Lafourche Parish

[JFman00 1]

Maringouin

Despite the size and complexity of the BCA project, the parish was successful in convincing voters to force the transfer of many powers usually reserved for city government to the parish. In the case of Maringouin, this authority was used in a sweeping manner reminiscent of the “revitalization” of Times Square, except in this case, a runway extension was built. The space needed for runway, adjacent taxiways and landing approach signals required the parish to condemn (through eminent domain) almost 30 square blocks of factories and warehouses that were the lifeblood of the Maringouin R$ population. To add insult to industry, the city was forced to pay for the demolition of the condemned properties, and construction of tunnels under the runway.

A post-Rebirth picture:

The main underpass:

A slight consolation was the construction of brand-new school and medical facilities for the city, as the demolition had also required the tear-down of 3 elementary schools and 2 hospitals.

(Thank you SimGoober for all the fantastic lots that appear in this CJ)

Frustrated by this, in the election of 72, the entire city board was replaced with a new team, committed to the “rebirth” of Maringouin. Demand for R$$ sims and IHT from the adjacent city of Thibodaux and the nearby city of Grand Bois led the board to submit to the voters a referendum to bulldoze and rezone large tracts of land in order to encourage to create the “Gateway to Lafourche” set of residential mid-rises, the creation of a Maringouin Cultural Center, the creation of a CBD for Maringouin, and a general beautification program (Thanks to BSC for the wonderful park set). Heavy taxes were to be levied on ID and IM industries, and taxes were raised for the cities R$ sims.

The city’s residents, before the Rebirth project:

The city, after the project:

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The Gateway to Lafourche

The Gateway to Lafourche was a set of residential buildings that would house R$$ sims in both mid-rise and apartment/townhome developments. The buildings were specially designed to conform to the approach corridors for BCA. The two central buildings were permitted tall antennas to satiate both the town’s demand for an additional radio/TV tower, but also to house communication and navigation equipment for BCA.

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  (Thank you NDEX and HKBAT for your great work)

The Maringouin Cultural Center>>

The Maringouin Cultural Center incorporated the existing Regina parochial school and the two Protestant churches of First Presbyterian and Faith United Methodist. Construction broke on the Poydras Fine Arts Building with a performance of Ralph Vaughan-William’s opera, The Pilgrim’s Progress and a showcase of works from artists around the Lafourche Parish region. The old Queen Anne-style library was converted into a research center containing many historic archives of Lafourche Parish. Adjacent to it is the new public library for the city, rivaling the massive complex of Grand Bois, but containing fewer archives than the Thibodaux Library of Modern Literature. (you’ll get to see these soon.)

The Maringouin Central Business District>>

The CBD plan was for the creation of large-scale commercial service and office buildings around Breaux Bridge (Pont des Breaux) neighborhood (crawfish anyone?). The main development occurred on the former Durel Street, now expanded and rechristened Delhomme Avenue. The city was successful in bringing the Acadiana Real Estate company headquarters, however they were unable to lure any other major companies to the area, with Thibodaux and Grand Bois being simple too wealthy to compete with. Several top hotel chains did decide to build, including the construction of the Prince Conti, a luxury hotel catering to business travelers. The parish did agree to co-fund the construction of the Marais Bouleur (Bully Marsh) arena, home to the Maringouin Mire, the only football franchise in the state.

Criticism

The main criticism leveled against the Rebirth plan was the lack of affordable housing. While several low-rent housing developments remained, a large portion of the city was bought out. Before the plan, the city numbered just over 300,000 sims. Afterwards, the population had dropped to 240,000. Many sims were able to get jobs in the burgeoning tech industry.

However, many simply did not have the skills, and a large chunk of Maringouin is now looking for a place to live.

Also, given the prodigious amount of office space planned and available in Thibodeaux-Grand Bois, many questioned the need for a high-density CBD.

Questions were also raised about the religious development of the city. In addition to the existing Catholic and Protestant churches, a cathedral the length of two football fields is under construction. The city’s Jewish and Muslim and Hindu populations are relegated to crowded, multi-faith, “houses of worship” on the outskirts of the city. The Multifaith Council of Lafourche is lobbying very heavily for the construction of several synagogues, a large mosque, and a Bhuddist/Hindu temple complex. Also being considered are a Sikh gurdwara and Bahá’i house of worship. None of are being planned for Maringouin.

Maringouin Today

Notes: There are no residential plops. Commercial plops consist of tall buildings and the arena.

[JFman00 1]

Gamer117: Thanks! It's obviously still a work in progress though. Can a city or region ever be really be finished?

Mikeaut1: Thanks much!

Cleaner475: The region is just over 2.8 million sims.

[Krio 626]

I built cities like this when I bought the came. Yes, you have custom content but everything is scattered and airport in the middle of city? Cheesus Kraft! Very not good.

[JFman00 1]

Thanks for the criticism, to respond, I'm not sure what you mean by everything scattered, the Empire State Building is almost entirely alone in Manhattan

Empire State Building

The new Chicago Spire is out in the middle of nowhere.

I felt that this is what a city would look like if development was artificial and driven by a central authority, if capacity demands it, I might allow commercial offices to grow. But I intended this city to look like it was the victim of an overzealous city council.  O'Hare International Airport, which is the one I'm getting most of my inspiration from is in Chicago, Bensenville and Elk Grove Village and the ORD modernization plan calls for the demolition of homes and business in both towns.

Found an example of runway protruding into adjoining towns:

Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport

Not only can you see runway protruding into existing development, but in the top left of that picture you can see taxiway and runway running directly over a main road.

[Mikeaut1 261]

Excellent work, your downtown is incredible, and very diverse for the most part. I was kind of confused (as Krio mentioned) about the airport being so close to downtown like that. But hey, every city has a different layout, and they are differently unique! Excellent work, can't wait for some more!

[JFman00 1]

This will not be an ideal region. Cities aren't built by just one person, or even one group of people. O'Hare Airport is encompassed by Cook County (Chicago), yet the expansion plan calls for the annexation and tear down of homes and businesses in two adjacent towns. This isn't the only plan. Some want an airport 50 miles away from the Loop, and at least 3 other communities would rather have their airport expanded. According to Ayn Rand, some combination of these proposals will be adopted, in a solution that is neither the most ideal nor efficient. In my region, parish authority will generally supercede local authority. Although local authority will have much say. Citizens do have a vote however, and my last update showed what can happen when citizens elect a council that is too weak, and one that is too strong.

[AceofSpades 1]

hey man, theres nothin really "wrong" with having the airport downtown i dont personally care. it seem like some people would be crashing their planes in buildings though. J/K dude this is great keep it up

[PennDOTguy 5]

I'm diggin' your use of Louisiana names, one of my favorite states

[JFman00 1]

This will not be an ideal region. Cities aren't built by just one person, or even one group of people. O'Hare Airport is encompassed by Cook County (Chicago), yet the expansion plan calls for the annexation and tear down of homes and businesses in two adjacent towns. This isn't the only plan. Some want an airport 50 miles away from the Loop, and at least 3 other communities would rather have their airport expanded. According to Ayn Rand, some combination of these proposals will be adopted, in a solution that is neither the most ideal nor efficient. In my region, parish authority will generally supercede local authority. Although local authority will have much say. Citizens do have a vote however, and my last update showed what can happen when citizens elect a council that is too weak, and one that is too strong.

[jacqulina 162]

wonderfull work and pics my friend looking great so far

HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY i hope you had a great day

[JFman00 1]

I'm working on Broussard right now. Trying to figure out how I want to blend contemporary America and small-town France.

[PennDOTguy 5]

keep at it. I'm looking forward to seeing the results.

[pilotdaryl 25]

Some airports you've got in the CJ here--just make it a little more realistic pleease!

[grinch337 1]

interesting. i'm from lafourche parish, la! where did you get that underground ramp next to your airport runway?

[patriots_1228 51]

please do not post after every comment. instead reply to each post before your updates. besides the dangerous airport spot (terrorist dream) this looks nice. lots of STEX buildings. Might i suggest trying to add different street styles? right now its just pure grid. Good start JF!

[JFman00 1]

Construction on Bell Chase International came to a grinding halt, as it was found that the ground, the result of millions of years of deposits by the Lafourche river, was more unstable that originally found. Inspections by the parish revealed that cracks in the foundations of the terminal buildings were already present, as a result of uneven settling. Plans to entirely scrap the airport in its current location and move it to a more stable, upriver, location failed due to heavy lobbying from the Thibodaux-Grand Bois Chamber of Commerce.

Engineers took the time to correct errors in the taxiway, as well as reroute more road traffic underground, though perhaps the most impressive feat was devising a pavement composition that would allow for not only for the new A380s, but space shuttle landings, and a fully loaded An-225.

(These are rough shots, just wanted to show off the new wide ortho runways. Expect to see some crossings and a diagonal runway or 6 soon.)

[Schulmanator 5,813]

Looking good!

A Luziana CJ... I sure could use some great Cajun/Creole food!

[pilotdaryl 25]

I never noticed the wide runways were released--hey is that my JAL plane on the apron?

[jacqulina 162]

very nice airport my friend great work and pics

[homeandaway 1]

A very nice layout of the airport - very nice indeed! - the runway is very nicely done! - i cant wait to see the terminals!

[JFman00 1]

Schulmanator - My mom's making me jambalaya tomorrow

Pilotdaryl - They're still in beta testing as you found out, I just wanted to stoke the excitement for them. Yes they are, I think that I switch between your American and the JAL every couple days.

jacqulina - Thanks so much!!

homeandaway - Thank you! The terminals won't be anything special, unless ::cough cough:: ACE releases his new pack soon. I am going to try to come up with a clever transport system though, there will be very little room for above ground transport due to the sheer size of what I'm planning, and I want it to fit in seamlessly with the terminals.