Hi. "Newbie" Simoleman here.

Before I get to the first in my "city profile" series, some techie stuff. I've downloaded the transporation NAM, and it's great stuff. I like the roundabouts, even though whenever I'm in one in real life, my blood pressure goes up because I keep thinking someone's gonna slam into me. And I LOVE the left-turn lanes. Not only do they make things look more realistic, they work! My thanks to the geniuses who come up with this stuff and are able to add it to an existing game. Long live Sim 4-plus!

The next thing I'd like to learn (think Bill Murray in What About Bob. "Baby steps, baby steps...") is now to post screenshots w/out the toolbar stuff at the bottom, and how to make them appear as something other than "thumbnails," and how to insert written commentary to go with the shot. So... if someone would be so kind as to help a tech-impaired regional governor, I would give you the ceremonial keys to the city (28 cities now, actually) and name a thoroughfare or monument after you!

Oh, by the way, I love what I see and read on this site. I'm as interested in how a city functions for the people in it as I am in its design -- okay, more interested. Which is why I especially like the CJs that tell stories, most especially the somewhat realistic ones. (By the way, what happened to Bergerland? Military coup??) So I'll continue to read those CJs -- like Greekman's, for example. Amazin' stuff.

Okay, profile time....

GLAESER -- CENTRAL PARK CONCEPT, SORT OF

I named the city after Edward Glaeser, author of the book Triumph of the City. It's a great read, probalby especially enjoyable for anyone who plays Sim.

I wanted a Central Park area, but I also wanted to put public facilities in there because they serve the public more efficiently when centrally located. Then I zoned a ring of dense residential/commercial around that, a ring of medium density around that, and low density around that -- more or less. I worried traffic might be a problem, but it hasn't been. (An aside: I get a kick out of the traffic message that says "a chaos of cars." Hey, that's a normal commute here in Washington, DC.)

I also mitigated pollution effects by walling off industry behind lots of trees, while keeping it close enough to the city center to avoid horrible commute times.

The city is a smashing success, growing to 95,000 people in about 50 years, which for me is lightspeed. Hopefully, the "thumbmail" picture gives you an idea of what I was up to with the Central Park concept.

Enjoy, and feel free to comment.

Sincerely,

Simoleman

Regional Government of York