N106

I've been playing around with a New York region I downloaded- and by playing around, I mean attempting to recreate New York City:

Table of Contents Page 1 An introduction Update 1: The debate Update 2: Central San Paso Update 3: North San Paso Update 4: East San Paso Update 5: South San Paso Update 6: Hamilton and Riverton Update 7: Surrounding Areas An Introduction Hello. I am N106. A lot of you won't recognize me... I made a few city journals in 2009. My most successful and most popular journal was "A History of San Paso", which was about a city, San Paso, tracking it's growth in the Southern Arizona desert from a small, dusty frontier town in 1870 to a sprawling, rapidly growing metropolis in the 1950s. The last update for San Paso had been in 1959. Since then, I've lost several files, putting the city to its 1954 status. For several months, I completely forgot about the journal and Sim City 4 in general. However, in the past couple of weeks, I've been working on San Paso again, and I've built it up quite a bit. This was possible thanks to my laptop, allowing me to multi-task between city-building and other things. So, I'm going to launch this city journal again, starting in the year 1960. I cannot promise frequent updates. But I do want to try and finish this city. I've noticed the old thread has been deleted, so these first few updates will be more about showing what San Paso is, and less showing new things. This first update, however, serves as a teaser for more to come. Update 1: The Debate Daniel Warren was elected into City Council in 1954. In the past 6 years, he has gained a lot of support, and now he is running for mayor in the November election. In a televised debate on March 23, he said: "Currently, the City Council is divided between two groups. The pro-growth groups, and the anti-growth groups. These groups have characterized our city's politics for decades. The anti-growth groups have made every effort, since they first organized at the turn of the century, to stifle our city. When the San Paso Architect Company contracted businesses to help rebuild downtown after the 1886 fire, the anti-growth people said that architecture would become generic and tasteless. Today, we have some of the most varied and unique downtown architecture west of the Mississippi. When we built the Greater Paso Canal System in the 1930s, they said that the river would dry up and the crops would wither. Today, we have the most farmland in any part of Arizona. When we encouraged industry in the second World War, they said that this city would become a stunted industrial wasteland when the war ended. Today, we are the largest industrial center between Los Angeles and Dallas." "Now, they are saying that the interstate highway will divide the city..." "...and encourage unhealthy sprawl." "These people just don't understand how things work. You cannot stop growth. Growth is natural and healthy for the modern city. The world is growing smaller, and we need infrastructure to remain a part of it. Upon closer examination, many of the arguments against growth don't make any sense. They say the new uptown project will destroy business in downtown." "But that is untrue, because the demand for business is high enough that downtown cannot possibly satisfy it. Or even come anywhere close. I personally support the migration of business to the suburbs. The city is growing and very soon, the suburbs will be where most everyone is." "Another advantage of suburban business is that there is far more room, and more effort is put into designing shopping centers on the outskirts. There is ample room for parking, unlike in downtown. Today, downtown is the center of what I like to call 'the parking wars'. There is a major shortage of parking, and businesses there are fighting tooth and nail to prevent getting plowed over for a parking lot. In the end, this hurts businesses, because if nobody can get to downtown, nobody can make any purchases." "Yet, the anti-growth groups tell me that the parking garage that just opened in downtown is a bad idea? They don't want business to move to the suburbs, yet refuse to provide any way for people to get businesses into downtown? That does not make any logical sense." "The reality is that these people just don't like business. For some reason, they have decided that business is the enemy of all things good. But please, can someone tell me what this city has been built upon, from the beginning? What this nation has been built upon from the beginning? It is unreasonable to suggest that San Paso can survive without business. Today, we are the industrial capital of the Southwest. And this has partly been made possible through a good infrastructure and the tax breaks we've been giving industry since the turn of the century." "There is one form of growth that these people have expressed support for. Throughout the aging neighborhoods around downtown, they have pushed for rent-controlled housing projects to be constructed. They say that these projects will help turn San Paso into the ideal city, and will help to end poverty. But, like a lot of well-intentioned projects, I am sure that this will not end well. It is like lightly kissing a shattered knee." "What I want for San Paso is a return to reality. This city is growing, because it's doing something right. What they're doing right is encouraging the construction of new neighborhoods, improving the infrastructure, and allowing for business to expand as needed. I cannot possibly imagine why that would need to be changed. If I am elected mayor, I promise to encourage business, and to encourage growth. Because that is what is best for this city. Thank you." The camera panned to a view of Warren's opponent, John Thomas. Thomas is 20 years older than Warren, and has had a much longer career on city council or in city affairs. He was originally elected to city council in 1932, and became the head of the council in 1946. He has had a long history of public service. He ran for mayor unsuccessfully in 1952. Thomas said: "Now my candidate has stated that growth is a beautiful thing, and that we mustn't stop it. He has used a lot of eloquent metaphors and similes. However, he is a city man. He was born in New York and moved here after the war. Now, he lives in the suburb of Pond Park, which is highly affluent and completely sheltered from the problems of the city." "As much as he would like to believe it, Pond Park is not San Paso. In fact, neighborhoods like Pond Park are exactly what is wrong with San Paso. Sprawl is destructive to this city. Many people have cleared out the inner city, leaving homes to abandonment, or allowing for the more dangerous elements of society to take over." "He has asserted that people who think like me are anti-business. I do not endorse the destruction of business, and I believe it is a healthy part of any city. However, it needs to be regulated, and it needs to stay centralized. Office parks do, in fact, drain business from downtown." "Even the construction of ballparks away from downtown is bad for business. It gives people more reason to stay away from the once popular, thriving stores our core has to offer." "Unlike Mr. Warren, I grew up in a small town. Juniper Hill, to be exact. And I grew up in a different era. I grew up when people still used the horse and the buggy. When San Paso was a much smaller, and much better place." "And I grew up in a poor family, unlike Mr. Warren. Mr. Warren believes that we should make budget cuts to the schools, stating that we should encourage private schools." "However, not everyone can afford the affluent schools which Mr. Warren endorses." "Also, he suggests that the lowering density of San Paso is a good thing. Does he not recognize how much space some of these new subdivisions, especially on the far outskirts, can waste?" "Mr. Warren accuses us of having ulterior motives, but it is possible he has some ulterior motives himself. He has recently had a new building constructed for his banking firm in the suburbs, and his major opponent is stationed in downtown. An increase in suburban business would be good for Mr. Warren, as it would put his opponent out of business." "Also, he speaks about how we are an industrial giant of a city, but many of his ideas will serve to undermine this city's industry. He has no plans to update infrastructure in our aging districts, and would rather invest in things such as the North Paso Industrial Park to serve modern industrial needs." "To vote for Warren is not a vote for growth... it is a vote against what this city really needs. What we need is to preserve our city, and growth should only occur in a regulated, sustainable way. What Mr. Warren suggests will leave San Paso gutted on the inside, and growing cancerously on the outside. Has he ever considered that with his ideas, maybe, someday, his firm might end up too far in the city to get any business? Because at the rate this city is going, what is considered a suburb now may be a part of the inner city in 20 or 30 years." The televised speeches ended there. Neither showed any great increases in their polling data. Critics of Warren decried his ideas as oversimplified and generalized. Critics of Thomas have stated that he spent too much time attacking Warren and may not have any real solutions himself, and that he is too nostalgic for the dusty western town San Paso once was to know what it needs as a modern metropolis. In the next update, we'll actually take a look around San Paso. And also, I won't be doing too much city politics... I was just trying to find a way to get people interested.

vivapanda: I hope so, too. Update 14: Citrus and city planning A recent satellite photo of the area between Valleyview and San Paso show that both cities are expanding and sprawling towards each other. In between the cities is the town of Citrus, which spent the first half of this century as a sleepy farming town, but is now becoming a center of growth between the two larger cities. As late as 1955, Citrus was a tiny town of barely 1,500 people, surrounded by miles of uninterrupted farmland. However, the town's population has exploded to over 10,000 with suburban sprawl and the mass migration to the Sun Belt. Now, in 1968, the feel of Citrus has changed. Many locals and even some new residents are pushing to incorporate Citrus as a city, and are hoping to establish some kind of character for the area, in order to keep it from becoming another forgettable new neighborhood. Some residents have discussed building a park around Citrus Lake. However, the town still lacks the financial capability to construct such a park, and regional governments have been more concerned with San Paso. A shopping center near Citrus. Meanwhile, in San Paso's eastern suburbs, Towne Plaza, a new shopping center trying to catch the small town feel, just opened. Another view of Towne Plaza. Meanwhile, politics remain in play back in San Paso. With Mayor Warren's second term expiring next year, an election is taking place. Warren's Chief of Staff, Ron Michelson, is running against city council member Mark Hernandez. However mixed up in his campaign Hernandez may be, however, he did propose a plan to revitalize downtown a few months ago. Hernandez spent months working with city council member John Thomas, and a few local urban planners, to create what is known as the Hernandez-Thomas Plan. The plan involves demolishing a couple of blocks to build a large park, constructing a Civic Center on the southern end of downtown, turning part of Central Avenue into a pedestrian mall, and changing many of the downtown streets to be one-way. In his written proposal, Thomas stated that the industrial district behind the train station should be demolished, and the city should consider relocating its major station about a mile north or south. Hernandez shot the idea down, stating that too radical a plan would prove too expensive and gain too much political opposition. For a representation of what some of the planned changes look like on top of downtown San Paso in 1967: So far, City Council has only taken up the Civic Center idea, and Mayor Warren stated that he would not approve any highly expensive change to downtown. Ron Michelson has taken it a step further, questioning how necessary a downtown revival actually is.

vivapanda: Thanks. I used Photoshop to put it together... I might try to make a mosaic and use this to cross tile borders. But that's an idea for another update. Update 13: Downtown falls, Suburbia rises Despite the recent new constructions in downtown, the area wasn't exactly in good shape- most office-based business was moving out to the suburbs, or even just to uptown. Also, industry was moving out as well, from the tight, aging facilities along the Rio Paso's park and facing ordinances and property values that made business in the inner city difficult. With both industry and business moving out, some people followed. Meanwhile, in the increasingly abandoned areas around downtown, crime rates skyrocketed, partly due to the social unrest and rising crime rates all across the nation in the late 1960s. In downtown, the former First National Bank, once the architectural gem of downtown architecture, sat abandoned, with boarded up or broken windows, devoid of furniture, and with many of the fine marble or polished wood decorations crumbling. In 1965, the city condemned the building, and there is discussion of demolishing it, although, with downtown barely pulling through, nobody could image what would replace it. Meanwhile, industry has found a new place in the northern suburbs, above the I-17 freeway. Another new industrial spot. Suburban growth has reached the Rio Corduva, a full 8 miles north of downtown. On the north side of the river, a new neighborhood used retaining walls to deal with the uneven, rocky foothills or the mountains. Strip malls continue to appear along major arteries, such as the I-17. While downtown loses its shopping and offices alike, a new office park, Corduva Park, has opened just below the river, right along I-17. Meanwhile, in Hamilton, new subdivisions and businesses have quickly expanded north to Highway 145. Back in the central San Paso area, attempts to revive inner city areas include apartments and condos in park-like areas, keeping with the idea of large buildings in a park that was often prevalent with urban renewal projects. Another method involves condemning abandoned buildings or buildings that have become home to squatters, and demolishing them, leaving large and empty lots throughout the inner city. One neighborhood just a mile southeast of the central intersection is due for demolition. Entire blocks have already been cleared. In a city council meeting, representatives from East Paso Park (a neighborhood first developed in the mid-1890s, currently in transition from middle class residential to uptown shops and offices), the Central Paso Catholic Church, and the downtown stores still hanging onto downtown area properties petitioned for and demanded a more solid effort to revitalize downtown. "I can't play favorites when it comes to neighborhoods," Mayor Warren said, "If downtown is being abandoned because businesses go to the suburbs, that's not my job to resolve. If the hand of the market points up the freeway, we can't throw all of our money in the opposite direction." City council, however, was more supportive of the measure. Mark Hernandez, a prominent council member, has called for revitalization efforts since he was elected to the council in 1954. There are rumors that Hernandez and John Thomas, a longtime city council member who ran a failed campaign for mayor in 1960 and 1964, are working with a small team of local urban planners to create a plan for revitalizing downtown. In fact, Thomas blasted Mayor Warren at a press conference earlier today. "Warren likes to say he's not playing favorites when he leaves the city's historic center to die so that subdivisions, strip malls, and warehouses can eat up our region's farms. But in that same statement, he said that we should follow where the 'hand of the market' points. Is that not placing the fortunate as a favorite? I can only wonder what he will do when, 10 years from now, his business and home find themselves surrounded by empty, scrub-covered lots and decaying, abandoned houses?" Hernandez, however, has seemed less interested in joining the mudslinging. When approached by reporters, Hernandez merely said, "If downtown dies, everybody loses."

vivapanda: Well, thanks. It took me a little while to build that park. Update 12: An uneventful update 1966 was kind of an uneventful year for San Paso. Anyways, I decided to play with photoshop. I put together pictures of the central San Paso tile and the neighboring tile, to see how well they line up. Other than the arrows and the strange transition to road, they lined up quite nicely, actually. More coming next update!

Replies Fox: Yeah... I like the RHW because the highways look way more realistic and take up a more realistic amount of space. It can get hard to work with sometimes, though. Update 11: Downtown Constructions In 1965, two large new buildings opened in downtown San Paso- the Redding Building to the left, and the Gray Tower, to the right. The correlation between their names and colors is coincidental. Despite these new constructions, the San Paso skyline still hasn't changed much since the early 1930s. Also, the San Paso Department of Urban Planning estimates that the regional population of the area has exceeded 800,000.

Replies Benedict: Thanks. I didn't expect to make this update, but decided that, since I was working on San Paso and taking pictures, I may as well update. Schulmanator: It has been awhile. And thanks. Lyhoko Leaci: Lyhoko shall have her answer in this update. tshirt23: It's great that you enjoyed it. Hopefully this next update is just as entertaining. Update 10: From the park to the highway Although Daniel Warren, the pro-growth, anti-regulation candidate who was against heavy expenditures of city money and wanted to give the people of San Paso a tax cut, was elected, City Council ultimately blocked him on most of his policies during his term. The next election isn't until 1964, but Warren found himself stamping or signing many policies that he didn't like, including a higher property tax rate for San Paso residents. As mayor, Warren found himself with remarkably little power, given that the city government gave most of the power to City Council after Mayor John Roberts resisted local pubic works projects during the Great Depression and was nearly impeached. The major project Warren found himself opposed to but approving was the Rio Paso Restoration Project, a legislation proposed in 1961 to clean up pollution in the Rio Paso, build a park in the area, and clear out many of the turn-of-the-century era factories for offices. Warren vetoed the industrial clearance, but approved the park and the cleanup. Many downtown-area residents criticized Warren for this action, asking, "What's the point of cleaning up the area and building a park if the area's still going to smell like industrial waste?" The project is over a two mile stretch of the river, starting south of downtown. Along the river, a winding path leads people up to Central Avenue, with the old viaduct now replaced by a gently sloping grass field. The old industrial reservoir, which had been a horrific smelling cesspool for more than half a century, was also cleaned up and turned into a pond, although the continued presence of industry in the area may still cause issues. Park pathways continue past the river, but the green park is still surrounded by the industrial park. Finally, the Rio Paso flows into a large reservoir, officially called Warren Lake (that was one of Warren's requirements if he was going to allow this project to be built). Warren Lake terminates at a low dam, where the Rio Paso Restoration Project ends. The entire project was completed just this year, 1963. Warren, the mayor of Hamilton, and the town council of Cepillo found themselves in negotiations with the state of Arizona in 1961 over the construction of State Highway 145, which would meet up with the I-17 freeway at the northern edge of San Paso's sprawl. The highway has just been completed. The 145/I-17 interchange, 5 miles north of downtown. 145 passes Cepillo to the North. The highway curves next to the Rio Corduva, a river that flows 7 miles north of San Paso. Another interchange for Cepillo exists just west of the town. There is an interchange a couple of miles east of Hamilton, where the farms come to an end. Just a half mile north of Hamilton, as well. Meanwhile, San Paso itself continues to sprawl in a northward direction along the I-17. Although the suburbs thin considerably once one gets north of the 147/I-17 interchange, subdivisions continue to grow along the highway. The furthest north subdivisions are now right up against the Rio Corduva, and a professor at the University of San Paso projects that everywhere south of the river will be developed by 1967. Strip malls continue to grow at the very edge of town. In downtown, the somewhat unimpressive, 9-story Prickly Desert Hotel is just finishing construction. That concludes today's update!

Very realistic CJ so far. I like the heavy use of custom content residences, and noticed the curving streets, which is also a nice touch. Franklin Community Center and the surrounding park look very nice, and Rutledge High School also keeps with the realism. So far, this is an incredibly well-done CJ, and I am definitely looking forward to the next update.

Replies legoman786: You can have more. It only took me a bit over a year and a half for me to get to it. Kifflom112: Thanks Update 9: Condos, Offices, and Shops, Oh My! The city of San Paso continued to sprawl in all directions, with its population rapidly rising. Although the 1960 census placed Anasazi County at 602,419 people, the population figure now is believed to have passed 650,000. In the eastern suburbs, real estate developers are finding that condos tend to be very profitable. For example, Saguaro Condominiums. And the nearby Sunview Luxury Apartments. Just outside of Cepillo, the Palm Park office park has been constructed. A closer view of Palm Park. Even religion must adapt to the changing landscape. San Paso Regional Trinity Church has a large parking lot in front of it. Strip malls grow along the avenue grid. Cepillo Community College opened its doors to its first students on August 22, 1962. Parking lots near shopping centers grow larger every year. Due to the increased area traffic, the entrance to San Paso International Airport has been reconstructed. City council has discussed some possibilities of a highway from downtown to the airport, but at the moment, nothing is being planned yet. And that concludes tonight's update.

Replies kakado_to_save: Thank you. hamsterTK: Yeah... Sim City 4 isn't always the best for designing suburbs. The parking lots I've introduced recently, and I think it's partly a suburban thing. I've been to Phoenix, and I've also learned quite a bit about that city, so it's not hard to figure out that this is what I base it on. Update 8: Cepillo los Dientes Oasis- A retirement community On April 14, 1961, San Paso City Planner William Leyland announced the opening of Cepillo los Dientes Oasis (I brush my teeth Oasis, translated) It's a retirement community that can house about 45,000 people. It was constructed 5 miles northeast of downtown. The project was started in 1956. I don't feel like writing full descriptions for each picture, so I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. And an overview of the entire community. Posted May 4, 1961. That concludes this update.

Replies Zulu2065: It's okay. I'm glad to see that I've inspired you. I'll be sure to check out your journal when I see it. Update 7: Surrounding Areas There are two small towns that have yet to see the area's explosive suburban growth. These towns were smaller than Riverton or Hamilton were by the 1930s, and were founded a good 20 years later. Citrus was founded as a farming town in 1892, and Juniper Hill in 1898. This is the town of Citrus. It has about 2,000 people, and is in the exact middle between San Paso and Riverton. The small downtown of Citrus exists around the Citrus Plaza, a park in the center of town. Citrus grew up around the Citrus Lake Train Depot, constructed in the 1880s as a trading post for farmers leaving San Paso. Juniper Hill is 12 miles south of downtown San Paso. About 1,000 people live there. Downtown Juniper Hill. The hill which gives the town its name. The I-17 makes its way past Juniper Hill, continuing southwards until it reaches the Mexican border. San Paso International Airport began as a dirt landing strip in the 1920s. A commercial airline began running to it in the 1930s, and it saw a temporary career as a military airbase during World War II. The terminal was constructed and opened in 1959. The main terminal of the airport. The original buildings of the airport. A couple of manufacturing towns were built near the airport during World War 2. And that concludes our tour of Anasazi County. Stay tuned for the next update, television viewers.

Replies nathanthemayor: Thanks. I try. Zulu2065: My pictures are disappearing? That could be problematic. I'll see what I can do. Adooxx: Yeah... there's lots of things to take pictures of. zcg4755: I know, right? A little bit of effort and you get something pretty. Update 6: Hamilton and Riverton Riverton is the second largest city in Anasazi County. I don't have a map available for me at the moment. It was founded in 1878 as a farming community. Downtown Riverton has shopping and plenty of things to do. The Depot Park, built next to the train station, in the old, historic neighborhoods. Riverton is home to the Anasazi County fairgrounds. Riverton has a single rail depot with industry. Riverton city park. Riverton High School. Central Riverton shopping center, built in 1949, is a suburban styled shopping center, despite its proximity to the city's core. The Interstate Riverton Outlet is the city's other shopping center, built in 1959. Hamilton is the 3rd largest city in Anasazi County. It was founded in 1892. Like Riverton, it has seen major growth since World War II. Downtown Hamilton is built along the palm-lined Main Street. Hamilton City Hall. The Church Park Triangle. Hamilton High School. Hamilton Elementary. South Bank Shopping Center, on the road out from Hamilton. The cinema is a good place to see bad science fiction films. A factory in Hamilton. That concludes this update. After this, we're going to tour the less urbanized areas of Anasazi County, and then move on to actual time progression.

Replies nathanthemayor: Thanks. I've spent a lot of time working on the suburbs. Vern: Thank you. I feel the need to make a map because I think it's useful to help a user know San Paso. And not feel like they're just looking at randomly selected photos. Update 5: The Southern Suburbs San Paso's south is home of the university, the first of the city's modern suburbs, and a variety of attractions. Here's a map. To the west of the Rio San Paso, some newer suburbs were planned out. This is the planned community of Westside. Planned in 1952, constructed from 1954 to 1958. South San Paso is the home of the planned neighborhoods. Centerville is a suburb planned in 1955, started in 1956, and completed in 1959. South Paso Hospital is located near Centerville, opened in 1960. Jackson Creek runs through the southern suburbs. Parkview, the suburb that marked the start of the modern, uncontrolled suburban growth, was first planned in 1946, started in 1948, and completed in 1953. It was constructed along Washington Boulevard, a park lined road. Here is the northern part of Parkview. The southern part. There are two parks, built along Jackson Creek, that give Parkview its namesake. Here is one of them. The other. Stores line Washington Boulevard throughout Parkview. Washington Boulevard runs north into the city, passing neighborhoods that were built in the 1920s. The I-17 runs up towards San Paso from the south, and becomes a sunken highway as it makes its way north. Here is the freeway towards the southern edge of the suburbs, 5 miles out from downtown. The I-17 runs north, passing the university. The University of San Paso (U of SP) is 4 miles south of downtown, and when it opened, was well outside of the city. Now it is engulfed in development. Here is the entrance. The original university buildings. The university has a ballpark for their team, the San Paso Coyotes. Near the university, there is a thriving commercial district with clubs, bars, stores, and restaurants. Here is the full campus of U of SP. As one makes their way further east, they reach less planned development. Here is a spot where the 1914 avenue plan meets the 1949 grid. That concludes this update. In our next update, we'll explore Riverton and Hamilton, two of the smaller cities of the region.

Replies Vern: I used photoshop to make the map. First, I took photos of my region in map view. Then, I put them together to be as seamless as possible in Photoshop. I stretched out the photoshop image so that it appeared to be looking down vertically. I rotated it so that streets face up and down. That wasn't enough, so I then proceeded to go over it on another layer with different colored lines to represent different things. It took 2 days. The map you see is cropped... I actually have a map of everything I've developed. Adooxx: Alright. Thank you for the advice. skyscraper241: Thanks. Expect to see more RHW in the future. nathanthemayor: Thank you. I try. Muck308: I'm glad to see me continuing this too. I mean, as much as I could claim otherwise, San Paso isn't done in 1959. Update 4: The Eastern Metro The Eastern Metro, in general, is the parts of San Paso to the east of the I-17 freeway. It is thriving as suburbs continue to make their way further and further from the core. Here is a map. Uptown runs through this part of the metro, starting at the freeway and extending along Central Avenue for 2 miles, to the edge of the city's current growth. At the inner edge of uptown there are the 3 new skyscrapers. As you make your way further along, commercial growth thins (this is temporary. Planners already want to demolish older neighborhoods to connect both parts of Uptown) Warren Bankers has an office in the thinner commercial areas. Commercial development thickens into concentrations of offices and shops along Central Avenue as one enters the suburbs. Uptown continues along Central Avenue. It thins rapidly as suburbs give way to farmland. This is where uptown's end is considered to be, and that won't likely change as San Paso continues to grow eastward. Meanwhile, throughout the suburbs, commercial shopping centers are starting to appear, like the one shown below. To the northeast, new subdivisions are being plowed over the farmland. This subdivision in east San Paso represents what suburbia is all about. Meanwhile, further in town, is Pond Park, the current residence of mayoral candidate Daniel Warren. San Paso gets most of its electricity from the Greater Paso Power Station, constructed in East San Paso in 1946. High schools in the suburbs tend to have more room and better quality sports and schooling than those in the city. There's our tour. Next update, we'll take a look at the south.

Replies tonyr: Yeah... there will only be more color pics as time goes on in this CJ. Also, I really enjoy making the parks. Thanks for responding to my work. Update 3: Northern San Paso We will be covering the northern and northwestern suburbs in this update. Here is a map of northern San Paso. Mount Chance rises above Mission Hill, about 3 miles west of downtown. Suburbs grow into open desert, where the soil is too rocky and rough for farmland. These mark the foothills of the Cepillo de Dientos Mountains to the west. A little further north, the land is suitable for farmland. Subdivisions cut through crops along the floodplain of the Rio San Paso. The Rio San Paso runs through the affluent northern suburbs 2 miles north of downtown. It makes its way through thinning subdivisions another mile north of that. Wealthy suburbs often have golf courses. This suburb, built in 1950, marks the beginning of suburban growth to the north, and is located near the Rio San Paso. Commercial and new industry has grown along the new avenue grid that extends through the suburbs. This is business along Farmers Avenue (which there are now no farms on) Farmers Avenue eventually meets the I-17 freeway. The Rivers Baptist Church, constructed in 1954, is one of the larger denominations in the northern San Paso area. The Oasis Resort is part of what is known as the Oasis District, which describes everything north of Farmers Avenue, around Lincoln Avenue, or between Lincoln Avenue and I-17. It was constructed in 1930, and was well beyond city limits at the time. It is now absorbed in sprawl. The Oasis Commerce Center is at the intersection of Oasis Avenue and Lincoln Avenue. It is a bustling commercial district, and the largest one north of downtown. A spring training baseball field has found a home near the Oasis Commerce Center. The Oasis Commerce Center has a great nightlife, with bars and clubs. To the west of the Oasis District, there is the West Oasis Industrial Center, a new manufacturing and storage center constructed along the railroad. A subdivision in Oasis has a golf course. Another has a park. The Oasis Technology Center just launched last year and is a new technology center that is rapidly growing in the northern suburbs. Oasis Avenue meets the I-17 with stores and offices. The East Oasis Office Park is located near the freeway. Oasis Catholic School is a private school with a great reputation throughout the city. It is also very expensive. The I-17 bends to go westbound. It marks the northern boundary of San Paso's current suburban development. And that concludes today's update. Next time, we will tour the eastern metro area.

Replies Adooxx: Thanks. Does the end of the railroad need a pillar, though? nathanthemayor: Thank you. I try. Benedict: So it was just moved... all the links I followed, such as the one from your thread, didn't work. I thought it had been deleted. I guess I'll go edit the original post to have that link. Thank you very much. And I'm glad to be back. Looks like I couldn't stay away. I just knew I wasn't done with San Paso. Not even close. panthersimcity4: Thank you. I got inspiration for that subdivision by looking at the actual city of Phoenix. I saw a lot of extremely low density subdivisions with houses in large lots like that. Designed to look rural, even though they were in the suburbs of a major city. zcg4755: Thank you. I guess you can admire my work some more, then. selles: Thank you. I hope that this CJ turns out interesting. Update 2: Central San Paso Seeing as most of you probably don't know much about San Paso, I have decided to provide a tour of the city. Of course, it's a big city and a big region, so I will divide this into sections. We'll start with the city center. This is a map of the central areas of San Paso. The I-17 interstate highway runs through, going north to south, about a mile east of downtown, marked in red. The city started growing in the shadow of Mission Hill, which is now a state park marked in brown. The railroad runs through the city, feeding industry, colored in orange. Parks are marked in green. The Rio San Paso runs through the city, marked in blue. Downtown San Paso is the largest business district between Dallas, Texas and Los Angeles, California. The San Paso skyline is dominated mostly by skyscrapers built in the Roaring '20s. It has a distinct look to it. San Paso originally grew around the intersection of Central Avenue and Apache Street. For years, this had been the acknowledged business center of San Paso. It stayed as such throughout the city's early history, and downtown's oldest surviving buildings stand here. The Grand Union Station is the city's major train depot. The intersection of Central Avenue and Lincoln Avenue is the central intersection and the center of the business district of San Paso. Carnegie Library overlooks a park. The Palm Parkway was a Public Works construction, and is now a landmark distinct to downtown San Paso. From 1929 until this year, the Silk Tower (renamed from a company tower name when the company moved out in 1937) was the tallest building in San Paso. Nearby, the old mayor's house, constructed in 1877, stands as a museum. San Paso Catholic Church overlooks Pine Park, one of the oldest parks in the city. The church is on the edge of downtown. To the south of downtown, there is a ballpark. Lincoln Avenue turns into Lincoln Boulevard, another one of San Paso's distinct palm-lined parkways. Central Avenue leads east from downtown, through some older neighborhoods, towards the highway. San Paso spent the turn of the century switching from an agricultural to an industrial economy. By the time World War II ended, it had become the industrial powerhouse of the Southwest. Industry first began in San Paso around 1890, along the banks of the Rio San Paso. Industry has since expanded along the riverbanks... ...to the bottom of Mission Hill... ...and along the railroads. The railroad system in San Paso is complex, and there are many railyards in the industrial core of the city. Central Park is the city's largest park. It is right next to the I-17 freeway. The freeway runs past Washington High School, which is located in an upscale neighborhood about a mile away from the downtown intersection. Uptown begins on the east side of the freeway, along Central Avenue. The current tallest buildings in the city were just constructed last year. They replace the city's "first suburb", which had been constructed in 1895. Old neighborhoods surround downtown. They tend to have higher crime rates than homes in the suburbs. Housing projects can be seen to the north of downtown. El Barrio Grande is the city's largest immigrant workers neighborhood, located in the shadow of Mission Hill. To the north of that, another industrial workers neighborhood exists. Some residents have already picked up their things and ran for homes in the suburbs. Crime rates are skyrocketing. And that concludes this update, with a tour of the central San Paso area. In the next update, we will explore the northern suburbs.

Introduction Yes, that is correct. I, N106, have decided to create another CJ. It has been 2 months since San Paso died. And I began to realize that I missed playing Sim City 4, and creating CJs. After some game crashing problems, I managed to get Sim City 4 working, and started another CJ. This CJ probably won't end up becoming the urban masterpiece that was San Paso, but I hope to at least do okay. I promise that I will try my hardest to make at least a semi-decent CJ. Pg 1: 1870-1878 Pg 2: 1879- I don't have any knowlege of when this town started. What I do know is that it became a small trading outpost for people heading to California in the 1850s. Some people decided to stay, and this place grew into a small farming town. Today, on July 5, 1870, we have officially become incorporated as a town. Even for a town, this is a sorry little place. There are not even 1,000 people in this place. We are isolated from anything by hundreds of miles. Supplies are always scarce. A few residents trickle in every year, and soon find that life out here on the frontier is difficult. Most of the population of this area work in the small farms that surround this pathetic excuse for a town. Here is the town of Rio Pasa. Farms are the economy of this place. These farms would, of course, be useless without the river that gave them life. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the Desierto Rio, or, translated, Desert River. You see, the people who named the geographical features of this place had no creativity whatsoever. I am the second wealthiest man here. I live in a house that I built 2 years ago. Its a nice place- and by that, I mean that it isn't quite the terrible housing that others build for themselves around here. The most wealthy man in town is a man named William Vinton. He was born to a poor family in 1838. He sells dreams. No, really, he writes his dreams down into short stories and sells them to the local newspaper. The stories are usually pretty amusing. Vinton is somewhat eccentric, and got his money from his parents. At last, we reach the place from which this horrid little town spawned. Some time, about 100 or so years ago, some Spaniards built a mission to convert some Indians to Christianity. The mission has been abandoned for years, but it was this mission that led to this area becoming a trading post. In conclusion, this town is a terrible little farming village on the frontier, where no supplies ever arrive ever. Why do I hate this place so much? I don't know, my psychologist asked the same question. All I know is that this place is really too hot for people to live here. On the coldest winter night, temperatures might go as low as 160 degrees farenheit (okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a little bit...) and, on a summer day, it is advised to sit in a tub of ice, replacing the ice every 5 minutes due to its fast melting and evaporating speeds due to the temperature here. I would not recommend that anybody live here, or stop here for any other reason than to use this place as the trading post it started as.

Sretamdet: Small and ridiculous was all I had. This update will be better. ComputerGuy890100: Yep. When used correctly, memes can be very funny. Sky Guy: Yeah... it could potentially have traffic issues if these towns stop being so small and stupid. But what's an automobile? Is it like a horseless carriage or something? It's crazy what the steam age comes up with. TmiguelT: If there is one thing you must know about me, it's that I cannot come up with original names for anything, and use an electronic translator to come up with some of my city names. 1881: The update born from boredom Fortunately for you guys, I was really bored today, and decided to throw together and update really quick. Anyways, the populations of both Stonewall and Rio Pasa are stabilizing at about 2,500-3,000. Farmland is doing well due to the irrigation system set up by Harvey. Shootings and bank robberies are increasing in frequency because everybody is out to colonize the West. It's not as bad here as in some of the mining towns in this territory, but it's problematic. It's things like this that make me want to head back to the East. Anyways, I'm getting ahead of myself here. Time for some actual pictures. The courthouse square has been lined with trees for shade. A church has been built in this town. Here's the new civic cemetary. Also, brick buildings are finally making their way to downtown. This building, finished this year, is Stonewall's first brick building. Also, some newspaper offices have been set up in that building. The Stonewall-Rio Pasa Times is what the paper is called. Expect a newspaper in the next update.

Sgt Pepper: A deep-seeded and fiery passion of hatred for Rio Pasa. Okay, that's what it was- it's more of a dulled down, but still hot hatred. Yes, Rio Pasa has been developing lately, and I got the schools from the STEX and the LEX. Sky Guy: Yep. Rio Pasa is now almost tolerable. And, more is coming. Muck308: I'm glad to be back at it. Granted, I won't be able to update as frequently as I did in the early days of San Paso, but I'm still glad to be back at it. Korot: Yes, my neighborhood is now very noisy. And no, I have no clue what's in store for the future. And yes, there is finally real estate in Rio Pasa. Sretamdet: I heard Europe was crowded... but still, Rio Pasa is terrible and I'm not going to be happy in this little dusty dirty town. And, your curiosity about the next update is about to be satisfied. Benedict: Yes. I'm glad to see some bigger houses. Small houses are small, but big houses aren't. 1880: It's a Map! Now, you know what Rio Pasa looks like. 1880: An update within an update Don't worry. It's not like this update has any pictures. 1880: And update within an update within an update Yo dawg, I heard you like updates, so we put an update in an update in an update so you can enjoy an update while enjoying an update while enjoying an update. 1880: This is just ridiculous Seriously, the actual update was a map, then there was an absolutely idiotic sequence of an update within an update within an update. It has been several days since the last update, and I should have gone to the effort to make an actual update instead of just making a map and then using my incredibly awful sense of humor. Anyways, next update, I'll have some photos and some actual information instead of a filler update like this.

Petrovar Ambassador: I wish San Paso had not died, I really enjoyed making that city. I am using the similar style, of course, because that's the style I use. Benedict: The schoolhouse is what I used because it was the most realistic. And, the empty lots are quite typical for cities in that era- only the downtown has any density. 1879: Rio Pasa: Slightly less awful The town of Rio Pasa has grown in the last 4 years. Though it still is a terrible little town that I hate, it's now slightly less terrible- I don't wish for God to destroy it with meteors and volcanos anymore, while condemning all of its residents to hell- I just want God to have all the residents leave, then light this town on fire. Of course, the area around my house is more annoying now than it was 10 years ago. With Rio Pasa growing in a northward direction, there are now homes near my house. Occasionally, somebody walks past my house. More people come to my house to ask for money (no, get your own money! I DONT CARE THAT YOU CANT FIND GOLD!!! MY MONEY, AND I EARNED IT UNFAIR AND SQUARE!!!!), and its generally noisier here. Meanwhile, a small downtown has developed in the center of this little town. It doesn't compare to Stonewall, the commercial center of the region, but at least there's finally something there. Some business owners proved to be successful, and have built nicer homes, using the Victorian styles that are popular in the great cities of the east. Rio Pasa is mostly growing in a northeastern direction. This development starts out thick, but, as the roads get further apart, the homes become more sparse. This year, a school opened in Rio Pasa. Now, keep in mind, I still hate this place with a fiery passion. Its just that my hatred has cooled down a few degrees. Anyways, in the next update, there will be an update. And, in that update, there will be an update. And, then, we have to go deeper to have another update. At that point, I will perform inception on this CJ to update again after that update.

Benedict: I'm glad you like the canals- they will appear a lot in this CJ. Color won't appear until the 1940s, and won't be in full use until the 1970s, though, so sorry... Sgt Pepper: Well, a large courthouse was not needed, and the planners made a few miscalculations. As for the canals, yes, I think that they are wonderful as well... The time flew past me over the last few days, and I forgot to update. But, now I remembered, so its good. 3 years have passed since the last update, and Stonewall is growing rapidly. The town has surpassed 1,000 people last year. Business is booming in the center of Stonewall, and development has become more dense. Meanwhile, both lines of Harvey's canal system have been connected by a canal right next to Stonewall's grid. Buckley's Saloon- founded by the son of an Irish immigrant- has become the most popular saloon in town. Stonewall school has been constructed, providing education for people in this town. And, that concludes today's update.

Benedict: God-awful indeed. StanislavSoltys: When I posted it, it was so bad that a puppy died. chrissc94: In every way, shape and form. Sgt Pepper: C-C-Combo Breaker! Evillions: Worst update I've ever made. As for the demon ducky... is he supposed to be eating kittens? Korot: Stonewall is a new town. Its growth will likely slow later on. But yes, that was a pretty low quality update for me. Congrats, folks! We have now made it halfway through the 1870s! Both towns have grown significantly since 1870, and I am optimistic about the future. Farmland is expanding, and the irrigation systems have worked wonders. In Rio Pasa, an irrigation system has been started. The system makes its way through the farmland surrounding Rio Pasa, and one canal runs along a dirt street. Meanwhile, Rio Pasa has added 3 new town blocks, and is growing in a northeastern direction. In Stonewall, a small county courthouse has been built in the designated square. The courthouse proved to be smaller than expected, so now there is a patch of desert in the middle of town. And, that concludes today's update. In the next update, we will have more terrible N106 jokes!

tkuelker@gmail.com: Thanks. And I did have a nice vacation. Sgt Pepper: I do my best, and I'm glad you like them. Benedict: I'm glad you lol'd. A major purpose of this CJ is humor. I am back from taking a cruise on a tiny steamship. The cruise was in the Carribbean. I got to see various European colonies. It was nice, plus, I firmly believe that European colonialism will increase global wealth for Europe. In fact, I am eager to see the day when the great European empires divide Africa amongst themselves. Anyways, now for the Terrible Update. It has only 2 photos, because not much has happened in the last year. The irrigation system has acted as a catalyst for farm growth in Stonewall. Plans are being drafted to start building a similar system in Rio Pasa. Meanwhile, new buildings are going up all over Stonewall. The town has grown from nothing to several hundred people in 2 years. And that concludes the terrible update. It came complete with everything bad updates must have- a lack of pictures, a lack of interesting content, and a terrible joke about European colonialism.

Evillions: Is that what that strange horseless carriage in front of my house is called? Work has begun on the future county capital. The town, Stonewall, is being laid out on a grid designed by Juan Martinez. The project has cost an unprecedented $35,000, draining large amounts of funds from Vinton and I. Already about 300 people have moved to Stonewall, creating some sparse residential development on the grid. The town has two main roads- Centre Street (which leads down to Centre Street in Rio Pasa) and Congress Street. There is one block that remains empty for the purpose of building a county courthouse. Harvey, the farmer who sold us the area that is now Stonewall, has suggested that we start building an irrigation system for both Rio Pasa and Stonewall immediately. The system has begun construction in Stonewall, though Rio Pasa remains unirrigated. In order to travel the 4 mile distance between Stonewall and Rio Pasa, you must cross the Desierto Rio. Vinton and I are short on funds and are unwilling to design a bridge. I managed to invest in a canoe service across the river, hiring some Rio Pasa residents to drive the canoes. That concludes today's update. Author's note: I won't be able to update for the next week and a half. I'll be on vacation.

jrhnemo: I'm glad you enjoy this CJ. The depressing nature is a writing experiment. Sgt Pepper: Humor is one of my main goals. And the man from the future is likely a moron. Korot: That is one heck of a reply! I may do amazing, and I will definitely try. You can comment on my first update after you missed it... this is the first time I'm working on an update-a-day schedule in 7 months. Cynicism is my writing style, which is why I can bring it. Yeah, I'm not that great with ploppable water. The house cost a very expensive $3,000. The name of the wealthiest person is always revealed. I doubt this town will grow at all. Remember, people are idiots. Yes, I very much dislike it when I'm ignored. And that guy is not correct, in fact, he's a moron. I don't know why people work in the burning sun. And yes, we will be back to our post-medival style of life shortly. Thank you for responding. Benedict: Yes, please enjoy the black and white shots, because they'll be around for at least 75 updates. ComputerGuy890100: I have JBSimio's SmallTown USA pack, and will use it when the time is right. And the guy from the future is a moron. Recently, 2 of my friends and I called a town meeting. People are moving into this region due to the good farmland, but also, there is a more pressing matter. 2 months ago, we separated from Maricopa County to form Aztec County. We needed a county capitol. The meeting was called to settle the matter. Here is a list of the 5 people at the meeting: Me William Vinton Richard Harvey Daniel McAllister Juan Martinez The meeting was held at my house. Here is how the meeting progressed: McAllister: We should build the county capital in this town. Me: McAllister, no. No. Just no. This town is terrible. Vinton: Come on, N106, this town is not that bad. Me: Okay, fine, lets assume that this town wasn't a little piece of sun-dried dog poop. Even then, this town isn't fit to be county capital. It has an inefficient organic street pattern, very little in the way of commercial possibility, and is really nothing more than a trading post. Martinez: Well, where else do you suggest we build a capital. Me: We could found a new town. Vinton: That's actually not a bad idea. But it can't be too far away. Harvey: I own a farm less than 4 miles away from Rio Pasa. I'm willing to sell it for a town. Me: Excellent! When can we start building? Harvey: As soon as you want. But you can only found the town on one condition. Vinton: Alright, what's the reason? Harvey: The town has to be named Stonewall, after Confederate general Stonewall Jackson. Me: Hey, its better than naming a town Rio Pasa. We'll take your condition. Harvey: Its a deal. The meeting then ended. Here is a picture of Harvey's farm. Work will begin on the town of Stonewall soon. We will first try to establish a grid, then have people move in. Meanwhile, in Rio Pasa, farmland is growing in a north-eastern direction.Some businesses have opened on the northern edge of the actual town in order to cater to the farmers. That concludes this update. In the next update, we shall talk about the building of Stonewall, Arizona. Then, I won't be able to update for about a week and a half.