problems with a big city!

[Rick_Stead 0]

ok, so this is the dealio!  my region's population is about 500,000 sims my main region is 311,000 sims.  now i basically created this city by itself for around 750 simyears (i didn't know about being able to build c-cities i-cities etc...) and so it has all parts of rci  my tax rates are crazy messed up like r$-13% r$$-9.4% r$$$-3.5% and yet i have no more r$$, r$$$ demand same thing goes for c$ c$$ c$$$ but the c$$$ is even lower like .9% and my i-hitech is the same still no demand.  education is updated constantly to allow all sims a seat at school except for private schools which are overpopulated.  i have no highways, very little avenues, traffic is light in most areas, subway system is vast bus system is great most bus and subway stops are at about 10%.  oh and by the way my mayor rating is through the roof like 113.  i don't want any more delapidation of my r$$$ and c$$$!!!!!  then there's the rest of the towns in my region, they are predominately built the same way except for one where i tried to build poor sims and dirty industry.  well, i got the dirty industry but i got r$$$ i guess i hate having an uneducated population.  can i save my big city yet?

[Livin in Sim 83]

Hi, Rick_Stead,

Welcome to ST.  I see what you've been trying to do by adjusting taxes to influence demand.  Do you have very many R$?  They most likely have about all upgraded to R$$ and R$$$.  Hence the lowering in demand for the latter two, possibly.  R$ are the greatest overall percentage of workers for all jobs, so if there aren't enough of them, all businesses can suffer.  I would lower taxes for R$ and raise them for R$$$, and you can do it in a separate city if you don't want R$ in with other development, say in your industrial city.  Then I would zone tons more and use the "Make Historical" check box in the buildings' queries to keep them from upgrading.  You can use all education in that city as well, since fully educated R$ can work anywhere.  Just don't make that city too nice otherwise, to discourage upgrading.  Make sure you have good neighbor connections and transit doesn't become blocked between cities by congestion or inefficient layout.  I would also bring commercial and residential taxes back to a more even level in other cities.  (I usually do tax R$$$ around 11-13% to keep them from overdeveloping.  It's nice to have R$$$, but they are fussier about everything, prone to dilapidation, and are a smaller percentage of workforce.  But since you've been at only 3.5, I would raise it gradually.) This may stabilize demand region wide.  Anyway, let me know how it goes.

Enjoy the game.

--Liv

[fivexthesecond 0]

You need  more things like rail.

You need avenues and highways.

You need to have a link out of the city via rail or road.

Cut down on pollution.

Build parks.

You can use a seaport instead of road or rail... but only if your industrial is near water.

You need airports in the industrial area or in a unpopulated area.

[Rick_Stead 0]

ok liv that sounds plausible, although i it's kind of odd i have plenty of r$ and r$$ in my main city but probably too much r$$$ as well. a town right next to my main is basically all r$$$. i can't help it as a sim-mayor since the original i've been taught to get the r$$$. hopefully evening out the taxes will not tank the rci even more than it is right now. five, i have tons of parks 2 airports 2 seaports 0 pollution etc. and guys i don't understand why my education is only medium even though all my schools are funded properly and i have private schools and all the ordinances to increase education are check marked???? weird or what?

[fivexthesecond 0]

That r$$$ city is why you aren't getting any demand.

[Rick_Stead 0]

yeah, i agree. is there any way to get around blowing up the r$$$ city to save the big city without the big city r$$$ c$$$ buildings looking all crappy and dilapidated. btw i don't want to cheat.

[Livin in Sim 83]

Obliterating a city will not likely change demand a great deal right away, since you have other cites that influence it as well, and demand is region wide.  To me it would be less work to try changing some of the existing cities instead of starting from scratch.  Did you try what I suggested with the industrial city?  I don't think anything I suggested would be considered cheating.

[Rick_Stead 0]

i will def. try liv because i respect your opinion anywho the main city is SO much bigger than anything else in the region this may take time and some reshaping..... again. good things come to those who can wait right?

[Livin in Sim 83]

Thanks, it is just that--my opinion, and I don't claim to be a guru.  I'm just as baffled by this game as anyone, but that's what makes it fun--the challenge.  Please let me know if it works, and if not, exit without saving, the "undo" of SC4. 

[Rick_Stead 0]

haha, yeah 1/5 chance it'll just crash anyways. lulz

[radenskloof 0]

I agree with Livin in Sim. R$ people have a major stabilising effect on cities/region from what I can gather over the years, and seem to prevent wild swings of demand. Develop some ''community housing'' areas... nicely spaced high density res, and when the R$ blocks of flats build, make them historical. If R$$ or R$$$ buildings grow, just demolish. They dont have to be ugly, if you make spaces inbetween, and then you can add trees/parks (after you make them historical, so they don't upgrade!).

Everytime I have had demand issues/stalled growth, I have boosted my R$ populaton, and things start humming along nicely again!!!!

Don't forget your bus-stops/metro in these areas, as they like to use public transport.

[Livin in Sim 83]

Originally posted by: Rick_Stead haha, yeah 1/5 chance it'll just crash anyways. lulzquote>

CTD, the "surprise undo" of SC4.

They dont have to be uglyquote>

Right, Simgoober, CP, jenP, all made some pretty good looking low density R$ BATs, and keep an eye out for kant01's new ones.  His BAT thread showcases them.  There are some fairly attractive medium and high density apts as well if you're determined to find them (even some Maxis).

[Rick_Stead 0]

true that.... i will try to get over my fear of those peasants R$ and allow them to reside in my town but my demand is crzy messed up.

[Rick_Stead 0]

ok, so wait your basically saying that my r$$$ population is too high!!!! AH HAH so this is why my education is only medium because my private schools are overpopulated!!!! it boils down to building r$$$ cities on smaller tiles so this doesn't happen.... that's what i get out of it at least. anyways i've been playing sc4 for like 6 years or so and this is my only region maybe i should move on and build another reigion? lol

[D2629 3]

Just to sort of throw it into the mix if the r$ thing doesn't work out. I have built a city with 1,050,000 sims in it. 400,000 of whom were r$$$ and not one of whom was r$ (no cheats, unless you count ploppable CO and CS) so I'm not completely sure that r$ are vital, but then again i only had I-HT and commercial so i don't know the needs of I-M and I-D. Also i know it might sound a bit stupid, but check out the trash and crime rates, because they can randomly shoot up without you noticing. Oh and i would always recommend a road system based on highways and avenues.

[Madog 3]

Some topics that can help you:

1 - To have R$$$ you need some basic things like: Education,health, water, energy, parks

2 - Is a good idea make some small citys of 30.000 sims of low wealth. Make large industrial zones and medium-density residencial zones, put water and NO hospitals and No schools. With this, all your demand go increase.