Difficulty getting High-tech industry to grow

[bbsmitz 21]

Hi Folks,

So I recently returned to SC4 after a multi-year absence.  Having fun getting back into it.  I'm running most of the Small/Mods fixes listed in Indiana Joe's thread.  So things like NAM, high-tech industry missing jobs fix, industry jobs doubler etc.

The issue I'm running into right now is that I'm having some difficulty getting my High Tech industrial zones to develop.  I have fairly robust demand for it, a lot of high density industrial zoned, and good transport links to it (both road and subway).  Desirability also shows very green. But it seems like unless I zone literally right next to the residential areas (and even then in some cases) it doesn't seem to want to develop.

Anyone have any ideas on why this might be?  I thought with NAM things like the commute time shouldn't be as much of a factor but could that be it?  Cheers for reading!

-bbsmitz

[rsc204 21,806]

I-HT needs a few things to develop, much like CO$$$, your city/region needs to be at a well-developed stage before the conditions will be right to kick start it.

The number one factor is education, once your average EQ hits about 150 you are good, but you have to sustain this too. If you have other cities in the region with less educated sims, those sims won’t work in I-HT, even if you have demand.

Secondly, I-HT likes to be in an environment that’s free from pollution (air and water), has a water supply and like many of the same things Res does. The latter may explain why zoning near residential works.

Try adding flower gardens and parks in the areas where you want I-HT. This will help to increase the desirability and value of the land, important for I-HT zones to successfully develop. There also ideally needs to be a ‘short’ freight route from industrial to a city connection. Otherwise use rail freight or a seaport to help here. Trees are another easy winner to make areas more desirable, so plant some around the zones too. All this should kick-start growth if you have demand. Likewise there should be fire/police coverage and other general amenities all help make an area more desirable. Particularly important for the pickier zoning types like R$$$, CO$$$ and I-HT. 

[PaPa-J 778]

7 hours ago, rsc204 said:

I-HT needs a few things to develop, much like CO$$$, your city/region needs to be at a well-developed stage before the conditions will be right to kick start it.

The number one factor is education, once your average EQ hits about 150 you are good, but you have to sustain this too. If you have other cities in the region with less educated sims, those sims won’t work in I-HT, even if you have demand.

Secondly, I-HT likes to be in an environment that’s free from pollution (air and water), has a water supply and like many of the same things Res does. The latter may explain why zoning near residential works.

Try adding flower gardens and parks in the areas where you want I-HT. This will help to increase the desirability and value of the land, important for I-HT zones to successfully develop. There also ideally needs to be a ‘short’ freight route from industrial to a city connection. Otherwise use rail freight or a seaport to help here. Trees are another easy winner to make areas more desirable, so plant some around the zones too. All this should kick-start growth if you have demand. Likewise there should be fire/police coverage and other general amenities all help make an area more desirable. Particularly important for the pickier zoning types like R$$$, CO$$$ and I-HT. 

These are some good tips to keep in mind.  Thanks!!

[bbsmitz 21]

Hey,

Thanks for the advice.  Adding a few parks/gardens really did wonders to help get the areas to develop.  Now to try to manage dilapidation...

Cheers,

-bbsmitz