any rules, written or not.

Just in case, i'll make a (weak) attempt to bring it back on topic...

Here is Mitzi's newest location, in Billiardsley, near the corner of Chestervalles and Dutchess street west.

Not quite the same, but nobody ever said this was supposed to be a re-creation

Edit: actually, now that I look at it, the transit map doesn't look squished at all... I guess I got it about right when I was resizing

[homeandaway 1]

Thanks very much my friend!, much appreciated, ill print it out!. and have you got a shot of the neighbouring city that takes you into downtown toronto?

You are a great friend!, take care

~AleX~

[GreekMan 246]

this is funny psteverific

great pics!!!!!!

[AtkinsSJ_ 7]

Wow! I'm really impressed at how you're doing this like a real city, which is something I've never really been able to do. I'm going to have to do more on Simcity some time, though probably after my exams. I'll have to have a proper go with the GLR, too.

~Eskiman

[homeandaway 1]

[psteverific 8]

GreekMan: I'm glad you see the humour in it, Some could view it as diruptive, but I prefer to call it 'divergent'

Eskiman: welcome to Billiardsley. I've always disliked how a region looks when it has development that just stops dead, so building a region filled with farming, forests, towns and hamlets was a good starting point, after that the region can kind of grow naturally. Alot more realistic in my view, but also alot of "prepwork" involved.

homeandaway: Thank you so much for the postcard, that was a relly fun surprise!

I happy to hear that you enjoyed your visit to Canada, and Jessie tells me you were lovely guests at Mitzi's.

UPDATE

Well, I guess the thought of street/station naming dosn't really appeal to me right now, so I've begun work on the new airport.

I've chosen the location east of southmarch, phil's cafe made a very convincing argument in favour of this site, and I am also implementing his sugestion of a highspeed rail link, for which I will use monorail.

The monorail will travel betwen the airport and the main rail terminal in Lakeview. For the most part, I would like this to be an uninterupted trip, however, I have included a plan to add two other stations. Four stops really isn't that bad, and will make for a very quick trip.

The airport will be built partially in Southmarch and partialy in Clippers Corners. The Terminal and parking lot has been built in Clippers, and I'm planning to build the runnways as shown

Closer in, here is the aformentioned terminal and parking lots. I'm unsure about the smaller lot to the east, right now it seems pretty far away from the terminal. I'll decide later, after I see how the area to the north of it ends up being developed, but I suspect that will be changed.

to the south, an expanded interchange and an added 'Airport Parkway' connects the airport to the freeway system.

Now this area seems like a perfect spot for some redevelopment, what with all the new infrastructure going in, so here is the first place I intend to add a monorail station.

However, at present the monoail line is.. uhhh... relitively short on this end.

I have, however, built the connection to Yorkshire in the south. It'll pass right through that little neighbourhood north of the greenbelt that we saw earlier when building the Lightrail.

Makes for a bit of a tangle of rail at this spot, though

On the other side in Yorkshire, the line cuts convieniently just west of the old de-commissioned landfill.

Notice how I've planted all lodgepole pines, in reletively staight lines, on the old dumpsite.

All those trees will grow at the same rate, and really give the feeling of a re-forested area

Over at the other end, a large terminal has been built across from the main passenger rail station/Hockey stadium (Gotta love these 'Public-Private Partnerships' )

From there, the monorail will travel east along the greenbelt

Ran into a bit of trouble in this neighbourhoud along Southmarch road. It had been established befor the greenbelt, therefore it left no open corridor.

The first section, I was rater ruthless, demolshing everything north of the monorail, thus expanding the green belt slightly, and re-routing the streets accordingly.

But next came a small high wealth neighboorhood, and one that I'm particularly fond of.

I was able to run it along a former bikepat between the rows of houses, althogh I was sorry to lose it.

However, in the real world, runnig something like this through a wealthy community would be hotly contested, it would take decades to get past all the legal challenges, and even then, it might not go through!

Luckly, this is sim city, where land appropriation is a point-and-click matter, and the sims have no legal recourse.

On the other side of Southmarch, things were a little less devestating.

A row of houses removed, plus a couple more to accomidate a station.

This community is otherwise cut off from mass transit, so it made sense to add a station here. 

It shouldn't delay the trip from the airport to the train station too much, but I have to keep in mind that I can only say "one more station can't hurt" so many times.

And from there, it will continue on east to Yorkshire.

And, I'm afraid that's all I have time for. So many interuptions today... and now I have to leave for work.

I wanted to put in a little trip summary, but that will have to wait 'till next time.

More soon...

[homeandaway 1]

glad to hear! - here's me in front of the cafe -

and Souren Avenue - how ever you spell it -

cant wait to see mroe of your CJ my friend

take care

~Alex~

[psteverific 8]

homeandaway: Nice pictures, that shot of sorauren really brings back some fond memories... Ahhh, I loved living in that neigbourhood. But here's good too.

small Update:

I got off work early, so I built a little bit more of the monorail, and took some screenshots to illustrate that little trip summary I mentioned earlier.

Basically, it's how I envision a typical trip from the airport to the train station.

The trip would begin at the terminal by the airport, as we have seen.

The monorail train would depart, turning left then picking up a little speed before slowing down at the station built at the new community west of the interchange. this would only take minutes, and there would be few people departing the train, mostly people boarding, so the stop should be quite brief.

Once moving again, the train can really pick up some speed as it travells diagonally southwest through picturesque farmland. (parrallel to the power corridor)

The line will go through a gentle curve before crossing into the greenbelt and heading west.

The monorail will speed through the scenic greenbelt, slowing to stop at a second station in a small neighboorhood. 

You may notice that I have changed the station from an earlier shot. This is because I felt the other station was well suited to the last station, therefore I replaced this one to aviod repitition. When the whole system consists of four stops, there's really no excuse for using the same station twice

As the train continues on, passengers will have a veiw of some spectacular homes before the train re-enters the greenbelt.

Mere minutes later, the train will arrive at its final destination, with connections to passenger rail and the lightrail system.

So, in essence, although the airport will be far away from the city core, the monorail link will make it a whole lot closer, don't you agree?

Well, that's all for now.

I'm not sure what's up next, I may continue with the airport, but I've been itchin' to develop the towns in the north... we'll see.

[GreekMan 246]

Well im not sure with your question. My suggestion.

you should extend the monorail to the downtown of both cities. that way sims don't have to change lines and stuff.

i do like the airport and monorail!

[homeandaway 1]

a very nice usage of monorail my friend!....and it is very nice!., and where abouts in Toronto do you live?...

take care, cant wait to see more of this great CJ by a new great friend

~Alex~

[tommiej 0]

psteverific, you got to have the biggest GLR network! it looks very good, especially on the transit region view!!

looking forward for more!

[Voulpiotis 4]

Wow! Excellent planning and building concept! Looking forawrd to more!

[DFire870 2]

Ooh, very nice update! Great job on the monorail, though I do agree with GreekMan, it could be connected to the downtown, but with only a few stops (an express version of GLR/passenger rail, for example).

[sc4portugal 10]

WOW great CJ love great work!

[homeandaway 1]

always looking forwards to seeing more of your great work from a great, well-truely lovely person!.

hope all is well and take care

~Alex~

[Mike the Mayor 51]

Very nice updates there. Wonderful work!

[IonWind 3]

I must say that after seeing your CJ my interest to play Simcity awakened. Last time I played was somewhere around year 2003. I've already spent some time studying all the possibilities within NAM and other great moddings that didn't exist back then. Thank you for letting me to see the light ;P

[jacqulina 162]

wonderfull work and pics my friend very nice layout and planning

[psteverific 8]

Just a little update, I'll respond to comments soon, but I'm a little tired right now, and there are some things I'd like to comment on in detail.

I've been "flitting about" all over the region the past little while, developing a few blocks here and there. 
I was starting to feel as though I was focusing too much on a few areas, when the rest of the region should be slowly growing accordingly. 
It's pretty hard to make a cohesive update out of such directionless building, so this will be sort of random picures of some of the areas I've developed recently.
First, we'll look at Grenfell Ridge... I hadn't been there much in a while


Oh, first of all, I realise that something has gone wrong with my water texture. Not sure what it is, hopfully I'll figure it out soon. Until then, try to ignore it
A new neighbourhood has been established north of the highway, a rural school, a farming equipment dealership


Across the river, again new development north of the highway


A bit further west


Next, let's go to DesChenes, where I did a tiny bit of development, but still worth a look


Re designed the railyard and station, and added a couple of blocks northeast of the tracks


Here is the overpass to the north, nothing developed around it yet


And another like it to the south of the station


All the way over in the west. Byroncourt Village


Some development north of the new GLR line... still some work to do here


Continuing the same neighbourhood east into Kenilworth Market




Continuing east, I widened and defined the greenbelt




One tiny block west of the tracks, and a new overpass ( I'll have to remember to upgrade the street to road as it passes under the railway tracks!)


Other side of the tracks, I've done a similar thing... widen and define the greenbelt.




(it's neat how you can see the seasons change from early fall to winter in that last sequence)

And I also built a bit up in the north west side of the tile, along Southmarch Road


And let's end this little tour in Clippers Corners.


Did an awfull lot of tree planting here, and the city has been running long enough for them to mature


Developed the new hamlet by the airport interchange a little


further north


And finally, The neighbourhood near the new sunken GLR station, that I had previously laid out streets but not zoned.
I had intended to try to get the 'evening Townhomes' to grow, but the Gascooker sets just grow so easily... Plus I really like them.
It works out pretty good. The Idea was to have some homogenised row housing, followed by some condominuums, and then a pair of high wealth towers, as sort of a focal point for the neighbourhood.
Even in it's currently unfinished state, only a mosaic can do it justice



It's taking an awful long time, but not too shabby so far, eh?

Aside from that, I've worked on the airport quite a bit, but leveling land takes so long, and leaves little to show.
...the first runway is started, though, you can see it from region view


Anyways, that's what I've been up to, sim city-wise
Update soon, and again, sorry for the lack of personal replies

[GreekMan 246]

yep you have been neglecting the region but it's ok and i like the update!

[homeandaway 1]

That is one eck of an great updat emy friend! - very nice indeed - sorry fot the small comment - g2g 2 skool!.

take car emy good friend

~Alex~