Zoning a row of 1x2s

[mayorron 0]

Hi everyone. I must start by saying that it's good to be back playing SC4 again. I've been a member of Simtropolis (maybe not actively) since 2006. I just got a hold of a windows PC and my old SC4 Deluxe box and here I am.

I've forgotten how to do many things but here's a question: How can I zone a row of 1x2s along a street strip? (residential)

I used to know how to do this, for example holding down alt, or shift, or control. Because right now, instead of 1x2s, I get an automatic 2x2s and I have to zone 1x2s next to each other manually.

Help, anyone?

Thank you so much!

  Edited August 23, 2012 by mayorron  

[neowolf 71]

Shift + Drag

  Edited August 23, 2012 by neowolf  

[Wiecher 192]

Make a giant X*2 lot using ctrl along the street, and then de-zone 1 tile of that giant lot, that will automatically create a long strip of 1x2 lots.

[ArchangelMichael 51]

When you get the zone to the size you want, hold the Ctrl key before releasing the mouse button. This will create one big, contiguous parcel. Now de-zone a single-tile area and the whole zone will revert to single-tile parcels. You can also achieve this by plopping a park or transit station (or any other building) into the large parcel.

Sometimes the parcel sizes will change automatically based on the density selected or the type of network they touch, but I have not figured out the specific triggers. For example, when dragging a tract of medium-density commercial zoning that faces a road, I usually get single-tile parcels UNTIL the zoning tool touches an avenue intersected by the road. Then, the parcels all switch to two-by-two's. Nudge the zone tool one tile back in the direction from which I was dragging, and they all go back to single-tile parcels. With low-density, sometimes it does this, and sometimes it doesn't. Weird! So I just use the Ctrl-zone trick mentioned above when I want all single-tile parcels.

The same trick also allows you to zone industrial parcels of specific shapes and sizes. It can take a long time to cover a large area with individual 3x3 and 2x3 zones, but you avoid undeveloped tiles and boring filler lots that way. Additionally, you can prevent the act of zoning from causing shifts in terraforming by holding the Ctrl key while zoning.

If you're registered at SC4Devotion, you can get more detailed info about Precision Zoning.

[nofunk 1,933]

Sometimes the parcel sizes will change automatically based on the density selected or the type of network they touch, but I have not figured out the specific triggers. For example, when dragging a tract of medium-density commercial zoning that faces a road, I usually get single-tile parcels UNTIL the zoning tool touches an avenue intersected by the road. Then, the parcels all switch to two-by-two's. Nudge the zone tool one tile back in the direction from which I was dragging, and they all go back to single-tile parcels. With low-density, sometimes it does this, and sometimes it doesn't. Weird! So I just use the Ctrl-zone trick mentioned above when I want all single-tile parcels.

I think it might have more to do with the land values in the area you are zoning. I have noticed that when I zone in areas with lower land values the zoning will subdivide into 1x2's (or 1x3's), but when I zone in areas that I have previously developed, or areas with higher land values, the zoning will subdivide into 2x2's or even 3x3's. I think the game is trying to predict what will build there: in an area with lower land values the game expect lots of bungalows (low density) or small tenements (medium density), but where land values are higher, the game expects mansions or higher wealth apartment buildings, and subdivides the zoning accordingly.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

A neat problem, but the best answer might well be the make a big block then delete one.

[mayorron 0]

Thank you all! I will try all suggestions. I appreciate it.