Caspen 2: New Waverly Revisited

[wks2003x 0]

Outer Loop Construction Begins

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Residents of the booming hillside city of Oakridge are pleased that construction of I-615 started in Oakland County.  Many report that even the relatively small 40 mile stretch of highway is already helping the area.

 

 

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The first interchange of the new highway is the I-615/I-40 interchange.  This interchange lies where the old Oakland Expressway interchange used to be.  Since the construction of I-615, the Oakland Expressway extension is no more, but traffic is finally improving in Oakland County.

 

 

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Once complete, the Outer Loop will link all of Caspen's western exurban communities together and ease daily commutes.  It will also reduce some of the traffic volumes on the I-315 beltway.

 

 

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Exit 23

Mountain Pass Road

Oakridge

 

From the north, this is the first exit in Oakland County.  Sims commuting from Rockport County normally take this to commute to downtown Oakridge.

 

 

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Exit 28

Oakland County Municipal Airport

 

 

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Exit 30

Oakland Expressway East

Westwood

 

Exit 30 leads sims down the Oakland Expressway eastbound.  The Expressway bypasses Oakridge to the north and leads to Westwood.  The Expressway ends in the Colony Park area of Caspen.

 

 

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Exit 33

Oakland Expressway

Bypass to Marlon

 

When entering the city of Oakridge, Oakland Expressway lines the edges of I-615 and bypasses the I-40 interchange, giving sims a quick bypass to Marlon.

 

 

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Exit 35

I-40

Oakridge

Caspen

 

Exit 35 makes a 180 degree loop back to I-40 and then splits again, giving travelers the option of going east toward Caspen and Oakridge or west toward the northern fringes of Marlon.

 

 

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Exit 41

South Oakridge Parkway

 

 

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West Port Bridge

 

I-615 continues south, crosses the beautiful Caspen River, and enters the growing city of Marlon.

 

 

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Exit 51

Marlon

 

Exit 51 is the main exit in Marlon.  It is also the exit to New Waverly's biggest retail hub.  Waverly Square Mall, several shopping centers, and several luxury apartments surround the exit.

 

 

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Exit 57

Pembrook Road

 

This is I-615's last exit in Oakland County before continuing on its southeast track toward Benson.  Several subdivisions and smaller retail shops line this busy road.

 

 

As Oakridge celebrates the beginning of a better transportation network for the area, they are now looking forward to the next big thing in transit: an elevated rail line.  CTA is already planning its new West Line and it is working with Oakland County officials to make sure that new stops are placed where they are most needed.  The CTA bus system will also expand.  It currently only runs in Westwood, but CTA plans to put buses on the road in Oakridge very soon.

[wks2003x 0]

Whew!  I might manage to pop out another update before then end of the weekend, but if not, it may be a while before the next one.  I'm working on the first major update to Caspen's new website...more neighborhood profiles, updated maps, and new traffic cams are coming.  I'll let you all know when the website's update will come...look for that in about 2 or 3 weeks.  I'm glad you're all enjoying the city so far.  Later!

[oroen 0]

Exit guide!! You have made my day, my friend!!

Also, I hadn't commented on it the last time, but in the post from 2/20, in the last picture, there is a shot of the depressed I-15 with a Best Buy sign alongside, near an exit. Looks so real!

[juantrev 0]

As always, beautiful update.  Can I see a region pic with the new bypass construction???

[juantrev 0]

I just went to your Caspen website.  Beautiful.  I especially love the traffic cams!  Very creative.  When I have more time I will be searching the site extensively!  Thank you for taking away my eternal boredom!

[topcliff 1]

from one professional to the next, I LOVE THAT REGION!

[wks2003x 0]

 

...As requested, here's a region view.  I probably made things a bit confusing by not explaining where the the construction was.  Sorry about that.

 

[wks2003x 0]

http://img141.exs.cx/img141/8478/rockport12ca.jpg align=baseline>

When I-615 extended north into Rockport County, developers lined up to acquire land surrounding the highway.  Rozier Homes, famous for building Highpoint North and The Cottages at North Arden, jumped at the chance to develop south and central Rockport County.  The new area was named Mountain Ridge, because of its location in the scenic Merril Mountains of northwest New Waverly.

 

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The spread of suburban Caspen was an inevitable fate for the clear and open lands around I-615.

 

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Mountain Ridge Estates, Phase One

 

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Mountain Ridge Estates entrance

 

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Community pool, tennis courts, park and pond.

 

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Phase One of Mountain Ridge Estates contains affordable family homes.  Phase two (currently in planning) will contain upscale estate homes.

 

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There are still a few lots left...but they are going fast!

 

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Mountain Ridge Center is Rozier Homes' first commercial development.  Set in the steep hills of the Merril Mountains, shops are set back from the road and they are elevated.  Stone accents throughout the shopping center emphasize the area's natural beauty.

 

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Exit 19

Mountain Pass Parkway

 

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Kohl's Department Store

 

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Lowe's Home Improvement Store

 

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Circuit City

 

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Chase Bank and Mountain Pass Parkway

 

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Toys R Us and Publix

 

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Wal-Mart

 

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Wal-Mart was smart enough to advertise to interstate travelers.

 

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Once a 2-lane road, Mountain Pass Parkway was widened in anticipation of the new shopping complex.

[Chris M 406]

I like you cities alot I cant believe you don't get more comments.

[jacqulina 162]

great cj

[jarcher 0]

Wow.  Amazing work on Mountain Ridge.  I could just see myself wanting to move there.

[wks2003x 0]

Greetings from Beautiful Rockport County

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With only a population of only just over 6,000 sims, Rockport County remains mostly untouched, but the beautiful Mountain Ridge community is quickly attracting sims looking to move to a getaway destination with all the conveniences of Caspen.

 

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Mountain Ridge Estates is now selling lots in phase 2.

 

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Mountain Ridge Estates has now earned the title as the fastest growing subdivision in New Waverly...with such success, Rozier Homes is now planning phase 3 as well as another entrance to the community.

 

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The new Mountain Ridge Elementary School

 

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The new Rockport High School

[oroen 0]

The way you plan out your subdivisions and retail areas is so much like how one might expect to see in real life. Really quite stunning!

[topcliff 1]

AWESOME! badababa, i'm loving it!

[the_crispbread_witch 0]

This is a really beautful Cj, and region. Love all the trees, looks soo great.

And the picture from Rockport County with the community pool, tennis court and pond - somebody got killed just next to the police station! Kids, stay away from the park at night!

Just one thing.... Do you really want some of the roads to be so steep? Maybe you don't mind that... But I wouldn't want to drive in your cities...

[dhoppeii 12]

Great Update.....Especially like the Wal-Mart sign on the side of the highway exit......Nice touch.

[wks2003x 0]

Hey all...I've been working hard.  Once again school keeps me away from Caspen during the week.  I don't know when the next update will be...it might be a while, but I'm working on expanding Discovery at Caspen, I'm also working more on Mountain Ridge...more light density retail and residential to come!

At some point I'll return back to the inner-city and work on it a little more.  I've been tinkering around in the suburbs too long...starting to miss downtown Caspen.

 

Oroen & Top Cliff:  As always...thanks for the support.  I noticed you guys have been following Caspen for quite a while and I certainly appreciate it.

 

the_crispbread_witch:  You might like Caspen's southern suburbs alot more...  They're pretty flat.  Take care until the next update!

[alexr15 2]

I LOVE the CJ!! [:0]

[wks2003x 0]

 Could 'Caspen 2: New Waverly Revisited' Become a Video City Journal?

Server space would certainly be an issue...and I'm not even sure if stuff like this will would fly well with the powers that be on Simtropolis.com (even if the videos are hosted elsewhere).  I've been playing with traffic cams on Caspen's site for a while so why not share the traffic cam love with all of you at Simtropolis.  So what do you guys think?  Is it a good idea (or even a realistic idea) to add video to Caspen's CJ?? 

[ar3man2005 0]

it look good to me....I like this Cj ^^

[Shadow Assassin 336]

Well, it's getting better, but, ugh, I definitely don't want to go shopping in that complex, the streets are simply too steep. Maybe the Slope Mod would help?

[topcliff 1]

i have a question. do you use plops to make it look nice or do you grow everything? if that's all grown, you are the Ultimate Master of SC4!

[wks2003x 0]

I use plops for a good bit of the commercial, but no residential plops (as they don't work).

[topcliff 1]

thank you for telling us. i bet a LOT of people thought those were grown, but i knew. i have a city just like that and i used all the com. plops i have. oh, nice job!

[alexr15 2]

I love this cj!! Oh and the camera's are cool!

[topcliff 1]

when's the next update? my friends who love this are DIEING for more!

[wks2003x 0]

Caspen 2: Mini-Update

Comments

alexr15 & ar3man2005: Thanks!  I appreciate the encouragement so much.

Shadow_Assassin: You weren't the only one that had problems with Mountain Ridge Center.  I am happy to report that a new Mountain Ridge Center has been built using the slope mod so the streets aren't so steep.  Thanks for the useful suggestion...you can scroll down for pics.

topcliff: As always, thanks so much.  It's nice to know that Caspen's cj has a 'regular.'   People like you keep this cj going.  I haven't been able to update as frequently because school is in full swing.  Good news though, spring break is next week so expect quite a few updates in the very near future...this cj's gonna be jumpin' in the next few days.

everyone else: I must say I am happy that Caspen 2 is getting a better response than the first Caspen.  I appreciate all the comments (especially the constructive ones)...you guys are what's making the cj better!

...and now here's a mini update to hold you over until the next one...

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The newly terraformed and reconstructed Mountain Ridge Center.  Toys R Us and Chase Bank are gone, but there's a new Ruby Tuesday.

 

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Mountain Pass Parkway and the shops surrounding it are placed atop more gradual slopes which make for easier driving and walking.

 

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After leaving Mountain Ridge Center, Mountain Pass Parkway narrows to a two-lane road and travels east toward the city of Bryton.

[juantrev 0]

I like the shopping complex more now.  Less slopes are a little more realistic.  Plus, I wouldn't want to walk up that slope in the first pick with Kohl's.  I wouldn't mind so much in the new one.

[jimbob10 0]

I really like your region view! Looks really realistic and realistic is good!

[MayorTim 16]

How did you do that diagonal bridge in that last pic? It looks like the mountain retaining wall thing, but how did you manage to get it to stand alone?