20x20 Zoning in a New Region

[wilmer007 0]

I want to do 20x20 zoning in a new region but i'm having a hard time getting it to develop because it's obviously a new region. I want to do this type of zoning so that i can put down 16 Large Parks in the middle like in this screenshot.

I would like to do this for Industry and Commercial aswell and would like to do this layout for the whole map size hopefully without having to demolish later on or very little if any. Any help is gladly appreciated.

[TekindusT 3,809]

Unless you have a downloaded a growable lot measuring exactly the size you've zoned (20x4 in the upper and lower zones and 12x4 in the left and right zones), nothing will grow there. To get Maxis buildings to grow there, you should de-zone that block and zone smaller areas, 4x2, 4x3 and 4x4.

Anyways, I'd not recommend that zone sizes for a fresh city, as these bigger lots won't be occupied until you city growth stages are higher, and this takes some time.

[wilmer007 0]

I know they won't grow right away what i'm asking is how much do i have to do for this layout to actually grow.

[Magneto 316]

Actually the width isn't a problem. The game will automatically "split" the zones in smaller parcels and can merge again later.

Depth is the issue here. 4 tiles deep means most likely high density stuff, and I don't see that growing on a new region (unless you use mods).

You're obviously trying to reach high levels of population but I don't see it happening if you plan to repeat this layout everywhere on the map... Limit your lot size depth to 3 tiles for R and C, and maybe you can go higher in the center of your map when you've already reached high population and workforce.

If you want to make a CBD that has the size of a big tile (don't know if it's possible), you'll have to destroy and rebuild a lot, and you'll have to rely on your neighbors for desirability. It isn't just about lot size.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

If you want to save areas of that size, simply zone a farm at 20 x 20 for each one. Later on, you can de-zone the farms and put what you want in there when the city is at the stage you need.

[cogeo 960]

I would recommend against this, because:

- So many parks will turn your budget red. And so much park effect is not really needed.

- The parks are far away off the road and they will be attracting crime (police penetration is 3 tiles off the road).

- It's a waste of space.

- I guess you are aiming at developing 4x4 (stage-8 ) hirises there. Well, this won't work. Not only becasue the city is still small, but because of the simulator settings too: only up to 20% of the development can be stage-8, and another 29% stage-7.

Not to mention that there are no 4-tile deep lots at lower growth stages, which means that these zones will only develop during the latest city's/region's growth stages.

I would suggest starting with 3-tile deep zones, because of their versatility:

- Early on you will be getting 1x3 small house lots.

- Later on they will aggregate to form 2x3 tennements or condos or villas.

- And finally they will aggregate to 4x3 hirises,

Of course this requires a lot of "micromanagement" (marking/unmarking lots as historical. so you can control the formation of lots). But lets you develop your city in a controlled manner. Take a look at one of my cities:

For industyry, do not zone for "lots" (eg 4x4 or so), instead zone larger "blocks" (ie w/o those lot arrows) 4x5, 4x6, 5x6, 6x6 or so. The simulator will develop a main ("Anchor") industrial lot in each block, and attach several anchillary lots to it (called "Mech" and "Out", ie smokestacks, warehouses, yards and the like), together acting as an industrial "mega-lot".

I would sugggest that you install iLives Reader. Then open simcity_1.dat, and use the Navigator tool to see what buildings and lots (size and stage) are available.

Hope this helps.

  Edited August 26, 2012 by cogeo  

[wilmer007 0]

^ I like zoning 4x4 so this is why i wanted to do this layout. Whenever i did 4x4 lots i would leave some 4x4 lots for parks but in the 4x4 i could only place one 3x3 and then place 1x2 or 1x1 parks. I was just trying to put in a bunch of parks and zones together to save space so that roads don't take up too many tiles.

[cs7man16 0]

When you start your city you might want to make the depth three and the zoning medium density so that when you city and demand is ready for sky scrapers you can dezone and rezone to make thins work better for you.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

The important aspect here is to not be afraid of urban redevelopment. The bulldozer and the de-zoning tool (b and v keys) are the player's best friends. If you find yourself in a situation where things are not developing as you prefer, change the area, bit by bit. De-zoning make a smaller fuss than bulldozing.