Greater Plymouth

[siqitornto 0]

A New Urbanist Adventure...

 

The first Greater Plymouth region CJ died last year thanks to the onset of exams and a general lack of response.  Well for a second time this beautiful Pacific Northwest region is back in style  I now present

 

[This region is supposed to realistically model a successful North American city with a strong Pacific Northwestern flavour.  Instrumental in this attempt are a great many mods and bats from simtropolis--too many even for myself to catalogue (gotta clean up the plugin folder).  Thanks to all the batters who made this region possible. 

 

I also used money cheats.  Money is not my strong point]

 

The city of Plymouth is perched on a peninsula that juts out into the Pacific Ocean, while the neighbouring Eastport County sits across the bay.  Greater Plymouth, especially the more urbanized area in and around the two downtowns, contains a myriad of neighbourhoods with character galore. 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Neighbourhoods.jpg align=baseline>

The working-class neighbourhood of Port of Plymouth, the standard-issue 60's suburban wasteland (Islington), the privileged enclaves of Chelsea, and the gentrified downtowns co-exist in this hill-locked region, home to a metro population of 518,000 and a greater metro population of almost 1 million.  Growth in the technology sector is fuelling current population increase.

 

Like its neighbour Portland, OR, Plymouth has an extensive and well-developed transportation system:

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Regional%20Transportation%20(reduced).jpg align=baseline>

Strait Area Transit Authority (SATA) operates 5 light rail lines (underground / at-grade), an extensive bus system, ferry services, and commuter rail services to the outer suburbs.  Also the Docklands Revitalization Corporation runs two monorail lines in the two revitalization zones on both sides of the bay.  Thanks to this system Greater Plymouth has one of the lowest auto usage rates on the continent.

 

An international airport in North Cape City (not shown) connects Plymouth to many international destinations.  Eastport County Airport handles a lot of budget airline traffic.

[Nardo69 51]

Your region view looks good. And I like how you emphasized your rail system.
Now I am looking for your first close-ups.

edit: WOW! first Post!!!!

Nardo

[siqitornto 0]

Now on to the proper business of touring the featured neighbourhoods:

CHELSEA/MIDTOWN

Chelsea is where Plymouth's Brahmins breathe their privileged air, or so the story goes.  But the truth is that Chelsea is home to more than just the martini set.  Besides the snobbish Summerhill, Scarsdale & Park West continue to be prized middle-class family neighbourhoods, while Murray remains ever so popular with younger singles.

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//chelseaneighbd.jpg align=baseline>

 

 

We'll begin with Summerhill:

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//summerhill-1.jpg align=baseline>

Summerhill is a lush, leafy neighbourhoods full of solid victorian brownstones and elegant mansions.  Modern apartment living is possible at the North Beach Apartments and a few other mid-rises but comes at a price.  West of the neighbourhood is High Park, a large tract of land donated to the city by engineer/surveyor Jon Howard in 1865.  It is now a popular destination, with trails, a baseball field, and a golf course.

 

The main throughfare of Summerhill St. offers many charming but pricy mom-and-pop stores.  NO.2 on the picture marks the location of Chippie's, a local maker of great-tasting fish and chips.

 

Essex St. contains many stores specializing in musical instruments and sheet music, thanks to the nearby Plymouth Music Conservatory. 

 

The Arts and Crafts Museum has been voted 'the most uninteresting museum' for years, yet is kept alive by the area's rich residents who would like to keep the area 'cultured'.  Bizzarely though it has of late become a people-watching spot, as more and more boys from the nearby Boys' Prep School start to pick up girls in the museum.

 

NO.1 marks the mayor's residence.

 

A peaceful summer morning on North Beach.

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//summerhill-2.jpg align=baseline>

 

 

 

[Nardo69 51]

Prompt answer! Looks good, lots of midrises, lots of green and a nice waterfront...

Good start!

Nardo

[the_crispbread_witch 0]

Beautiful!

Very nice graphics and everything's looking very good!

[siqitornto 0]

Scarsdale

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//scarsdale-1.jpg align=baseline>

This ever popular family neighbourhood is centred around Benson St. and Scarsdale Rd., with Scarsdale Common on one corner and the Benson Theatre on the opposite corner.  The neighbourhood is blessed with a good school, a popular library, and abundant playing fields.

 

Stores and restaurants along Benson St. are family-oriented.  Ron's Deli and George's Toy Trains(NO.2) are particular favourites.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//scarsdale-3.jpg align=baseline>

The Benson Theatre is supposedly the best second-run/rep cinema in town.  But many parents in Scarsdale hold a grudge against the owner, Patrick Perry, and not just for the ever popular 'Steamy Fridays' double features.

 

'It attracts the wrong crowd', one concerned parent frowned.

 

Patrick Perry, or Pat among the city's cinemaphiles, created a sensation when his theatre admitted 12-year-olds to a 'Sanitized Edition' of 'Wild Things' last year.  The controversy lives on with this week's showing of the French art movie 'Baise-Moi'.

 

'A massive poster advertising Baise-Moi!?  It means *beep* me for gods sake', one horrified parent said.

 

When confronted with community concerns, Patrick answered:

'I have taken every caution against corrupting America's youth...the film is rated and kids won't be admitted, period.'

 

When accused of displaying profane language to minors he added:

'Any 7-year-old out there who understands what Baise-Moi means, GET OUT MORE!'

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//scarsdale-2.jpg align=baseline>

Scarsdale also contains a sizable stock of single family homes, a rarity in this part of town.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//scarsdale-4.jpg align=baseline>

There is a farmer's market on the edge of the neighbourhood.  Ever so popular on Saturday mornings.  The nearby park provides a picnic ground.

 

 

[siqitornto 0]

Thanks!  this is just a start

And to others: DO FEEL FREE TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS.  I have a nagging feeling the way I'm presenting is bit overwhelming.

[djrules5454 5]

I really don't think there is a way to present something overwhelmingly.  Most people just underpresent their work.

[Traffic_Jam 0]

Wow!

Very nice!

 

 

[jacqulina 162]

very nice start,excellent pic very clear

[hammo 2]

Nice CJ, maybe one day I'll be able to afford the Penthouse Suite in the North Beach Apartments!

[gurrgkud 2]

siqitornto

 

Very nice start! Very good transportation system. I love the amazing pictures that you take and the way you label everything. that's always good. keep it up!

[siqitornto 0]

Thanks for the encouragement!

You might have noticed I don't use bats as extensively as some of the other CJs; well I do but very selectively, that's cuz I try to maintain the 'Maxis' look and feel of things.

 

Also this CJ borrowed a lot of ideas from new urbanist city planning/transit-oriented development.  Eventually I plan to run features showcasing some of my techniques.

 

Stay tuned!

[sirgeoj2 1]

This is looking great!!  Your rail line graph is great, and I love how you label different key areas of the city!  You are doing a great job!  Keep it up!

  

[siqitornto 0]

NEW UPDATE 08/09/2005

We now contiune our tour of Chelsea

 

Park West

 

On the northern tip of the downtown peninsula, Park West borders High Park, from which it derived its name.

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//parkwest1.jpg align=baseline>

 

The real attraction of the district though is the Chelsea Flower Market

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//parkwest2.jpg align=baseline>

 

[tco99 0]

Very beautiful!! Fantastic start!

[siqitornto 0]

Grange Ave.

Grange Ave. is the main thoroughfare cutting across the northern tip of the downtown peninsula.  It terminates in the east at the Chelsea Ferry Terminal, one of the region's transportation hubs.  You can then take a Seabus across the bay to Eastport County.

 

This rather utilitarian building replaced the original ferry terminal which was destroyed in a 1956 fire.

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//grange3.jpg align=baseline>

 

Going west, the avenue enters Chelsea's mini-downtown:

[thanks to aleking's Bravstol Bay CJ for the mosaic idea]

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//grange1.jpg align=baseline>

 

Going further west though the street's character becomes much more residential:

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//grange2.jpg align=baseline>

 

While you are at it, don't forget to check out Pavel's Hotdog Stand, located in the Stuard Miller Park

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//grange4.jpg align=baseline>

 

If you don't care to enjoy your lunch with a dead guy's statue, head to the front steps of the Metropolitan Library for some human company.  Who knows?  You may just make a romantic encounter or two:

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//grange5.jpg align=baseline>

[siqitornto 0]

Other Neighbourhoods in Chelsea

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//murray.jpg align=baseline>

Murray, centred around Charlotte St. just south of Grange Ave.; frequently patronized by the city's avant-garde thanks to the Museum of Fine Arts nearby.

 

The Las Arenas Hotel is the city's latest landmark, designed by European starchitect Ja Wood.  Ja reportedly resides in the hotel/condo's penthouse suite.

 

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//anderson.jpg align=baseline>

McCormick Place, another landmark on the eastern waterfront, across from the abandoned Anderson St. Ferry.  Current plans call for a conversion into a waterfront retail space.

 

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//asylum.jpg align=baseline>

Lastly, the (in)famous Faneuil Hall, housing the city's insane since the mid-1800s.

[siqitornto 0]

I have finished the tour of Chelsea for now.  Soon we'll start a tour of downtown.  Also a New Urbanism special feature is in the planning stage.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//preview.jpg align=baseline>

 

Pleassseee leave a comment/suggestion when you read the CJ.  Any responses from you guys help me deciding to move on with the project.  Thanks!

[Isaak Ylonen 1]

I must say I'm very impressed with this CJ. I like it so much I posted just to say that I liked it 

The graphics are really nice. And that mental asylum seems very comfortable, can I check in??

 

Good work, and forget my bad English

[Traffic_Jam 0]

Very nice and fantastic work!

 

Great job!

[amal81 3]

Very good use of text on images; did u use adobe photoshop?

[siqitornto 0]

amal81 - I take it as a compliment that you think the images are made with Photoshop.  I'm actually the biggest Photoshop idiot in the whole world, and I use the most idiot-proof thing in the world: Microsoft PictureIt.  All the basic functions are there and all it took to get this photoshop-esque effect was a bit of thinking and some colour theory.  Cheers!

To the rest: thanks again for the overwhelmingly positive response.  This CJ will get more interesting as I go along.

[K_m_H 0]

Very nice so far

[oroen 0]

Hey, you've got a really nice presentation. I don't think it's too overwhelming at all; it's a good way to start in my opinion. There's definitely a Pacific Northwest feel here with the New Urbanism (SF, Portland), although I personally really dislike New Urbanism/Smart Growth myself. The neighborhoods do look very quaint and liveable, as you put it; so many great details... wasabi pancakes...

[Alabaster 0]

Great start! I like how this CJ focuses on details and local issues around each city. There is so much to discover in just one city.

 

Keep posting updates at the rate you are now, and you will have a first-class CJ with tons of regular visitors in no time

[newyorkrunaway1 110]

great cj, i thought that region looked farmiliar... lol

[Deathtoall 28]

wow so realistic, you must spend every spare moment of your time playing simcity, then going to your window, looking at plymoth, back to computer or you have somehow taken a picture and got into the game and then onto simtroplis wow!!wow!!

Even older members can learn something new, realism!!

[moalkind 0]

Why I like the beginning of this cj?

It is nic, the photoshoping is quite well done, the pictures are also cool!

It looks like this cj will be a very interesting cj!

Why I do not like the beginning of this cj?

Maybe you could give us some more information about the region?

 

Keep this work going on!!

[jacqulina 162]

very nice update i love the chelsea market,nice details and the pics are great