Mario City's Growth in the 1980s
Thank you to everyone who has been commenting and participating in this City Journal! I have been really enjoying making it, and everyone's positive comments and suggestions keep me working at it.
TekindusT: This is a masterclass about urban renewal!
Thank you so much! I do some work in urban/transit policy development, and so I try and use what I know in my CJ. I really hope that I can maintain the standard.
Here are some teaser pics from what's ready to read just below!
Now, on with it!
Mario City
The story begins with the government of Balboa wishing to build a presidential retreat of sorts close to a major city but in a secluded area. Between 1978 and 1980, the Departments of the Interior and Defense collaborated in searching for a suitable site.
At the western edge of Mario City, such a place existed. A small mountain that geologists belive collapsed during an ancient earthquake before being weathered down over time had left a shallow basin that would prove easy to defend. It's location would allow the President to "get away" while not having to go too far.
Mario City quickly agreed to support the building of a Presidential complex, as the Mayor anticipated an influx of highly educated (and well paid) personnel to accompany the building of such a facility.
To access the valley, a pass was dug out of the hillside for a road to be built through.
What would become known as "Palace, East" was completed in 1984. The complex included a Presidential mansion (left) located next to advanced command facility, as well as the headquarters of the secret police (charged with counter-espionage, domestic protection, and Presidential protection). The complex was a tremendous success, allowing the President to be completely in touch with national security while on vacation.
Around this time, the Zamora University Clinic-- the first dedicated medical university in the Republic of Balboa--was built along Mario City's southern coast. The facility drew an influx of talent and wealth to the city. The surrounding neighborhood was doing so well, as the photo below shows. The new University did wonders for improving the area's stock.
The undeveloped shoreline also brought in an aquarium. An extension of East Port's University, the facility was designed to study the ocean's wildlife as well as an educational facility. Below are aerial photos of the facility's construction.
And the finished product, with adjacent parks and new developments.
Commercially, Mario City received another gift. Quellette Electronics built a new research facility (back) adjacent to it's new, flagship store in Mario City less than 1/8th of a mile from a freeway connection to East Port (7 minutes, with no traffic!). The beauty of all that East Port tax revenue flowing into Mario City!
Downtown was the Mayor's next target. At the beginning of the 1980s, downtown was a dull mix of light industrial, commercial services, and a scattering of office buildings. In other words, Mario City still felt just like any other confused suburb.
it was decided that a major entertainment venue was needed to revitalize downtown's core. The Facility has several attractions, including:
- Shopping
- Movies
- Gaming Arcades
- Bowling & Ice Skating
- Eating
Another angle of the Recreation Center. The placement of such a massive venue adjacent to a public transit hub and in the heart of downtown spurred the growth of numerous restaurants, clubs, and other such businesses. The net result was a massive increase in the quality of life, as Mario City could now boast the same types of venues usually reserved for the nation's largest cities.
The next stage was to build a Central Public Library. It was built less than a block away from the Recreation Center with the basic logic that it would be advantageous to build a learning facility in close proximity to the major hangout spot for youth. This move, plus the great, bold design of the building made the Central Public Library very popular.
The Central Public Library, from another angle as a "G" Adams Street RV glides by.
Enthralled by their success to advance Mario City, the city council moved to build a professional stadium in the heart of downtown. Though far too small at the time to support such an enterprise at the time (Mario City's population was only around 50,000), the location of the stadium adjacent to the transit depot allowed access to East Port's 260,000+ citizens and another 100,000 residents in the immediate area. While popular as a concert hall for the first 12 years of its existence, Mario City could not play host to professional baseball until the year 2000.
To further bolster the teams fan base, the Mario City Shots (short hand for "Hot Shots," after the small town's audacity to demand professional sports) the team was made into a public entity under the City's management (with a very independent board of directors to temper overzealous politicians' meddling in the team's affairs). Prices were kept low, and the public truly felt as it it was the city's team.
The location of the ballpark in relation to the rest of downtown.
A brand new overpass was built to easily move fans from the light rail terminal to the ballpark.
The last major city-sponsored development was the building of a brand new City Hall. Unlike most urban City halls built around the world at the end of the 20th century, Mario City opted to build a beautiful--decidedly un-modern--building. The building, along with the adjacent parks, helped maintain a small town feel in an increasingly large city.
New developments keep spouting out all over town as the economy--and city stature--grew.
Some brand new glass framed row houses along the lake's shore (left), and the four-star Disra Hotel (right).
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