Ocean Point

[flanig407 0]

Can't wait for the update

[comdude21 6]

Just posting the table of contents....


flanig: Thanks.

[RadioheadFan 1]

Thanks for fulfilling my request. Personally, I think the table of contents looks a lot better when it's superimposed over the region, you should keep it that way.

RHF

[Shadow Assassin 336]

Well, it looks good, but it's a bit hard to read...

[comdude21 6]

RHF: Thanks. I plan on sticking with the region backgrouond for the Table of Contents, so if I make a new map I'll just post it in an update.

Shadow_Asassin: Thanks. I should probably use another color for the text next time, I didn't pay enough attention to that.

BAYSIDE TOWNSHIP HITS 40,000

Pinewood County's Third Largest Town Continues to Grow Quickly

It seems like the sprawl will never stop in the old town of Bayside.

This town was the third settled town in the county. It was settled in the mid to late 1600's, although it wasn't recognized as a separate area from Ocean Point until much later. Today, Bayside has almost no historic district, and there are very few references to the town's long history.

Development has gone upward in Bayside now that the entire township's land area has been developed. Several large commercial districts have been growing, and more and more apartment buildings are replacing older houses. Perhaps the biggest change to Bayside's landscape was the addition of the Baytown Regional Landfill, which handles large quantities of garbage from Ocean Point, East Bayville, Bay Cove and Seaside Point. The new army base, Baytown National Guard Base, has also sparked development, and aided the town's budget when it was failing some years ago. Now the town makes a larger profit due to all of its new residents and businesses, and most of these funds have been put towards a new museum and a new library.



Ocean Street in downtown Bayside is now only viewable from the street itself. Many medium sized commercial buildings, each several stories tall, has moved onto the street. Ocean Street is the East/West street that is covered with heavy commercial development.



Commercial and residential development has been heavy recently in Bayside. However, the commercial zones have seen the most growth of late. The northwest Bayside area, west of I-268 and downtown, has seen trememdous growth in recent times. This area has become almost a little town of itself. Since Bayside is a township, there are several smaller Towns within its boundaries. The northwest area is one of the newest towns in Bayside Township.



Near the southeastern corner of Bayside, and right along the Ocean Point border is another small town which has been developing. This area has some medium wealth commercial and residential buildings.



The relatively new Bayside Regional Landfill is the first regional landfill in Pinewood County. Plans are for other towns in the region to follow suit by building their own regional landfills. As was mentioned above, the Bayside landfill handles trash from Ocean Point, East Bayville, Bay Cove, Seaside Point and Bayside. It costs almost 5,000 simoleans per month to keep, and even with all of the garbage coming in from other towns, only makes about 1,800 simoleans per month, thus losing about 3,200 simoleans per month for Bayside. However, the landfill was necessary and is here to stay.



This neighborhood, east of I-268 between downtown and the northwest area, is a great example of classic suburban sprawl.

DOWNTOWN OCEANSIDE BY REQUEST

Here is the requested picture of downtown Oceanside. Sorry I forgot to include a downtown Oceanside picture in the Oceanside update.

[RadioheadFan 1]

Thanks much. Why not have a separate township as a landfill site? I know that they have a township like that in Nexis, and all the garbage from my hometown goes to another township. The budget problems could be long gone...

RHF

[comdude21 6]

Date: 3/11/2005 11:16:43 PM
Author: RadioheadFan
Thanks much. Why not have a separate township as a landfill site? I know that they have a township like that in Nexis, and all the garbage from my hometown goes to another township. The budget problems could be long gone...


RHF

quote>

The only problem with that is, I have no more empty maps in that area. All of the surrounding maps have been developed, so that's not a possibility. Thanks for the suggestion, though. When I extend the config.bmp southward, I'll have plenty of space to make room for better planning while still being in the Ocean Point Region.

[flanig407 0]

I like the suburban sprawl of Bayside.  That road layout is impressive!

[jacqulina 162]

very full and busy city

[comdude21 6]

flanig: Thanks. Glad you like the road layout, it's definately something I've been going for a lot of realism on.

jacqulina: Thanks for the compliments.

To All:

The next update should be a regional update. I plan to include satellite and transportation maps, as well as population figures and a map for the entire region.

[Mikeaut1 261]

Wow! I missed this city journal for 2 days and I missed like 4 updates! I just read all of them over... and I have to say its very good. I love your introduction to a page, and that region view is amazing. Btw, I read your response to filling in the spaces. It's a great idea to use trees; to like make your towns more shrubbery (if that appeals to you). Good job! This city journal rocks!

[Zagreus 0]

I like how the zones are placed on just rihgt, with major commercial on main high ways and throughways. I am not too fond of the way the raod networks in amny of the subrubs and in the industrial areas. They seem too randomn to be realistic and too irratic to be effecient; although it does not seem to have hampered developement. I would like to see more veiws from different angels from your larger, denser areas such as he downtown region on Ocean Point. The stadiums looks great right next to the ocean and close to the downtown area. Could we see more traffic maps and maybe some volume maps; I would like to see ho the flow of traffic is through the highways and avenues is. Great job so far, and I can't wait to see more updates!

[comdude21 6]

Mikeaut: Thanks for the compliments. I'll go into empty spaces and plant trees, which will take some time but should make the towns look a lot nicer.

Zagreus: Thanks for the compliments and the great input. Putting commercial zones on main roads/highways is definately a main priority for me. As for the road networks, it's a tough call. This region is inspired by the New Jersey Shore, as well as other places up and down the east coast of the U.S., such as Florida. I try to create what I see on maps of these areas in suburban and rural areas. Remember that this isn't an urban region, at least for the most part. Grid exists in small quantities in all of the shore towns, which are Ocean Point, East Point, Seaside Point, Oceanside and North Beach. Many coastal towns/cities on the east coast of the U.S. have a mixture of grid and random street layouts in residential areas. A broken grid pattern also works in some places. But if I am going to build less random road layouts, I'm going to need some help because this is pretty much what I'm used to. I can provide pictures from different angles if you want. As for traffic/volume maps, they're also possible, but I really don't get that much traffic. I think I'll post them anyways, to analyze the traffic on the random roads. Anyways, thanks for all the great input. It gives me plenty to think about, definately a good thing.

To All: I'm currently working on a major regional update which will involve a larger regional population map, as well as satellite and transportation views from the region.

[kingofsimcity 5,739]

Thats a beautiful region shot! I liked how ocean point doesn't include skyscraper forest!

 

BTW, have you thought of starting in Cedar Plains or Pinewood Flats?

[comdude21 6]

King: Thanks for the compliments. Actually the next area I will probably develop is Pinewood Flats, to connect the sprawl between Great Bend and Marshland. Cedar Flats will probably never see any development, though. You gotta have some barren places.

MAJOR REGIONAL UPDATE

The Region Continues to Grow as a Whole

Regional Population: 542,715

Not too many words in this update, just pictures. The region continues to grow, and the sprawl continues to spread outward. These regional pictures give a better idea of what the region's development is as of now.

Satellite Picture, southwestern part of region:



Satellite Picture, northeastern part of region:



Transportation map, southwestern part of region:



Transportation map, northeastern part of region:



Finally, here is a map of the region with the residential population of each populated town in the region. What do you think of this one? The map is larger than the other ones, but I can always change its size if its not right. I still have plenty of older maps saved just in case I mess up this one.



EDIT: Later today or tonight, I'll probably post another map but without the distorted looking signs. Hopefully, it will look better that way.

[oroen 0]

You're expanding out so nicely; these look like real aerial shots!!

[RadioheadFan 1]

I know, right? So, are you going to tell us whether or not the Pinewood area will ever get developed?

RHF

[Darmok 34]

HI comdude,

Very real looking city, very urban, I really like that you put a lot of diagonal roads. And the region shots are just awesome! [:0]

The feeling is right, and your cj is very well structured, great attention to details.

Keep it up!

P.S. I sure wouldn't want to work at the national guard base though... the smell must be murder... never saw such a massive landfill!

[comdude21 6]

oroen: Thanks. And I'm really glad you like the satellite views, getting the maps to match up with development and everything is really tough.

RHF: Thanks. Hmmm, the Pinewood area, yes. At this point I can only give you a maybe on that one. Can you feel the suspense? Hahaha. Joking. I'll reveal to you my plan. That area will be developed, but with a very rural-type sprawl, meaning widely spaced areas of treeless subdivisions, and no buildings above two or three stories. I don't plan on going all the way to the edge of the region, but instead the sprawl should spread to Pinewood.

Darmok: Thanks for the nice words. The diagonal roads are definately part of my plan to build a realistic road layout, so I'm really glad you like those. Your Anduin Valley CJ is one of my main sources of inspiration. So it's an honor to get a compliment from you. Sorry I haven't replied in it yet, I don't have much time to do anything except update my own CJ but I'll definately find the time to reply there. I'm trying to put details into my CJ more and more, but I don't think I could ever match the amount of detail you put in your CJ.

BTW, I'd definately have to agree with you on that National Guard Base. I don't think I would live or work within two miles of that landfill. But if the sims are willing to work there, then that's fine with me.

To All:

The next update will be a huge South Shores update. I've done some really great things with that town, and I'm getting it down to small details on this update. Believe it or not, it could be ready later tonight. So keep your eyes open.

[comdude21 6]

Sorry for not being able to post the update tonight. I've been busy and don't have much time to get the update here. However, I can provide a teaser of South Shores. It's an overview of the town. You may notice some changes:



The main update should be issued sometime tommorow morning, and will consist of eight additional pictures.

[comdude21 6]

This Town has Still got Room to Grow

South Shores has always been a nice town, but it was lacking something. It needed change in certain areas that just made it look bad.

The first thing that was done was getting new train stations. I downloaded the Passenger Rail Station ver. 1 by Don Miguel. It's a great train station, that looks like a real train station, and its architecture fits the region perfectly.

There will be pictures of the station later. For now, here's an overview of South Shores harbor:



The South Port area in South Shores is much nicer than it previously was. Many trees have been planted, thanks to the suggestion by Mikeaut1. Also, the new Beacon Point Lighthouse, also called South Shores Lighthouse, was constructed. A new park was built around it.



Here's a closer in view of the new lighthouse and Bayfront Park:



Northeast of the lighthouse at South Shores harbor, the new train station, a new rail configuration and some trees have made the area look much nicer.



The North Downtown District in South Shores is a nice residential area:



Here's the East Port of South Shores:



The new North Station and its surrounding area:



And finally, here's a wealthy neighborhood in South Shores, northwest of downtown.

[comdude21 6]

I've been playing the game a lot this morning, enough to make an interesting update here.

First though, I'm kind of suprised there were no comments in the 4-5 hours since the South Point update. That was a huge update, but whatever. I'm posting this one here because I have a good amount of time rigth now, and made an update that I think will be well liked. Here it is:

TORNADO HITS MARSHLAND

The Deadliest Tornado in History to Strike Pinewood County Levels Downtown Marshland

A devastating F-3 tornado with winds estimated at 180 MPH struck Marshland, flattening the town's downtown area and killing 306 sims. 848 additional sims were injured and taken to hospitals in Baytown, West Bay and Bay Cove because of the lack of a hospital in Marshland.

Marshland's populaton, which was only 5,317 before the tornado, mourned the great loss. Tens, if not hundreds of houses were completely leveled to the ground, as well as almost every business in downtown Marshland. The town's population dropped to less than 4,000, with its commercial sector only a memory.

This is what the tornado looked like when it entered Marshland from the west. It made a couple of small loops and nearly stalled over the western portion of town before heading northeast into downtown.



The tornado entered the western part of downtown and destroyed more buildings. Cars on Route 82 were picked up into the air and thrown down onto various places.



Debris was scattered all over downtown Marshland as the tornado began to exit the area. It soon crossed just south of the Route 82/19 intersection and caused a havoc there. It headed for a small residential neighborhood in the southeastern part of town.



EDIT: See the aftermath of the tornado in the next update.......

[Mikeaut1 261]

Great Job! Nice region shots!

[RadioheadFan 1]

Date: 3/13/2005 12:59:16 PM
Author: comdude21
I've been playing the game a lot this morning, enough to make an interesting update here.


First though, I'm kind of suprised there were no comments in the 4-5 hours since the South Point update. That was a huge update, but whatever. I'm posting this one here because I have a good amount of time right now, and made an update that I think will be well liked.

quote>

Sorry, I was busy sleeping! Or else I would have been the first to reply, and you know it! Great update, but I think the tornado will have some positive effects. Maybe this disaster will encourage the citizens of Marshland to allow more growth, and better protect the town from future disasters. Or, everybody could move somewhere else because they're lazy and too tired to rebuild the place. You never know...

RHF

[kingofsimcity 5,739]

DumDumDum! Seems like Marshland needs repairing! I'm going to try my disasters on downtown!

 

BTW, where do you live?

[comdude21 6]

Mikeaut: Thanks for the compliments.

RHF: Thanks. Don't worry, feel free to sleep. You're not the only one who enjoys sleeping a lot around here.
One of your theories is correct about Marshland's future. Although I cannot say right now what it is.....

King: Yes, you could say that. One thing though, I wouldn't reccomend putting a tornado through those NDEX skyscrapers. That might cost you your NDEX job....

To answer your question, I live in New Jersey. It's not at all urban where I live, it's actually more rural than not. Anyways, that's why this region is inspired so much by New Jersey.

To All:

The next update on the Marshland tornado should come later today, and will be a survey of all of the damage that has occured there.

[comdude21 6]

Here's the next update...in the series of three updates covering the Marshland tornado....

It all happened on the hot day of May 25. The temperature rose to 91 degrees (F), and thunderstorms moved in from the west during the evening. One powerful thunderstorm moved towards Marshland, and a funnel cloud could be seen coming out of it from sims driving by on I-68, which is a few miles or so west of Marshland. The funnel cloud touched down just east of I-68, and became a tornado. It moved through Marshland before dissipating just before it was about to move into Marshland Bay, and become a waterspout.

Tornadoes are very rare in Pinewood County, due to its proximity to the ocean. The ocean modifies the airmass and keeps tornadoes from forming in the area. Only about one tornado in every six years occurs in the county, and that's including the western interior sections of the county, which are away from the ocean and the bay.

This is a map of the estimated path of the Marshland tornado, superimposed onto a satellite picture after the tornado came through town. The damage can be seen from this height:



Here is a picture showing the flattened buildings in the western portion of Marshland. The tornado hit very hard here, as it almost stalled over this area for a long enough time to flatten the buildings in an area larger than the tornado's width. The tornado likely spun around and moved in different directions over this area before heading northeast into downtown Marshland.



This picture shows the incredible damage in downtown Marshland. This once thriving area was completely demolished by the tornado, leaving dangerous debris along Route 82. The question that now remains is whether or not this area will be a thriving commercial sector sometime in the future again. Since the likelihood of another tornado is extremely small, chances are this part of town will be rebuilt to at least something resembling its past glory.



The next process and last update on Marshland for a while will be on the rebuilding. What will happen in Marshland? Will the town decide not to rebuild the devastated areas in fear of another tornado, even if the chances of that happening are slim to none? Will Marshland thrive once again and experience a massive rebuilding effort? Or will the town fall into shambles and become nothing at all? I can feel the suspense already.

[RadioheadFan 1]

Wow, the whole commercial area really was destroyed...I think that that area will remain the commercial sector IF they choose to rebuild the town.

RHF

[Socorocks 7]

Wow... sorry about that disaster in Marshland - that blows.

_______________________________________________

 

Anyways... What I really wanted to post about...

 

Overall, I really like this region, especially on the regional scale. The transportation network is excellent and incluisive of every community, which is great. I also greatly respect your purist approach to the game - no cheats, no mods, however you have started using mods which is disappointing, but what can you do? Anyway, I like that you are industrially-minded and make sure that your cities and regions harbor business of all kinds. The city od Ocean Point is beautiful, and the downtown is both spectacular and realistic. However, I have a few comments for some of the outlying, less urban communities.

 

I understand that you are fond of suburban sprawl, and although I cannot fathom why you would be more inclined to this sort of development rather than an urban framework, I respect that you have chosen that path. I am really interested to know why you have not used any streets in any of your cities - it's all roads, avenues, and highways. If you think about, most suburban subdivisions - which abound in this region - have infrastructures that consist mainly of small, low-capacity surface streets rather than two-lane roads, and are bounded by four-laners not unlike the game's Avenue. I do think it would add to the realism that you strive for if you were to repave some of the roads on the interiors of subdivisions to streets.

 

Also, I know that you are not trying to achieve a grid pattern, but the block sizes vary so wildly and connectivity is so minimal that commute times have to be absoulutely horrendous. This seems to be the worst in Baytown (or is it Bayside? I can't remember) and Great Bend - for instance, the avenues are bounded on either side by a road and intersected at what seems to be every other tile by another road, forming blocks of only one tile in width and anywhere from three to ten tiles in length. I understand that the randomness of you road system is what contributes to the realism of the region, but I think that how the infrastructure has completely paved over most of the buildable land actually detracts from the realism of the area.

 

Thank you for tolerating this nearly endless post, and I hope that you can take some of these ideas into consideration. 

[comdude21 6]

RHF: You're on to something there. That is IF the town gets rebuilt..........you'll see what happens tommorow morning (Or afternoon, whenever I can get the update out). A little bit of suspense nerver hurts.

Socorocks: Thanks for all the great input! I do appreciate a good long post, any post for that matter. So before I discuss your suggestions, haha, I did make that tornado. I don't know if you knew that, but yeah, I wanted to get some weather into this CJ since it intrests me a lot, but I could have been cheap and just exited without saving. I didn't do that, of course.

The first thing I will address is that you said that I use mods. The only mod that is in use is PEG's Brigantine Water Mod. That's all, so sorry if there was a misunderstanding there. But the water mod does not, in any way, affect the gameplay. It just makes the water look more realistic. But sorry if I wasn't clear on that.

Thanks for the compliments on the region as a whole and on Ocean Point. I can say that I've done some work on Ocean Point recently, and it should look a lot better and more realistic come the next update.

Outlying areas, suburban and rural, are tough to create in SC4. Since I live in a place that is not even close to urban, more like rural, I should be better at making small towns. Yet, I have had one problem, and that is with the infamous No Job Zots. The main reason that I don't use streets is to keep commute times down. Many a city that I have made, especially in other, older regions that I have worked on, have fallen to No Job Zots. It's so tough to make a realistic looking region while paying attention to the commutes and abandonment in the meantime. That, and the fact that streets don't show up in the regional transportation view, which really bothers me. Although I should just download TJD's Edmonton Transportation Map Mod so the streets will be visible anyway, and for other reasons as well. So I will definately consider changing over to streets in some of the outer suburban areas. If the commute times go way up, then I won't be able to make the roads into streets, but we'll see.

Grids, I'm just not good with those. I like diagonal roads and avenues a lot, and I tend to make crazy looking grid patterns on the rare occasion that I make a grid layout. Immediate Downtown Ocean Point has a grid layout, but one that was carefully planned out, so it's pretty realistic there. I must say though, not having roads connect (For randomness and most of all, realism) has hurt commute times. It's something that I've started to work on fixing. As for those one tile wide blocks, I'm glad you noticed those. The problem is, that part of the road layout just isn't changeable at this point because of extensive development in those areas. Although I will see what I can do, and if possible, eliminate at least some of the odd-sized blocks.

So again, thanks for all of the great input, and I'll try to use as much of it as possible into the region.