Caspen 2: New Waverly Revisited

[wks2003x 0]

Caspen, New Waverly 2
Welcome to Caspen's new city journal. In this journal, you'll find out more about Caspen's many cities, towns, and neighborhoods, as well as the latest news and happenings within the city. As always, I'd love comments and suggestions. It always helps to get advice from the other city builders. Once again, welcome to Caspen, New Waverly!

Caspen's beginnings can be traced back to the small industrial city of Milltown. As New Waverly fell into a depression and Milltown's industries began to dwindle, business owners knew that some type of business hub should be set up in case Milltown didn't survive. So a few brave entrepreneurs moved north and established a trading post named Caspen. Much to their surprise, Caspen continued to grow and grow until it became the sprawling metropolis that it is today. It is now the largest city and capital of New Waverly. Caspen will always be known as the city that brought economic prosperity back to New Waverly.

[ginchael 1]

Ah, Caspen. Hasn't been that long! I like downtown...can't wait for more.

[ChicAgo333 2]

that looks incredible, i cant wait for more

[wks2003x 0]

Ahh...all is not lost. I'm slowly building Caspen back up. In the weeks to come I'll be posting pics of different places throughout the city (county by county). In the mean time, Caspen's back online and you can track its growth at the usual website .

I'm still quite busy as a new semester has started. This marks the beginning of another 4 months of intense architecture studio sessions. It's exciting times but it also makes for slow updates. Hopefully I'll get the posts going in the next week...maybe they could follow a newspaper format?? What do you all think?

[J0nnD0ugh 31]

Lovely website. I particularly like the traffic cam. Nice touch.

[jasperdeman.nl 1]

Wow, you have a really nice city! Love the way you do the interchanges, I geuss you dislike the default clowerleaf aswel .

The downtown and midtowns are very nice, and the suburban sprawl is also nicely done. And ofcourse the traffic cams! Very cool!

Here, some duckies for you!

[wks2003x 0]

Welcome to Caspen Series, Part One: Downtown
In the next series of posts, you will get better acquainted with Caspen. I will showcase a neighborhood with pictures and descriptions. In the first installment, I'll be showing off the downtown area. For region maps and other specific things, see Caspen's complimentary website .


Downtown Caspen is where it all happens. It draws sims from the entire metro area. Major corporations are located here as well as the New Waverly capital.


The downtown skyline is quite beautiful at night.


the I-15/I-23 superhighway is New Waverly's widest at 12 lanes.


The Caspen Mall is the region's first mall...and it's underground


The Embassy Suites Hotel houses Caspen's most important visitors.


CTA (Caspen Transit Authority) has 4 main bus stations like this one across the downtown area.


This is New Waverly's government complex.


Olympic City will host Caspen's olympic games but it is still under construction.


Downtown's Main St. and Broadway have beautifully landscaped parks in the medians.


Newman Memorial Hospital is the largest hospital in the region.

Okay, well that's downtown Caspen. Hope ya like it. I'll be showing off Midtown in the next part of the series. And as always, I'm open to any suggestions, comments, and criticisms...Caspen could always be a better city. See ya next time!

[wks2003x 0]

Welcome to Caspen Series, Part Two: Midtown
Midtown has been booming lately...so much that it's forming its own distinct skyline. Unlike Downtown, Midtown lacks the character that its inhabitants would normally lend it. Midtown is strictly a business district and nothing else. Many sims work here, and a few live here...but there isn't much else to do in this serious neighborhood. Midtown is a workaholic's dream.


Midtown is located near the junction of I-15, I-23, and I-40...just southeast of Downtown Caspen and in the geographic center of Caspen County.


The junction of I-15, I-23, and I-40 is also known as Midtown Junction. Developers are considering turning this bland business district into an upscale arts center.


The Caspen 500 loop goes right through Midtown and causes daily traffic jams.


New Waverly DOT engineers are trying to come up with ways to help ease traffic flow in Midtown.


The new Midtown subway station is part of a series of projects to help workers commute to and from the congested area.


There are a lucky few that live in Midtown, but space is at a premium and so are the prices.

[Simbourgeois 139]

I like the fourth picture in the last update  Like in the real life traffic jams. Everyone going everywhere 

 

Simbourgeois

Mayor of Belleville

[wks2003x 0]

Special Post :: Carillon County
I'm interrupting the 'Welcome to Caspen' series to bring you a little piece of suburban Caspen. In the not-so-distant past, Carillon County was simply some fields and a river. Recently, the county has been experiencing a rapid influx of affluent sims looking to escape the city. Located about 45 miles from downtown Caspen, Carillon is far enough away for sims to escape the hustle and bustle of Caspen's business districts but it still close enough for a daily commute. Most of Carillon's sims commute to neighboring Arden County to work, but there are a few daring sims that commute across Arden County and into Caspen County.


The rapidly growing town of Carillon is located just off North Pointe Parkway about 45 miles north of Caspen.


The Carillon Commons shopping center was built to bring retail a little closer to Caspen's wealthiest sims.


Restaurants and stores are springing up along North Pointe Parkway.


Northgate Estates is an exclusive pool and tennis community. Its sims have the highest average income in all of New Waverly at about $130,000 simoleons.


Northgate West is the most expensive part of the community with massive sprawling estates.


Northgate East is more affordable (if such a word can be used) relative to Northgate West. The lots are slightly smaller for those sims that don't care about having a huge lawn.


Northgate Academy is the local private school serving the area.

[K_m_H 0]

Wow the region view looks awesome, just add some nice suburbs and you are on the way to a could-be masterpiece here

[wks2003x 0]

Caspen Tomorrow
For the first time in the city's history, Caspen County has reported a decrease in population. Many blame the decrease on Caspen's rapidly growing suburban counties. Others blame it on a lack of things to do in the city. In response to the decrease in population, the mayor is executing his Caspen Tomorrow program. Caspen Tomorrow is a revitalization program and its ultimate goal is to eventually completely rebuild all of inner-city Caspen. Not only does the program implement several beautification projects to clean up the city, but it also seeks to solve some of the traffic problems that plague the city.


Outside of downtown, particularly in mid to high density residential areas, the trees that border the highways will be torn down in favor of noise-reducing walls that will cut down on traffic noise for those sims that live near the highways. I-15 is the first to get the new walls.


Olympic City has been completely rebuilt from the ground up. It has been constructed away from the Caspen 500 loop instead of around it to cut down on traffic problems in that area. The new Olympic City is completely gated so that visiting sims and athletes can be secure during the events. A new seawall will run along the entire coastline of Caspen County and along the shores of the Caspen River.


Although you can't see it here, Downtown Caspen has been rebuilt and it's better than ever before. 3 of CTA's main bus stops have been upgraded to modern state-of-the-art Bus/Subway stations. Newman Memorial Hospital's campus has been enlarged and relandscaped. A completely new government complex has been constructed, and the southern portion of downtown just got a newer and larger high school.

So what's next on Caspen Tomorrow's agenda? Many things. The Bayside neighborhood is going to get a seaport soon. The riverwalk will be reconstructed, and a new theater and arts complex is in the works for Midtown. The University of New Waverly is having talks with city officials to negotiate yet another expansion of its massive campus. The mayor hopes these changes will influence some of Caspen's sims to stay in the city. He doesn't want Caspen to end up like so many other cities: booming suburbs with deteriorating downtowns. Hopefully Caspen will no longer be just a place to live and work, but also a place to play.

[Superstar 69]

WOW!!! Amazing CJ! I just fell in love with it and thats no joke! GREAT work man1

[wks2003x 0]

Caspen Tomorrow Update

Caspen Tomorrow's efforts have been paying off. There is more greenspace in the city and Caspen County's population is at an all time high of over 250,000 sims.


Downtown exploded with growth and land values skyrocketed. I-15 & I-23 now have noise reducing walls installed to the north of downtown and the residents are happy. New seawalls are still being constructed across the county and sims like being able to walk along Caspen's shores. The New Waverly government complex has been reconstructed and has boosted land values in the neighboring Brookwood area. CTA even opened its new North Rail Line. For the first time ever, sims can commute from North Pointe to the airport by train...a distance of over 50 miles.


Bayside is now being hit with heavy construction. With the new seaport, Caspen is on its way to becoming a major port city. The University of New Waverly is also planning its south campus expansion.

[wks2003x 0]

Welcome to Caspen Series, Part Three: Milltown
Milltown is where it all started. It is the oldest city in New Waverly and it served as the launchpad for metro Caspen's growth. Milltown started out as an industrial town full of dirty industries. After Caspen was established as a financial and business hub, its economic growth turned Milltown into a high-tech research and production area.


As many industrial companies grew into successful corporations, they sought offices closeby in Milltown. This resulted in the formation of a small business district known as downtown Milltown.


Many of Milltown's successful entrepreneurs settled in the nearby Waterford area.


This fort is the starting point of all of New Waverly. It is the oldest structure in the entire region.

Milltown's surrounding bedroom communities have a wide range of housing possibilities: from a small cottage to an elegant estate.

[wks2003x 0]

Caspen Tommorrow: A Better Transportation System
Here's something that calls for the help of all you awesome city-builders out there. One of the main goals of Caspen Tomorrow is to improve the transportation system. The current system consists of four highways: I-15 (NW to SE), I-23 (NE to SW), I-40 (E to W), and I-315 (the Beltway). There's also a subway system the runs through downtown's core and to midtown station and two elevated rail lines (shown in purple). Anyone got any ideas on how to make my suburban sims more willing to commute downtown? Feel free to alter this map to your heart's content. Do you think the highway layout needs improvement or is more mass transit the way to go?

[Superstar 69]

Once again, very awesome looking city! keep it up!

[texanpride786 2]

Nice, i love your highway network. And your downtown is awesome.

[wks2003x 0]

Thanks for all the awesome comments! I hope this CJ is better than my old one so far. As far as the transportation network goes, I'm glad you all like it...too bad you don't live in Caspen, haha. I'm thinking maybe I could add an east-west elevated rail line, but all that water would definately be a challenge. hmmmm....

[wks2003x 0]

Coming Soon : Waverly Square
Construction on Waverly Square begins as Metro Caspen Sprawls Westward
Darwood is currently king when it comes to shopping in the Caspen area, but that is all about to change when the extension of a well-traveled highway helps speed the construction of the largest mall to ever be constructed in the region.  The small town of Marlon has never seen anything like this before and many are sure that its days of a small town are officially over.
http://img200.exs.cx/img200/5731/oakland14tr.jpg align=baseline>
New Waverly DOT finally extended the Oakland Expressway beyond Oakridge.  The 8-lane extension takes a southward turn across I-40 and the Caspen River into the untouched territories of South Oakland County.

http://img200.exs.cx/img200/9462/oakland24te.jpg align=baseline>
Waverly Square will dethrone Darwood's Deventon Square District as the largest retail hub in all of New Waverly.

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The mall is the largest in the region with hundreds of stores, 2 massive parking decks and easy access to the Oakland Expressway extension.

http://img200.exs.cx/img200/4756/oakland46ix.jpg align=baseline>
In addition to this massive mall, there will be several stores, retaurants and car dealerships surrounding the area.  Developers are also planning several new communities in Marlon to attract sims looking for the elbow room that the city can't provide.  Many expect Marlon to grow at a faster rate than the current fastest growing city of Arden.  The town has the advantage of lower Oakland County taxes, a lower crime rate, and a better school system than Caspen.

[wks2003x 0]

Scenes from Across the Caspen Area
So I've noticed that all the shots have been zoomed in alot lately, and we all love a good scenic view, so here ya go...the latest scenes from across the area.


Downtown Caspen



Darwood - The Party City


North Pointe


Westwood


Banfield

As you can tell.  I always love the nightshots...maybe I should use them more often.

[Montu 0]

WOW! AMAZING! keep up the great work, this is a amazing city so far! I'm wondering where did you get that giantanic mall?

[wks2003x 0]

Thanks!  I'm starting to like Caspen so much, I'd live in it myself.  Now if only I knew where in the city I would live.

The huge mall is the  Lloyd Center and it was recently done by JT Portland.  He did an amazing job with this one (as with all of his work).

[wks2003x 0]

Grand Opening :: Waverly Square
Waverly Square is New Waverly's new shopping mecca.  Conveniently located just off the Oakland Expressway in Marlon and about 40 minutes from Downtown Caspen, Waverly Square is the shopper's dream.  The huge shopping complex has two main complexes: Waverly Square Mall (New Waverly's largest enclosed shopping mall) and The Shoppes at Waverly Square (a strip mall full of the newest big box and chain stores.)  To get to Waverly Square, just take I-40 west from the I-315 beltway and exit at the Oakland Expressway exit in Oakridge.  Head south on the expressway for 10 miles.  Waverly Square will be on your right as soon as you cross the Caspen River.


http://img146.exs.cx/img146/7582/marlon16pu.jpg align=baseline>
Marlon, New Waverly welcomes the new mega mall.


http://img146.exs.cx/img146/5885/marlon27iu.jpg align=baseline>
Usually retail follows the suburban sprawl.  In the case of Marlon, there will be LOTS of suburban sprawl to follow this retail hub.


http://img146.exs.cx/img146/2201/marlon32vp.jpg align=baseline>
Westgate Rd.
Even more stores, restaurants, and car dealerships are springing up to the west of the mall.


http://img146.exs.cx/img146/9140/marlon44mz.jpg align=baseline>
The mall has a perimeter road to help ease traffic in this congested area.


http://img146.exs.cx/img146/8499/marlon50ku.jpg align=baseline>
The Shoppes at Waverly Square
There's plenty of parking surrounding Waverly Square.


http://img146.exs.cx/img146/2760/marlon68hi.jpg align=baseline>
I-40 & Oakland Expressway Interchange
The new upgraded interchange allows easy access between the interstate and the expressway.  It also makes for easier commutes for those sims commuting from Marlon to Caspen.


http://img146.exs.cx/img146/5651/marlon77ma.jpg align=baseline>
The Oakland Expressway Extension is bringing more businesses and residents to Oakland County's booming county seat, Oakridge.

[+Guest]

a real breathtaking CJ!!

keep on going this work!!

and to give a tip; get rid off the one-way arrows, there's a MOD to fix that

[newyorkrunaway1 110]

How did you get the barrier between the one way ad the avenue? Thats great!
http://img200.exs.cx/img200/5731/oakland14tr.jpg align=baseline>

[wks2003x 0]

Hey everyone!  It's been great doing this CJ so far.  All the supportive comments are certainly appreciated.  So once again, thanks...all the other amazing CJ's out there have certainly influenced Caspen.  You guys have great ideas flowing.  Onto that last question from newyorkrunaway1: That's actually not a one-way road and an avenue, it's actually three avenues combined.  I just connected one-way roads to each end of the avenues.  I first layed out two avenues side by side.  I then layed down an elevated highway right through the middle of them, which breaks them up into just the two outer sides of the avenues.  I then destroyed the elevated highway and layed a complete avenue down in between the two original avenue sides...so what you get is sort of a extra-wide avenue.  I wish I could have posted pics to help, but there's not much time for that right now, haha...it's the middle of the work week (you know how it is ).  Anyways, I hope that helped.  If you're still confused about it, it's all explained clearly (and with pictures) in lakeboy's multi-highway guide .  Look for a new update or two this weekend.  Until then, happy city-building!

[newyorkrunaway1 110]

That is to cool, I have them in my city now. yeah yeah yeah!!!!!

[wks2003x 0]

http://img133.exs.cx/img133/6629/rockport12yg.jpg align=baseline>

Rozier Homes is happy to announce the grand opening of its first community in metro Caspen.  Located in the beautiful wooded area of east Rockport County, Highpoint North is surrounded by the scenic hills of the Merril Mountains.  While residents of Highpoint North can enjoy the quiet and peaceful environment of the Merril Mountains, the conveniences of the city are still only minutes away.

http://img133.exs.cx/img133/8084/rockport21iz.jpg align=baseline>

Highpoint North is only minutes from downtown Caspen.  From Downtown, just take I-15 north for 46 miles and exit at Hillridge Road in Rockport County.  Continue north on Hillridge Road for about 1 mile.  The Highpoint North entrance will be on your right.

http://img133.exs.cx/img133/2500/rockport39jb.jpg align=baseline>

Highpoint North is located in the growing town of Benton, New Waverly.  The community features a community center with pool and tennis courts as well as a wooded nature preservation with hiking trails.

http://img133.exs.cx/img133/9925/rockport41ht.jpg align=baseline>
The community center has a recreation area with a pool and tennis courts.

http://img133.exs.cx/img133/3662/rockport59xb.jpg align=baseline>
The fully furnished and decorated model home is open for those sims looking to buy.

    http://img133.exs.cx/img133/8428/rockport67vq.jpg align=baseline>
Highpoint North has something for every kind of sim.  Prices ranges from the low 200's for a townhouse to the high 400's for a small estate home.

http://img133.exs.cx/img133/8098/rockport73ly.jpg align=baseline>
The small cottages at Highpoint are a popular choice for families.  The cottages start in the mid 200's.

[screamomatic 14]

I have a small question: There's a picture up in an update that has snow covering the road and the rest of the hill/mountain. Do you remember where you got that?


On another note, nice city you got there