rob_2616

Boston's city hall is pretty sick and inhumane. http://www.cs.utexas.edu/~gking/photos/2005/cambridge/boston-city-hall.jpg

http://img457.imageshack.us/img457/5869/region4a24zb.jpg align=baseline> Region shot. ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img457.imageshack.us/img457/247/region4a15hn.jpg align=baseline> Transportation network.

http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/9804/southeastcopy2ek.jpg align=baseline> In today's update, we will explore the southeast section of Downtown Warsaw. ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img494.imageshack.us/img494/6759/warsawcentralhscopy1aq.jpg align=baseline> The southeast section of downtown Warsaw is a bustling, and diverse neighborhood. Home to both the rich and the poor, blacks, whites, asians, and everything in between, the southeast section houses a vibrant mix of many different cultures and lifestyles. Despite its problems with traffic congestion, and inefficient parking, the southeast section is a prime example of new urbanism at its best. The neighborhood is a mix of both commercial, retail, and residential. Though few people actually live and work in the southeast section, two commuter rail lines provide easy access into downtown. Shown above is the largest school in the entire city, Warsaw Central High School. ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img430.imageshack.us/img430/217/update4a6copy1dp.jpg align=baseline> The Wickliffe Elevated Rail line connects downtown Warsaw to Wickliffe (a suburb to the east). A new station on the Elevated Railway has spurred the recent construction of several high density apartment buildings. ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img475.imageshack.us/img475/6421/update4a8copy0fe.jpg align=baseline> The Old Warsaw Cemetery is one of the very few cemeterys on Warsaw Island. During the 1930's Warsaw's city council passed an ordinance banning burials on the Island (due to lack of space), and dictated that 17 of the city's 23 cemeterys would have to be dug up and moved to Warsaw's outlying suburbs. Because the Old Warsaw cemetery is such a major tourist attraction it was exempt from the ordinance and still remains untouched today. Also shown above is Mount Columbia College, at 64th & Cascade St. ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/4556/update4a7copy1uo.jpg align=baseline> Despite being adjacent to the crime ridden Strip district, the souteast section of downtown Warsaw has a surprisingly low crime rate. Shown above is the downtown division of Warsaw's police department, at 76th & Raspberry Street. Also shown above is I-10. ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img486.imageshack.us/img486/1471/as5copy2pn.jpg align=baseline> Watertown Place, a development which we showcased in the previous update, is located in the southeast section of downtown Warsaw. ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img494.imageshack.us/img494/4193/roadmap2a0fp.jpg align=baseline> A road map of downtown Warsaw.

http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/3806/update4acopy0mb.jpg align=baseline> On our last update we toured downtown Warsaw's commercial buildings, so in this update we'll tour downtown's residential highlights. With 175,000 residents, downtown Warsaw is the most densely populated district in the city. Nevada Drive is the focal point of our downtown residential tour. Lying on the western edge of the district, Nevada Drive is home to more millionaires than any other place in the city. Since the early 1900's Nevada has always been one of the poshest neighborhoods, and although the street has been eclipsed in prestige by the newer, uptown neighborhoods, Nevada Drive is still a very highly sought after address. ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/2126/update4bcopy5hh.jpg align=baseline> Continuing north along Nevada Drive we come to Grace Park at the intersection of 80th & Nevada. ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img495.imageshack.us/img495/781/update4ccopy4km.jpg align=baseline> Several large high-end residential towers have been recently built near Grace Park. ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img410.imageshack.us/img410/2179/as5copy4dr.jpg align=baseline> Moving away from Nevada Drive, on the eastern side of the district, are the towers of Watertown Place. Watertown place, a conglomerate of 5, 22 story buildings, is one of the newest developments in the city. The development, completed in 1999, gave new life to downtown's struggling east side. Watertown Place was such a pivital development for downtown's east side, that Warsaw's city council approved the closure of 71st, 72nd, and 73rd streets between Poplar and French Street, to make room for a super block for the construction of the towers. Warsaw's city council very rarely approves changes in the city's historic road grid. ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/8303/as4copy4aq.jpg align=baseline> The two Regency Towers (Regency North & Regency South) were built in 1988. At the time, many real estate investors scoffed at the idea of building such a massive up-scale condominium building in such a questionable neighborhood. Despite its location, the Regency was a huge success. It continues to be one of the most high priced of all the city's condo buildings.

Thanks for the comments everyone. Keep em' comming! Time for some region shots. http://img450.imageshack.us/img450/2710/region4aacopy3vp.jpg align=baseline> As you can see, I've mostly been working on the Uptown neighborhood. One of the biggest new features of Warsaw is the completion of I-62 (shown above, 1), and its bridge spanning the Black River. The Other Interstates are: (2) I-10, and (3) I-59/Lowlands Highway. To the south is (4) US Route 90. ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img432.imageshack.us/img432/7339/region4b3sq.jpg align=baseline>

http://img313.imageshack.us/img313/5731/warsaw34mw.jpg align=baseline> Downtown Warsaw is home to more architecturally recognized skyscrapers than any other American city. Second in number only to New York City, Warsaw's cathedrals of commerce form a skyline that can be seen for miles. Shown below is a list of the city's 10 tallest buildings. ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/9174/bld10copy5fx.jpg align=baseline> #10 CENTER POINTE PLAZA, 76th & Cascade Street Center Pointe Plaza, though located along Warsaw's Skyscraper lined 76th Street, is one of the few tall buildings built east of the Financial District. Completed in 1993, it houses a diverse group of both small and large scale corporations. ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img427.imageshack.us/img427/21/bld9copy4jf.jpg align=baseline> #9 6600 PARADE STREET, 66th & Parade Street. 6600 Parade Street is the tallest building south of the financial district. The Mandrin Hotel occupies 20 of it's 63 stories. ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img305.imageshack.us/img305/6003/bld8copy0xy.jpg align=baseline> #8 NEWS CORP TOWER, 76th & Parade Street. Completed in 2003, Warsaw's newest skyscraper, the News Corp Tower, is the world headquarters of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, parent company of 175 different newspapers, as well as familiar names such as 20th Century Fox, Direct TV, TV Guide, and Fox News which broadcasts from inside the 55 story building. ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/9198/emptycopy8dr.jpg align=baseline> #7 1 BROADCAST CENTER, 100th & State Street. (located Uptown) ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/7682/bld6copy9ui.jpg align=baseline> #6 8100 EXCHANGE STREET, 80st & Exchange Street 8100 Exchange Street is perhaps the most flamboyant of all Warsaw's skyscrapers. Built in the art deco years of the 1920's, the 68 story building is the crowning jewel of Exchange Street. It's austere granite facade alludes to modesty, but it's interior is fully sheathed in Italian Marble, laced with rare amazon macassar woodwork, and adorned with more gold leafing than all of Donald Trumps buildings - combined. ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/9083/bld5copy2gf.jpg align=baseline> #5 FARMER'S BANK & EXCHANGE BUILDING, 80th & Exchange Street. Like the Empire Oil Building, the Farmer's Bank & Exchange Building was completed in the midst of the Great Depression. Unlike the Empire Oil Building however, the Farmer's Bank hadn't even begun to secure office leases until after the 1929 stock market crash. As a result the building sat nearly empty for half a decade, and the Farmer's Bank collapsed just six years after their signature headquarters was constructed. In an era when most modern office buildings have massive open, and unobstructed floor plans, the Farmer's Bank Building has struggled to find it's market. With no more than 15 clear feet of uninterupted office space in any direction, the building is not suitable for most large modern corporations, though it has found a niche market serving small start up companies. ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/8625/bld4copy6rl.jpg align=baseline> #4 FIDELITY INSURANCE CENTER, 72nd & State Street. Ranking fourth, Fidelity Insurance Center was completed in 1997, designed by the German Architectural firm, Foster & Partners. With it's army of security guards, the building is by far the most private of all Warsaw's high profile skyscrapers. Fidelity Insurance Center has only one floor open to the public, and no observatory. ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/9198/emptycopy8dr.jpg align=baseline> #3 GALLERY TOWER, 105th & Nevada Drive (located uptown) ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img287.imageshack.us/img287/3618/bld2copy3to.jpg align=baseline> #2 BANK OF AMERICA BUILDING, 76th & Federal Street. With its dual antanae reaching 1,205 feet above street level, the Bank of America Building is the tallest structure in the city. However, with its top floor at 1032 feet, it is relegated to the 2nd tallest building in Warsaw. The building was completed in 1990, and is the southeastern headquarters for the nations 3rd largest bank, Bank of America. ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img313.imageshack.us/img313/7407/bld1copy8lb.jpg align=middle> #1 EMPIRE OIL BUILDING, 83rd & Exchange Street. At 1048 feet, the Empire Oil Building is the tallest building in Warsaw, and 5th tallest in the United States. Built in 1930, and completed only a few weeks after the stock market crashed, it was briefly the tallest building in the world until it was surpassed by the Empire State Building in New York City. Empire Oil Company, which still owns the tower, has since moved its headquarters to Houston, Texas.

http://img202.imageshack.us/img202/9707/dt13al.jpg align=baseline> Thanks for the comments everyone! I think we are going to take a little break from the Strip District and check out Warsaw's downtown next.

http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/9282/update3b1copy2ag.jpg align=baseline> Parkland Blvd., one of the Strip's busiest streets, crosses through the eastern section of the district. Also visable in the photo above, lower left corner, are two of the Olympic Park Plaza towers. ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/8102/4acopy4ag.jpg align=baseline> Lippo I & II, built in 2000 on the former Olympic grounds, are the tallest buildings in the district. Though Lippo I (44 stories), and Lippo II (48 stories) both have less than impressive occupancy percentages, the office complex is still a shining example of the Strip's economic revival. ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/6966/update3b2copy0nd.jpg align=baseline> Continuing north, Parkland Blvd. passes through some of the districts roughest neighborhoods. ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img203.imageshack.us/img203/1977/update3b3copy8in.jpg align=baseline> Parkland Blvd (shown above, lower right) ends at 51st Street, emptying out in Browlin Park. ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/9207/update3b4copy0kf.jpg align=baseline> An aerial shot of the Strip provides excellent views of the Millennium Dome, Olympic Park Plaza, Olympic Yacht Club, the International Petroleum Exchange, the Lowlands Highway, and of course on the left, you can see you district's signature Strip of retail businesses.

ChicAgo333 - I guess I've been showing the better parts of the Strip. In my next update I'll throw in a few pics of the slummier sections. Nardo69 - Concerning the at grade intersections, the Lowlands Highway isnt really a Federal Highway, it's supposed to be more of a limited access city road. The at grade intersections were put in where an exit/entrance was needed but there just wasnt enough room to build an on/off ramp. I-10, I-59, I-62, and I-362, will all be federal highways, that strictly use on/off ramps. And.. here are those region views! http://img438.imageshack.us/img438/4182/regionview3a5jk.jpg align=baseline> ----------------------------------------------------------------- http://img416.imageshack.us/img416/3033/regionview31ih.jpg align=baseline>

http://img306.imageshack.us/img306/9431/1ecopy1xw.jpg align=baseline> The Strip District is by no means a prestigious place to live. It's crowded, dirty, and crime ridden. The roar of traffic is inescapable, and the few parks throughout the district have been taken over by drug dealers. However, although the Strip District shares many of the same problems facing Old Warsaw, the Strip has at least begun to see a small revival. Despite the Strip's tarnished image, several renegade developers have taken advantage of the district's cheap real estate prices, and close proximity to downtown, creating a neighborhood that is increasingly bohemian. 3300 Commonwealth Avenue is one of a growing number of large Condominium Buildings that have been built in the Strip during the past decade. ----------------------------------------------------------------- http://img68.imageshack.us/img68/1584/strip5acopy1to.jpg align=baseline> The Grudny Canal, built in the late 1800's to drain the soggy delta soil in which Warsaw was built upon, was at one time the worst neighborhood in the city. Until the 1970's environmental regulations were enacted, the canal had been laced with sewage, and rendered unnavigable due to a century thick layer of garbage. The canal is still a diamond in the rough, however some up-scale development has occurred in the immediate neighborhood, such as the Kline Tower on 27th & Federal Street.

meinhosen - Thanks for the compliments. I think the Highway Bridge is the green steel-truss bridge. I'm guessing you probably didnt recognize it because it's so short that the steel trusses didnt show up.

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/3858/8acopy3tw.jpg align=baseline> Olympic Park Plaza, a residential development consisting of 11, 21 story buildings, and 1, 25 story building, was built on the site of the former Olympic Plaza which had been razed in 1998 - two years after the summer games. Sandwiched between Parkland Blvd. and Olympic Drive, Olympic Park Plaza is the largest residential development in the Strip District. One Olympic Park Plaza (the building on the far right), has amazing views of Warsaw's eastern suburbs across the Black River. It is also the tallest building in the development. The Lowlands Highway can also be seen in the photo above. ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/8779/9copy0kj.jpg align=baseline> Directly south of Olympic Park Plaza, is the Olympic Yacht Club. The Yacht Club was also built on the former Olympic grounds, and is one of the cities most prestigious marinas. ------------------------------------------------------------------- http://img129.imageshack.us/img129/8326/102zc.jpg align=baseline> Shown above is the southern pier of the Olympic Yacht Club. Also shown above is the Lowlands Highway as it crosses over the Grundy Canal.

bokrif - The answer to all of those questions is: The Network Addon Mod. Check out Simtrop's mod section, you can find it there.

ChicAgo333 - To make stuff transparent, when you paste your graphic on top of the main image click the transparent button (shown below on MSPaint). Make sure your graphic's background is completely white, or else it won't be completely transparent. Hope that helps. I have no idea how to do this in Photoshop... sorry.