Sandy Flats - a desert metropolis

[jasperdeman.nl 1]

Nice airport you got going there! I love the low-rise too!

How far will you be spreading for you go put in some real hi-rise?

[rewright 804]

jasperdeman.nl

Well the city/region has approx 275K which doesn't warrant too much in the way of highrise. If you look closely I probably have more than a typical city of this size would really have. Once I reach six or seven hundred thousand I expect to see more large buildings. By then the city should have spread out to tripple it's current area.

 

Thanks for the response.

[rewright 804]

Hey, my 300th post.

 

Anyway, this is the Western Desert Insurance Company. This building, though smaller at the time, held the offices of the Sandy Flats Railroad. It was subsequently bought up be the Union Pacific Railroad who used the building as their district office for a number of years. It sat idle for almost twelve years before being purchased by the Western Desert two years ago.

 

After extensive renovations and additions, it now employs 400 people. It was designed to hold as many as 900 employees, so Western should not have to go looking for space for some time to come.

[subedei 3]

Nice building. Is that a default one?

 

 

Subedei

[rewright 804]

subedei

No, it was on the Lex, Landmark, no jobs. But like you said it's kind of neat looking. I guess someone could mod it to have jobs. Later today I'll look up the name of it and post it.

[+Guest]

wow, that is some city!

[ChicAgo333 2]

this is an awesome city journal! ill be watching this

[rewright 804]

cranescraper99
     Thanks for the compliment. I hope it will continue to grow successfully. It's at the stage where it could grow quite quickly, given some more time from me.

ChicAgo333
     I haven't had much time to manage it the last week, so the updates have been kind of slim. I hope to have a little time this weekend. There are several projects I want to start; like extending the Mesa Expressway under the park and into the downtown district.

     Thanks for your interest.

[rewright 804]

As I mentioned previously, a lot of activity has been planned for the Cross Canyon area of Sterling City. It's proximity to downtown and the completion of the West Valley Freeway were the catalists for developers to invest in the area. As the photo below shows, homes, business and industry is popping up all over the valley, with more to come.

 

Row after row of housing has been constructed along new streets and avenues. Shopping centers are locating along the main highways to service the new residents.

 

This research complex is at the core of a cluster of biotech firms locating to the city.

 

Townhomes and condo's are popular with the young families moving to the area. Most have neighborhood social centers where couples and singles meet and friendships are made.

 

 

[packersfan 666]

I have 6x9 tile blocks, simulating Milwaukee, WI block sizes. The thing is I keep getting high wealth mansions and then the mansions become crumy medium or low wealth houses because the rich people commute is too long. Walk one block!! Bus stops every corner. I think I'm going to try your technique of alternating between 1x1 and 2x1 housing. Looks cool!

[rewright 804]

packersfan

I had similar problems. When I zoned for medium res I got all these highrise buildings in a small city which looked very out of place. The alternating 1x1, 1z2 layout is something I saw someone else do on the forums, but I can't remember who. Anyway, it seems to work well for low or medium density.

[andrew george 0]

This is very enjoyable rewright - a great region view and I love the suburban area of Southgate.

 

Keep it up!

 

A

[rewright 804]

andrew george

 

Thanks for the smile and thumbs-up. A Regional Mall is on the boards for the area. Keep an eye out.

 

[rewright 804]

I just wanted to give an update on the region, so here is an overview photo I've been busy with my new region (Alpine Valley) and another desert city, so I apologize for not keeping you Sandy Flat fans updated more often.

 

The city continues to grow south and eastward, especially around the airport.

[threeswept 12]

I really love this last shot (aerial view)...it's so very realistic, like you're flying overhead. Very nice!

[rewright 804]

threeswept:

Thanks for the kind words. I try for realism in my cities.

[dudyconstructor 40]

Woah nice job!! looks great, nice city too.

[rewright 804]

dudyconstructor:

Thanks. I would like to get the population up to a million. Time is always a problem.

[rewright 804]

Sterling City's financial district has seen several major highrises sprout up in the last year.

 

The international airport has reconfigured it's runways to improve safety and capacity. New lighting has also been installed in the commercial areas.

 

 

[rewright 804]

The establishment of the International Airport in the Enterprise district has caused rapid development in the southeastern suburbs, with new subdivisions, business parks and industries popping up.

 

This overview of the airport area shows a rough outline of the development plan.

 

 

Airports central location in the metro urban area.

 

 

[rewright 804]

Sterling City continues it's Eastward march as new residents pour into the valley. Jobs and affordable housing draw families from all over Sim Nation.

 

 

 

 

[dudyconstructor 40]

Woah looks nice! i liked your airport, very realistic

[SpartanBadger 4]

Wow that is beautiful, I love your region. Awesome job man, looks great!

 

EDIT: Oh and what water texture is that? Looks awesome!

[Casper3141 60]

I know your CJ has long been dead [ But could you please Enform me where you got that region? Did you make it? Or could you point me in the direction of its Downloadablity

[rewright 804]

Date: 2/24/2005 10:59:28 PM Author: Casper3141 I know your CJ has long been dead [ But could you please Enform me where you got that region? Did you make it? Or could you point me in the direction of its Downloadablity

quote>

 

It's the El Paso map on the stex.

 

I've taken some of the things learned here and using them in my Casa Grande region.

 

[crazyarchitect 7]

I love this region, too bad I never saw it before now, I just love desert regions, and it just looks awesome

Great Job

[Superchan 23]

are you ever going to update this, this looks so cool

[SC4 meister 7]

Man this looks sooo good, why did you stop?  Are you going to start updating again?

[palmgurl 1]

i like your yellow land it is pretty!! love it! more palmforest