Cape May, NJ ... A look ahead

[Dannato 4]

Always cool to see old versions of SimCity. Reminds you of the difference. 

I really like those natural coastlines in this journal -- and I just definately decided me download some of the custom marinas and the water taxis (I think it's called the mee-too effect, innit?).

[SpartanBadger 4]

Nice job, looks realistic, but it's too laid out for my taste (probably because it's a real city...). I loved the SC3K update, I miss being able to zone my seaports and airports

[andrew george 0]

These updates are fantastic! You're doing a great job!

 

A

[paletexan 2]

I must say you've done an awesome job (and shown great patience) with those diagnal grids. Look forward to more updates / regions.

[Casper3141 60]

this CJ gets better and better every time i check it

[Jetty Jockey 186]

I'm glad everyone enjoyed my blast from the past . Yeah, I'd say Maxis has made a few improvements over SC3KU. Thanks again everyone for all the kind words and encouragement!

[comdude21 6]

I'm liking this cj more and more each time you update. Definately on my list of the best cjs out there!

 

I also have a couple of questions. How did you make the region (Sorry if you explained at the beginning of the thread, because it was a little while ago that I read through all of it)? If you did terraform it in game, wow, what a great job. That's how I make my regions, and it sure does take a while. Also, how did you so realistically make the tidal marshes? I know in real life, those little islands are literally about six inches above the surrounding bays, and I've tried doing the same in my Jersey Shore inspired regions. But I always end up with either land or water. I know that if you did use USGS data to make the region, the marshes would have turned up either just land or just water, because the bays are only a couple of feet deep in many places. What's your secret?

 

thanks

[niwell 0]

Wow, I love this cj! It's very realistic and while I have never been to the Jersey shore it reminds me a lot of places like Cape Cod, which I imagine is at least kind of similar. I love how everything is spread out with gaps between built up areas, really gives the impression of villages growing to meet each other, which is pretty much what happened on the east coast.

[Jetty Jockey 186]

Date:9/1/2004 11:05:34 AM
Author:comdude21

I'm liking this cj more and more each time you update. Definately on my list of the best cjs out there!

 

I also have a couple of questions. How did you make the region (Sorry if you explained at the beginning of the thread, because it was a little while ago that I read through all of it)? If you did terraform it in game, wow, what a great job. That's how I make my regions, and it sure does take a while. Also, how did you so realistically make the tidal marshes? I know in real life, those little islands are literally about six inches above the surrounding bays, and I've tried doing the same in my Jersey Shore inspired regions. But I always end up with either land or water. I know that if you did use USGS data to make the region, the marshes would have turned up either just land or just water, because the bays are only a couple of feet deep in many places. What's your secret?

 

thanks

quote>

I tried the USGS stuff, and ran into the exact same problems. There just isn't enough difference between maximum heights and minimum depths to make a difference between land and water. In a way I can see thier point : as a guy who's done a lot of fishing and crabbing in these marshes, sometimes you can't tell if it's land or water even when you're standing on/in it. Finally frustrated, I decided to do the map  by hand.  It was a long, drawn out process. I got a small scale county street map and superimposed my region city grid over the map. As I wasn't particularly happy with SC4 in its initial release, I concentrated on the map and waited for the release of Rush Hour.

I started with the basic coastline, then worked my way in, adding major inlets and waterways, exiting to the region map and rechecking.  Elevations aren't exactly to scale . I raised the terrain in the marshes to get a pale green color for the marshes, and then raised it a bit further to get the darker greens for the mainland. In fact, the region's highest elevation is a little over 20 feet.

The details came later, adding the thousands of tiny creeks. I zoomed in as close as I could, using the Ctrl key to fine tune my diggings, smoothings and shapings. A lot of them came one mouse click at a time. Along the way, I learned a few valuable lessons like not reconciling edges until all your neighbor cities are built and having a backup copy of the region on hand for emergencies. There was many a night when I was working on a particularly tedious stretch of marshland when I'd ask myself Why am I putting in so much effort  into a section where no one's going to live?

All the terraforming was complete before the first city was placed. I made the cities easy to get the extra cash for any imperfections that needed straightening out with the mayor's landscaping tool ( a lot more precise tool for shaping land). Originally I had planned to bring the entire region up simulteneously to year 15, but some cities required just one or two more years of tweaking until some cities had been advanced to year 50 while some haven't gotten past laying down the basic street maps. By year 50 most cities seemed to be stable, if not downright prosperous. Work is under way on Cape May Court House and eastern sections of Middle Township.

[Jetty Jockey 186]

Well, this page of the journal has gone on too long without some pics.

 

 

 

Introducing ... Cape May Court House in Middle Township (west)

 

 

Cape May Court House is the county seat and governmental center of Cape May County. It is a road network hub, with road connections extending radially from the city center. NJ Route 55 ( highway coming in from NW corner) has been  completed to connect with the Garden State Parkway (SE corner) via Mechanic Street. Despite generous tax rates on commerce and industry ( 7% and 6% respectively), demand in these areas are low and is causing some abandonment issues. The mayor is unconcerned and hopes that developing neighbor cities will help solve the problem as it has in other cities in the region..

 

 

The city's business district centers on the intersection of Main Street ( U.S. Highway 9) and Mechanic Street.

 

 

 

Industrial area west of Dennisville Road

 

 

Industrial Park on Goshen Road north of the city center.

 

All the city's industry is near rail connections to speed the shipment of produced goods and to bring commuters to work. This helps traffic problems, but in the near future a subway or monorail line is planned to help get workers from distressed areas to the jobs they need.

 

 

 'Court House sims love the nightlife.

 

The mayor has built a Convention Center and ballpark on Goshen Road just north of the end of Highway 55. An opera house ( not shown, may be in the downtown pic) also provides local sims with a bit of culture.

 

 

The western sections of the city are still fairly rural.

 

 There has been some residential and commercial development between Dias Creek Road ( E-W avenue) and Hand Ave. ( parallel road north of it), but for the most parts this section of the city is still farmland. A famer's market is on Dias Creek Road ( center) to provide an outlet for the city's produce.

 

 

County Court House

 

A look at Cape May Court House wouldn't be complete without the county court house. It stands on the west side of Main Street, one block north of the Township Hall at the corner of Main and Mechanic Streets .At the moment this is the only court in the region , and as a result all cases are tried here. A lot of county workers have an inexpensive lunch at the Arby's (grown, not plopped) across the street.

 

That's it for this installment. I'll be working next on the eastern sections of  Cape May Court House, which is all of the city east and north of the Route 9 - Dennisville Road intersection.As always, comments, suggestions, and requests for more detailed pics are welcome.  

[subedei 3]

Region looks good. I like the spaced out feel to it. Keep up the great work.

 

 

Subedei

[SODATWIN 7]

how can i obtain a copy of this terrain?

[andrew george 0]

Well, I feel an urge to hire a boat out, take it on Jenkins Sound and just chill.......

 

A

[Jetty Jockey 186]

Date:9/6/2004 3:36:59 PM
Author:SODATWIN

how can i obtain a copy of this terrain?

quote>

Hmmm, I'm not sure if its possible.  The last time I checked, the region folder was a little under 70 gigs, but that was with all the cities built on it. There may be a zipped copy around somewhere with the region unbuilt, but I think even that one is 22 GB. Does SimTrop accept such hefty uploads ? Is it possible to reverse engineer it to obtain a more portable greyscale image?  22 Gigs is a pig of an upload at 28.8  . I'll have to look into finding a way to do this.

--> Andrew, better be careful not to stray out of the channels in Jenkins Sound.  Most of it is mighty shallow, and speaking from experience , it truly sucks having to push a boat off of a mud flat , or even worse, having to  wait six hours for the tide to come back in ! Still, there's some mighty fine fishin' and crabbin' to be had back in the sounds, if you can keep the mosquitos and greenhead flies from ruining the day.

[SODATWIN 7]

70 GIGS??!?!?!?!?!? good lord, how big is your hard drive??

i didn't even know SC4 could load regions that big

[ginchael 1]

Jetty Jocky, this is awesome.  Bunnies for you! 

 

 Nuff said.

[Jetty Jockey 186]

Date:9/7/2004 9:28:29 PM
Author:SODATWIN

70 GIGS??!?!?!?!?!? good lord, how big is your hard drive??

i didn't even know SC4 could load regions that big

quote>

ooops, I meant 70 MB. That'll teach me not to post after having a few drinks. Still, that's an 8+ hour upload.

[Jetty Jockey 186]

 

 

In my haste to complete things up north, I completly overlooked the year 50 update of the region's very first city, Rio Grande. Settle in and get comfortable, as this is a fairly lengthy update spanning both halves of the city over the past 35 years.

 

 

Rio Grande (east) , year 50

 

Located at the Junction of  US Highway 9 ( N-SW Avenue) and NJ 47 (Delsea Drive) , Rio Grande has boomed over the years. The city is thriving, turning an $1800/month tax profit while maintaining full city services.  Environmental issues still persist, notably pollution around the Rio Grande Industrial park ( top) and the avenue connection to industrial areas in Jarvis Sound. Educational systems are turning out well educated sims, but hi tech industry is having a tough time maintaining a foothold due to lack of desirable locations. The mayor may have to revert to an old strategy of going in and enforcing anti pollution laws with a bulldozer !

 

 

The main commercial area centers on the intersection of 9 and 47, and extends along both sides of route 47 to Garden State Parkway exit 4.  The condo boom has spread to the north side of  Delsea Drive . Neighbor deals are firmly in place. Rio Grande draws power from the South Cape Fusion plant in Villas , and sends its garbage to the Middle Township MUA via Whitesboro and Burleigh. Water is produced in city.

 

 

Road noise distresses apartments

 

The noise from increased bus traffic has made living along  US 9 unbearable. Once glittering condos have fallen into disrepair. Unwilling to have such an eyesore in the center of town, the mayor took swift action.

 

 

The mayor created a buffer of commercial zones along the avenue, and moved the residential zones further back from the highway. This required the destruction of five single family residences on the north side of Linden Lane, which was replaced by a high wealth condo. The mayor considers this a fair trade. 

 

 

Condos on the south side

 

Population growth around the intersection of Church Road and US 9 is raising concerns over traffic issues along Church Road, both here and in the western section of the city.  The trailer park south of Church Road has been recently converted to medium density commercial. Extension of the subways in the western half of city will provide easier access to the Cape May Seashore Lines rail station at Church Road.. Plans for extending the commercial zone south from Route are under consideration should these buildings suffer from traffic noise.

 

 

Rio Grande (west)

 

 

Weurker's Farm

 

Despite population growth on its borders , particularly along Seashore Road (right to bottom center road), this chunk of protected farmland has remained a pristine oasis in the heart of the city.

 

 

Seashore Road, looking south from Route 47

 

Commuters heading to the Church Road station of the Cape May Seashore Lines have created a traffic problem. As a solution, the mayor created the region's first subway line for Sims transferring to the rail line and also for commuters heading to jobs further north on Seashore Road.

 

 

 

Rio Grande Industrial Park and Route 47 commercial areas

 

Commercial areas on Route 47 are an extension of those in the eastern half of the city, as is the industrial areas north of it.  The industrial areas are serviced by the Bayshore Lines Railway. The subway line from residential areas south splits at Route 47, with one branch going east and west along the north side of Route 47 and another heading north then west to bring commuters to industrial jobs.

 

 

Cape May County Airport and Airport Industrial Park

 

Additional industry has been added south of the Cape May County Airport in the SW corner of the city.

 

 

Too much of a good thing prompts building of additional station

 

The success of the Bayshore Lines has caused the building of a new station north of the Fulling Mill Road - Shunpike Road intersection , just west of the existing station. The old station was drawing over capacity, causing no-job zots and abandonment issues in the northern half of the city. Commuters heading to jobs in the Villas or in eastern sections of Rio Grande take the bus to the station.  Ridership is now evenly distributed between both stations, each one handling about 1100 sims/day.

 

 

 

[Jetty Jockey 186]

 

 

Continuing north up the Route 9 corridor is the town of Whitesboro

 

 

Whitesboro in Middle Township , year 50

 

Most of the land to the west of the city is a National Wildlife Sanctuary, and closed to development. The city draws power from the South Cape Fusion Plant in Villas and sends its garbage to the Middle Township MUA via Burleigh. Water is produced in city. Opinion polls show fair to good ratings across the board.

 

 

The city is centered on US Highway 9, with most of the commercial development  along Route 9. Residential areas east of route 9 extend nearly to the Garden State Parkway, where an additional exit ( Parkway exit 5) has been added at Main Street.

 

 

Whitesboro commercial district ( looking east)

 

Originally planned as a low density city, I made the mistake of adding water and ended up with a community of mansions. As a result, I figured since land values were doing so well, I might as well increase the density. Population shot up to over 10K within a few years and the city's commerce centers on US 9 have boomed.  The Cape May Seahore Lines station on Main Street handles nearly 1100 sims/day.

 

 

Industrial Park south of the Route 9 - Indian Trail intersection

 

Improving the city's education has turned a once blighted industrial area into a model hi-tech showcase. Most  goods are shipped by rail to neighbor cities, avoiding unnecessary truck traffic on the city's already crowded roadways.  Unemployment , which was once a problem  in the area of the Garden Lake Trailer Park ( lower right) is still persisting, but now manageable. Hopefully, new development in Burleigh will solve that little problem..

[thinker 0]

wow that is impressive...

[Sabretooth78 808]

It's been a while since I last visited this CJ, and I really like what I see.  I think one of the things you do best here is breaking from a strict orthagonal grid, and many of your lots don't border each other, leaving room for lots of trees.  I think those two things alone make this look far more realistic than most regions you see.

 

If only SC4 was more diagonal-lot-friendly, and terraforming for water didn't mean you had to pothole your landscape...  Ahh what we would do to have surface water back!

 

Good job!

-Chris

[SkyTearer 10]

This region is so amazing because of all the diagional roads, don't see that anywhere else, but simcity should be more diagional friendly.

[MayorTim 16]

Yes, your use of diagonal roads reminds me alot of Paletexan's style. Very nice!

[ginchael 1]

Hmmm...where do YOU live in this region, Jetty_Jockey?

Great work as usual!

[Jetty Jockey 186]

Date:9/27/2004 9:39:52 PM
Author:ginchael

Hmmm...where do YOU live in this region, Jetty_Jockey?

Great work as usual!

quote>

and a closer look ....

My neighbor's gonna be ticked. I had to destroy her house to make room for the mayor's mansion. Just don't show up unannounced. The property is guarded by attack llamas !

Sargeantcm, Skytearer, and  Mayor Tim: On the subject of diagonals, it wasn't really planned that way, it's just that the coastline runs SW-NE and most of the roads paralell the coast, according to my Cape May County street map ( my primary reference).  I found it necessary to add short 3 tile streets initially, but I get rid of them once a large enough building pops up. The Sims and their artificial stupidty kept turning into the side streets, causing traffic problems in people's driveways!.

Spacing my lots and placing trees between them is an old habit carried over from SC2K. It helps on the air pollution, but increases commute distance (marginally), so I'm not sure if it really helps.

[SODATWIN 7]

Date: 9/8/2004 8:31:35 AM
Author: Jetty Jockey

Date:9/7/2004 9:28:29 PM

Author:SODATWIN


70 GIGS??!?!?!?!?!? good lord, how big is your hard drive??


i didn't even know SC4 could load regions that big

quote>

ooops, I meant 70 MB. That'll teach me not to post after having a few drinks. Still, that's an 8+ hour upload.

quote>

damn, folks still use 28.8 Modem?

invest in a broadband connection... you'lle wonder how you ever did without it...

[Editor7 0]

Date: 9/26/2004 10:26:28 PM
Author: Jetty Jockey

Continuing north up the 'Route 9 corridor' is the town of Whitesboro

quote>

I've been waiting for you to get to Whitesboro. My grandparents' house appears to have been turned into an empty lot

Originally planned as a low density city, I made the mistake of adding water and ended up with a community of mansions.

quote>

And I remember how big a deal it was when they got sidewalks. No, REALLY.

[Mikeaut1 261]

Wow, look at that barrier beach. I think I said it here once, but I stayed at the Ala Moanah hotel on Atlantic Avenue on the border of Wildwood and Wildwood Crest. It was fun to go to the piers and the beach there, I even saw dolpins. Anyhow, this city journal is great!

[Jetty Jockey 186]

Date:9/30/2004 5:58:03 AM
Author:Editor7

I've been waiting for you to get to Whitesboro. My grandparents' house appears to have been turned into an empty lot .

quote>

It took three tries to get Whitesboro off the ground. Lack of  jobs created all sorts of problems, but once I developed the neighbors, it really took off. Whitesboro is now one of the more prosperous cities in the region. Sorry about the grandparent's house. That's progress for ya !

And I remember how big a deal it was when they got sidewalks.  No, REALLY.

quote>

It's actually one of the few mainland cities with sidewalks. Us Erma hicks still have to park on the grass

 

[Jetty Jockey 186]

Introducing .....Mayville in Middle Township

 

 

The city of Mayville has been brought up to year 50. This completes the Route 9 corridor between Rio Grande and Cape May Court House .

 

 

Mayville has grown a bit too quickly for the mayor's liking, but so far the problems are manageable. The city draws power from the South Cape Fusion plant in Villas and sends its garbage to the neighboring Middle Township MUA. Water is produced in city and a surplus supplies the industrial park at the MIDDLE township MUA. Ratings are pretty good. The biggest improvement is in the environment rating.

 

 

 

An industrial area was added in the northern part of the city to help with unemployment issues in the southern parts of Cape May Court House. This really hurt the local environmental ratings. Despite excellent educational opportunities, hi tech industry was slow to develop due to pollution.  The mayor broke out the trusty mayoral bulldozer, and started removing polluters.

 

 

The city took a major financial hit when over half its industry was bulldozed, losing close to $700/month for nearly two years.  Tax incentives were given to hi tech industry and in no time the rubble had been replaced by shiny new techies. In addition, environmental improvements caused an increase in quality of neighboring businesses along Route 9. After about five years, the city was turning a bigger profit than ever!

 

 

Middle Township Community College and Marine Sciences Research Lab built on Shellbay Avenue.

 

Taking advantage of the Cape May Seashore Line's  freight capacity, additional industry has been zoned along the west side of the railway.

 

 

 

Dawn breaks over Mayville

 

 

Wildwood Country Club has expanded to become a golf resort

 

Located east of the Garden State Parkway, the Wildwood Country Club has upgraded its facilities to include a four star resort hotel. Besides Ponderlodge in Villas, this is the region's second country club. Additional golf courses planned include Cape May National ( Erma), Stone Harbor CC ( north of CMCH) , and the Avalon CC in Swainton.

 

 

A small marina has been added at the eastern end of Shellbay Avenue to provide boaters access to Jenkin's Sound.

 

A water taxi station is also under consideration for this area to provide transport options to Stone Harbor and othe barrier island communities.