Greenacre

[Tomas Neto]

Very nice update!!!

[tooheys]

Hi Matt

Looking at the latest update, you have done some nice work with the parks and breakwater lots. The aquarium and carpark look great where they're placed. 

I have the institute in my plugins but haven't used it yet in my MD. I would only suggest you push it a little further offshore. Perhaps build a single tile wide causeway out 5-10 grid squares and connect it to the end. I just think that lot needs to be placed a little off the coastline.

Overall though, splendid work as always.

Dave

[threestooges]

Replies:

-Robin (rooker1): Greenacre is still alive and well. You're not going to get rid of me that easily, heh heh. As for the current progress of the area, I fully agree, more stuff and things will be added, and the POI fortunately floats, so moving it is as simple as resetting its anchors (which for a facility that size, it's still a big job, but not so bad as rebuilding it). Contractors are presently casting the new anchors and the move should be done shortly.


-Guillaume (Sciurus): Oh there will be more development over that way for sure, but for this area in general I though I would try a new style of updating. All the previous updates were areas that were pretty much finished. I wanted to see how it would work showing the development process. I plan to develop the areas across from the park and below that before moving to the POI again. If you have any suggestions for that area, I'm listening. Random question for you: do you do anything related to ski lifts? I was showing Greenacre to a friend of mine who gets around those forums and he thought your name sounded familiar.


-Battlecat: Citynut did a fine job with the SeaWorld lot of his. Certainly much better than I could do (the LE scares me, heh heh) though it seems you've been doing a fine job lotting yourself these days. Sorry I haven't been posting much in Adara lately, but I'm certainly keeping an eye on things. The park was one of those things that just sort of happened. I knew I wanted to connect the two things as one sort of facility and a park just seemed to be the right thing, along with a couple of fountains to keep the water theme going.


-Thomas Neto: Welcome to Greenacre, and thanks.


-Dave (tooheys): Great to see you! Funny you should suggest moving the POI 5-10 spaces out along a single-tile causeway, because I think the actual count was about 7 spaces (perhaps 8 if you count the extra land tile) as you'll see in the pictures below. The POI works like a nice little university as well as looking neat. I'll be keeping an eye out to see how it's used in Clontarf.



Right then. Back to where we've been the last couple of times. Yes, it has been a while, so here's a pic to refresh your recollection:

11.01


This is what we were left with after our last visit. You'll notice (as some of you have commented already) that there's still some vacant land across the street from the park. Developers have been eyeing it. Some were smart enough to get in before the aquarium and such were built so we'll likely see some good money go into the properties as a result.

11.02


But first, the Oceanic Institute. As some folks have noted, it's a wee bit close to the shore. How was this determined? Well, it's a floating structure anchored to the sea floor. It can move a bit with the tides. I think they decided it was too close to shore when a wave brought it up on shore one morning and cracked one of the tanks. They told me it was a great sushi buffet that day... I still don't know if they were joking.

At any rate, it was a simple matter of moving the anchors (cheaper to redo those than the entire building) and float it out to its new home. To protect the causeway, which is nearly at sea level, concrete blocks were sunk alongside of it. They serve as a breakwater, and also add strength to the road itself, helping prevent lateral movement caused by the waves.

11.03


You may have noticed a bit of development already having taken place across the street from the park. Before we take a look at that all, here's a look at the zoning plat for the area.

11.04


Looks pretty sparse doesn't it? Most of it is zoned for medium density development, so the roads will be quite well used and the area should fill in nicely. Throw in a few parks, some various recreation areas, like some grass tennis courts, sponsored by the NUTs Development Group and you get something that looks like this:

11.05


A close up of the aforementioned tennis courts:

11.06


You also get a marina for all the new residents and their boats. Sticking out into the bay, this is a semi private marina. The slips are rented from the city, but the marina, boat ramp and all such similar facilities are open to the public. A few folks even live aboard their ships here. For what it costs for a slip rental, I don't blame them. Some of those things rent for as much as an apartment would.

11.06


One issue that had to be addressed was how to safely get people from the condos and apartments to the park. There are cross walks at the intersections, but most people would likely just cross the road where they were, especially when the park paths are just a short hop across the grass.

11.07


So, in order to reduce stoppage time for traffic while ensuring safer pedestrian access to the park, footbridges were built along the road connecting to the park.

11.08


The footbridges weren't the only thing to change after the development began. Commercial demand spiked with the new residents nearby. That, coupled with the research being conducted at the POI, made the area appealing to several companies who filled in some of the prime office space of the island. These towers overlook not one, but two marinas.

11.09


Yes, that's right. I said two marinas. Where's the second one? You remember that road that extended south from the aquarium? The one with the power poles along it? If you want to go back and look, take a peek at 11.02.

Well, the power lines were taken down (mostly from complaints from the local residents) and put underground, and a new marina went up. This one is more tourist/vistor oriented than its counterpart. It shares the same bay as the main public beaches in the resort area (we'll see those in a future update) and as a result, sees a lot of charters and visitors. There's a nice little sail-up food court where attendants will escort you off your boat and take care of it for you while you eat. Presumably they put it in a slip, but I'd bet there have been more than a few joyrides. A few boardwalk shops and a few shops along the street make this a relaxing spot for the locals too. A second boat ramp is present here, which is handy if the other one gets full.

11.10


That should bring us up to speed on the recent developments of the area. I'll leave you here with an overview of progress to-date on the new developments in this area. Our next visit will take us further down the road at the top of this pic (going southwest) to what's known as "The Peninsula" which is now home to some of those fancy, high priced condos. For now though, here's what we have so far.

11.11


Let me know if there is an area of this update you'd like to see more of, or that you didn't think I covered well enough. I'd be happy to show a bit more in the next update. Other than that, let me know what you think.
-Matt

[Yan077]

Nice update 
The regional map  is spectacular 

[Jmouse]

Development is looking really good, Matt! And if you got those condos to grow, you were either very lucky or spent a lot of time waiting for them to pop up that way. I really like the wall seen in 11.05 and .06, too. And what a spectacular view the marina and park provide. Very attractive park, BTW.

Overall, there's been much improvement in and around this little peninsular - I really like what I see. And apologies for not posting after the last update. I thought I had, but guess that was because we discussed it in chat.

Good job on this one...
Joan

[rooker1]

Hey Matt,
You didn't have to move the POI just for me, but luckily for you and the town that it was floating.  I never realized that.
Now what really amazes me is this....
Your very first post in this great MD on December 24th you posted this picture of your map.


Today we see that the cities have gotten a lot larger but the map remains just about the same. 

The terraforming and shores are so similiar that I am very jealous of your skills, but mostly your will and patience to work with what you were given in your map.  I usually tear the land apart and totally end up with something different than I had started with.  Bravo to you my friend.
Another fantastic update on the books!

BTW, I am waiting patiently for something from you.
Talk to you later about this.

Robin 

[Battlecat]

Beautiful work as alway!  That coastal area and the marina look fantastic!  You got a nice variety of homes developed up in that area.  Looking forward to seeing what you do with the rest of the island. 

[Albus of Garaway]

Gosh, I really need to start keeping up with some of these wonderful MD's again!

You've improved ten fold since the last time I visited, which is impressive, considering that you were wonderful then as well. My favorite area this update is the condos near the marina. Each one is placed perfectly, snuggled into the greenery surrounding them. They must be extremely expensive, especially with an ocean view!

I'm looking forward to the next update, whenever it may be.

-Jason

[tooheys]

I'll be keeping an eye out to see how it's used in Clontarf.

I said it was in my plugins, not that I was going to use it  But, then again how could I resist a challenge like that. I'm sure it'll turn up somewhere in the first 50 or so updates 

Matt that is a beautiful region shot and I must agree with Robin that you work the terrain well without any significant terraforming to the original layout. That certainly does take some skill.

The marinas look grand and well laid out. Those tennis courts catch the eye too, nice.

This is turning into a very attractive tourist area  and I'm looking forward to more.

Cheers

Dave

[threestooges]

Replies:
-Yan077: Thanks Yan, and welcome to Greenacre. I've actually updated it to reflect the most recent developments for this update. There have been a few developments that needed to be accounted for. Thanks for stopping by.


-Joan (Jmouse): Let's just say I'm on a first name basis with everyone in Greenacre who owns a bulldozer. A little luck doesn't hurt though, and every once in a while, a plop might be necessary. The wall you referred to is by Jeronij, and is one of my favorite terracing tricks (if you can call it that). It's so versatile and seems to fit in almost anywhere. While this is one of the higher rent areas, the real views, and the resulting high prices are found further on down the peninsula where we are going today. No worries about posting either. It should never feel like an obligation. Besides, chatting about it over MSN usually gives me a few ideas to play with. Always good to read what you have to say though.


-Robin (Rooker1): Oh yes, the floating tower is just one of the many innovative features about that facility. It does bob a bit on a stormy day though... which never leaves the custodians in a good mood after a group of elementary kids go through on a tour, or anyone who happens to get a bit seasick...

Part of the trick with the Region Map is that I often recycle it until there is some significant new development. Today will be a new one. Feel free to compare it to see how it looks. This will show all the old developments as well as a few that I'm working on that have not yet been shown. What exactly those are remains to be seen, but I'm sure you could probably spot one or two new things.


-Battlecat: Variety was one of the things I was looking for here. With such a small area, unless it's part of a housing development, repetition would stick out like a sore thumb. I haven't worked with medium and high density much, but there are some nice options available.


-Jason (Albus of Garaway): Good to see you again my friend, and thanks for the kind words. I'm sure I could find a few pics from way back when that would cause you to question my skills though, heh heh. All part of the fun though, and you never stop learning. Considering the part of the island they're on, they also have a fine view of the bay too. The ocean views are nice, but I kind of like the views toward the harbor and Navy base myself. More to see. Shouldn't be too long of a wait for an update (about as long as it takes to scroll down a bit). Hope you enjoy it.


-Dave (tooheys): Heh heh, just trying to keep you on your toes. I'll hold you to that 50 update thing too. Coming from someone who works as well with the terrain as you do, that's a fine compliment. I know you develop yours as you go, but from what I've seen you sculpt first, then build, and still hold close to the original plan. Hope you like the upcoming area too.


So as I mentioned to Robin, I have an updated region map for you all. This should incorporate all the old developments and a few new ones (anyone care to guess where/what they are?). Clicking on the image, as usual, will link to a larger version for your viewing pleasure.



So, I thought about various ways to take you on a tour of this next area. Nothing really worked from any of the ways that have worked before. So, I decided to try something new. An aerial overview. Essentially a small scale of something Darmok did from time to time in Anduin Valley Revisited by Darmok with his amazing region mosaics (and I don't mean from region view either, he went for city level zooms).

Just south of the marinas (well, more west... well, kind of south west) is a peninsula that boasts some of the highest rents in the entirety of Greenacre. Some people have built private villas out here, and a few people even opted to keep the old beach houses that were originally here (you'll pay $4-5million for a 2 bedroom + 2 bath home on a fairly small lot, but there are people that will pay it), but the area is mostly filled with condos. There is a small "main street" type area that's a holdover from the area's beach-town days, but even that has begun to show signs of the increased wealth, though it still maintains it's original look. That Italian restaurant is said to be exquisite. There is also, to the left of the shot, the Swan Majestic. Most of their facilities are inside, but there is talk of them purchasing the land across the median from them to expand. It's a swanky hotel with a steakhouse whose prices are... well, not cheap. I haven't eaten there yet, the city won't reimburse me for it... says it's a luxury item or something like that... oh well. At any rate, I hope you enjoy.

Let me know if there are any areas you'd like to see closer up, and if there are any suggestions you have for the area. As with the picture above, click on it to open it to it's full size (2815x2036)



-Matt

[CasperVg]

Another one of those excellent Greenacre Updates awaits... and this one looks pretty good! Those highwealth condo's and beach houses really do reflect the wealthiness of the area very well. The red cobblestone streets and the BSC Park Trails go together very nicely, and do also convey the wealth well. I also like the usage of the FAR Curves, the double 90°-curves in the bottom-right corner in particular. The only thing I'm not sure about it is the Swan Majestic; while it is a splendid BAT, it seems to be made for downtown cores, and doesn't seem to fit into a beachfront (IMO).

Oh, by the way, name me a date and time and I'll arrange dinner in the Italian restaurant. The bill is on me 

[rooker1]

Hey Matt,

I do like the marina and the area there.  If I had that kind of money, that would be the place I'd like to live, provided I had my own boat.
Maybe one like this.


And this is me zooming around the Greenacre Islands


Anyways Matt, I wish the area had more trees along the shores, maybe even a meandering path along the shores.  I think the water needs some life as well.  I like how all the buildings in the area are of the same hieght....except for the one building.  I also know that you usually let grow what will grow, but across form the tall building, maybe you could get another building to grow of similiar size or at least half.  It's just that the tall one really stands out....IMHO.
I hope this new marina is protected well from the high seas. I wouldn't want my boat to get damaged.  Maybe a line of rocks would add a good amout of protection, if needed of course.
As for the new regional map....I first thank you for the update and you can be assured to know I well be examining it later for all the differences I can find......and I may even come back with them all circled and numbered in order of interest for up coming updates.
Have a great day and thanks for starting mine off great with this great update. Alot of "greats" In one sentence, eh

Looking for the next chess game when you have the chance.

Seeya around Matt,
Robin 

[Battlecat]

Nice job on the latest update!  That's a fantastic mosaic! 

[woodb3kmaster]

Fantastic job, Matt! This are reminds me a bit of the Belmont Shore part of Long Beach, albeit on a smaller scale. Very cozy.

Looking forward to more from Greenacre!

[Tomas Neto]

Very nice region, great work on the last update my friend!!! 

[Tarkus]

Matt, it's been far too long since I've stopped by here.  The marina area there looks very nice, and I enjoyed the closer-in look at it.  I'm also absolutely impressed with your use of the water flora there--you seem to be a master of it.  I think you've adapted very well to the challenges that the region you're building on presents.

As far as suggestions go on the marina area, I'm kind of wondering if the little end of that dead-end road on the north end of the little peninsula might fit better as a Street. 

And for my guess as to where the marina area is located, I'm inclined to think it might be on that hook-shaped island on the eastern edge of the region.

-Alex

[Jmouse]

Very nice mosaic, Matt - the details bear careful study. You've chosen your BATs well – one would expect to see luxury condos in a choice spot like this. I like the brick pathways, too. Overall, you've successfully turned a little peninsular into a playground for the rich and famous!

Good work...
Joan

[Scarton]

Nice region. Which one did you use, or is it yours? Your cities look perfectly developed, from the region view.

[threestooges]

Replies:
-Casper (caspervg): Thanks Casper. I'm glad the high-wealth touch carried through. Funny enough, I had the street mod before the parks and the streets were what helped my decision about which park set to go with. They do blend nicely. I was hoping for something a bit larger to grow into that area with the double-90's but I think it ended up well enough as it is. Time will tell though if someone wants to build it up a bit more. I doubt the planning board would say no. As for the Swan Majestic, it may be at home in urban cores, but I think it can work where it is here. It may just need some more land to call its own. This update will test that hypothesis.


-Robin (rooker1): I agree with the water needing more life to it, especially with such clarity. I'll get to it bit by bit, but I'm going to try to nail down the peninsula itself first. Paths along the water are an interesting idea. I was wondering what, if anything, to do with the shore. I like the natural approach, but I'm not sure how well an RRP path would fit in with the formal paths of the BSC parks. I'll see how things look. Also, while the marinas are sheltered as part of being in the bay, a breakwater might actually be a good addition. I've been experimenting with a new rock barrier thing in this update to serve as a substitute for Jeroni's breakwater set, so let me know what you think of it.


-Battlecat: Thanks! Based on how well this worked, I may actually try to do a city tile like this.


-woodb3kmaster: You know. I live in the LA area, but I've never been over there. I ought to check it out if I'm ever over there. Glad you enjoyed it.


-Tomas Neto: Thanks Tomas, and good to see you here again.


-Alex (Tarkus): Always good to see you Alex. Glad you liked the marina areas so far, and you're right as to their location in the region too. Not sure development is quite done there yet, they almost feel like something's missing. I'm glad you liked the flora touches though. I wouldn't say I was that skilled with it yet, but it's fun to work with. As for the road/street thing, I think a street would work well there too, but the traffic density is just enough that a street would become horribly congested. As one of the resident transit geniuses here, if you happen to have any suggestions I'd love to pass them along to the GDOT.


-Joan (Jmouse): Glad you enjoyed it. I figured it would be better than trying to pick out the best pictures from the area. It's amazing how far this area has developed from where it first started. How's the development style of presentation working? If it's enjoyable I may keep it up for a while. Hope all is well.


-citycapitalizer: Thanks, and welcome to Greenacre! I made the region myself several years ago using the basic Maxis terraforming tools. Glad to hear things are looking good, and I hope to see you around.


Welcome back everyone. Today we continue our tour of Topley Bay's redevelopment efforts. A number of comments have been fielded regarding one area in particular: the hotel near the marinas. It was noted that it seemed to stick out a bit and seemed out of place. Part of that, in my opinion at least was the lack of external amenities. Having a pool inside and all is nice, but it seems that it wasn't enough for their needs. Recently they acquired property across the road from them.

13.01


The first steps they took were to get rid of the parking lot that filled the median and clearing the buildings from the land for their expansion. Taking advantage of this, the road was re-aligned to create a tree-lined avenue. This minimizes the need for cars to slow down for the turn, and has helped ease traffic.

13.02


With the expected increase in guest traffic, as well as vehicle traffic, the hotel installed a parking garage for its guests, and a pedestrian overpass to make it easier (and safer) for their guests to access their soon-to-be installed ameneties.

13.03


They engaged in a bit of land reclamation to enlarge their property. Environmental Impact analyses forecasted minimal impact

13.04


A pool, complete with hottubs (for the adults) and waterslides (for the kids), grass tennis courts, and a seaside restaurant filled in the area.

13.05


To prevent washing away their newly built features, they looked into installing a seawall. None of the existing designs fit the bill so they went with something custom. Here's their first try:

13.06


Eesh... The rocks were a bit small, and it didn't quite work. Their second attempt involved larger rocks to brack up the waves and smaller ones to fill in the gaps. Plant life took to this area quickly.

13.07


An up-close view of the new work.

13.08


Here's the area when all the work was said and done.

13.09


Finally, one last view from more or less the same position as the first one of this update.

13.10


Let me know what you think.
-Matt

[Battlecat]

Nice update!  The new amenities fit the area nicely.  Also a very classy job on that custom breakwater, it looks fantastic!  Which rocks are those?