ITS IN YOUR HANDS! The real interactive CJ

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Date: 3/11/2005 6:06:21 PM Author: sshhaa

HI

I Just started following this CJ and it is really intresting I was wondering if their was going to be any more conflits in the city(Like in the beggining) Anyways i wil continue to follow this city journal. It is very uniqe. It is great.

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There could be more conflicts to come - but it's too soon to tell. You never know... I guess you'll just have to keep visiting this CJ to find out.

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Date: 3/12/2005 8:42:37 AM Author: Shadow_Assassin Okay, that's scary. I dunno what to vote for... Good one, nonetheless, but at least get rid of those dirt streets.

Well I will eventually get rid of those but if you read the CJ from the beginning, you'll see the city started as an agricultural community and a small industrial town, where neatly paved streets were not very likely to appear immediately...

 

EDIT: YAY, PAGE 9 !!

 

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Date: 3/12/2005 8:43:21 AM Author: dhoppeii Great Update.  I really like the way that the industrial area was layed out.  Do you plan to put any rail stations in for cargo?  I could see some of those roads becoming very clogged with truck traffic otherwise.

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Yes there will definitely be more (and bigger) stations as the industrial area fills in, don't worry...

 

PS: THANKS A LOT for posting a link to this CJ in your signature (a little PR is always appreciated !)

[RadioheadFan 1]

Hmmm...This is one of the coolest CJs out there. Whether by accident or if it was your intended objective, this CJ has attracted so many fans and lurkers that you should be mucho proud.

RHF

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ASSESSING THE SECOND LOCAL URABNIZATION PLAN

 

1. INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

The newly designed area for further industrial development is filling in very quickly. As a result, a more adequate transportation system was needed to relieve the crowded canals. Railway seemed the best option with bigger stations at strategic locations (in red) and supporting smaller stations (in blue).

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//AshbyQ64.JPG align=baseline>

 

 

2. NEW DEVELOPMENT ZONES

Still enjoy the same success (1). Their ideal location however made them particularly attractive to commercial offices and services (2), and the high value of the land in this area has somehow discouraged residential buildings to occupy some areas.

 

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//AshbyQ61.JPG align=baseline>

 

 

3. CONTROLLING DENSITY

In progress. The results so far are encouraging, although fewer buildings means a clear tendency to stimulate the development of bigger buildings, since the demand is not slowing down at all. (NOTE: To give a nicer touch to the ensemble I allowed myself to plop 3 buildings, circled in red in the picture)

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//AshbyQ63.JPG align=baseline>

 

 

4. ADDITIONAL NOTE:

You may have notice I have tried to vary angles and zoom levels to avoid monotony. This might throw some of you but I still think it looks better.

 

 

5. PROPOSALS FOR THE NEXT PLAN

5.1. Building a state-of-the-art university in conformity with Ashby Quays' regional leading role to accomodate and/or attract a quickly growing young population tired of having to migrate to study.

5.2. Develop synergy between all factors of growth for the city, by developing commercial and residential areas closer to the industrial zone. Limiting traffic issues is another expected benefit.

 

 

[DaMaster_architect 0]

wow. Those different angles of view give a nice look!

now the nightview

 

Your city looks beautiful!

[RadioheadFan 1]

I agree. AQ looks great, this CJ is awesome. And thanks for visiting Thistlewood, this CJ helped inspire me to make it, even though mine won't be as interactive as this one.

RHF

[Kaze Progressa 1]

A classic in the making. I'm almost tempted to try my own interactive CJ... but that would be stealing your idea.

Awesome.

 

Incidentally, it might be worth having some high/mid-rise R$/$$ near the university to represent student accommodation...

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POLL CLOSED!

A close call for a very long time. This was without a doubt the most thrilling poll so far

The final results are:

OPTION 1: 17%

OPTION 2: 28%

OPTION 3: 15%

OPTION 4: 38%

 

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Date: 3/12/2005 6:13:22 PM Author: Kaze Progressa

A classic in the making. I'm almost tempted to try my own interactive CJ... but that would be stealing your idea.

Awesome.

Incidentally, it might be worth having some high/mid-rise R$/$$ near the university to represent student accommodation...

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Student accomodation... That's a very good idea! It never occurred to me actually...

[Kaze Progressa 1]

It probably came to me because I'm almost certainly going to university later this year... but thanks for that

[DaMaster_architect 0]

yeah, student housing! poor buildings for poor students, lol

 

[RadioheadFan 1]

Not all students are poor...they must have to build luxury condos for the preppies that go to Harvard lol.

RHF

[sloppet 3]

weel what can i say... i'll say only that i couldn't do a better city...

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FANCY UNIVERSITY...

As the plan went, the next steps to develop the city included building a top-class university and defining new areas closer to the canal-based industries to solve commute issues and better synergy. But to keep things simpler, why not do both in the same area ??

The area chosen for this purpose is a rather flat, woody piece of land by the main canal.

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//AQ711.JPG align=baseline>

 

The construction did not go smoothly at all. Concerns were raised about the inevitable destruction of a significant portion of railways; others were opposed to the damage done to the beautiful forest that was all around.

A compromise was found: a significant proportion of the forest would be preserved around in within the university precincts. The railway map would be rebuilt bearing in mind that the traffic could not be slowed down too much, and that additional costs were to be kept as low as possible.

Other decisions included: the building of a magnificent and imposing bridge over the canal, linking the university (north) to newly designed development areas (south). Since the university had no prestigious reputation to thrive upon, it was clear that in order to be attractive many efforts (and much money) should be invested in making it a wonderful place to be.

After 3 years of intensive works, the results were indeed not too bad.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//Aq7U1.JPG align=baseline>

 

The gardens too were beautifully landscaped with paths to stroll, ponds to relax and all types of grounds to enjoy some exercise...

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//AQU2.JPG align=baseline>

 

And just as planned part of the forest was not only preserved but actually integrated within the grounds of the university.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//AQ7U3.JPG align=baseline>

 

Across the bridge started developing a thriving area, a posh area as a matter of fact where top-class shops and wealthy sims started to concentrate very quickly due to the beautiful surroundings and extremely convenient location.

Ashby Quays saw the first high-rise buildings concentrate along the canal while in other areas the most modern buildings mingled with traditionally chic shops.

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//AQ7C.JPG align=baseline>

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//AQ7C2.JPG align=baseline>

 

All for the best then ??

Well not really: two MAJOR problems had to be solved and were to be the goals for the next plan:

1. The extremely attractive area had the prices skyrocket, leaving no places for the students to live close to university. A solution has to be thought through.

2. The railway connection between the port and the canal indutrial areas has not been re-established yet (see picture) This is highly dangerous for the local economy, as canals and roads get overcrowded and might not be sufficient to accomodate all the traffic...

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//AQ7D.JPG align=baseline>

 

We'll soon see how that goes...

 

 

 

 

 

[RadioheadFan 1]

Hmmm...does this mean we're going to have a poll concerning student housing? That would be cool...

RHF

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NEW POLL !!!!! VOTE !

Remember the raised cities, heart and soul of Ashby Quays ? (see pic)... Well, as some raised the issue (no pun intended) we need to decide what to do with them now.

Again you have 4 options to choose from:

1. Don't touch them, don't do nothing!!! Make them historical and that's it.

2. Get rid of those, they're useless and they take up too much space! Destroy them altogether!!

3. No no no... you never know what's gonna happen now that the city is growing and successful it may attract evil enemies. Keep them, and add another, much bigger fortress in the middle of the bay to watch and protect the entire region!

4. Well, we don't need thousands of those but protecting the region is a neat idea. Get rid of those and replace them with a huge fortress in the middle of the bay!

Needless to say, your decision will have an impact on the future of the city and the whole region. Think, make up your mind and GO VOTE -> http://www.langlaufen.nl/poll1.htm

 

You have 48 hours, ie until 10AM EST (3PM GMT) on Wednesday 16th.

 

 

Additional notes:

-Those of you who don't know or can't remember why the raised cities are here in the first place, read the beginning of this CJ.

-Those of you who don't know any more where the island in the middle of the bay is, here is a reminder:

 

NOW GO VOTE!!! -> http://www.langlaufen.nl/poll1.htm

 

NB: Thanks (again) for DaMaster-architect who put the poll together this time too.

 

 

 

[DaMaster_architect 0]

voted option 1... I think we should keep the heart of the city, where all the history of the region is kept...

oooh! what a nice university! I wish I could study at that one

great update!

 

 

[dhoppeii 12]

Great Update.  I love the layout of the University.  Looks well though out.

 

BTW, I voted to destroy and build on the island.  The existing area could be used for better development.

[Superchan 23]

i would do number 3, and make sure you make the center island a welcome island also, with a statue to welcome people into the city, and a tourist attraction so people can arrive there and look at the city from the island.

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CHALLENGING RAILWAY (small update)

 

If you read the last update, you know developers were faced with a challenging problem: restablishing the railway connection between the industry on the canals and the port. THe whole problem was not to jeopardize the skyrocketing development opposite the newly built university, but then it would be unefficient to make the railway system much longer...

It took months and a lot of feasibility studies before civil engineers found a solution (and it took me a while to get this done, which is why this update is late...)

If you want to go on a straight line like the main canal (the shortest way), and can't build above the canal... you might as well dig deeper!! That's the final solution that was adopted: a very long tunnel running BENEATH the canal...

 

Here's the entrance when coming from the port...

 

 

... and the exit, where trains can flow directly into the core of the main industrial zone...

 

 

It took a while to build but the results are encouraging.

Tomorrow: housing thousands of students for a very low cost ! 

 

 

You roughly have one hour to vote about the future of the raised cities...

[Simguyuk 0]

Wow! That tunnel looks great, did you just create islands in the canal and lower them a bit in the middle?

[your_adress_here 11]

Very nice! And that tunnel looks awesome! Keep up the good work!

[dhoppeii 12]

Great Idea!  I may have to use that in one of my cities.

[RadioheadFan 1]

Wow, that tunnel is so cool! Did you raise the land, and then lower it again to create the underwater tunnel, or did you use the tunnel-digger lots? (developed by Marrast, I think)

RHF

[DaMaster_architect 0]

congrats! you proved you are an excelent tunnel digger!

The way you dug your tunnel beneath the canal, is really neat.

[simmax 0]

I love the canals. And the tunnel. And the university. And the polls. And just about everything!!! Great job!

[I-will-crush-u 1]

I voted option 2.

I agree with the concept: out with the old and in with the new.

 

That land can be better used for commercial development.

[I-will-crush-u 1]

ooops double post

[sloppet 3]

i would take #1