MORAINE

[crazychickensc12 84]

Glad to see you back up and running without any issues!! Wonderful update my friend lookin forward to smooth sailing from now on!! Keep it up!

[Mr. Beer 12]

Nice update, it looks really good!

Take care,

David

[Raysfan16 5]

Hello, DCMetro34. I'm glad I'm back too! Thanks for the kind words.

Welcome back, b22rian. Thanks for the comment. Unfortunately there won't be too much transit pics in Moraine until a good mayor takes over and builds something...hmm.....

Yo, CG.  Yeah, the bank is doing alright after that little hiccup. Thanks for the comment.

Very nice memory, VashTS240! I almost forgot about the resident, lol. Thanks for stopping by.

Hello, Damastius. I hope you're not just flipping channels and that you'll stop by more often!

Hi, penguin007. Thanks for the kind comments, stop by again!

Welcome, piercwc. I think you're slightly mistaken here. This sin't an actual bank. This is just their headquarters. Y'know, where all the snobby executives and CEOs are. That type of stuff.

That's sad, isn't it DITRO? Glad at least you get my point.

Thanks, Benedict! I try to capture the feel of Moraine in these banners.

Thank you for stopping by, TmiguelT.

Hey, tostartpressanykey. Exactly! He thinks he's got the bank in his hands....he's got another thing coming. Lol.

Hello, Bigbuilder. Thanks for the kind comment. I hope to see you back.

Thanks for the kind comment, crazychickensc12. I hope everything runs smoothly too!

And welcome back, Mr. Beer. Thank you for the nice comment. Stop by next time!

A new mini-series-In the Name of Progress

This is a few miles north of downtown Moraine, just northwest of the sprawl of Braddock Bend that we witnessed before.

Interstate 67 cuts through this wilderness/small town/suburb.

On the exit to Braddock Road, one traveling east to Braddock Bend would witness the coal plant and only forest besides that. Those who walked or stepped out of the car were punished with the stench of the landfill and burning coal. Even people getting gas on the other side of the highway were sometimes able to notice a fishy smell if the wind was blowing the right direction.

Of course, the planners didn't like this.

Braddock Bend is the perfect place to set up a suburban community. But the only thing standing in their way is the complex of pollution generators.

The solution?

Move them.

A rough, hand-drawn sketch was found in the trash can of the local Arby's.

Of course, the plan was true, and of course the plan had to be executed secretly.

And of course, it had to replace wilderness.

A computer render was son released to the public of Phase I of this construction.

Then, on a particularly overcast day, construction was complete. Room was left over for an extra building, if necessary.

The developers were overcome with joy. They got their wish!

Stay tuned for Part 2

[SounderBruce 173]

Wow! Welcome back!

Nice "hand-drawn picture"...also very good choice developers, I wouldn't want to live next to the dump!

[AspieGamer13 11]

let me guess... part 2 is the suburban community?

[el_Muchacho 0]

well thats brilliant! At least the good townsfolk wont have to deal with garbage smell and the threat of lung cancer

[Mayorm 14]

nice update, not only did it smell, it was also an eyesore in that location

[DITRO 15]

nice photoshopping of the farms. looking forward to the next update!

[redrummage 9]

The new Moraine Bank Complex, everyone has a place to park!

[dfnva 34]

Sadly, I must say I've put powerplants in wilderness to keep them away from development and it's oddly done in real life, as well. Great stuff.

-Dan

[penguin007 27]

Nice update I like the photshopping

Will

[Raysfan16 5]

Hello, CG.  Thanks for the comment. I wouldn't want to live there either.

Shhhhh, VashTS240. You're ruining the surprise!

That's certainly true, el_Muchacho. Thanks for stopping by.

Hey, Mayorm. Yeah, those plants didn't exactly fit there.

Wassup, DITRO. Thanks for dropping  by and leaving a comment.

Yo,  redrummage. I think that's the only positive aspect of it.

Haven't seen you in a while, Dan. Thanks for the comment. I think power plants and landfills should be away from development, they're kind of a lose-lose situation.

Welcome, penguin007. THanks for the comment.

Not much of an update today.

I'd just like to show you how fast developers glomp over unpaved areas. The landfill has been filled in, but nobody wants to develop there just yet. Waterfront always brings more money.

BONUS MINI-UPDATE

The American Way

I'd like to invite you guys to my hometown, Tampa, Florida. It's a fairly large city with its share of professional sports teams. It has stuff to do, infrastructure to support a few million people, and even leadership that quite frankly isn't half bad. Ignore the unemployment rate and real estate madness which has hit Tampa pretty hard, and it's generally a good city.

It's had its share of history too. Dormant as a sleepy fishing village until the arrival of cigars, phosphate, and the Spanish-American War (when Tampa was the place to send out soldiers), Tampa became a pretty good place to live after the 20th century arrived. The rich moved to Tampa's neighborhoods southwest of downtown, such as Hyde Park, Palma Ceia, and Bayshore Beautiful. A railroad was connected from downtown to a small port just north of MacDill Air Force Base. The houses were built around it, but streetcars were in full swing in the 1920s when the neighborhood was being built, so the railway stayed in use for freight only.

Fast forward 50 years.

The Gandy Blvd. corridor, MacDill, and the neighborhood of South Tampa found a need to connect with Hyde Park, Downtown, and Ybor City, the historic entertainment district just northeast of the CBD. The approximate route proposed was along the railway mentioned above. Those of you might think, Hmm....We should build some stations along the railroad, or a light rail line parallel to it since the right of way is already acquired.

What the City of Tampa's leaders of the 70's thought:

Let's build a highway, ALONG THE RAIL LINE.

And pave over all those historical buildings and neighborhoods that might be treasured later once the city realizes it needs to find its identity.

Welcome to America.

[SounderBruce 173]

That was quick! I even see traffic coming off I-67!

Nice construction lots...useful for filling in landfills.

[redrummage 9]

Is that a wikipedia map of Fla? There are W's everywhere.

[SounderBruce 173]

redrummage: Its a map of Google Earth, which features icons for Wikipedia articles.

[Solopop 6]

I like your city.

[i_love_lamp 0]

Oh my god

You have systematicly created an accurate recreation of Detroit!

[redrummage 9]

Sorry computerguy it was a joke.    And i guess a bad one.

[Jamonbread 222]

Highways are american cities identies.... i agree. Unfortunate.

[Raysfan16 5]

Well, I guess I should post here. I haven't touched Simtropolis in months!

I haven't worked on Moraine except for toying around with the new road stuff. Here's a reconfiguration of an intersection in Braddock Bend, no big deal.

For some reason Imageshack said it would be png despite me renaming the file, so I hope this works anyway.

Just showing you guys I still ahve a pulse.

[AspieGamer13 11]

I haven't been here much lately either. compy problems. after you get pt 2 up, i would request some sort of road themed update.

[lucky7 73]

Don't be concerned, my neither for weeks...

Looking forward to more,

lucky7

[GreekMan 246]

yeah me too. i haven't been around much but i soon will and hopefully you will too!

[Mayorm 14]

nice pic, the roads look nice

[redrummage 9]

Good to see you back and I hope for more soon.

[British_Petroleum 3]

while it absolutely, positively, extramentally (is that even a word) irks me that you dont have a sea wall or somethin in your downtown, i must say that you have impressed me. Keep up the good work mon ami

[§haÅ--Ñ€ §hÅŽo 370]

You have a great city and my only advice for the plants are to put them away from residential and commerce areas. And if your interested in giving you city an active football team click on the signature below.

[Benedict 3,119]

Great to see a new update!

[Raysfan16 5]

Kinda opposite to the moon one, maybe this tells you about where the journal is going. That is all I'm gonna tell you.

Welcome back, VashTS240. You'll see roads-a-plenty soon, but probably mostly transit because, after all, Moraine's supposed to be improving, right? Hope your compooper gets better.

Hey, lucky7. Glad to see you stop by. Come back again to see the good part!

Wassup, GreekMan. I hope you see what's going on here too! You'll enjoy it!

Thanks for the comment, Mayorm.

Glad to see you're still stoping by, redrummage. You've been a loyal fan and the payoff is coming soon!

British_Petroleum, if you clean up the oil I might put up a seawall.

Thanks for the advice, Sirron Kcuhc. ALso, you have the coolest username EVER!

Thanks for stopping by again, Benedict.

Quick update. But, very important.

[Raysfan16 5]

Kinda opposite to the moon one, maybe this tells you about where the journal is going. That is all I'm gonna tell you.

Welcome back, VashTS240. You'll see roads-a-plenty soon, but probably mostly transit because, after all, Moraine's supposed to be improving, right? Hope your compooper gets better.

Hey, lucky7. Glad to see you stop by. Come back again to see the good part!

Wassup, GreekMan. I hope you see what's going on here too! You'll enjoy it!

Thanks for the comment, Mayorm.

Glad to see you're still stoping by, redrummage. You've been a loyal fan and the payoff is coming soon!

British_Petroleum, if you clean up the oil I might put up a seawall.

Thanks for the advice, Sirron Kcuhc. ALso, you have the coolest username EVER!

Thanks for stopping by again, Benedict.

Quick update. But, very important.