Efficient way to build a miniature-sized city (SC3)

Contributor/author(s): Shawn Westcott

You started a miniature city, you try to make it like all your other cities, but this is a miniature sized city, there isn't enough room to do that. What is a good way to build a miniature city, but not go overboard? That is what I will explain now.

ZONING & ROADS

First, make a small plus sign with roads. Put it in the middle of the city, or in a flat area. Then, zone two of the "squares" as residential, one as medium density, one as light density. Then, above the light residential, make that "square" light density industrial. Leave the last one unzoned, I'll explain later. ;-)

INFRASTRUCTURE

Place a Coal Power Plant in a corner far, far away from what you just did. Don't put power lines in just yet. Next, put Water Towers or Water Pumps about 10 blocks in the opposite direction of the light density residential area. If you are using Water Towers, put 6 of them in a triangle shape facing town. If you are using Water Pumps, put about 10 of them in a line next to the water source. Place pipes as shown below.

~  Water
X  Pumps
I  Town
*  Pipes

              I
              *
              *
              *
        XXXXXXXXXXX
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

POLICE, FIRE, HOSPITALS, AND SCHOOLS

Now, fill in the unzoned "square" with Police Stations, Fire Stations, Hospitals, and Schools. Place those as you like, only use one of each. Don't use colleges or anything like that. Only use what I specified.

MORE ROADS & ZONES

Finally, zone an area of land fills about 4 spaces away from the power plant, Make sure that it is 4 blocks long and 4 blocks wide. Connect roads as shown below.

X   Power Plant
L   Land Fill
R   Roads

X X X X   RR   L L L L
X X X X   RR   L L L L
X X X X   RR   L L L L
X X X X   RR   L L L L

Next, put the power lines from the plant to the edge of the town, only have it touch one block.

ONE LAST REMINDER

Note that there is no commercial zoning in this city, wait until the demand for commercial zones is high, then put commercial zones anywhere you want. And then you have a small city, do what you have to to keep your funds in the black and you will have a great, bustling city, take care.