siqitornto

NEW UPDATE 12/02/2005 https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//bannerone.JPG align=baseline> Housing Woes Latest downtown development proposal has led to accusations of yuppie-centric planning; polarized opinions underscores deep discontent in the region's redhot housing market (Plymouth, WA-Nov.30) To any outsider, Patricia Warden, a 31-year-old editor working out of Plymouth's financial district, is in the enviable position of a downtown home-owner: her 800 sq. ft. downtown apartment in the popular Signal Hill district has appreciated by 55% in the past 7 years. https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//signalhillapartment.jpg align=baseline> Plus, Patricia admitted, she can find her own type here. Signal Hill's proximity to the nearby University of Plymouth campus means a large number of resident faculty members, students, and the city's intelligensia. I absolutely love the funky bookshops and cafes on my street; what's more, I can get to work on foot every morning in under 15 min. All this is about to change, however, with the coming birth of her twin babies. My husband and I have been looking for a house in the same area since June. Well... She shrugged resignedly. Patricia may very well become one of the nearly 1,000 families that left the downtown core in the past 2 years, evicted by prohibitively high housing costs. Throughout the region, housing starts for detached single family homes have plunged to a new low, while a record number of 67 apartment towers were either approved or under-construction in the downtown area last year. All this is symptomatic of the region's misguided housing and planning policies, says affordable housing activist, Neil Rusan. The Greater Plymouth Authority has obsessively striven to bring in what they deem to be attractive citizens: young professionals, empty nesters, and the so-called creative class, says Mr. Rusan, and not unexpectedly they have allowed developers to encroach upon our already-endangered stock of single family dwellings, especially in the downtown area. Case in point, he says, is the Signal Hill neighbourhood. Not only has the Authority connived the construction of multiple apartment towers in the past few years, they also overlooked the fact that many of the rowhouses are being converted into condos targeted at singles. The Authority's planning policies are driving out families that otherwise want to stay in downtown, he insists. https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//signalhill.jpg align=baseline> People like Patricia are feeling the pinch. We had our eyes on this one house just down the street from us. It would have been perfect; it even had a view of the bay and the bridge, says Patricia, but then we saw the price tag and we were just like 'this is impossible for entry-level buyers like us'. https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//signalhillhouse.jpg align=baseline> Even houses in North Cape City are getting outrageous. Any typical Cape Cod house we saw in Swansea costs at least 450 grand. https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//capecod.jpg align=baseline> In a recent City Council Q&A session, Neil Rusan has raised damning charges of yuppie-centric planning. The vital health of a city's downtown depends on having a stable population of middle class families, says Mr. Rusan, this is an obvious fact that our politicians have conveniently ignored. Many more have voiced their anger over the recent proposal to develop a piece of downtown parkland into a highrise office building and a luxury hotel/condo mixed use project. Clearly targeted at wealthy singles, the Ritz-Calton tower would become downtown's 3rd tallest structure, if approved. This clearly can't resolve the ridiculous downtown housing price, says Neil Rusan, if anything, this can only drive it up. https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//ritzbefore.jpg align=baseline> https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//newritztower.jpg align=baseline> A small group of outraged citizens have decided to hold protests outside their city councillors' homes, ahead of the wednesday city council hearing ahead of the https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//demonstrationagainst.jpg align=baseline> For now, however, people like Patricia can only prepare for their own suburban exdus. Stay tuned for the latest news on the controversial Ritz-Calton/756 South development, and other urban issues.

More comments please? Seems like people are barely looking at this CJ...

NEW UPDATE 11/30/2005 A Trip to North Cape City: https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//capecitylocation.jpg align=baseline> North Cape City lies across the strait from downtown Plymouth. In 1884, as it extended its streetcar tracks north of the strait through the Joseph Strauss rail bridge, the Plymouth Railways Company also purchased large tracts of land in this once isolated area. Thus began the systematic development of the city's first streetcar suburb. https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//capecityoverview.jpg align=baseline> Then company president H. H. Newman envisioned a prestigious residential neighbourhood with a strong English flavour. This lead to the development of Swansea Village, centred around Swansea High Street and James St. Swansea Village as a streetcar suburb was more or less a success. Successful businessmen and professional families of the time fled the crowded city centre and settled into the charming pastol coloured gingerbread houses around Swansea Cemetery and Swansea Park; most of these charming houses have been perfectly preserved. From Wikipedia: In a greater sense, the streetcar suburbs of the early 1900s worked well for a variety of reasons. While most cities grew in a piecemeal fashion, without any real plan for future development, streetcar suburbs were highly planned communities that were organized under single ownership and control. Indeed, they would often be the first such developments in their respective cities. Most lots in streetcar suburbs were quite small by post- World War II suburban standards, allowing for a compact and walkable neighborhood, as well as convenient access to public transport (the streetcar line). While some streetcar suburbs were planned with a grid plan , designers of these suburbs often modified the grid pattern to suit the site context with curvilinear streets. Additionally, many of these pre-automobile suburbs included alleys with a noticeable absence of front-yard driveways and garages. When the Greater Plymouth Authority rolled out plans to construct a light rail-subway network in 1980, local residents approved with an overwhelming majority. Funds were appropriated to move the dysfunctional streetcar tracks underground, and some higher density developments occurred around the subway stops. Residents can reach downtown in under 15 minutes. Also accessible through the subways is James Park and the popular Saturday flea market: https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//capecity3.jpg align=baseline> Cape City museum is located on one corner of Swansea Park. A small but interesting museum, it is entirely maintained by the wealthy local residents' association: https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//capecity2.jpg align=baseline> Swansea High St. is the main drag in North Cape City's historic core. The name quite appropriately suggests a certain English quaintness. Some stores on this street date back to the early 1900s. H. H. Newman himself reportedly took up residence on this street too. https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//capecity4.jpg align=baseline> Off the main street, Swansea Village reveals its true charm: gently curving streets, well aged homes, parkettes, and mature oaks: https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//capecity5.jpg align=baseline> https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//capecity6.jpg align=baseline> https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//capecity7.jpg align=baseline> https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//capecity8.jpg align=baseline> https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//capecity10.jpg align=baseline> Swansea Cemetery, a good place to jog, walk the dogs, and of course, house the dead: https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//capecity9.jpg align=baseline> Finally, some new development around the Rock Center Station: https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//capecity11.jpg align=baseline> Stay tuned, and do leave comments...

Greater Plymouth is Back!!! (for good) Welcome back to Greater Plymouth, a beautiful and cosmopolitan city in the Pacific Northwest. Greater Plymouth Metro consists of several major cities, often collectively called Plymouth Bay Area. A model of progressive urban planning and smart growth, these cities boast vibrant downtowns and thriving residential neighbourhoods well served by public transit. An updated regional view (click to enlarge) A dynamic economy is fuelling the latest population boom and has brought its own problems: yuppies are invading en masse, middle class families are fleeing for the suburbs, the poor are being priced out of downtown, greedy developers are knocking on the door. How will the city cope? We shall find out. Below are just some pics I fished out from before. Eye candies only. Real updates will come, albeit slowly (exams!!!!!!) A streetcar suburb: Other eye candies: https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//downtownintro%201.jpg align=baseline> https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//summerhill-1.jpg align=baseline>

Plymouth is Back... I haven't updated this CJ since August due to the onset of school work. Now that I'm ready to pick it up again, welcome back! Below is a brief introduction, for the benifit of new and returning visitors alike. [edit] here comes the anti-climatic bit: image uploading has been disabled. I can't put any images on this thread. Can anyone help?

moalkind - the lot you are referring to is large medical centre by APTX. Searching keyword medical on the STEX should bring you directly to it. By the way, I'd like to ask about NAM. I haven't installed it because 1) I already have the DarkMatter traffic mod (old). Will NAM screw up pathfinding? 2) It seems like there are many lots contained in NAM. Will it totally clutter up my transportation menu? Anyone out there who's in the know, please help!

MasterPlanMan, AddisonWesley, jacqulina, Traffic_Jam, mrbisonm, Slowhand, oroen, tco99 -- thanks for commenting! As you might have noticed the pace of new updates has slowed down quite a bit. I'm getting really busy in real life. But don't worry new updates will come, maybe as early as later on today [edit later on tomorrow, it now being 11:57]. stay tuned.

UPDATE 5 08/12/2003 University of Plymouth & Schools https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//uofpintro.jpg align=baseline> University of Plymouth is located in the heart of downtown occupying large tracts of coveted real estate. The old campus (now used by the faculty of arts and science) was built over a course of 12 years between 1874 and 1886. Strachey School of Medicine, seperately established in 1859, joined the UofP system in 1920. The Boltzmann School of Design followed suit in 1924. In 1934 University of Plymouth was incorporated into the State university system. A fairly good school by most accounts, UofP's real claim to fame is the Strachey School. Current research includes the regenerative efffect of gassified garlic. https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//uofp1.jpg align=baseline> The solemn-looking entrance to the old campus, Walker Court, has been frequently filmed in sappy campus dramas. Dawson's Creek almost chose this spot but fortunately didn't it. https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//uofp2.jpg align=baseline> Ahhh those engineers https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//uofp3.jpg align=baseline> Cutting edge research projects conducted at Strachey: Gassified garlic and regenerative medicine Fermented shoe sweat: solution to the world's food problem?

Hey all! Thanks for posting and persuading me against nixing this CJ. I came close to it because making the graphics took too long and there just wasn't enough interest to justify this sort of time commitment. Plus I'm moving into my first apartment soon and things are just getting hectic. Well I sort of realized then that making a highway-free, new urbanist city, while interesting to some, is not as 'cool' as CJs that feature massive, innovative highway networks. but I guess it's ok as long as a significant number of people do find my CJ a fresh alternative. And that seems to be case. So yep, this CJ lives. That said, I will try to live this thing up a bit. People are easily tired of this 'show-and-tell' approach so soon I'll hopefully introduce some interactivity into this. Stay tuned. And the update on the University is on schedule. Isaak Ylonen - glad I got you out of lurking mode. my CJ just is that attractive isn't it?

does anyone have a good copy of the CDK leveler? the file I got from STEX seems to be corrupted somehow.

Hey gosling2003 do you happen to be Copper on the cyburbian forum? I thought your sig avatar looked familiar.

an hour from the update, 5 new hits and 0 replies. that's encouraging

continuing from the last post... https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//downtown3.jpg align=baseline> https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//downtown4.jpg align=baseline> https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//downtown5.jpg align=baseline> Stay tuned for the next update on the University of Plymouth & Affiliated Institutions.

UPDATE 08/11/2005 https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//downtownintro%201.jpg align=baseline> https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//downtownintro%202.jpg align=baseline> That's right. The tour of downtown Plymouth begins here now: https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//downtownlocation.jpg align=baseline> Downtown Plymouth is perched on the northwestern tip of the peninsula, facing the Pacific ocean. The main thoroughfares of Grange Ave. and Congress Ave. connect downtown to the surrounding districts of South Plymouth (a continuation of downtown, coming soon) and Chelsea. Ferry services, the Union bridge, and the Joseph Strausse light rail bridge connect it to North Cape City. This area has historically been the heart of the city. Fur and lumber traders were already active here by the time of the Oregon Territory. By the beginning of the 20th century downtown was well developed, with maritime insurance companies dominating the job market. After WWII though the city fell on hard luck. By the 1950s politicians were pushing for massive urban renewal schemes. Union Bridge (1951) was the a main component of this effort. Urban renewal had its less graceful side too. The historic Transpacific Terminal was demolished and the blight left behind almost became a permanent eyesore [it was fortunately rebuilt in Georgetown in the following decade, coming soon]. There were also talks of building inter-city highways into downtown and Chelsea, respectively. The plan was nixed after much civic protest. See the two highways (red lines) that almost got into the downtown peninsula? https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//downtownneighbhds.jpg align=baseline> Landmark state legislations establishing Urban Growth Boundaries, solid urban planning, and the budding tech sector lifted downtown out of the slump by the mid 1980s. Landmarks such as the Emerson Center for the Performance Arts (1988, see below) and the American Transpacific Center Complex (1992, see below) symbolize the optimism of this era. Today this area is home to a bustling downtown and several other interesting neighbourhoods, such as the bohemian Lytton Park-Leeds Square, the family friendly Signal Hill, and the alternative lifestyle central that is Pilimco. The long term goal is to attract more families into downtown by providing better schools. First let's take a comprehensive view of the business district: https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//downtown%20mosaic.jpg align=baseline> The real centre of the CBD is actually King St. As you can see there is a healthy amount of residential and retail even in the heart of the CBD, which helps to provide more vitality. Also remember the King St. LRT station from the rail graph? It's on this street too. Update continued in the next post...

Holy cow! How did you get those gently curving look with your highways in the regional view? Good work I love the industrial zone.