San Diego v1.0

[eppisgood 6]

San Diego

Semi-tropical San Diego, with its mean temperature of 70 degrees F, Mediterranean-like white-washed stucco buildings and strong cultural influences from sunny Mexico, is as close to visiting a foreign country as visitors could get and yet, is as American as apple pie.

The heart of this clean city lies at the foot of the harbor just minutes by cab or rental car from Lindbergh Field, where most travelers debark. Yet, modern San Diego has become much more than just a harborside city. Spanning from the North County beach areas to the South Bay cities along the Mexican border, San Diego is now the sixth largest city in the United States. While all these areas fall under the San Diego umbrella, each individual community maintains its own personality, geography and identity. Truly, in San Diego's case, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

 

Zoning and habitat development does not start until the very end of page 3, the first few pages are the development of the city transportation.

 Here's what my first step was, laying the freeways.. took a few weeks in itself.  And there still has been modifications from what is below.

 

I don't live in this city, but I've visited it countless times and I really like the feel of San Diego and it's widespread but closeknit & diverse community.

You'll also notice this isn't the most organized city journal.. but it gets the job done.

[eppisgood 6]

This post is for those of you who are familiar with the desireability levels around San Diego.  I am trying to figure out which areas are high, medium, and low wealth.  I have started in the northwest area of La Jolla which I know is R$$$.  Comments on the rest of the wealth in this area would be appreciated.  I'll post area by area until I'm finished mapping it out.

The darker the green, the lower the wealth.

 

OOPS... LOST THE JPEG AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS PURGED OFF OF SIMTROP'S HD.  OH WELL...

 

I also know Coronado is R$$$.  But what is most of National City and Serra Mesa?

[+Guest]

You should done LA!  Anyway good luck!!!!!!!!

[Minotaur420 2]

Wow, that is sweet. San Diego is a beautiful place.

[Crondox 2]

I live in the La Mesa / El Cajon area. I know that most of El Cajon and Spring Valley are what i would consider lower middle class, La Mesa is a bit higher, probably middle middle, and Santee has a lot of rural areas. By the way, the 125 and the 52 are now connected I'll use that route all the time when i go to UCSD.

If i can remember anything else i'll keep on replying. Excellent job so far!

[eppisgood 6]

I wanted to do to LA.  Actually, first I wanted to do Sonoma County.  Then I terraformed the region and found out that Santa Rosa (the biggest city there) would've been nothing more than almost one medium sized city and that didn't look right, way too small.  Then I thought about LA, so I downloaded the map here and terraformed again, only to find out that it is over 26 large regions big in each direction... waaaaay too big, maybe next time.  Then I sectioned off Orange County, and that was still way to big, took me over an hour and a half to terraform and it still wasn't finished... it's 1:1 scale, not 2:1 scale like this San Diego region is (I think).  I tried Nantucket and Montauk as well, but those were too small and didn't take advantage of any Rush Hour features.  So that's why I picked the San Diego region.  For those of you who like suburbs you are going to love this region.

[ApathyNinja 17]

I never knew the terrain around San Diego was so beautiful. Can't wait to see this progress.

[Crondox 2]

I always thought that the san diego coastline looked like a scowling face
You see the big florida-shaped bay in the middle is the frowning mouth, Point Loma is the long nose, and Mission Bay is the eye.

[eppisgood 6]

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On 12/24/2003 7:31:22 PM Crondox wrote:I live in the La Mesa / El Cajon area. I know that most of El Cajon and Spring Valley are what i would consider lower middle class, La Mesa is a bit higher, probably middle middle, and Santee has a lot of rural areas. By the way, the 125 and the 52 are now connected

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Thanks for the tips.  I visited someone who lived in Santee before and stayed in their apartment for a few days, this was back in HS in the 90's.  I remember going through La Mesa and coming around that big curve, and it was a totally different feel in El Cajon than in La Mesa.  Very hot too, high 90's that weekend.  Santee was just new back then, brand new strip malls, housing tracts, and it was very flat.  When I think of rural, I think of nearest neighbor being no closer than half a mile away.  Is this what the portion of Santee is like in the map above?

All you other San Diego residents feel free to chip in as well with any tips you have.  The only parts of San Diego I've been to is Point Loma numerous times for sportsfishing, Mission Bay, Pacific Beach, La Jolla, Mission Beach, Gas Lamp District (that should be fun), and down the 5 into Tijuana.  So any descriptive help with Chula Vista, Imperial Beach, Bonita, National City, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley, Sunnyside, and Serra Mesa would be very appreciated.

[eppisgood 6]

I've finished the major roads in El Cajon & Bostonia except for Bradley Ave.  I have tomorrow off so I'll finish all the major roads in this area pictured below..

 

[Larsz 7]

I lived in San Diego for 6 months in the early 90's (U.S. Navy) so I am sure a lot has changed but I really like San Diego, even the planes that looked like they were going to crash into the hills. Too bad there isn't a bridge to replicate the Coronado bridge (Maybe raising a bridge as high as it can go? Dunno how to make a bridge in SC4 turn though . I remember a lot of plazas downtown and the bayfront was very nice with benches, brick walkways, etc.

 

I didn't have a car, so I rode the trolley a lot, I mean a lot. Are you going to use elevated rail or regular rail for the trolley? Are you going to include all the military facilities? I know there isn't a Navy base in SC4 but, just wondering how you are going to handle that.

 

As for neighborhoods, going from memory here but Mission Beach was probably low wealth, fun during the day but dangerous at night. The area around Rosecrans was low wealth too, tattoo parlors, chinese restaurants, pawn shops, weekly swap meets at the Sports Arena. I liked the Chula Vista neighborhood, I would guess that it was low to medium wealth and it seemed all spanish style, stucco with tile roofs. I liked the area around Qualcom Stadium (Jack Murphy when I was there). Very beautiful geographically, with the cliffs and I remember the neighborhoods looking nice there too.

 

It would have been cool to include Tijuana. You could have dumped all your CS$ there

 

As for the weather, the weather surprised me. I was on the coast at the Naval Recruit center, right by the Marine Recruit center. I was there from January until July. The early mornings were chilly, 40's and 50's, then we usually got a brief shower and the temp started climbing hitting the 80's and 90's. The water was cold too, not like Florida.

 

I am glad you are doing San Diego instead of LA, I liked San Diego better

[mike3775 2]

Could you put the map you are using on the MEX?

I love the details that went into it and living there for 4 1/2 years(Navy as well)in the 90's, I always loved it. And that map looks great.

Like others have stated, to bad you can't recreate the Coronado Bridge though. I miss being the master helmsman on the ship and going under that bridge every time we returned from sea.

[eppisgood 6]

The Coronado Bridge is going to be most difficult.  Especially since it rises to the heavens and comes down again. What I think I am going to do, like in SFv2.0, is create an island or something where the bend in the bridge is.  That way it will look something like it does in real life, allthough it doesn't have an island in the middle of the bridgeway.

 

Downtown San Diego is very fun.  It isn't very big, but it's a good enough size to keep you occupied for a day or two.  There is always something going on there, street performances, bands, galla's, it's always a happening place.  I remember a trolley in downtown, but for the most part I thought it traveled along the ground.  I'm probably just going to use the original regular rail for it though, unless people think it would be better if I used the elevated light rail.  I thought it kind of weird that you took the trolley system as a way of travel (I really thought it just went around downtown) so I checked it out and it is quite extensive as shown below. 

 

 

 

One thing that you might not know of is that the Padres have moved into a new stadium this year called "PetCo Park" located in downtown San Diego near the waterfront in a renewed development now called "The Ballpark District," it's a 26-block neighborhood that is proposed to feature world-class hotels, state-of-the-art office space, destination retail, and innovative housing units.  Located is shown below

 

Chula Vista has it's nice parts, but judging by the housing prices at Realtor.com it is a less desireable area than most of San Diego, probably because of it's proximity to Mexico.  I've been to a few parties in Mission Beach and I always met some interesting characters there, to say the least.

[Larsz 7]

I knew the Padres were building a new stadium but never looked much into the details. I have seen some photos and the spanish mission style facade looks cool. I have been to around 20 different MLB ballparks and Jack Murphy was one of my favorites. Seats were close to the field, the big screen was easily viewable and the surrounding area was beautiful. I liked the palms in the outfield too.

 

I just liked the way Chula Vista looked, I didn't think it was high wealth. Still, I thought they were nice neighborhoods, better than the Rosecrans

 

I rode the Blue Line trolley mostly, it ended at San Ysidro. Walk across the bridge and you are in Tijuana. I rode the orange line to, visiting Navy friends that lived off base.

 

I too, really enjoyed downtown. A lot cleaner and livelier than the other downtowns I had seen (Milwaukee, Chicago and Detroit). I remember a 6 story open air mall downtown. The multiplex was up on the 6th floor. Spent a couple of nights at a hotel, I think it was the Omni? Down by the Civic Center? I guess I need to go back and visit, see the new development.

 

Mission Beach was always a lot of fun. It was supposed to be an off-limits area for Navy personal, at least when I was there. I remember a lot of cool custom cars and lots and lots of people on the beach, the boardwalk and in the restaurants and shops. The police rode bicycles and every time we went to the beach there was a fight of some sort.

 

Anyway, I can't wait to see what you do with San Diego.

[eppisgood 6]

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On 12/26/2003 3:28:10 PM Larsz wrote:

I too, really enjoyed downtown. A lot cleaner and livelier than the other downtowns I had seen (Milwaukee, Chicago and Detroit). I remember a 6 story open air mall downtown. The multiplex was up on the 6th floor. Spent a couple of nights at a hotel, I think it was the Omni? Down by the Civic Center? I guess I need to go back and visit, see the new development.

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Could it have been Horton Plaza?  I'm pretty sure it was there when you were stationed there, I just called and they said it was built in 1985.  I've been down there several times with the g/f so I think I'm pretty savvy on San Diego's shopping districts.  Here are some pics of it and where it is located.  The first screenie is vastly disproportionate.

 

[Larsz 7]

Yeah, I think that is it, pretty damn cool mall, if you ask me It was always really busy, getting tickets for the theatre was hard. I am definitely gonna have to revisit. It would be cool to build that mall with the BAT when it is released.

[mike3775 2]

Ah how I have missed Horton Plaza. I met my first wife at Horton Plaza.

I also miss riding the trolley for free also(is it still easy to do that nowadays?)especially when you were short on money.

Some parts of Chula Vista are nice. My first Apartment out their was right off of F Street, right up the street from a 7/11.

I also lived off of Palm Ave as well.


Does Mission Beach still have the oceanfront little Rollercoaster?

[eppisgood 6]

Never tried the BAT or GMAX.  Looks like it would consume too much of my time.  Maybe if I wanted to take a few weeks break from SC4 tho.. like that would happen.

 

Not sure if the trolley is free still, we'd usually hoof it or catch a cab.  Last I was downtown was about two years ago.  Mission Beach still has that rollercoaster, but it's way too expensive and looks a little unsafe if you ask me.  I think one of the must do's in San Diego in the summer is taking a day to ride a bike around Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, and Mission Bay.  Beautiful weather, beautiful environment, and beautiful people.  My girl and I were riding around and were looking for some refreshments, well right Mission Bay Park off Mission & Pacific Beach drive there were some girls handing out free "power drinks" as part of some promotional deal... what generous people, and perfect timing I might add.

 

And Cronox you are right about that, it reminds me of some sort of cartoon character that has a long beak/nose like that... can't think of the name...

I posted this region for download in the MEX and you can find it here Greater San Diego Area .

[eppisgood 6]

Still developing transportation... I'm making my way into La Mesa now.  All of El Cajon, Santee, and Bostonia are finished.  It got kinda hard there around the 125 extension because the USGS image viewer doesn't have that in there, hard to figure out which ravines it followed on Mapquest.

[MTLT_17 26]

Very nice! This should give the builder of san fran a GOOD run for his money keep up the good work.

[mike3775 2]

Don't forget to put the street from North Island down the little bit of land either(if your going for the most authentic look you can get)

[joerg 278]

Sanfransisco was the most realistic recreation i have ever seen on here and already Sandiego looks great.

[eppisgood 6]

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On 12/26/2003 8:32:28 PM mike3775 wrote:Don't forget to put the street from North Island down the little bit of land either(if your going for the most authentic look you can get)

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Like this?

[mike3775 2]

yeah.


I miss driving the long way home from North Island.

[kassarc16 4]

If SF is any indication, this is gonna be ANOTHER great region from ep.

Sacramento or LA in the future? Maybe the whole state eventually!!

I think I've been to CA once, but SF made me think I was right there.

[eppisgood 6]

FYI the real life population breaks down like this:

 

San Diego 1,259,532
Chula Vista 193,919
El Cajon 95,555
National City 55,541
La Mesa 54,966
Santee 53,230
Imperial Beach 27,235
Coronado 23,862
Lemon Grove 25,057
Spring Valley 27,100

Total = 1,815,997 in real life.

 

I'll try to mimic my development as close as possible to these figures.  The San Diego figure obviously incorporates quite a number of the neighborhoods I've marked on the map above.

[eppisgood 6]

Starting the transportation in the upper left corner now.  Was losing track of where roads should be in relation to mountains so I decided to use the sea as reference and work inward.  These roads will meet the roads in El Cajon/La Mesa are and then I'll work downward from there.  I'm trying hard to refrain from zoning La Jolla & P.B. (for you locals out there).

 

[+Guest]

Your lucky you have mountains.  In my philly CJ, once I am past the rivers.....I am screwed lol.

[davidhogan 1]

i live in San Diego, but a part that's a bit chopped off on the map. (Mira Mesa.)

looks great so far, you're right about chula vista/national city, they're both lower income areas, as is the area immediately south of downtown. really ghetto things up down there.

once you get into the north park/hillcrest/mission hills areas, they're lower middle and just lower class areas. don't build too many police there either, there's obviously not enough irl.

downtown is def R$$$ and C$$$ mostly, and will be expanding as the PetCo park things are done.

also keep in mind the trolley extension being built running to SDSU, i don't know where you'll find a map online of it, other than it runs along i-8. that part would be best represented by el-trains, but the rest is ground-level trolleys. i've heard it'll be done this year, so it'd probably be best to include it, since it's already in place in many areas.

del cerro / sierra mesa are both pretty nice neighborhoods, upper middle and middle class, as is tierrasanta mostly. overall the $$ values you assigned looked pretty good too.

good luck.

dave

[simcityperron 2]

Your attention to detail is what I like about your journals. I'll be coming back to check this one out, for sure.