La Ciudad: A medium sized southwest city

[mayorbk 66]

looks great, nice looking downtown and suburbs!!

[N106 10]

jugioh1012: Thank you, and your answer is correct
Kryptowhite: Thank you
Raysfan16: Thank you, and I am enjoying my vacation
Hawkeye9: Thank you, and I am enjoying my vacation
Amryai200: Thank you, and unfortunately, there won't be a region overview until the region itself is finished.  I only show completed areas for added realism.
GreekMan: Thank you, and no offense taken.  I was even being driven crazy by that 1880s stuff I used to have.
TekindusT: Thank you, and you'll see the transit network in the near future
Petrovar Ambassador: Thank you
mayorbk: Thank you

Note to readers

The update is still coming on July 6.  This is just the first time I've been able to log on.  I've spent most of the vacation in a logged out status, meaning I could only look at CJs.  I read many CJs, which gave me some ideas for the next few updates.  Also, I've decided that I would like to hear some suggestions from the readers of this CJ.  If you have any ideas, please speak up!  I want this CJ to become unique and enjoyable.
Also, I'd like to wish everybody a happy 4th of July!
The next update will be a HUGE one, I promise.

[jacqulina 162]

looking out for more my friend,altho your last update looks fantastic

[Keegan V50 15]

well good luck in the future updates and ill be back here for more!!

all the best

victor

[Twenty20 28]

Nice pictures, I really love the little houses of this peaceful suburb. It's realistic and very well done. Great work with the roads. Excellent choice of buildings for the downtown.

[N106 10]

jacqulina: Thank you

Victor Valdes: Thank you

Twenty20: Thank you

Update 6: Missionville and Night Shots

This update will cover the subdivision of Missionville, and have a variety of night shots around La Ciudad.  It is not a huge update, though.

Missionville

In 1956, the community of Missionville was laid out just northwest of Parkside.  Missionville was generally the same style as Parkside, and the rest of the subdivisions that were suddenly popping up around La Ciudad.

However, now, Parkside and Missionville are different.  Missionville is still seeing rising crime and declining property values, but is currently better off than Parkside due to distance from downtown.

In the book La Ciudad: 2025, Larry McEdwards states that "Missionville will last a good 10 years longer than Parkside.  By 2025, however, this pleasant subdivision will be right on the advancing edge of the inner city.  Without Parkside or other older subdivisions to provide an insulating layer, Missionville will decline at a shocking rate.  Due to the nature of the subdivision today, many people will actually retreat to other places... in and out of La Ciudad..."

Here are some views of Missionville.

Mission Elementary School

Mission High School

Other images

Businesses in south downtown are abandoning due to crime and pollution.

A jail was built in 1942 that at first served as an internment camp, but became the Maya County Jail in 1946.

And, some random night shots around town...

And, that's it for the photos.

I've decided against a super-huge update for now.  However, I will begin executing the great ideas I came up with shortly.

Comments and questions welcome!

[Raysfan16 5]

Nice update! What's that body of water? Lake? Ocean? (probably not since La Ciudad is in the southwest) Or a wide river?

[jacqulina 162]

great update my friend,coming on well so far.great pics too.

[danielcote 9]

Nice! This is even better than you're last CJ especialy the custom content on the schools sports fields!

[N106 10]

Raysfan16: Thank you.  The body of water is the Mission River.

jacqulina: Thank you

danielcote: Thank you

Update 7: Uptown

History

Before 1956, all that existed in this area north of downtown was farmland.  In 1956, a subdivision began development.  The small concession road that intersected Central Avenue was overwhelmed.  In 1957, the road was paved, and was widened to an avenue in 1960.

In 1963, the decision was made to construct a shopping mall instead of many smaller stores.  A large plot of land that was still a farm was cleared to construct the Ciudad North Mall.  The original plans for the mall called for 2 anchor stores and a 1 story design.  However, revisions were made that added an anchor store and an extra floor.  Construction began in 1964, and the mall was opened on December 1, 1966.

The mall started uptown.  The area became valuable.  In 1971, the La Ciudad Cheetahs (the major league baseball team) decided to relocate from their outdated and undersized facility near downtown to a large new facility in downtown.  Cheetah Stadium was built right next to the mall.

Cheetah Stadium brought business to uptown.  The mall became crowded.  Small businesses opened nearby.  By 1980, uptown was a vibrant shopping district.

In 1982, the City Planning Association relocated  from California to La Ciudad, in a large new headquarters that is the tallest structure in uptown.  Following the CPA building, many new office buildings were built, along with a secondary shopping center to help ease the demand off of the mall.

Today, uptown is vibrant and is predicted to see between 3 and 7 skyscrapers between now and 2020.

Retail areas and the Stadium

The Ciudad north Mall, built in 1964-1966, started out mostly vacant and empty.  However, during the 1970s and 1980s, business picked up.  By 2000, the mall was crowded and there was not one vacant spot.  Construction had to begin on a new mall in the suburbs just to ease off demand from this mall.

Also, we have the now outdated Cheetah Stadium, built in 1971.  The Cheetah Stadium is now getting too small for the Cheetahs, and also, the team and manager are both furious that thier stadium is not any better than the new minor league stadium downtown.

And, there are some stores and restaraunts in uptown.

Here is a small shopping center built in 1999 to help relieve crowding of the malls during the Christmas Season.

Office Buildings and Hotels

Here is a list of office buildings and hotels.

Arizona Mutual Building

Built: 2006

Height: 10 stories

CPA Headquarters

Built: 1982

Height: 19 stories

Days Inn Hotel

Built: 2002

Height: 9 stories

Keller Real Estate Offices

Built: 1999

Height: 10 stories

Liberty Bank Regional Headquarters

Built: 2008

Height: 19 stories

Uptown Hotel

Built: 1992

Height: 10 stories

Overview of uptown

Today, uptown is vibrant and growing quickly.  It is expected to hop the Ciudad Expressway by 2015.

Here is a view of uptown looking north.

Here is a view of uptown looking east.

Here is uptown looking east- at night.

Extra photo

Just for the hell of it, I decided to take a large overview of downtown- larger than anything offered in the downtown update.  This photo shows the minor league stadium in relation to downtown.

Wrapping up

Uptown is growing, and will soon be growing faster than downtown.  By 2025, uptown is actually expected to have the tallest structure in La Ciudad.  However, many things in the future of uptown and downtown depend on a few questions?

Where's the new mall going to be?

Where's the new major league stadium going to be?

Is the economy going to continue its normal cycle after global oil production peaks in 2010-2015?

So, the future truly is unpredictable at the moment.  Once about 2 of the questions are answered, then the future of uptown can be predicted.

Comments and questions welcome

[jacqulina 162]

wow thats a really nice city you have made my friend.

[chrissc94 1]

Great job on the past few updates. The uptown businesses along north Central Avenue remind me of Phoenix. Could there be a relation?

[ROKASniper 0]

Wow man. And i thought i loved Sim City. You sir are truly a genius. May i bow down to you? Hopefully some of your greatness will rub off onto me.

[Follarch 327]

That's a very good looking medium city you built, very realistic.

[Danlikebooks 6]

Wonderful. Very realistic, actually!

[shaylan221 0]

This desert southwest cities reminds me of my hometown Phoenix, AZ. It has that "griddy" look. This isn't supposed to resemble Phoenix is it? Looks awesome by the way.

[N106 10]

jacqulina: Thank you

chrissc94: Thank you, and yes, there is somewhat of a relation.  The history of La Ciudad vaguely resembles that of Phoenix, and also, southwestern cities tend to have smaller skylines.

ROKASniper: Thank you

Archean: Thank you

Danlikebooks: Thank you

shaylan221: Thank you, and it is supposed to resemble Phoenix a little.

Update 8: Oaktown and Oak Boulevard

History

It all started in 1935.  Public Works decided to build a park.  This park would be some distance from La Ciudad.  When the park was completed in 1937, it was called Oak Park.  Oak Park had dirt paths at the time, along with a pond.  It became a popular spot for picnics, and at the time, camping.

In 1951, Oaktown was planned by Oak Park.  The planners also had a wide road known as Oak Boulevard constructed to connect Oaktown to La Ciudad.  Oak Boulevard caused the small dirt concession road in modern day uptown to become congested.  As a result of the construction of Oak Boulevard, the road was paved in 1957, and widened to become part of  Oak Boulevard in 1960.  In 1967, Oak Boulevard was extended well beyond the metro area on both sides and became the northern metro's largest artery.

Meanwhile, in 1957, the I-8 was built through La Ciudad.  It went by Oaktown, creating a divider between Oaktown and older neighborhoods.  In 1973, the Ciudad Expressway was built just north of Oaktown.  If the old grid system was in place, the Expressway would have been just 4 blocks north of the Boulevard when built.

Oaktown is not threatened, and is currently a peaceful suburban community of about 10,000.  And, things will probably stay that way for several decades.

Important areas

Today, Oaktown is a vibrant suburb.  Before we explore Oaktown, lets look into two things- what brought Oaktown into the metro (Oak Park), and what Oaktown gave to the metro (Oak Boulevard)

This is an image of Oak Park today.  Now, the paths are paved, camping is no longer available, and there is a statue in the center of the park.  Oak Park is now an urban park.

This is an image of Oak Boulevard as it bypasses the park.

Here is an image of Oak Boulevard as it approaches uptown.

There are many businesses that built along Oak Boulevard.

Here are some hotels.

The now infamous Red Motel.  The motel was built in 1959 for travelers (Oak Boulevard already had a bridge over the Mission River)  Since then, there have been 4 murders, 3 rapes, and 95 cases of prostiution in the motel.  The people of Oaktown want the motel removed.

One of the small roads in Oaktown is part of an interchange for the Ciudad Expressway.  Nearby, some businesses have opened.

Oaktown neighborhoods

Here is a view over a part of Oaktown.

Below is a typical street in Oaktown.

Children in Oaktown go to Oaktown Elementary School.

Teens in Oaktown go to Oaktown High School (duh)

Wrapping Up

Today and in the future, Oaktown is secure and safe.  So, to wrap up, I'd just like to put in the home prices in Oaktown.  They range from 250,000 dollars to 400,000 dollars.

Comments and questions welcome!

[Raysfan16 5]

Nice job on Oaktown. I'm noticing it's very sprawled out and low density, sad but very realistic for the southwest!

Also, I recommend flattening out the land before you develop by laying down single street tiles where you are going to build. In some spots the roads jump up, making it pretty unrealistic.

Keep up the good work!

[Abc987 3]

"Teens in Oaktown go to Oaktown High School (duh)"

Nice quote there. And those are some pretty expensive houses!

[Hawkeye9 0]

Wow you are sure making up for your lack of updates over your vacation, 3 updates in 2 days!!! Wow all three are really high quality and well put together too!!! I really like the midtown and Oak town looks like a pleasent place to live!!! I was wondering if you could help me locate the building you called Arizona mutual buiding in update 7? If you could that would be great!!! Overall awsome return and i will be lookin out for more!!!

[N106 10]

Raysfan16: Thanks for the tip.  I'll be sure to keep that in mind for future updates

jrhnemo: Thank you

Hawkeye9: Thank you, and the Arizona Mutual building should be the really glassy building on the intersection of Oak Boulevard and Central Avenue in uptown.  Large buildings nearby should be the Liberty Bank Regional Headquarters and the Days Inn Hotel.

Update 9: Country Club Estates

History

After Ponderosa Island developed in the 1950s, there was still very wealthy people who wanted homes.  In 1959, a golf course by the I-7 and north of Oak Boulevard were purchased by developer Eric Pierce.  Pierce had the area developed into a high-wealth neighborhood and a golf course by 1963.  Country club estates was very successful.

In recent years, vandalism and bugulary rates have risen due to jealous poor people.  Other than that, Country Club Estates is a beautiful and expensive suburb to live in.

The Golf Course

The highlight of Country Club Estates is the golf course.  Though the nieghborhood around the course only dates back to 1959, the golf course was built in 1926.  It was the first golf course in the county, and is still in use today.

The country club building dates back to 1928.

Before one goes golfing, it is recommended to go to the driving range to warm up.

The course itself is very nice, and has seen golf competitions every single year from 1927 to the present.  The 2010 competition is May 2.

The neighborhood

Country Club Estates is just north of the Ciudad Expressway from Oaktown.

Here is an overview of country club estates.

Below is a typical street in country club estates.

Wagman's grocery store is the most commonly used in Country Club Estates.

Below is a view of Washington Private School and the doctor's clinic for tennis and golf injuries.

Wrapping Up

Like Oaktown, Country Club Estates is in no danger of becoming the inner city.  In fact, homes there currently sell between $500,000 and $5 million.

Comments and questions welcome!

[Raysfan16 5]

Hey, nice country club! I haven't seen a golf course on here in forever!

Lol at tennis and golf injuries! How could you injure yourself playing golf..."Owwww I stubbed my toe on the golf cart...Lemme to to the clinic!"

[Hawkeye9 0]

oh hahaha i meant if you could help me find the building on the stex (keyword, link, etc.). Anyway awsome job with this update, you assembled the golf area perfectly!!!! Great update and sorry for the confusion over that building!!! Lookin forward to more!!!

[N106 10]

Raysfan16: Thank you, and the clinic is actually suprisingly sucessful.

Hawkeye9: Thank you.  The building is the Washington Mutual Building.  I got it when I downloaded the Simgoober Commercial Buildings pack (If it's not on the STEX, try the LEX)

Update 10: Drive around Town

Raysfan16 did drives.  dfnva did drives.  Countless other CJers did drives.

So, I've decided to do a drive around town.

Here is the route that has been planned.

We start on Jefferson Parkway, in a commercial area just south of Parkside.

We drive under the I-7 interchange.

We drive into the inner city.

We pass the intersection of Jefferson Parkway and Central Avenue, remaining on Jefferson.

About a quarter-mile away, we turn onto a side-street.

Making our way through the inner city.

And, then we pass the city jail.

Then, we head onto Industrial Avenue.

As we make our way through the industrial district, we then turn onto Main Avenue.

We head west and leave the industrial district.

As we continue along, we enter downtown La Ciudad.

When we reach the intersections of Main and Central, we turn north onto Central Avenue.

We make our way north along Central Avenue through downtown.

As we continue north, we leave downtown.

We reach uptown, and turn west onto Oak Boulevard.

We leave uptown as we head along Oak Boulevard.

As we head west, we pass the TV studio.

We pass under the I-7.

We continue along Oak Boulevard past some suburban businesses.

We then turn onto a large residential road heading into Oaktown.

We pass Oak Elementary and Oak High School.

We make our way through a subdivision.

We drive past Main Avenue.

Now we're in Parkside.

We pass Parkside Elementary.

Then, we drive back to Jefferson Parkway, and end up where we started.

And, our roadtrip ends.

Comments and questions welcome!

[Raysfan16 5]

Hey now, you plagiarized from me and Dan! To make up for this, you have to vote for Carlos Pena for the All-star Game!

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2009/fv/ballot.html

[N106 10]

Raysfan16: Alright.  I just voted.

Update 11: North of the Expressway

This area started developing in the 1950s.  At first, there was just 2 or 3 office parks.  Then, around 1960, the subdivisions came.  The area became buried deep in the metro.  The expressway was built in 1976, and today the biggest change that could come to the region is an expansion of uptown.

First, however, I'd like to show the most unrealistic thing that you'll see in this CJ.  It is the cloverleaf of the Ciudad Expressway and the I-7.

Also, on another distracting non-northern note, I'd like to show a 1952 public housing project in the inner city.

Now, onto something actually relevant to the history explained at the beginning of the update...

Here is the oldest office park in the northern suburbs- Park Plaza.  Park Plaza was built in 1954 by a private developing company.

Also, here is a 1956 office park near Country Club Estates.

Now, here is a view of a 1960 office midrise built north of future uptown.  The midrise is known as the Central Building, and rises 11 stories.  It was the largest suburban tower in Maya County at the time, and is still in the top 5 tallest suburban towers.

Here is a view showing the Central Tower, the Ciudad Expressway, and part of uptown.

North of the Central Tower is what is known as the Northern Strip.  It lines Central Avenue starting north of the Central Tower and moves on for 3 miles.

Here is a view of a typical northern subdivision.

To complete this update, here is an overview of what to expect in different directions from downtown.

Western metro: Commercial services, mid-wealth subdivisions

Northern metro: Office parks, the northern strip, high-wealth subdivisions

Eastern metro: Manufacturing and hi-tech, low-mid wealth subdivisions

Southern metro: Dirty and manufacturing, low wealth subdivisions

This is just a general overview to help one know what to expect.

Comments and questions welcome!

[TekindusT 3,809]

As usual, you're doing a great job with La Ciudad! Only a question: You have RHW, so why using a default Maxis cloverleaf?

[Raysfan16 5]

*sigh* Your replies always seem like official press releases from the government. Glad you voted though, every bit helps. You can vote as many times as you want, you know that right?.....(I'm so ambitious lol)

As for the update, what's so unrealistic about a cloverleaf? True, stacks tke up less space but there are certainly lots of cloverleafs around somewhere.... Good work on the Strip!

[830point35 8]

This is fantastic, well up to par with the Liberty series (1+2). The photoshopping is splendid. More maps... your drive map above looks pretty damn good.

[edmonton_stinks 5]

Wow, it's amazing how the "encroaching inner city" causes people to flee from neighbourhoods. Seems like La Ciudad has some decay issues.

I really like the driving update! You've got some really good RHW interchanges.