Windemere | Announcement

[Schulmanator 5,787]

The all look good but night time is the right time for that awesome pic!

[Charlie_Zane 963]

The city sure is moving for the future, i wonder what the 2 big office towers will look like once complete? Can't wait for the next update!

[vivapanda 422]

Nice pick of those highrises! The city starts to get a unique style.

Could you keep your site banner as some sort of end-banner, I'm pretty bad at remembering stuff

[Hampi 54]

Looks great! Thoose buildings at the shopping strip looked magnificent! Where did you find them?

[TMorgan 19]

Looking great. Thank you for the links, =)

[Fox 1,444]

Thanks for the reply to my comment

Love that last picture.. WOW!!

Can't wait to see how much more it changes.

[Sciurus 323]

Great city! I hope to see the results of the construction soon!

[The Avatar 1,089]

Thank you for the 300th comment award.

Your CJ is such an inspiration - not only because of your amazing pics, but because of the friendly replies to each comment and new entries coming often, also. I always enjoy reading your entries when I can, buddy. Keep it up!

[simlink 1,098]

Update Synopsis:

Today's update is something a little different. Windemere & Taschereau is focused on suburban areas, and has become known for them. In most newer suburban are "power centres", or also known as big-box malls. These are featured often in this CJ, and are usually well received. Today's update will show you the process I go through when building these big-box malls, and will give you step-by-step directions on building your own. So let's get started...

60.1 |The best place to build a big-box mall is at the intersection of 2 major roads. In this case, we are building out in the country where nothing has been built yet, other than the road infrastructure. Any corner will do.

60.2 | What I usually start by doing is placing my anchor tenant, in this case a Super Target. Where you place your buildings when building your own malls depends on what you want, but for this tutorial I am placing adjacent to one avenue, and leave 6 tiles i nfront of the other. This space will eventually house other shops/restaurants, etc.

60.3 | Next I place my "shadow anchors." These stores a still large-scale stores, but I smaller in size than the main anchors. I usually place these stores so that they are in line, or set back from the main tenant. Drag street/road to service the buildings, while also continuing the main road. The empty grass space in front of the stores will eventually house parking.

60.4 | Next, I place few more anchor/large-scale stores. For this tutorial I place 2: A Sam's Club and Nordstrom Department store. I have the warehouse approximately in-line with the Super Target, giving it prominence over the smaller stores. The department store is place in an "outparcel", facing in towards the small. The space between the avenue and department store will be landscaped.

I also take this time to place the "main entrance" avenue, leading up to the Sam's Club.

60.5 | Next I place the final anchor tenant, a Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse. This anchor faces the perpindicular direction of the other tenants, providing a more prominent boundary of this big-box mall any other future developments. I also build an outparcel on the other side of the main entrance from the one built previously. They should be identical in size. In the empty space next to Sam's Club will be another shadow anchor, likely an electronics store and office supplies store.

60.6 | Back over by the Super Target, shops are added to the outparcel by the intersection. This sector of the development will act as an entertainment area, with restaurants and a movie theatre. This is fairly common in areas where no cinema was previously present.

60.7 | Jumping back to Lowe's now (sorry for the jumping around), more small shops have been added. A BestBuy and Staples Business Depot have been built, as has a Blockbuster Video store. These shops provide common items in specialty stores, and add to the overall function of a real big-box mall, and add to the look of one in SC4.

60.8 | Now we begin the process of adding parking. Don't be afraid to break up parking if you feel the "chunk" will be too large. Buildings like the Starbucks placed here are very common in these developments, especially fastfood joints.

60.9 | When placing parking lots in your big-box malls, always use the same texture, and use a modular set so you can fill any shape with a parking lot. Although your lots may use different textures, the lots you plop should all be the same texture, so the lots have a cohesive look. The exception to this is if you want one section to look newer than another.

60.10 | Something else to take into consideration is when possible, line up plopped parking lot textures with the ones of your buildings. This isn't often possible, but is for buildings like this Sam'sClub. This creates a cohesive, flowing parking lot.

60.11 | The last step is landscaping. The use of sound walls is very common in big-box developments, as is the planting of trees. This creates a better street scape as you try to hide the sea of parking and box-like buildings.

60.12 | Lastly, as you are landscaping, don't be afraid to "develop" some of the landscaping area. If you think it would look better with a store, do it! Don't get stuck in the mindset that everything must be a certain way, it doesn't. There are plenty of options when building big-box malls, just as there are tons of different looking retail centres.

With that in mind, I added a Verizon Wireless store where I was going to previously plant trees, as I thought it wouldn't look quite right.

60.13 | When following some of the tips, tricks and advice here, you will have massive, sprawling shopping centres under your belt in no time! Practice makes perfect, so if you don't want to build a mall in your favourite city because you're afraid of how it will look, try an empty city tile and build out your idea first.

Here is the finished product, in all its sprawl-ness. Hope you found this useful!

REPLIES

SimCoug

Thanks, glad you liked it!

Schulmanator

Haha, good rhyming! Happy to hear you liked the night shot.

City_Master

You'll have to wait a bit longer to see how the buildings turn out, we went on a sidetrack today.

vivapanda

Glad you like the unique style it is developing. It is fun watching that city grow and change, one of my best cities recently. And no worries, the plan was to keep it there all along.

The site received a makeover, hopefuly it is to most people's liking. There is also an additional banner down there now...

Hampi

Good to hear you like them. Those shops can be found

Look forward to maybe seeing them in your CJ...

TMorgan

Not a problem!

Fox

No problem, I enjoy responding to comments. I like to think people want a personalized comment, not "Thanks" all the way down.

(Though somtimes it does get a bit long-toothed.

) Hope to see you around as the city grows!

Sciurus54

Glad you like the construction, results will be up probably in a few updates.

MamaLuigi945

No problemo, always fun to pas a x00 milestone.

Also glad to hear it is an inspiration. As I mentioned to Fox, I enjoy writing comments/replies, and figure if people take the time to read an update and comment, I should write a nice reply! Look forward to continuing to see you around!

As always, I hope you enjoyed today's update and are looking forward to more - Don't forget to comment!

simLink's SimCity Hub: Home to Info on W&T on my random SC4 Musings

NEW! | Simopsis Forums: Home to "SIM" discussion. Talk about SC4, CXL, TS3 and more!

[Schulmanator 5,787]

Well thought out, unlike mine! I will hafta work on improving using these suggestions...

[Charlie_Zane 963]

That's a very nice tutorial! Will help me a lot to make better looking shopping centres!

[zahrul3 471]

Stuff like that crashes my CS$$ and CS$ demand for some reason , and they abandon sometime later. They're ploppable CS$$, aren't they?

[-JD- 41]

How delightfully suburban! I will definitely be using this tutorial for inspiration in my suburban areas. What modular parking lots set do you recommend/use?

Great change of pace for W&T!

  Edited April 23, 2012 by -JD-  

[nathanthemayor 1,261]

Wow what a nice tutorial. This is very useful.

[SimCoug 5,972]

Great tutorial - I drive by these every day, but it actually takes a little thought and planning to get them to look right in SC4.

[packersfan 666]

Nice, tutorial. I just built a big box mall, but it didn't turn out the best, but it is okay...not all malls look the same, so a future attempt will follow your great tutorial. Always good to have ideas bouncing around out here!

[simlink 1,098]

Update Synopsis:

Today we are taking a look at a town dependent on industry as its main source of jobs. Manufacturing is a major employer, but the largest single employer in Wesfole is Orchiden Energy Production, Inc.'s massive coal power plant. At the front of cleaning up emmissions from coal power production, this power plant has grown as the Region of Taschereau and its surrounding regions continue to grow. The down is surprisingly not covered in soot from the plant, but is surprisingly poor. One of the poorest cities in W&T, this city leaves a lot to be desired for some. For others, it is the perfect home. This update sticks out as being a very different one from the usual crop. Also note the slightly changed picture editing starting in this update... So let's go!

61.1 | This is one section of the mammoth power plant. Here we can clearly see 3 of the generators. Also visible is employee parking and the plant command centre and employee rest building.

61.2 | This is the HQ of the power plant's owner, the Crown-Corporation Orchidsen Energy Production, Inc. This is one of its oldest, and largest, power generating facilities. The company reports back to the Orchidsen government.

61.3 | Coal from outside the plant arrives here, where it is usually further processed and then trucked off a short distance to one of the generators.

61.4 | This view provides a view of another employee parking lot, as well as a tangle of power lines as they exit the facility. This zoom provides a look at the Eastern portion of the facility.

61.5 | Further north of the power plant we come across the Wesfole Industrial Park. It is home to several manufacturing and processing companies. The Region in association with the city and Provincial Government installed air purifiers surrounding the complex to improve air quality.

61.6 | Into the residential area we come across Wesfole Williams Elementary School. It is the heart of this residential area, with school facilities often being used for community meetings.

61.7 | This is "Downtown" Wesfole. It has suffered greatly in recent years as people leave in droves the crammed, unmaintained and often times 'scary' apartment complexes. Several have been torn down in recent years, with more abandoned and rotting. Hopes to eventually redevelop the area are slow, and have not gone any where quickly.

61.8 | Another view of "Downtown."

61.9 | It is not just the "Downtown" area of Wesfole that is suffering. This scener is also common: A Healthy, vibrant residential area (right) next to a dilapidated, rotting, unwelcoming residential area (left.) Incentives to improve the neighbourhood on the left have mostly failed.

61.10 | Wesfole really is the tale of two different cities. One that is healthy and vibrant and one that is unwelcoming and rotting. With plans to unify the city failing, the future of this once prosperous city is murky. Jobs are available, it is easy to get to other portions of the region, but it continues to flounder. One only knows if this city will truly become "one" again...

REPLIES

Schulmanator

Glad this tutorial could be of assistance!

City_Master

Thanks, I hope to see your results someday!

zahrul3

They are a mix of CS$$, CS$$ and perhaps one or two CS$. You need to make sure demand for these zones is high enough before constructing these mammoth centres. I use a demand mod so that is not usually a problem.

-JD-

Glad you liked the tutorial. I use Hooha47's modular parking lot set, from here. They are pretty awesome!

nathanthemayor

Happy to hear so!

SimCoug

I see them quite frequently as well. And it always seems like there is another one being built, or getting bigger. You are right, though. Took me a long time to get them to look right. And a lot of experimenting, too.

Packersfan

Hope to see something like this in District of Wenzel! Good catalyst for sprawl. No two power centres look alike is true, but they share common elements for sure.

As always, I hope you enjoyed today's update and are looking forward to more - Don't forget to comment!

simLink's SimCity Hub: Home to Info on W&T on my random SC4 Musings

Come visit me at Simopsis Forums: Home to "SIM" discussion. Join now by clicking the Simopsis Forums Logo! Always happy to welcome a new community member.

  Edited April 29, 2012 by sim_link  

[SimCoug 5,972]

Great update. I like how you created neighborhoods of different wealth levels, that can be tricky to achieve in this game. And the heavy industry is great - love the coal plant.

[Schulmanator 5,787]

You have the look and feel of the place down perfectly!

[simlink 1,098]

"UPDATE 62: THE VOTE"

Borders change. It is a fact of municipal and regional government. The Region of Windemere and its municipalities have never really had to deal with it, its borders remaining more or less the same for the past 30 years. But that at all recently changed. As the region has developed, pockets have formed, with barren grasslands separating these areas. These pockets have developed their own sense of identity, and ways of planning. This has never been a problem, up until it came time to rewrite the regional planning guide. Spats broke out between elected officials from each municipality. The pockets raged against one another, save for the odd community which agreed with a different pocket. In the end, 3 main arguements came to be. One was the pace of development in Windemere was sufficient, and everything was fine. The region should stay the current course. This opinion was held by cities like Armosa and Wrenshaw. Eastburg, Macoe, Marcelona, Cranborough and Simcoe all argued that development should be more tightly controlled, but allowed to expand. Representatives from these cities said that development should be allowed to flourish. This approach was more in line with what the provincial government was pushing for. Meanwhile, communities such as Sparklington, Baufeld and Wetachu all stated they wanted all new development halted, and all new applications to go through stringent planning impact studies. This would ultimately kill development in the region. It became apparent as weeks turned to months that this issue would not be settled. The provincial government intervened, and announced a radical new plan. Windemere would be split up. After nearly 30 years of no border changes, Windemere was about to get a lot smaller. Sparklington, Baufeld, and some of unincorporated land in the Region's north was merged into the neighbouring region to the north, The Region of Carleton. Wetachu and some of the land in the south was seperated forming The New City of Wrenshaw. Armosa seperated into The Region of Riverwest. The remaining communities, including Eastburg, Simcoe, Cranborough, Marcelona, Meese and Macoe were left in the region, which voted to keep the name "The Region of Windemere."

But the region was now left to develop its own plan. Looking at the land that remained, the new region has a tough time ahead of them. After a public survey, it was agrred that high-rise development resitrictions would be eased, allowing for more high-rise developments. Medium-density development would be encouraged, and suburban development would be allowed to continue. Because of the upcoming building boom expected, the province announced the main highway to run through Windemere would be completely rebuilt, and Elevated rail would be introduced to the new region as a public transit option.

The building boom quickly began after the infrastructure announcement, with residents all across the new region of Windemere seeing high rises pop-up in their back yards. Will residents embrace this new development style? What will happen to existing communities? There are many questions to be answered in this new region.

Welcome, to THE NEW WINDEMERE REGION.

Replies:

SimCoug

Thanks, I was extremely happy I could achieve the different looks/wealth. You are right, it is certainly not easy in this game, haha. Glad you like the industry, too.

Schulmanator

Thanks, glad you think so!

Feel free to comment on this 'update.' I'm interested in hearing what you have to say.

[SimCoug 5,972]

Uh-oh! Politics! This could get interesting. I like gritty black and white logo. Looking forward to more.

[Charlie_Zane 963]

That is a lot of construction! The construction industry must be just coping with all the demand!

[vivapanda 422]

Interesting story, I like the new developments!

[urielgarcia 344]

I love that all the construction set are different lots - I am amazed at them. Wonderful work!!!!!!

[simlink 1,098]

UPDATE 63: WELCOME TO FEAUMONT

UPDATE SYNOPSIS:

Welcome to "THE NEW FEAUMONT REGION", everyone. After the Windemere went through such a change as a region, I thought that this CJ should perhaps go through a bit of a change as well. As such, it is no longer "Windemere & Taschereau", but now known at "The New Feaumont Region." After Windemere was split into its respective new pieces, the main section of the region retained the name "Windemere." However, after a public vote, this was changed to Feaumont because of the negative connotation Windemere now had. That is where Feaumont comes from in the new title.

But what about Taschereau?

It will still make the odd appearance, however the focus has shifted to (or perhaps back to) Feaumont. Updates on Taschereau will be "special episodes" if you will.

So with that out of the way, let's go see what is happening in FEAUMONT.

_______________________________________________________________________

63.1| When Windemere split into several pieces, the main portion of the former region no longer has a regional headquarters building. In order ro properly function and serve the people of Feaumont, the newly formed -temporary- government set on its way to build a new regional operations building. This site in Eastburg was selected.

63.2| Construction started nearly straight away. This new building would feature a unique tower, with a large plaza building surrounding it. The majority of the regional functions would be housed in the tower, however council chambers will be placed in a cylindrical room, while the office of public health will occupy part of the plaza as well. A new train station will be constructed nearby to serve the building.

63.3| The whole reason Windemere split, and Feaumont was created was planning. The area now known as Feaumont was for high-density developments, and allowing more development to take place. Here you can see the first sign of the new friendliness to high-rises...

63.4| The politicians of Feaumont have a balancing act ahead of them. On one hand, they must please the residents of the region, as they are the people who vote them in. However, at the same time they must keep up the demand for development, keep developers happy, and not overbuild. It is a tight rope, and someone is bound to fall off sooner or later.

63.5| And although appeasing residents may sound easy, politicians need to think again. Despite being in favour of high-rise and increased development, residents are very protective of character. And when a developer issues a proposal that is approved without a second of thought in Downtown Eastburg, someone is going to be out of a job come election time. A new large commercial tower has been approved for the Southwest (bottom left) corner of the downtown core, and residents are not too happy - this was supposed to be one area that always remained the same in the new region.

63.6| It really is a balancing act, one that will keep politicians awake all night some days in their shiny new HQ building. Some will be re-elected, others won't. But one big question circulating the new region is who is trustworthy?...

63.7| ...because when this many high-rises are approved and built in less than 1.5 years... someone probably doesn't have the interests of the residents at heart.

REPLIES:

SimCoug

Politics should be popping up more and more in this post-Windemere era. For how long, though - that's up to the politicians...

City_Master

The construction industry is booming, and is definitely not keeping up with demand anymore...

vivapanda

Thanks - hope today's story was to your liking.

urielgarcia

Thanks - I am trying to vary the construction up a little more now. Glad you like it!

HOPE YOU ENJOYED TODAY'S UPDATE! COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS ALWAYS WELCOME...

Simopsis Forums: Discussion on CXL, SC4, TS3 + more.

  Edited May 21, 2012 by sim_link  

[SimCoug 5,972]

Nice HQ building. Although not so sure sims will be happy that their taxes are letting their elected leaders work in such a nice environment. Great update!

[The Avatar 1,089]

That night pic is very beautiful. Seeing this entry has cheered me up a bit.

[Schulmanator 5,787]

I like all of the pix but the last one rocked my world!

[Charlie_Zane 963]

Great looking new HQ building, the night lights in the last pic are amazing!

[simlink 1,098]

...and for my 1000^th post I present you with a teaser/riddle!

And now for a little riddle:

We've seen this before ...a long time ago...

Where is it?

And what is going on that makes it teaser worthy?

Find out soon...

  Edited May 23, 2012 by sim_link