Volka

Jaybyrd05 · March 26, 2010

Agreed - last night I tested a bit with putting in those much needed expressways and I was actually keeping a count of how many of what kind of buildings I was tearing down so I could rebuild them. I ended up scrapping it all and just rebuilding.

On the note of mixed use lots with industrial - I noticed that if you only include a few manufacturing buildings then the environment hit isn't too bad. My problem was - I had HUGE industrial parks right near downtown and it was literally choking my CBD of profit.

jazyje · March 26, 2010

Yeah, I am most familiar with European and American land use settings --- think of older American cities where industry would settle by the riverfront --- that was the case with older cities like NYC Philly Baltimore, but then also Chicago Memphis Nashville Louisville etc.... My point is the industry wasn't right in the CBD, but very close in small clusters --- if it was a big cluster of industries it was really located outside of town in a separated zone- such as the case of Gary steelworks near Chicago... Or factories in Newark NJ, about 5 miles west of Manhattan... - but in close proximity to commute by trams back then.... But many smaller factories were/are scattered near residential neighborhoods -- my goal is to 'sprinkle' them around if possible but leave nice suburbs alone (very little industry there) -- so that the city resembles the 'real world' as closely as possible..

Jaybyrd05 · March 26, 2010

Very good idea.... I live in Nashville actually and most of the riverfront is still manufacturing that backs up to lower wealth housing development. I started doing that with Dickson last night as a test to see how the pollution would effect it. Like you, I wanted it to look as real as possible.

Volka is coming along nicely!! I look forward to more updates

jazyje · March 26, 2010

Yeah, and you know the funny thing is, I noticed if you place industry by the riverfront + it is next to inner city/low-income housing, they do not mind so much in Cities XL (as in the real world - not like they have much choice) -- you'd have to refurbish those factories into lofts for execs/skilled workers to move in....

jazyje · March 29, 2010

Just one teaser shot --- full update #6 is coming in the next couple of days --- Old Volka had a significant uplift with much more dedicated public space / green open space mixed with office/institutional/residential space. VOLKA is now at 250+k residents.... Stay tuned.

johannesut · March 29, 2010

Really good work!

Jaybyrd05 · March 29, 2010

Can't wait to see what you have for us!!

johannesut · March 30, 2010

We are really looking forward to some more updates...

Damastius · March 30, 2010

Good job

jazyje · March 30, 2010

Thanks to all of you!!!

BTW, pictures are already uploaded.... So a full update #6 will be posted either tonight or tomorrow... Stay tuned....

Skimbo · March 30, 2010

I like the idea with this park on the last pic^^

johannesut · March 30, 2010

Yeah +1 to skimbo... Especially if it was even bigger... not just in the size of 1 block...

jazyje · March 30, 2010

Parks are the lungs of livable cities --- indeed, VOLKA will get more parks eventually --- preferably they will all be connected by a network of continuous greenways...

jazyje · March 30, 2010

UPdate #5.5. is here -- mostly shots from around town, that is why I'm not calling it a full update #6 - because I'm still working on some of the improvements.... Anyhow, VOLKA is now at 250k residents and here's your update 5.5.

Enjoy!

Jaybyrd05 · March 30, 2010

Great shots man!! It's like the perfect balance between big city and small town..... I like them all!

johannesut · March 30, 2010

Indeed, awesome pics!!!

jazyje · March 31, 2010

Thanks ---- I'm a bit worried it's starting to look like San Francisco with onl;y 250k residents.... I'm not trying to have a crapload of skyscrapers until I get a population supporting that kind of development ---- you know, like in the 'real world'....

johannesut · March 31, 2010

That's right jazyje. Like real world. First wide cities , after that theres high density... like real world...

jazyje · April 1, 2010

Welcome to update #6 -- VOLKA has actually lost some residents and is now at 240k residents -- some housing were sacrificed (residents relocated or moved to nearby towns) on the old island to make room for green space + parks + greenways. An extensive system of connected greenways has been built in VOLKA -- and this is just a beginning! Enjoy!

Old Island overview:

Greenway/parks system visible from above:

Traffic congestion is not that bad!

Some picture-like shots from different angles:

Hanging out by the Grand Park:

Density around Grand PArk has been increased:

Parks, bike/pedestrian greenways and plazas and forested areas now occupy a large portion of the Old VOLKA island, as originally planned...

One of the City's best-selling shots!:

Finally, we need to rememnber parts of VOLKA still look like this:

But,

THE CITY's FUTURE

IS

UNWRITTEN!

Thanks for stopping by, we will see you next time, please come and visit us!!!

Jaybyrd05 · April 1, 2010

Wow really nice update Jazyje. The greenways around the island look wonderful... I especially like the lake and surrounding areas near city hall. Did you hand place most of the buildings? Obviously there are repeats, but they don't seem too clumped on top of each other.

YannickSHE · April 1, 2010

Very nice. I really like your old city on the island. Lots of parks, great mix of everything. Nicely done!

patriotizzy · April 1, 2010

Your city reminds me of a third world country. Which is a good thing, it's different

Herdervriend · April 2, 2010

Awesome updates man

johannesut · April 2, 2010

jazyje great update dude.. I love all these trees ... Give me the idea of a peaceful small town ... great work!

Damastius · April 2, 2010

Yeah! 'Greenways' like Burson Freeway A trend has started. Nice update man. Keep going like this!!

jazyje · April 5, 2010

Ouch --- pretty soon we would all rather live in our created virtual cities than the real ones we have to reside in...

Damastius · April 15, 2010

Hey, where are the updates Jazye?

jazyje · April 15, 2010

OK OK -- this past week or two have been crazy, no time....

BUT

Believe it or not I already have the next update of VOLKA ready --- I took all the screenshots + once I upload them they will be posted here -- either today or tomorrow.... !!! I was actually playing SC4 just a bit this week, but I just can't get used to its poor graphics + bad camera options. CXL looks so much better!

johannesut · April 16, 2010

Indeed, we are really looking forward for your next update... CXL really rocks...

jazyje · April 16, 2010

Welcome to update #7!!! VOLKA has matured without adding many residents -- it has about 240k residents. Downtown continues to see major revitalization investment + many executives and elites have moved to the city recently. Enjoy!

Old City / Center City.. Noter the influx of executives/elites....