Volka

[jazyje 1]

VOLKA - my first Cities XL city. Enjoy!

The city is established on an island located nearby a huge volcano:

Main Street's view with 500 first inhabitants in residence:

Overhead shot of Main St:

Residents are moving in attracted by the ease of life in the region and unspolied environmnet:

Population explodes on the fringes of the City:

Main Street gets a boost after manufacturers are attracted by low taxes (14%) and access to many unskilled and skilled workers - cheap, but reliable labor force (the City is already at more than 5,000 residents):

The City's growth away from Main Street pushes population over 10,000, and 15,000 is just a step on the way to 20,000 - the town gains a sense of matured permanency:

The Marketplace:

Executives take liking to the smaller island located to the south of the main island:

The City now reaches a population of 40,000, soon to breach the 50,000 level... Traffic becomes a concern, although FOR NOW all employees have no issues when it comes to worry-free commutes to and from their places of employment. Skilled and unskilled workers live in mid-density apartment complexes in peace:

More growth attracte more new residents and 75,000 population mark is just a baby step to the current 100,000 poulation count by the Census Bureau. High-rise apartments begin to dominate certain residential sectors close to the old Main Street corridor:

View from the VolkaNova bridge connecting Volka to Volka Nova:

Elites finally decide it's time to move into Volka. Their lush neighborhoods offer plenty of opportunities for casual strolls:

Although the population of Volka is now holding fairly steady at 100,000 and growing, the majority of residents still reside in attractive low-density neighborhoods. Thus, a typical Volka residential street might very much resemble this street:

Or, this one if a bit more density is desired:

Up next, public transit efforts will be presented along with further explorations of the ways to mitigate environmental concerns associated with Volka's polluting manufacturing secotr and a new sector making inroads in the area - the oil industry. Managing growth while at the same time providing residents with a high quality of life, including clean air, has always been Volka's priority.

[mentarman 14]

Nice start!

[Damastius 5]

Cool city, like the high rise appartmements of the unskilled workers. One tip: The manufacturing is too close to the city, I think you shouls moove it someday if it gets too big.

Keep going like this man

[jazyje 1]

I'm trying to be very realistic -- many cities established manufacturing sectors nearby their residential areas, especially older cities - that's the case in Europe as well as in North America. But there are two other manufacturing sectors on the fringes of town with better access to 'freight' - which basically means access to larger roadways... By teh way, I noticed there's stuff about railways in the game's code --- has MC ever mentioned unlocking / making rail available? I definitely miss that from SC4.

[Damastius 5]

They were - but they didn't eventually. I guess it will be in the next version of cities xl.

[jazyje 1]

A new update will be posted within the next couple of days -- VOLKA is now at 150,000+ residents, with public transit in place, an airport, and new amenities such as the Ferris wheel and sports museum downtown.

[Skimbo 304]

Good startup, I look forward to the next update

[Chiverito 11]

Roundabout... Did that come with the new update?

[Chiverito 11]

Or is it just your circular building skillz...

[jazyje 1]

As I pre-announced already, VOLKA now gas 150k residents.

Spaceshuttle shot:

View from the airport towards Old Volka:

Teh City still only has a few residential high-risers:

Some night shots - all towards Old Volka on the main island:

Old Volka has seen some signs of revitalization in recent years:

WE drove across the bridge to Nova Volka's now already historic oldest district (view from the back window):

Looking back at Old Volka from the rooftops of Nova Volka's oldest district:

Time to head back to Old Volka, the island that gave birth to this City:

[jazyje 1]

Originally posted by: Chiverito

Or is it just your circular building skillz...quote>

Chiverito,

R-bouts is a mod found on Cities XL German forum.

Thanks for comments, everyone.

[Damastius 5]

Good update. Like the pictures of Old volca. The roads look very busy. I know this isn't good for the citizens themselves but I like it. Then it really looks that your city is 'alive'.

Keep going like this - hope you'll stay here for a long time

[Herdervriend 46]

I love this city Can't wait for more

[Skimbo 304]

Nice update

[Shaddy 0]

So cool!!! I cant wait for the next!

[jazyje 1]

An intermediate surprise update! Volka now has 175k residents and 2 bus routes utilized at around 80%

Center City Volka:

Congestion is becoming an issue during rush hour:

But the new bus routes mitigate some of the traffic concerns / offer an alternative way of getting around:

View of Old Volka from the Exek Island:

Nore the Ferris Wheel:

The best hotel in town (Volkagnized Hotel)

And the main Bus Terminal next to it:

View from the top floors of Volkgnized Hotel cannot be beat:

See you next time -- Greetings from Volka! We hope you visit us soon!

[Damastius 5]

Good update

[jazyje 1]

Thanks --- Volka has grown a lot but we'll try to put a lid on unlimited growth very soon and restrict new future development only to certain chosen areas --- we cannot afford to become Atlanta, if you know what I mean....

[jazyje 1]

200k residents - first a map showing some major points discussed in this update:

Some early teasers:

[patriotizzy 0]

Awesome man. I love your city. Have you been downloading new buildings? There are a few I don't recognize, and I've played the game a little.

[jazyje 1]

Update #4 FULL VERSION...

VOLKA is now at 210,000 residents... The Elites stil constiture a tiny minority of population - but at 4% of the total population, a new riverside Elites neighborhood called Beac Hill became a magnet for them:

Volka Island seen from the north at night casts long magic shadows on the water:

And the city is alive after dark:

Is it Prague from the times of Kafka?

It's a City that remembers its past while looking ahead...

Some of the old-timers residing near the Old City:

The Old CIty itself hasn't seen much growth in recent years:

The morning dew slowly evaporates... Another day in Volka's Old City...

The old industrial area on the eastern part of the main island has been slowly taken over by urban pioneers who have transformed quite a few of the old factories and warehouses into lofts, hence the name of this new district, 'Loftka':

Musicians, artists, painters, and old-school blue collar workers all rub shoulders in this up and coming part of town, which is conveniently located within walking distance to the Old City and Center City...

Bars and music venues and art galleries occupy former factories and warehouses:

Grab a beer at the still functioning Tootsie Beer Brewery!:

And when you sober up, take a bus or drive off the main island:

Visit local farms:

Or fly fly away:

Center City will invite you back anytime:

So good-night!

We hope you visit us again soon!

[Damastius 5]

Nice update. Do you have the Limited Edition?

[jazyje 1]

No, but I downloaded some paks.... I play without sandbox though, and right now my cash flow is only at +25k per month.... My main problems right now are: pollution from the industrial area = must work on greening the city, lack of executives (elites) = I will not just zone for them anywhere, they would like a bit of seclusion by the waterfront, so they will wait...., some roads right by the entrances to the main island and around the airport are getting red -- nothing will be done about that, aside from expanding public transit. There might be an expressway bypassing/circling the city, but that is still years away == maybe when Volka is at 350-400k + residents. And the expressway would not go onto the main island -- there's too much opposition against it there.... The Old City could use some older buildings but I guess I'd rather use the medieval pack when MC releases it... Ideally, there would be a pedestrian urban plaza surrounded by a small network of pedestrian street in the city's core.... We'll see...

[Damastius 5]

Ok

[jazyje 1]

VOLKA now has its own SC4 Journal entry - follow it here:

https://www.simtropolis.com/cityjournals/?p=toc&id=1363

[jazyje 1]

Full update #5 will be shown this weekend -- here's a little teaser of what's in store:

[Skimbo 304]

Nice, veeeery nice

(I don't know why, but the volcano reminds me a littlebit on the Vesuvio, I hope it's not as dangerous....)

[jazyje 1]

As promised, here's the full update #5 -- VOLKA now has 230-235k residents.

Airplane shot:

New developments on the 'East Bank' -- along the eastern side of the main island, next to/in the area of the bridge going eastbound...

Center City:

New growth area in the northern part of town:

Finally, back on Main Street in OLD VOLKA: 

Elites' neighborhood visible from the new bridge's entrance/exitway...

Night and Volka...

Executives' neighborhood dotted with their fancy pools...

Skilled workers reside in mid-density livable quarters in Nova Volka:

Shadow of the NovaVolka bridge haunt at night...

And the City lives on, like dark magic...

COME VISIT US AGAIN SOON!!!!

[Jaybyrd05 3]

I noticed your comment about all the pollution - I had that issue too and ended up having to relocate my entire industrial section to a corner of the map pretty far off. The people will drive a good long ways to work but you have to plan your expressways ahead of time. Having half or more of your city all driving to the same one spot can become a nightmare of a traffic jam.

[jazyje 1]

Yeah, the problem is I do not want to have totally segregated zones --- I prefer mixed-use neighborhoods, you know with a mixture of residential industrial etc.... I do not mind congestion, but I will hold off with building expressways until VOLKA is at 350-400 residents.... Still needs a 30-40$ population increase.... Plus, you cannot just slash through any existing neighborhood -- there is a lot of opposition from local groups + plus all those people would need to be relocated or you lose your taxbase + employees.... Plenty to think about....