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SHERKSTON BOOM Some of you may have noticed the census is coming in Holt District. I was actually supposed to be writing that update right now - everything is ready to go! But, as it turns out, I managed to never publish update 27 (d'oh!) which explains the lack of much happening here in the last 2 weeks. So before the census comes out, we have this update! I'd delay it to after the census, but I lost the original images and these are already stamped with 27.x - and census counts as an update number. So, as a result, this update will have to serve your appetite. Besides, this signals something about the upcoming census. And you know how I love to tease you all. As of now the census should come out on Friday, so in about 2 days, barring unforseen circumstances. As for this update itself, we find ourselves in an almost unrecognisable portion of Sherkston. This area, which was grasslands once before, is now a dizzying sea of skyscrapers and open grass parks, and home to a whole heck of a lot of trees and people. Welcome, folks, to the intensification zone. Mentioned a few updates back, you not get to see what that really means... [Fun fact: this update acts as a tour through the area at varying times of day, an excuse for me to play with photo effects! ) 27.1 | We find ourselves waking up in this sea of residential condo towers. Developments like this are found throughout the developed portions of the intensification zone. Lots of people have moved into the area very quickly, including ourselves. But enough chit-chat, we're late to work and need to get moving! 27.2 | We eventually got to work - 5 minutes late - but the boss was late too so we didn't have to listen to their rant about "company time" again. It never seems to change, kind of like they're a robot. Heh... maybe they are! They seem to have this thing for grey clothes... Lucky for us it's our lunch break, so we head out for some fresh air and the warmth of the mid-afternoon sun. 27.3 | Just about as we're going to get off work, we get the assignment of delivering yet another file to our affiliate company across the area. Certainly not the thing we wanted to do right now, but at least we get to look into the fancy store Samsung Mobile has at the base of their regional office... the sky looks warm as the sun begins to set. Buildings like this have cropped up like this all across the area the region is calling the "intensification zone" - but luckily all the buildings don't block out the sky... usually. There's usually enough space between buildings to allow glimpses of the sky. 27.4 | Unfortunately part of the drive back home is not so fortunate. This collossal building you see with all the balconies is Sherkston La Mode... overpriced, tiny shoebox condos without a view. Not sure who thought they were luxury, if they were on the water I'd understand. But here, it just doesn't make sense. The other buildings are a little more reasonably priced, but still expensive. 27.5 | After a quick shower and small bite to eat we're off to meet up with a group of friends as we go out for the night. The sun is really setting now, and this part of town looks great with an orange glow. The buildings here are a little more upscale, but still maintain the awesome greenspace between all the buildings. They somehow managed to keep the grass under that canopy of trees more manicured than my neighbour's growing up... I wonder how they do that... 27.6 | Its pitch black when we begin to head back to our end of town. Immediately surrounding Highway 40 a massive development consisting of identical towers went up. Reports of people entering the wrong building at night were high for the first while, but they've declined to I suppose people are getting used to the mass-sameness of the development. It's almost freaky... 27.7 | And as we fall asleep on this night, lights that are still on are scattered throughout the city. The light pollution is rising as more skyscrapers and people find their way here. This area would have been a dark field not all that long ago...
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WELCOME TO ANOTHER UPDATE OF HD! Well, RL has finally decided to calm down a enough for me to be once again able to play SimCity and get to publishing full Holt District updates. I thank everyone for your patience during the update drought, and I'm glad you all enjoyed the teasers. But enough of reviewing, let's get on with the show! Today's update is a continuation of update 12 - examining some major changes in the Sherkston CBD area. Development has really taken off, so much so I still haven't showcased everything. But, we'll get back to it eventually, there's lots to see in the rest of the region. So let's go see the ever-changing skyline of Sherkston... TOURING SHERKSTON CBD - PART 2 13.1 | Picking up where we left off - this complex has transformed the area. The terrain around the area was raised for its construction, creating a distinct new office/hotel area near the interchange of highways 82 and 182. 13.2 | A further out view of the area, one can see how much development in the area has transformed the skyline. The city council is plotting what to do with the empty grass surrounding the area. 13.3 | Moving from the outskirts to the heart of the CBD, the changes continue. Equity Tower is a new addition to the skyline, housing Bank Orchidsen's new HQ. It is the building with a diamond glass pattern on the edge of the building. 13.4 | The "heart" of the CBD is growing outwards towards Highway 182. The Sherkston Complexe, as it is currently known, is a 2-tower office complex housing nearly 20,000 workers. The naming rights are currently going through a bidding process with the developer, and the winner should be announced soon. 13.5 | Accross town, the same developer constructed 2 other towers of a simmilar design. This complex, the OrCable Centre, was completed at the same time. This complex also houses around 20 000 workers. These 2 developments alone have created further strain on the housing market, which can't keep up with the pace of demand... 13.6 | Elsewhere, Hogan Companies, Ltd. - a large franchise operator - was recently completed. The pink marble/brick building towers in the CBD, filling in a previously paved over lot. The lot was at once time a parking lot, but sold to a developer 10 years ago. 13.7 | ...and to finish off a large swath the heart of Sherkston's CBD. This is the first time a view this large of Sherkston has been provided. Don't expect this view to stay the same for long... developers are salivating at the thought of developing upwards in many areas around the CBD, and possibly developing the Toyota Centre's parking lot... But wait... we're not finished! In celebration of Simtropolis' 10th Birthday, this photo is a Simtropolis exclusive! All I can say is... #BOLDNEWHD! Holt District continues to explode in terms of development. All signs point to it not stopping, but is that realistic? I can answer that question for you... it sure can. Holt District shows no signs of crumbling, and even the most conservative of analysts expect the boom to continue. Stay tuned to find out more about #BOLDNEWHD I'll be playing replies catch up in this version of Holt District over the next while. Thanks for your ongoing support. Hope you enjoyed the second part of the Sherkston CBD tour. Next update we will be moving on to elsewhere in the region... Stay tuned! #BOLDNEWHD
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Welcome to a Mini-Update of Holt District! Today we are investigating the following which was left at the end of update 8: "While a sea of cranes graces the Sherkston skyline, there are still symbols of the old times. The heritage of this building is a cultural symbol, and one of the most important site in the province. While skyscrapers appear around it, it remains largely the same." What exactly was that quote referring to? It was referring to the castle that sits just to the West of the Sherkston CBD. Fort Sherkston was constructed in the mid 1700's when settlers were arriving to what is now Sherkston. A prized area for its beauty and flat, easy to build-on land, the settlers moved inland away from the direct coast as a means of defending themselves from attackers. This specific castle/fort was constructed to house the area government and high-ranking government officials. While it was originally part of a larger fort, much of this fort was destroyed due to natural disasters and war. Surprisingly, this castle stood strong. It is not a symbol of where Holt District came from, and that if you restore it frequently enough, it will stand the test of time. Now, onto pictures! Fort Sherkston. Many call it a castle. It served as a government building for the former colony of Sherkston, where the current city got its name. It was in use as a government building until about the mid 1800s when a larger building was built in a territory north of the region. It was at that time the current province, Province of Orchidsen, was formed along with several others in surrounding areas. The first Orchidsen capital was not Sherkston, but rather a small city known as Italieu, about a 3 hour drive north of Sherkston. When the province relocated the capital to Sherkston at the start of the 20th century, this castle was declared a historic site. It was restored in the 1950's, and again in the early 2000s. ] This open space was the gathering place for those who resided in the former Sherkston colony. Official government announcements were often made to the public in this square. Those lucky enough to get a spot in the crowded courtyard we lucky enough to see the political figures, whom were highly regarded at that time - and seen as celebrities in the region. The "roundhouse" as the round section of this building is known housed the government leader and his/her family. They were treated like royalty, with servants doing everything from washing to cooking to entertaining. The position as leader of the colony was of course, a reputable one. Many envied the government family, seeking the lush and pampered lifestyle. That is why there was 24/7 security surrounding the entire fort... and it worked. There were no reports of attempted assassination's of government leaders in the colony's history. This tower, known as "Holt Tower" is a recent addition to this site. Historians have noted that the original location of this tower was actually where the lighthouse in Old Port now sits. It was used as a lookout tower during the 1700's. Historians estimate it was destroyed in the late-1700's when an attempt made by an opposing force to invade the region occured. The opposing force suceeded in destroying the tower, but not on their mission to gain control of the land. During the reconstruction of the Old Port lighthouse and surrounding residential development in the 1990's rubbel from the tower was discovered, and shipped to Sherkston where government officials decided to recreate Holt Tower by Fort Sherkston. Both old and new materials were used, and the restoration came in at a cost of approximately $5.6 million. Tours currently cost $3.95 per person, and will goes towards paying off restoration. Once restoration is paid off, tours will become free. And to end off this history lesson, contrast. While this castle/fort has remained relatively unchanged since the 1700s, the landscape around it hasn't stayed the same. The stark contrast of the new, ultra-modern condominiums and classic, stone castle/fort are proof of that. That is it for this mini-update! I hope you enjoyed a bit of a history lesson, and seeing that Sherkston is all one giant, modern CBD. Replies will be done next update. Be sure to check out information about the upcoming September 2012 Census Update! A massive update showcasing the latest developments and changes in population for the entire region. Click here for more information.
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Welcome to another update of Holt District! In today's update, we dive right into the Sherkston CBD / Downtown Sherkston Area. This area is the hub of commercial, office and high-paying jobs in the region. It has the highest concentration of jobs and skyscrapers in the region, and it is growing. Recently, an explosive building-boom has started in the city, following a loosening of planning regulations, again permitting the construction of super-tall skyscrapers in the region. Despite the recent explosion in building construction, there are still various different styles of buildings in the CBD, including some more historic buildings in the "very first" CBD in the region, the old Sherkston Downtown core. Now just a component of the enlargened-CBD, the historic area is still home to many jobs - from start-up internet firms to long-established retailers - the area is certainly not dead. So let's go check out the economic engine of the region! As a reminder, be sure to check out HDHIP - it is playing a HUGE part in the future of this CJ and the Holt District Region. Downtown Sherkston - Economic Engine 8.1 | This type of scene is becoming more common in Sherkston. Not just the tall buildings, but also the towering cranes. Several massive construction projects have started in the area, and the skyline is rapidly changing. *Click for full resolution! 8.2 | As the building boom begins to take off, we are brought to this area. This area is the epicentre of the last building boom, and it is clear by the large amount of glass and modern architecture of the buildings in the area. A former parking lot is currently being prepped for another large office building. A large, multi-national real estate firm is responsible for this development. *Click for full resolution! 8.3 | Here you can see a mix of the various buildings in Sherkston. You can see buildings recently completed (in the last 2 years, the large blue office building was completed) to buildings completed in the 1960's with few windows. On the left of the photo you can see 2 large construction projects. Those, along with the glass plot next to the project area, were intended to be a park until a change in planning for the city redesignated it as office space. *Click for full resolution! 8.4 | These 2 buildings, despite not being super sky-scrapers, are more recent to Sherkston. The beige building on the left is a large office building, housing general professional services including dentists, lawyers and notaries. To the right of the intersection; the dark, glass building was completed in 2009 and is the headquarters to the Holt District Regional Police Service (HDRPS.) Of course, no photo would be complete without construction. Here an abandoned factory building has been demolished and is being prepped for construction. No word on the plans for this site. *Click for full resolution! 8.5 |As mentioned, not all of Sherkston is suepr-modern skyscrapers. Between the massive construction sites at the bottom of the photo and the large glass office building, you can see the historic Downtown area of Sherkston, now known as "Old Down" to locals. The area is now home to internet firms, photography studio and several antique dealers. It is known as a hip area, and apartments are among the most expensive in the entire country, let alone the region. *Click for full resolution! 8.6 |As new offices and new jobs are added to the city, demand for houses continues to skyrocket. Here we see phase 1 of a 2 phase project rapidly moving along. The city is expected to receive a huge population boost from this development, in addition to others which are currently in the process of being planned. May expect a 50% increase in population by the next census, to about 200 000. Some are expecting a larger increase.The sight of cranes is becoming a common one. Those in existing condos don't sleep much these days... *Click for full resolution! And a little teaser for an upcoming mini-update, likely to occur mid-week: "While a sea of cranes graces the Sherkston skyline, there are still symbols of the old times. The heritage of this building is a cultural symbol, and one of the most important site in the province. While skyscrapers appear around it, it remains largely the same." Next Update: We are going to investigate the teaser quote above, and what it is referring to. Be sure to check out information about the upcoming September 2012 Census Update! A massive update showcasing the latest developments and changes in population for the entire region. Click here for more information.
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SHERKSTON CBD TEASER Today is just a quick tease to the next full update of Holt District which will see us in Sherkston's CBD. Replies will be done next update. Next update we will explore the Sherkston CBD in greater depth. Thanks again for your continued following!!
