Eureka! --- Planning For The Future

[SHADD0W09 2]

nice CJ Love the city pics

one question to do you do those lovley dunes

 

ps sorry could se my first post

[Exhagaga 0]

Yes, the blog is a very nice and creative way to get newstories across. Just a coincidence, but my CJ, New Auckland, has just suffered a major stock market crash, and the wealthier residents are all emigrating to more prosperous nations.

I think the President of Canon would be very humbled by your use of him as mayor

Hey, I forgot! Welcome One Welcome All, to fabulous Page 5

[louisville327 0]

District Update: Downtown Expansion


As Eureka mayor Richard Hiro announced publicly just after the first economic refugees of The Crash Of 210 began arriving, new housing construction and infrastructure expansion projects were started across much of the city. In an effort to attract immigrants to the center of Eureka and later expand outward (saving undeveloped land and precious rural farms), the majority of the work was done in the Downtown district first.





The Downtown project had two major components: 1) The widening of Main Street running North-South through Downtown connecting the district to Reynolds Point (in the North) and Boonen (in the South); 2) Construction of middle-density, low-rise residential buildings including apartments, condominiums and co-ops. Mayor Hiro sought to concentrate growth well within city limits first as a way to boost tax revenues and preserve the existing urban limits. Sprawl was not a desired result.

When construction began, the district looked as such:





The expansion of Main Street from a two-lane road to a four-lane avenue began first. Unfortunately, many buildings stood in the way of the proposed widening of the road, and demolition was necessary.







First, industrial lots north of the Central Business District had to be removed.







Historic mansions and large low-rise buildings also stood in the way of expansion. Unfortunately, they too fell victim to the wrecking balls.









Even mid-rise office buildings had to be emptied and demolished in order to facilitate the avenue project. The mayor regretted this (and also regretted the large compensation package offered to the building owners) but had no choice.







Also, further South, the expansion had to include a widening of the canal bridge, which at that point was not even large enough to facilitate existing traffic levels.







The entire project moved quickly, however, and the contractors (supplied with hundreds of new immigrant workers in need of employment) completed the job within the year. The new Main Street was now open for business---and new construction.

That new construction began just after the Main Street project got underway, and it too moved very quickly.

First, a new zoning plan was drawn up. Medium density buildings would replace long-standing low density single family homes and small businesses.










Before long, the transformation of the Downtown skyline had become significant.







The entire building project took just over 14 months to complete, begun in the Summer of Year 210 and finished in Autumn 211. In that time span, the population of Downtown nearly doubled, from just over 20 thousand residents to over 40,000 residents.

Naturally, there was significant resident opposition to the whirlwind of growth and immigration in the Downtown district, but instead of trying to describe the protests, petitions and near-riots that took place before and during construction, it's better to let the past stay in the past. All that is important to know is that things later calmed down as native Eurekans began to accept the new immigrants.

The explosion of growth in Downtown Eureka was just the beginning---eventually every district in the city would see similar changes in just a few short years. The boom had begun.

[ElBarto92 7]

Awesome update.. Can't wait to see more!

[MishaTennis 1]

Fabulous. I am watching this Cj alot. I want to see a lot of high density downtown!!! Also a suggestion, try to add more flora and more BAT's to add realism. But other than that, this looks like a big hit potential CJ.

[gofeedthebears 0]

Hey, just posting to let you know I've been following this one. I really like it. I noticed that most of your commercial zones are low-density strips along main roads, which is something I've always done since back in the SC2K days, probably because the only neighborhoods I've lived in are in and around NYC (I'm in college and I still don't know how to drive). I think popular belief these days is that suburban living is healthier because you're farther away from dirtier urban centers, but it's probably the opposite because I'm in pretty decent shape considering I never work out and rarely play sports, but I walk everywhere I go (and even riding the bus or taking the subway requires a signficant amount more walking than hopping in the car sitting in your driveway).

I still don't see any difference between New Urbanism and plain old traditional urbanism that is characteristic of most American cities and towns circa pre-1950s, aside from the fact that New Urbanism talk contains lots of propaganda and traditional American urbanism is merely the way thing were done back then.

[choco1 4]

I really like this CJ! It looks great, I like ho your city looks very realistic. And your presentation is very nice and different. I like how you show the construction and the development of parts of your cities, it adds a nice charm and realism to it all. And makes it seem real. Great Work.

[Kwakelaar 92]

Great step by step update, I am a bit surprised you did not do anything with the City Hall, I had expected somekind of a new square or something with the widening of Main Street.

[smirkazor 1]

it looks very nice so far, i like how you have done your updates, btw, what did you use for your effects on your pictures? as i need to do something to spice mine up a bit

[Sproxxx 0]

Great update! I'm so looking forward to more.

[louisville327 0]

The Knowledge You Seek...


Thanks as always to everyone who commented. The support and suggestions keep me anxious to make future updates!

As for specific suggestions and questions:

MishaTennis: Flora and BATs are all on their way. I'm still in the very early stages of developing Eureka, and so much more is in store for the future. Have patience!

gofeedthebears: In older urban areas, the main roads are the commercial centers and the smaller streets around them are used for housing. This is the case in most cities, so in an effort to be realistic, that's how I build in SimCity. Of course, it makes sense, putting commercial zones in a central location where residents can easily access them---both in real life and in SimCity. As for New Urbanism, this is probably the wrong journal to discuss it. I'll keep my comments on that subject reserved for other Simtropolis threads, if only to conserve space here. Thanks for your comment!

chocolatemax285: As a big fan of Green Depra, your compliments mean a lot. I'm glad you like what I'm doing here!

Kwakelaar: Who says I'm not going to do anything with City Hall? Why is it everyone assumes that since I didn't do something in one update, I'm never going to do it? Patience!

smirkazor: I would be completely lost without Photoshop. Every image, graphic and photo I post is usually at least somewhat improved/altered/augmented using Photoshop. It's an amazing program. If you want it, be warned that a fully licensed version is pretty expensive---that's all I say about that.


Now I'll get back to working on the next update...

[louisville327 0]

Eureka Mass Transit




I had just finished the lecture for my mid-afternoon urban planning seminar and was back in my office. Just trying to relax, I was innocently flirting with my pretty teaching assistant Melissa when there was a knock at my door.

Who is it? I asked. In walked none other than Richard Hiro, the mayor of Eureka. We'd met several times before, but never in such informal a setting, and never this personally---now he was in my office! Melissa excused herself and Mr. Hiro sat down.

Good to see you, friend, he said to me. If you have the time, I'd like to discuss an important topic with you.

Wow. Cool. Sure, Mr. Mayor, what can I do for you? Would you like some tea?

No thanks. Let's get right down to it, shall we? As you know, our great city is expanding faster than I can keep up with it. I'm trying to approve as much new construction as possible, but the number of new immigrants is almost out of control.

I said, I think you're doing a pretty good job. You've concentrated new development in existing urban areas, and sprawl has not been an issue. Your plan is well thought-out, if I do say so myself.

I appreciate it. Coming from such a legendary urban planner like yourself, that's quite a compliment.

He was of course referring to my much-written-about career with Park White And Jacobs Urban Design, a respected firm based in the small town of Norton. I worked on a number of urban planning projects with them, and made a name for myself. Now I'm a professor here at Eureka University, teaching the tricks of the trade, so to speak.

Mayor Hiro continued, We've increased the density of the central areas of Eureka, especially Downtown. As you know, more density means more people, and those people expect to be move around with ease. The simple fact is our transportation network---our small city streets---won't be able to handle the load for much longer.

I see. I just discussed this with my last class, actually. We were considering possible mass transit options.

So you already have an idea of what we can do, yes? asked the Mayor. I could sense the anxiety in his voice---he was worried about this.

I smiled and said, Of course, sir. I'm nothing if not a forward-thinker! I've actually come up with a basic plan that I feel would be appropriate for our specific geographical needs here in Eureka. As you know, the water table is particularly high on this little penninsula, and a subway system is not really possible at this point---not to mention outrageously expensive. What I propose is a rail system in the air instead.

An elevated system?

I showed him some drawings and notes I had prepared for my seminar lecture. The system would be centered Downtown of course, in a central station that would connect to all the major lines expanding outward. Several lines would be necessary, serving the different districts of the city.

I'm listening.

I continued...

----------------------------

Several weeks later, after the mayor and I cleared the proposal with the city council, construction began on Eureka's elevated rail system. Progress was amazingly fast, but Mayor Hiro had become a master of getting things done quickly---with so many new residents streaming into the city, there was no other choice.

First, a Downtown site for the central station was chosen, and the old industrial complex was demolished:








A local architect, David Seger, was chosen to design the actual rail station. Seger was a fan of concrete construction and Brutalist design---two things I'm don't really care for---and his finished station reflected that. Though I could do without the style, the city council and the mayor approved, and my influence was limited to the overall design, not the details. I had to bite my tongue.





It was an adequate station, though, and it served the purpose, so I got over my reservations fairly quickly. After the initial routes had been mapped out, the construction of the actual rail lines began.









There was open space to build the East-West Yellow Line, but the route of the Red Line south from the central station was a little more complicated. A path would have to be cleared, and once again Downtown would see wide-spread demolition.









Construction around the station itself was intense, with new low-rise buildings of medium density sprouting up quickly. Hundreds of new residents now occupied an area once-dominated by dirty industry.





Construction farther South along the route of newly-built Red Line rails was also intense, and many new buildings were already completed when stations were finally installed.





By August of Year 212, the elevated rail system was completed and functioning in Downtown Eureka, operated by the Eureka Transit Authority, or ETA for short.





The system was quickly expanded outward from Downtown, South to the district of Boonen and North to Reynolds Point, where I currently live and where my office on the campus of Eureka University is located. I can now take the train from campus to Mayor Hiro's office in city hall Downtown, where I've been spending an increasing amount of time. In fact, I've become a covert advisor of sorts---only because my University appointment doesn't allow for outside income (not that I need it anyway). The Mayor and I have also become good friends, and we share the same opinions on the future direction of Eureka as it expands.

As for the expansion of the rail system, that is well underway, with future routes already mapped out:





In just another year or two, almost all of the city of Eureka will be served by an efficient, cost-effective elevated rail system. Hopefully further population growth won't become a strain. If it does, I'm sure the mayor will again seek my help---I only hope I can keep coming up with good ideas!

[Sproxxx 0]

That's wicked!! What a great post. I'm hooked all the way.

[fogeybear 0]

hows it goin, just wanted to ask how you got that crane and building stuff in one of your pics, did u have to download it? where??...dave

[Kwakelaar 92]

Great and interesting update, and I guess rail and elevated rail will be connected in an later update?
Patience..., what patience? No patience, instant satisfaction is what I need.

[Jasoncw 11,949]

The construction site stuff is on the STEX somewhere, but I'm not sure what category it's under. You can try searching for construction or something like that, and if that doesn't work you'll have to manually search. Someone else here might know it's name though I'm really bad at remembering things names

I think it's funny that there had to be all of that demolition for an elevated rail, lol. Hopefully that will be fixed in SC5.

[Deathtoall 28]

I like your storyline about all the immigrants. Its really good. You have made a great downtown. Nice to see big use of the El-rail. Can't wait to see how the boom will affect the outer suburbs!

[jacqulina 162]

wow what updates awesome work i love the detail,the pics are amazing

[uzinna 0]

awesome workone of the best CJ's i've ever seen

[Lemmie 0]

Nice update on the elevated rail system. I'm jealous!

Awesome downtown, and I like the avenue expansion.

[louisville327 0]

Today's Hot Topic

[jasperdeman.nl 1]

Wow, looks like the Dude is back in town! Great to see him back, nice little story there!

I think mass transit is good, but wouldn't it be better to expand your (ground-)highway in to town, not directly through but in a circle around downtown. This makes it better for intercity travel. Or investing in some real railways for that matter...

 

But then again this is good (temporary) solution!

 

The competiting mayor-wannabee is a nice twist to the story as well...

 

Can't wait for future updates

[winonanick 0]

love this cj - I can't wait to see the development occur.

 

Tell me more about the central el station - capacity figs, etc...

 

thanks for the enjoyable read

 

 

[Sproxxx 0]

I don't like the sound of that Wendgram guy. Hiro better watch out for him. (I'm not a big fan of conservatives...being canadian and all)

Nice Update

[louisville327 0]

District Growth Profile: Boonen


Just South of Downtown Eureka along the elevated Red Line train route is the district of Boonen. Originally a small farm community on the banks of Eureka Bay, over the years the district grew into a relaxed suburban neighborhood home to several thousand Eurekans. However, with the recent immigration boom, Boonen has been transformed.





Boonen was once known as a quiet residential district dominated by beautiful traditional homes. The neighborhood streets were once quaint and quiet.







In just two short years, however, massive construction projects have produced some of the most distinctive row houses in the entire city of Eureka. The need for higher densities at affordable prices for home buyers resulted in multi-story houses with stoops and roof views---all oriented directly against the sidewalk. The row houses give Boonen a particularly urban feel.









In addition to architectural changes, Boonen has undergone a significant demographic transition. Once the home of middle-income Eurekans, the district is now heavily populated by wealthy and upwardly-mobile professionals. Many were displaced by construction in other districts. With Boonen's reputation for charm and the combination of its Bay view and beach resorts, Eurekans with disposable income have been drawn to relocate here in large numbers.

Politically, Boonen was long a liberal stronghold. Middle-income and working class residents in the district have traditionally voted for mayors like Richard Hiro, now up for re-election. Today, however, the influx of displaced native Eurekans and the concentration of wealth has transformed the district into a more conservative place, despite its new urban, cosmopolitan feel. Boonen could prove a major source of votes for opposition candidate Peter Wendgram. The election is just three months away.

[Jasoncw 11,949]

I like how the journal has realistic politics and city planning and stuff, yet still has the simplistic charm of sim city (how quickly things grow, how to build an avenue the old road dissapears, some bulldozers move around for a while and then the new avenue re-apears). I'm not sure if it's intentional but I like it.

[Fischbob 9]

I'm really enjoying this CJ. Wonderful pictures combined with an intriguing storyline keep me coming back for more. Great work.

[Kakaze 0]

Do you plop all those row houses or do they grow naturally? I've never been able to get them to grow like that before.

[Rabid Tangerine 0]

If you alternate 1x2 (1 wide, 2 tall) zones of medium and high denisty in a checkerboard pattern, you can (more or less) force the growth of rowhouses.

 

MDMDMDMDMDMD(ense)

MDMDMDMDMDMDM(edium)

RRRRRRRRRRRRRR(oad)

 

Great journal Louisville! Your Adventures was good, an excellent read, this is simply spectacular. The amount of work you're putting into this shows. And it shows big. Great job!

[Sproxxx 0]

I really like the District Growth Profile. Every one could have their own mini story if you wanted. Also it's interesting to see how one is affected by the other.