Abandonment, Unemployment and Commute Time

[whitecity999 0]

I have been having problems with abandonment of residential areas due to commute time and/or lack of jobs. To remedy this I have installed the NAM (June 2009 version, simulator Z) but the problem still persists. I have managed however to control the numbers of High Wealth Sims (R$$$) and Medium Wealth Sims (R$$) settling in my city through higher taxation; this has meant that have eradicated abandonment amongst these groups. Though the problem still persists with Low Wealth Sims (R$), when I zone residential areas and these zones subsequently grow I literally get scores of no Job Zots.

I have tried to tackle this by bringing employment close to residential areas. For example creating commercial zones close to or in the heart of residential areas. Though what I am finding is that low wealth Sims are not taking up jobs, and that only half the jobs have been taken up in the commercial zones that I have built. Also I frequently get the message “Full Employment Without Enjoyment” which states that not enough jobs in my city have been taken up by Sims, indicating a lack of manpower, but this is simply not the case!!!

Secondly I have tried to bring industrial zones in closer proximity to residential zones (though I have tried also to mitigate pollution levels, which could also create further residential abandonment, by discouraging dirty industry through high taxation, by building them close but not next to residential areas and by planting trees around the industrial areas). To a certain extent this has helped to reduce abandonment amongst Low Wealth Sims, as after I have built industrial zones the amount of No Job Zots have decreased. However after building lots of these industrial areas demand for industrial zones has decreased, and I am now left with some residential areas with no industry nearby with high numbers of No Job Zots.

I have also looked at congestion within my road network and most if not all roads and avenues are green (rather than yellow or red). My public transportation system is fairly good as I have lots of bus stops in and amongst residential, commercial and industrial zones. I have no other means of public transportation but the population of my city only totals around 35,000 so I presume that an efficient bus network is sufficient for the moment.

This is my first city I have built after installing the NAM and despite trying various other strategies the problem with residential abandonment and commute time still persists. Does anyone have any other ideas?

[MsProll21 0]

You haven't mention it, but how's your education and health levels in your city? With a population of 35k, you should consider rezoning to med density, and in doing that, you should definitely add water. If sims arent' educated, they'll only work in factories and places like Bob's Grease Pit. You could lower taxes for your low wealth sims, but doing that reduces your mayoral income.

You seem to be on the right track as far as having employment close to residential areas, thus cutting down on commute times. I remember reading a couple of days ago here someone recommended zoning like 3 rows of residential, then 3 rows of commericial and so on.

That's all I can think of for now. Hopefully someone else will stop by for more tips. Good luck to you

[weareanidiot 1]

Unemployment, expecially among R