Vancouver, BC - Not a Recreation

[nycsc4 5,250]

How is everyone!?

If you'd like to skip the reading and head for the pictures just scroll down to "The Update Starts Here!"

I have been working on Vancouver since about 2010. I started after seeing all the aerial shots of the City during the Winter Olympics. I thought it was so beautiful that I had to try and make something similar in Sim City. Well here we are almost three years later and not much about my Vancouver is similar to the real one. I quickly found that there isn't a lot of "Vancouver styled" custom content that I could put to use in my city. Add to that the diagonal nature of Downtown Vancouver's street grid and a full on recreation gets very difficult.

So I decided to change direction. The real Vancouver is built as a very "green" city with solid environmental and infrastructure investments geared towards making the city as livable as possible. So instead of a Vancouver recreation I have a city based on Vancouver planning and design principles. So like the real Vancouver, my Vancouver has strong public transportation, extensive cycling networks, outstanding parks and greenways, dense walkable development, and NO freeways; however, these systems and networks differ in many ways from the actual ones. Many of you, especially Vancouver residents, will notice these changes yourselves. For the rest of you, these changes will be detailed throughout this journal. One final difference you will notice is the architecture. A lot of Vancouver architecture is modern and contemporary. These types of buildings are generally more difficult to find on the STEX and other Sim City exchanges. So my Vancouver has more of a New York City and Chicago feel with modern and contemporary buildings sprinkled throughout the city.

The Update Starts Here!

The first update will cover TransLink's extensive transit system here in Vancouver. TransLink operates all of the city's streetcar and elevated rail lines (in place of the real SkyTrain), the city's large commuter rail network, SeaBuses (ferries) and it's extensive bus system. All of these systems are interconnected with not only each other but also the city's extensive bike and pedestrian greenway system. These systems make nearly all of Vancouver "car optional."

Intersection of the Main and Cordova Streetcar lines. Waterfront Station is on the Southeast corner of the intersection and houses TransLink's 5 Southbound commuter lines. Those lines include the West Coast Express and lines to Burnaby, Surrey, YVR Airport, and Point Grey.

Main Street LRT heading North towards Cordova. Dunsmuir Blvd. passes underneath Waterfront Station.

Waterfront LRT stop on Cordova line at Waterfront Station.

Heading West on the Cordova Street LRT towards the Central Business District. The American Embassy is the large building across Main Street from Waterfront Station.

Heading West on the Cordova LRT. Approaching Cordova/Oak LRT Transfer Station at Barclay Park.

This photo is an old transfer between the Hastings Avenue and Cambie Street streetcar lines. This transfer no longer exists as the Cambie streetcar line was removed after the construction of the Pacific Blvd. streetcar along the Northern side of the Stadium District. (EDIT: 12/30/2012)

Clark Drive LRT Line. Most of this line is elevated above streets. Then for its central portion it is "high lined" so it's double the height of the regular elevated line. This is leaving the First Avenue LRT Station, heading South.

First Avenue LRT Station on the Clark Drive Line. Located near Downtown Strathcona, the historical core of Vancouver.

Petticoat Lane, heading South. It is a short line, only 3 blocks long. It simply closes out the Strathcona Loop. Strathcona is the historical core of Vancouver, and was the city's "de-facto" Downtown until the City decided to move North in the early 20th Century to be near the Waterfront. Until recently most of it's LRT lines were elevated above streets. Today, aside from Clark Drive, all are streetcar based. The Loop is made up of the Clark Line as it's Eastern border. The 7th Ave./Broadway Line is the Southern border. The 4th Avenue Line is the Northern border. Finally, Petticoat Lane is it's Western border.

A little history: The name Petticoat Lane came into wide usage during the 1920's. Petticoat Lane refers to the section of Campbell Ave. between 4th and 7th Avenues. Back in the 1920's this was the prime shopping district of the City and was usually crowded with women doing their daily shopping. Due to the height of the buildings on Petticoat it can become quite windy on this particular section of the street. Back in those days a gust of wind could (and usually did) blow the ladies dresses up in the air for a peak at their petticoats. Hence Petticoat Lane! (While not from Vancouver, this story is TRUE and comes from Kansas City, MO).

Campbell Avenue itself runs from the Waterfront on the North to 7th Avenue on the South where it ends. Today the district still retains all of it's orginal buildings, many of them still department stores, despite the competition from higher-end stores in Downtown Vancouver. The entire historical downtown itself is still largely unchanged from those days. In fact it has grown larger. Most attribute this to the City deciding to preserve the Strathcona Streetcar Loop which retained (and increased) property values and kept the neighborhood very desireable. Many also cite the 3rd Avenue Greenway as a reason for the district's success too.

I hope you all enjoy what I have to show! Would love to hear your comments and suggestions!

No time for a comment? No worries, how about a little rep instead!?

This is a repost from my Journal in the City Journal "tab/section." I wasn't aware there were two sections.

Have a great one!

Jason

[Forthwall 1,118]

Interesting, I can't wait for more

[Charlie_Zane 963]

looks very nice! love the story you've made and all the different types of transportation

[packersfan 666]

Nice start. I like recreations, but I really hate recreations when they fall far short of their goal. Glad you decided to go a different course. Vancouver feel, but not EXACTLY Vancouver.

[Jack³ 291]

You blend the maxis and custom buildings very nicely. I would like to see more soon!

[bluemoose 223]

Wonderful start! The buildings blend nicely together in the downtown area; you make the maxis buildings look especially good. I hope to see more light rail!

[nycsc4 5,250]

Replies:

Mastof: Thank you very much!

City_Master: Thank you for your comments!

pakersfan: Couldn't have said it better myself. Felt it would be better to have a little bit of everything.

jack3oh3: Thank you. I have always thought many of the Maxis buildings are beautiful but they have to be placed just right. Growing Maxis buildings just doesn't work.

bluemoose: Thank you for your comments, and yes, there will me MUCH more light rail and other transit pictures! Wait till you see the rest of Downtown.

Update 2:

PREVIEW: Downtown Eastside

I have been doing some significant work on parts of the Downtown Eastside so I am not ready to show the whole neighborhood yet. However I do have a teaser. This is a large mosaic of the Cordova Street LRT line. It's not your typical mosaic because I was follwing a particular street, so I guess you could call this a diagonal mosaic. Anyway here is the Cordova Street Line through the Downtown Eastside.

The posted picture is regulation size. To see an actual size picture click

HERE (Don't forget to zoom in!)

This is the Gramercy Blvd./Hastings Park Station on the Hastings LRT Line. I like to build custom transit plazas so riders have more room to wait around for trains. Most large stations have food carts, bike share, lock up, public phones, benches, and plenty of plesant green space!

This is a shot of the Southeastern half of Downtown Vancouver. Waterfront Station is particularly busy.

Ignore the pollution in this final image. This problem has been rectified and will be corrected once the simulation runs at a later date.

Thats it for now!

Please leave a comment if you have one! If you don't have time for a comment, Rep it up!

Enjoy!

Jason

  Edited December 30, 2012 by nycsc4  

[SimCoug 5,972]

Looks great so far. You might check some of your CC lots. Sometimes a poorly MODed lot can blow the pollution numbers sky high.

[Forthwall 1,118]

I like that mosaic

[Hellken 1,658]

Where did you get the traingle parks?

[nycsc4 5,250]

Where did you get the traingle parks?

How about a little please and thank you?

I honestly have no idea where I got them. Those are some of the many thousands of plugins I've had for 7+ years. I would just try searching the STEX or SC4Devotion LEX for "triangle parks." If I remember correctly that is their in-game name. So I'm sure a quick search would pull them up.

EDIT: OK, my curiosity got the best of me. I did a quick search and wasn't able to find the ones I have but did find They are the same size just look different.

Thanks for your comments everyone else!

New update coming soon, as I have just FINISHED college!! Got lots of time on my hands now!

Jason

  Edited May 11, 2012 by nycsc4  

[Equilibria 16]

So great to see you back here again (then again, I've probably missed like 5 of your CJs by this point). This looks great! I'm not sure that the commuter rail is the most outstanding element of Boston's urban form that I'd take, but the names are a nice touch.

[Hellken 1,658]

Where did you get the traingle parks?

How about a little please and thank you?

I honestly have no idea where I got them. Those are some of the many thousands of plugins I've had for 7+ years. I would just try searching the STEX or SC4Devotion LEX for "triangle parks." If I remember correctly that is their in-game name. So I'm sure a quick search would pull them up.

EDIT: OK, my curiosity got the best of me. I did a quick search and wasn't able to find the ones I have but did find They are the same size just look different.

Thanks for your comments everyone else!

New update coming soon, as I have just FINISHED college!! Got lots of time on my hands now!

Jason

Congratulations

[nycsc4 5,250]

So great to see you back here again (then again, I've probably missed like 5 of your CJs by this point). This looks great! I'm not sure that the commuter rail is the most outstanding element of Boston's urban form that I'd take, but the names are a nice touch.

It is great to see you again too. Glad to see your still sticking around. I think this is my 4th CJ (St. Cloud, United Cities of Chesterfield, and New Chesterfield Metro) lol. Haven't had one in several years. I know I don't have to worry about starting another one, I can't see myself abandoning Vancouver any time soon. Yes all I had was North and South Station for Boston, first thing that came to mind lol. Have any other suggestions from the Boston area? Always looking for new suggestions!

Hellken, thanks for the congrats! Hope I was able to help!

Expect an update soon!

Jason

[bluemoose 223]

The mosaic is stellar and the overview of downtown is fantastic!

I like how your realistically leave plaza space near transit stops.

[simlink 1,098]

Awesome mosaic, really nice looking city you have going there. I also like the logos you have in the first post.

[nycsc4 5,250]

Hello Everyone!

Sorry I have been away for so long. Been very busy lately!

If you'd like to skip to the pictures just scroll to the Update Starts Here!

Replies:

SimCoug: Thanks for the advice, I will have to check out some of my custom content.

Mastof: Thank you! Look for more in the future.

Hellken: Hope your enjoying those triangle parks.

Equilibria: Hope to see you again soon!

bluemoose: Thanks for your comments, wait till you see the rest of Downtown Vancouver.

sim_link: Thanks, and you can thank the City of Vancouver for those logos.

This update will be showcasing a growing "tech district" in the Strathcona neighborhood. The original idea stems from the CORTEX district in St. Louis, Missouri. CORTEX is a biotech/science and medical district popping up between the Washington University School of Medicine in the Central West End and St. Louis University in Midtown. In 2013 roughly $150 million will be poured into CORTEX and over the next 10 years roughly $1.2 billion will be poured into the BJC/Washington University Medical Center complex, the fifth largest in the World.

Vancouver's technology district is called Townley Technology Park and is anchored by Vancouver General Hospital. Vancouver General takes up six square blocks between First and Fourth Avenues. The other four square blocks in the district are modern offices and lab space, a new high school and elementary school, two new libraries, and a new hotel. The district is also a model for preservation as the city preserved 15 historic buildings, most of them tied in with Vancouver General. The districts daytime population is roughly 15,000 people.

The district is served by the Fourth Avenue streetcar and is within walking distance of the Strathcona Streetcar Loop. The Third Avenue Greenway runs through the middle of the district with a greenway connection North to First Avenue.

The Update Starts Here!

Here is an overview of the entire district. It's boundaries are outlined in the dashed green lines.

A close up of the two newest editions to Vancouver General. on the Left is Linda Swampy Medical Centre, on the right are three (counting the power plant) historical renovations and Vancouver General's Main Patient Tower. Both are connected to the 3rd Avenue Greenway and have transit amenities.

The back four blocks of the hospital. Also included in this are a Vancouver Fire Department Station and a VPD station. There is also a Starbucks in the center, part of another historical renovation.

The new libraries, office towers, and hotel (center).

Alice Townley Park. The two new schools are in the background along the greenway connection to First Avenue.

Linda Swampy Medical Centre. The newest most modern addition to Vancouver General Hospital. You'll notice I did some lot work.

Linda Swampy Emergency Entrance. Vancouver General Hospital actually has 4 emergency rooms. This however is the main one as it is at the intersection of two major routes.

Vancouver General Patient Tower 1. Another recent edition, facing Alice Townley Park. You'll notice once again I made some changes to the original lot.

Vancouver General Patient Tower 2, VPD, and VFD. Starbucks is in the top corner, and the older building behind the Patient Tower is one of the original clinic buildings, still in use today.

Another look at the Police and Fire stations. A better view of the original clinic building with an old Coke a Cola ad on the side. Patient Tower 2 is in the background.

One of the brand new doctors buildings on the Vancouver General Campus.

Patient Tower 3 (with the helipad) is on the right. One last standing house still exists between two new hospital office buildings. The new libraries and offices are off to the left.

An overview of the new office buildings, schools, libraries, and other developments.

Future developments will include a University of British Columbia (UBC) installation, more office buildings, possible hospital expansion, and on the extreme some possible high tech industry development.

That concludes this update! I wanted to take more but got busy but figured I get something out there.

Please leave a comment or some rep!

Thanks for reading.

Jason

[Fox 1,444]

Awesome update.. Love the mix of Maxis and custom.

Some names could be as simple as Vancouver General Technology Park or Townley Technology Park.

[Charlie_Zane 963]

Amazing!

With that huge area of hospitals, every sim's health must be in great care!

[Eryx 17]

This looks awesome!

[Adjiebrotot 94]

i love the train station.. also the logo.. what application you use to make that (logo)?

[Schulmanator 5,787]

Great new pix. I like it.

[paulmc 391]

Nice pics, I love parks in the middle of the town !

[dabadon5 295]

Wow, now this is what i like to see. A nice,big, and dense city. There is a large variety of buildings. Looks very amazing

[pielover94 83]

Future developments will include a University of British Columbia (UBC) installation, more office buildings, possible hospital expansion, and on the extreme some possible high tech industry development.

That concludes this update! I wanted to take more but got busy

Figured I get something out there.

Please leave a comment or some rep!

Hope you enjoy it, would love to hear your ideas for future expansion, or any other random ideas you may have.

Thanks for reading.

Jason

Awesome, I can't wait to see your STL stuff, I like the u[date. (PS, I live in STL)

[SimCoug 5,972]

Great use of NAM fillers to break the grid.

[nycsc4 5,250]

Thanks for the comments everyone! I will be back with an update here soon. I am trying to get to the next page, I don't want to post a big update at the bottom of the page lol. I will have personal replies and answers to your questions in the next update. The next update will focus on some of the Downtown area. Probably what most of you have been waiting for. Get ready for some skyline shots!

Here is a preview!

  Edited July 3, 2012 by nycsc4  

[Fox 1,444]

The downtown area looks promising and there doesn't look as if there is any repetition at all .. from this teaser preview anyway.

Can't wait to see more of your City.

[simlink 1,098]

Nice teaser, like the marina and downtown district and how they mesh so nicely.

[Jimmy Buzaid 53]

What are the parks in the fifth and last picture. Great job!!!