The map center effect

Contributor/author(s): DC

If you want to get skyscraper buildings (or just really high land values), a good way is to plan your city so that your downtown/commercial center area is focused around the center of the map (also known as the city center effect). I have found that the center of the map is always where the highest land values are. Of course, you can make your downtown area away from the center, but you will probably have to spend much more money on YIMBY items such as parks, museums, etc. Another tip is to zone industrial on the very edges of the map, since its hardest to get high land values there anyway.

Here's a rough outline of land values in relation to the center of the map:

H=very high/astronomical
M=high/medium
L=medium/low

                 LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL 
                 LMMMMMMMMMMMMMML
                 LMMMMMMMMMMMMMML
                 LMMMMMMMMMMMMMML          
                 LMMMM HHHH MMMML
                 LMMMM HHHH MMMML
                 LMMMM HHHH MMMML
                 LMMMMMMMMMMMMMML
                 LMMMMMMMMMMMMMML
                 LMMMMMMMMMMMMMML
                 LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

See also
It pays to start your city away from the map centre
Land value specifics
Raise land value to Astronomical
Increasing land value: more than just trees
Land value: one possible truth
How to get towers early on
How to develop high-density buildings
Creating suburban sprawl