ITS IN YOUR HANDS! The real interactive CJ

[dhoppeii 12]

RHF - you would only have to use a terrain lowering tool to accomplish the tunnel since the canal set is only a lot on land that gives the illusion depth.

[flanig407 0]

I'd have voted option 1 if I wasn't too late.

[MrVegetable 2]

Option 1

 

This is a great region and cities! Wish I had some of your expertise!

[Kaze Progressa 1]

Can't wait for more. This can only get better, I feel. And it's already becoming a classic.

[x2230062 0]

CLOSED POLL

Sorry to be late for the update, I was sick these past few days

Anyway the results of the latest poll concerning the raised cities are:

 

1. Make them historical with no further addition 36%

2. Destroy them altogether 10%

3. Keep them and add a larger fortress on the nearby island 40%

4. Replace them with a larger fortress on the nearby island 12%

 

I'm glad to know there's a lot of work for me coming ahead ! lol  Those citadels take a while to build but I personnally think they can look nice

Oh and of course I would have done it without a hesitation if the poll had turned out that way, but I am happy I don't have to demolish those I have already built !

 

THANKS TO ALL OF YOU WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS POLL

 

[x2230062 0]

THE HIVE AND THE SOUTHEAST (small update)

Many solutions were possible to accomodate students coming to the new university; building a few big buildings, or many small buildings, concentrate them in one area or scatter them across the city. The question was put to deliberation by the council who made the call based on the following arguments:

- Providing a high standard of living is important to reinforce the university's attractivity.

- There is no shortage of land close to the university, especially to the north.

- Building high-rise buildings is risky when it comes to maintenance and involves a much higher investment.

Accordingly, the City decided to try and build a model of student housing, through:

- Committing to integrate the community with the natural surroundings and see that there be no shortage of greenery

- Opting for small 3-storey buildings each housing no more than 15 students in individual rooms

- Providing basic commercial services to make the community fully autonomous

The general layout and design was the responsibility of the chief urbanist who opted for an original idea although bearing in mind that circulation should be kept fluid. 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//AshbyQ91.JPG align=baseline>

 The project was highly successful. After two years spent completing the general works, and only three years of activity, more than 5,000 students were already living in the area which they came to nickname the Hive due to its uncommon layout. As room for growth is now very limited (27 units completed out of 32 possible), a possible extension is being discussed by the council. 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//AshbyQ92.JPG align=baseline>

 

 

Over the 5 years devoted to the new plan, the Hive was the main project to be conducted along with further development in the southernmost area of the city. As newcomers are flocking into the city it was highly necessary to open new spaces to build on.

The most outstanding project was of private initiative, through an opaquely administrated consortium of uncertain origins which acquired vast pieces of land. The bottom line was simple: build an ideal community close to all facilities and which layout would enable everyone to enjoy the surroundings.

Although not completed entirely, the area seems headed for a massive success.

 

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//AshbyQ93.JPG align=baseline>

 

The design of the buildings and their square-like layout makes it possible for everyone to enjoy the greenery nearby and the buildings are far enough from each other to avoid congestion or issues faced by overcrowded districts.

 

This project combined with the ongoing developments led to a surge of the population in the southern districts, while the Hive paved the way to further developments up north... As a consequence the main goal for the next urbanization plan will be:

- Building a high-capacity bridge over the river to better link the core areas of development.

 

[x2230062 0]

Btw about the undergroud tunnel for the railway connection:

Indeed terraforming tools are important... Lowering/elevating terrain to build the tunnel was easy, but since the scope of the terraforming tools is too wide (even when pressing down the ctrl key) a large portion of the canal had to be destroyed. That's when the hard work started, since canals can only be built on perfectly flat land: flattening out again the surrounding terrains without destroying the tunnel and without wasting too much space around it was the challenge...

Anyway if some of you are interested in doing this but find it difficult or don't understand how to do it, just PM me and I can post a short tutorial.

[Kaze Progressa 1]

Love the student housing. Having seen a (much smaller) student housing block in Southampton (mostly four-storey modern flats) I can say that the Hive is a pretty realistic idea for student housing. Can't wait for more updates.

[x2230062 0]

Date: 3/19/2005 10:56:23 AM Author: Kaze Progressa Love the student housing. Having seen a (much smaller) student housing block in Southampton (mostly four-storey modern flats) I can say that the Hive is a pretty realistic idea for student housing. Can't wait for more updates.

quote>

Thank you!!

Yes I think it is not unrealistic... I have seen several campuses with only small buildings and lately the trend seems to prioritize those over massive but unconvenient buildings...

[Lyhoko Leaci 770]

The hive looks good, very interesting layout for the streets.

For the under the canal tunnel, press shift and a number to make the area smaller (1 will be the smallest, 9 is about the same as the normal size), or use the hole digging lots on the STEX.

[x2230062 0]

Date: 3/19/2005 11:15:11 AM Author: Leech10 The hive looks good, very interesting layout for the streets. For the under the canal tunnel, press shift and a number to make the area smaller (1 will be the smallest, 9 is about the same as the normal size), or use the hole digging lots on the STEX.

quote>

Really?? That's good news, thanks a lot! I wish I had know about this trick before, it wouldn't have taken so much time ... I'll put it to good use next time!

[DaMaster_architect 0]

oh yeah, that's indeed a good way to customize slopes! I'm glad you know it now.

When I see the hive, I automaticly have to think about a lot of students living togehter even without reading the rest of the post. So you have really done an awesome job! congratulations!

 

poll closed, gathered 65 votes.

[RadioheadFan 1]

The Hive looks awesome! All the student residences near the college in my hometown look much like the apartments that make up the Hive. Great job!

RHF

[dhoppeii 12]

I too, really like the look and layout of the Hive

Couple of questions regarding it:  Did you plop all the apartment buildings? (I assume you did, but you never know).  If you didn't, did you mark them historical to retain them?

 

Great Update

[x2230062 0]

Date: 3/19/2005 1:59:54 PM Author: dhoppeii

I too, really like the look and layout of the 'Hive'

Couple of questions regarding it:  Did you plop all the apartment buildings? (I assume you did, but you never know).  If you didn't, did you mark them historical to retain them?

Great Update

No I usually don't plop anything (except what can't be grown of course!)   The apartment buildings all grew there and the fact that they're growable explain why there are still empty areas... I'm waiting for some more to pop up! Each unit is actually a 5x2 lot and there aren't many buildings growing on them so it's not so difficult to get  But I do make them historical once they're there indeed, just in case...

[x2230062 0]

NEW POLL OPEN

 

With a population close to 100,000 inh. Ashby Quays is facing many issues regarding traffic congestion, and even though a bigger bridge over the river is being built it is not expected to solve everything by itself.

The council is considering the addition of an efficient mass transit sytem to answer those issues. So far no consensus has been reached on what system should be adopted which is a general vote will be organized. The decision will be made according on what the future users wish for.

The four options are:

1. Subway

2. Monorail

3. Elevated rail

4. Ground rail

You can vote here : http://www.langlaufen.nl/poll1.htm

 

Bear in mind that this is the PRIMARY (MAIN)  system only, it will obviously not be the only one.

And I ruled out the highway because it is not likely that a highway would be running in the middle of the downtown (I am thinking of using it for a ring road linking Ashby Quays to the rest of the region)

 

Since there is already another poll hot in the oven you will only have 24 hrs. for this one. Deadline is 22.30 PM on sunday night (EST) or 4.30 AM monday morning (GMT)

 

GO VOTE! Thanks.

 

[kingofsimcity 5,740]

I voted Subway!

[RadioheadFan 1]

I voted subway as well. It may be expensive, but is the most convienent mass transit option.

RHF

[ThePeoplesPerson 3]

Yeah subway would be the best, although monorail was a close second for me, I'd rather have subway as the primary transit.

[UnrealScorpion 0]

The subway is the most convenient, but also most expensive. Perhaps we should go for primarily Elevated Rail instead, and use elevated rail/subway transitions when the Elevated rail would get in the way?

If you are just doing a quick lookthrough for the votes:

Elevated Rail is my final answer.

[jacqulina 162]

excellent cj

[sloppet 3]

cool...

really nice city

 

and maybe you should consider buliding 2 versions of one city for exapmle with #1 from the poll (which had for example 40%)

and #2 from the poll (30%) an later you could show us these different cities so we could see which is better ....

 

 

oh and i voted : subway...

 

[DaMaster_architect 0]

I voted elevated rail, because my fresh experience with monorail is that they travel so fast that it takes for sims only 210 minutes to travel from one small city to another, despite the many busstops, parking places, and subways leading towards the monorail stations. And I didn't vote for subway, because the subway system looks plain ugly in my eyes when I look at it.

But I already saw what is going to win, lol

 

sorry x223, but I'm not going to go out of my bed at 4.30 AM 1+GMT, so I'll close the poll a few hours later. 7 AM 1+GMT is alright? (that is 1 AM EST)

 

And keep voting everyone!! www.langlaufen.nl/poll1.htm !!!

[I-will-crush-u 1]

Subway is best.

It doesnt take much land and there is almost an unlimmited amount of building space underground.

 

Above ground rails take up too much land and you have to demolish lots of buildings.  When you need to expand the rails, more buildings will have to go.

[Superchan 23]

subway would work way better, becuase it would not be an ugly line above the streets, and would only have to demolish buildings for subway stations.

[Lyhoko Leaci 770]

I voted subway because they don't take up any space (with the road top mass transit), with the others, you will have to destroy buildings.

[x2230062 0]

Date: 3/20/2005 8:04:23 AM Author: DaMaster_architect sorry x223, but I'm not going to go out of my bed at 4.30 AM 1+GMT, so I'll close the poll a few hours later. 7 AM 1+GMT is alright? (that is 1 AM EST)

quote>

Of course! Whenever you have time to, 24 hrs is only a basic time frame - I wouldn't expect you to wake up in the middle of the night! lol

 

To All : watch out for next poll / next update, both coming Monday...

[UnrealScorpion 0]

I got a suggestion. How about some estimated city budget figures, and estimated costs for each system? That would be neat since spending too much money (like say we spent to much on the subway) it may have helped the transportation woes a lot, but then maybe our city gets approved for a major league ballpark and gasp we can't afford it.

I did say earlier that it looks like Subway's gonna win, but I didn't realize the race was so close, could go to either really.

[Ducio 285]

I voted Ground Rail because you already have some established,  and a 100,000 city usualy can't afford/sustain a subway or El System.  But,  who knows, maybe this city will prove me wrong?

[DaMaster_architect 0]

Poll closed.

results:

Subway : 33% http://www.inc.com/poll/green.gif width=5 align=middle border=0> http://www.inc.com/poll/green.gif width=133 align=middle border=0> monorail : 11% http://www.inc.com/poll/red.gif width=5 align=middle border=0> http://www.inc.com/poll/red.gif width=45 align=middle border=0> elevated rail : 44% http://www.inc.com/poll/blue.gif width=5 align=middle border=0> http://www.inc.com/poll/blue.gif width=177 align=middle border=0> ground rail : 11% http://www.inc.com/poll/gold.gif width=5 align=middle border=0> http://www.inc.com/poll/gold.gif width=45 align=middle border=0>

and the winner is..... Elevated rail!

Next poll coming in 8 hours.