Medium Density is not appearing

[GeneralEtrius 78]

I started a new region, on a large tile (large river, industrial on one side, residential/commerce on the other), and after filling the tile up with low density, I now wanted to upgrade. For some reason, the buildings aren't growing. My population is 21,000, I've got all the city services and water set up, yet it still isn't upgrading. This has never happened to me before!

[Cascadia 0]

have you rezoned the areas as medium density?

[GeneralEtrius 78]

Yes......

[Cascadia 0]

not sure what size large tile is but if its the biggest tile size or even the second biggest tile size 21k population isnt nearly enough to see higher density.

[.anonyman 28]

Well, demand and desirability are the two factors to look at. With a res. population of 21k, up to 32% of your buildings could potentially be medium-density (stage 4), if I'm reading the Prima Guide correctly. I usually upgrade to medium res. way before filling the tile and even before reaching 21k.

 

You should check that there is strong demand for the wealth level (developer type) for which you have jobs. And that the demand for those jobs will allow for growth, too. Then have a look at desirability and make sure that the area you want to rezone is bright green for wealthy residents. I would also double-check the water coverage, since that is very relevant here. Also, it's best to rezone smaller areas at a time, rather than blanketing the whole city with darker zones.

[Turjan 1,048]

Yup, look at demand cap busters, like water, neighbor connections, reward buildings, bus stations, etc..

 

Also, if you really filled the large tile, the simulation will get slow.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Jobs, jobs, jobs!  If you don't have higher level jobs available, don't expect higher level Sims.

[cogeo 960]

I start getting medium density at a much lower population. Around 3-4K.

 

The 1st thing you need is demand. The bar must be close to middle (upwards) to get medium density development, Otherwise smaller buildings will start growing at the undeveloped zones and demand will wane. The 2nd requirement is some fairly high desirability. The area must have education, health, police and preferably fire coverage. Medium density does not grow everywhere. Another basic requirement is water, Everything of medium-and-above density (no mater the wealth level) as well as everything high-wealth (no matter the density) requires water to grow.

 

So if you want to grow medium-density R for example, first make sure that R demand is up (otherwise create some more jobs), provide civic services and water, and zone for medium or high density. Development will occur at some point.

 

Parks (for R) and plazas (for C) also boost desirability. Along with the permanent effect, they also have a "transient" one (a sharp increase of desirability immediately after you plop them, that wanes in a couple of months) which you can use when demand is high. There is also a trick with planting trees, take a look and

 

Another important thing is the existence of properly sized zones. This requires knowledge of the building and lot sizes ans stages availbale in the game. Open simcity_1.dat in the reader and use the Navigator Tool to see the lists. Small tenements (some 35 R$ occupants), as well as larger ones (75 R$ or so) grow on 1x3 and 1x2 lots (accommodating the same buildings). The 1x3 ones are of lower growth stage (typically one stage lower) and are therefore easier to get. Large tenements (280 R$ or more) require a 2x3 lot, and often grow as an upgrade of two smaller ones (the game combines two 1x3 lot to form a 2x3 one). There are R$$ rowhouses (some 45+ R$$) which grow on 1x2 zones only. R$$ condos (150+ R$$) need 2x3 lots (also high-density 2x2 ones, but these are high-stage) but these require quite high R$$ demand to grow, so attempt to grow them after some sunstantial CO$$$ or CO$$ development takes place).