Question About Lot Size

[kudou 0]

I was wondering what sort of lot sizes are needed to trigger larger buildings? Obviously a small lot would not support a big building like a skyscraper or a big industrial factory or even a large residential complex. Also, what about farms? Do they look all the same no matter the size?

And what are some of the more popular lot sizes or configurations out there that others use?

As many may have guessed, I'm a newb to the SimCity franchise. Any tips would help.

Also: just to throw another one, no one is using my trains....why is that? Even when I have stations? And does it matter which side of the street you put your bus stops? Do you need to have one on the other side? How often do you have a bus and train station?

Thanks,

kudou

[tungston 19]

The large majority of the higher stage building are on 2x3, or 3x3, some are on 3x4, and a few on 4x4. You don't need to zone specific sizes for the building, as they will combine smaller sections. If you control the zone for the larger sizes, i.e. make a undivided block, then the game will wait until that size is needed to meet the demand.

If you have the Lot Editor, you can see the lot sizes for the different wealth, and stages.

For the trains, you need stations in the residential zones, and where the sims work, commercial, and industrial. Sometimes it takes a fair population to have a lot of usage. Railroads are good for neighborhood travel.

The bus stations will sometimes do better on one corner, or side, but there is no set rule for that. Sims will walk 6 to 10 tiles usually. The train stations have parking lots for cars. I put bus stations, and subway stations by the train, and monorail stations.

[jj88 23]

A note about the trains - lots of sims will only use rail as a second option if they can get there by car. I think this is a bug in the game that means sims prefer driving to any other kind of transport

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Originally posted by: jj88 A note about the trains - lots of sims will only use rail as a second option if they can get there by car. I think this is a bug in the game that means sims prefer driving to any other kind of transportquote>

I don't think of it as a bug but a preference of the American commuter.  We have to remember the experience of the designers and programmers were pretty much in Silicon Valley (Near Los Angeles, CA).

I do agree that train makes more sense if you have to travel in someplace like Europe or the U.K. where the roads may be good but few, and the train tracks many.