Covington - Update 61 "Chestnut Hills and South River Bend"

[threestooges]

Oak Park (the neighborhood) looks great. It looks like a quiet little neighborhood and Oak Park (the park) is a great element in the neighborhood and will probably bring about the upscale development that the leaders hoped for, especially if the flowers look like that every year. I've seen a few of the narrow style avenue parks around here in LA, but they're rare. This will be an interesting area to watch develop, but don't let it lose its charm (I'm sure, if anything, it will only improve).
-Matt

[TheTeaCat]

Wow Jon

I am impressed
Sorry for my delay in getting here but I'm here now and I got the kettle boiling

Excellent updates with just the right amount of background info to make it all seem so ....
.....    Right (for the want of a better word)

I can see I am really looking forward to what you do here this month and
I hope you enjoy your month in the spotlight too.

regards
Derry

[JBSimio]

Joan:  Thank you!  Oops, I did it again?  (Somebody shoot me for that joke please!)  I really appreciate your kind words and I'm glad the city is coming together so well at this point.  And of course just as glad that you seem to like the results!

Simpson:  Thank you!  I haven't added much to the farmland lately, although there are some new areas around High Point that I've been slowly filling in.

Bat:  Thank you as always!

Pat:  Thanks my friend!  Your encouragement and enthusiasm are always so nice to hear.

Dustin:  Thank you!  I'm very happy with how Oak Park has turned out.  I spent a bunch of time marking half the houses historical today, so now it's time to wait for the others to catch up with their neighbors.  There are some nice houses on the southern edge of the neighborhood that are still available. 

Duane:  Thanks!  You and Dustin could be neighbors, perhaps!     I'm not sure how to solve the size problem, but if I remember correctly Disney may know something about that.

Paul:  Thanks!  The distinction between Indian Village and Shacktown came about fairly well.  I just had to wait for Indian Village to grow and establish itself before I started zoning Shacktown... and of course that historical button has been working overtime lately!  A pitch?  Now I'm not sure what you are talking about!      (That's right... two can play at this game my friend!) 

Edge:  Thank you!  Here comes some more...

Derry:  Thanks!  Good to see you out and about again!

Update Time!!!

Well, the next set of residential neighborhoods isn't quite ready for a full blown update yet.  So I thought we'd revisit downtown Covington and the surrounding areas today.  This will be a bit of a mixed bag, but I tried to keep some kind of theme going.  It is still very much a work in progress, but a lot has changed here lately.

10.01


This is the that same intersection of Freeman Mill Road and Randlemann Road just south of the overpass.  Remember the giant tower that used to be here looking all out of place and stuff?  Well, I managed to get rid of it and grow something a bit more similar to what I wanted there.  This housing project, known as the Coleman Housing Development, spills over onto two other tiles and all told is home to roughly 6000 people.  And, yes, it is still one of the roughest sections of town to live in.  It's almost hard to believe that Oak Park is only several blocks away from here.

10.02


Around the same time that the Coleman Housing Development was built, another large chunk of depressed real estate was redeveloped just north of downtown and across I-85 from Shacktown.  Known only as The Interchange, this development was built after the expressways literally destroyed what used to be here.  Home to nearly 9000 people, the conditions at this complex are slightly better than over at Coleman, but it is still a very transient place.

10.03


Just north of The Interchange is a neighborhood that doesn't look anything like I hope it will eventually.  This area sits between I-85 and Summit Avenue and will ultimately be nicer middle class rowhouses.  At the moment, I'm having trouble getting what I really want to grow there, but I liked the way this picture turned out, so I decided to show it anyway.

10.04


Across Summit Avenue is Northern Heights.  This neighborhood overlooks downtown across I-40.  As time goes on, property values here continue to climb and the neighborhood is in a constant state of change.  This area was originally brownstone walkups, but these are slowly giving way to midrise condominiums looking to capitalize on the views.

10.05


While the views of downtown are nice, Northern Hieghts also commands a pretty penny for its views to the west.  Just across Battleground Avenue is the manicured campus of UNCC.  It probably goes without saying that Northern Heights will be helping the tax base for quite some time, so we'll certainly have another look here later.

10.06


You may have noticed the glaring white building in several pictures over the last few updates.  Moses Cone Memorial Hostpital is the culprit.  Situated right downtown, it is also very close to the university and many students use the facilities for their hands on experience.

10.07


This is considered by many to be the "gateway" into downtown Covington.  Just across the overpass, Freeman Mill Road splits into one-way streets as it enters the business district.  Drivers are greeted by a rather impressive statue of the city's founder sitting in a large square in front of city hall.  (By the way... I absolutely HATE that pine tree there and really need to remember to fix that!)

10.08


While we're looking at squares, here is a view of Market Square which I mentioned somewhere along the line.  Not much else to say until this area gets finished for real... so I won't linger.

That wraps up today's progress report on the downtown area.  As you can see, there is still much to do... especially in the commercial district.  The demand is just beginning to go up so I'm hoping that downtown will begin to take shape in the near future.  I just thought it was worth looking now before the taller buildings begin to block all the views.  I leave you with the latest region shot where downtown is now beginning to show.

10.09


Thanks for reading!
JB

[Pat]

  Fantastic Update here Jon and if I am not mistaken there is a fix for the pine tree on the City Hall?  I cant remember if its on the stex or what But I will keep my eye out for it....   Loved the mayor's statue placement and that comon area around it!! see you next update...

[dragonshardz]

Great stuff there Jon!

[threestooges]

Well, you were right. Coleman Housing Development fits tht place better than the tower, and it's certainly easy for me to believe Oak Park (again, the neighborhood) is only a few blocks away. Near my old undergrad, it wasn't uncommon to transition between such neighborhoods multiple times in a matter of minutes. This just makes it all the more realistic. You show a great attention to detail and it really stands out in pics such as in the stairs of 10.03 and 10.04 as well as the little outlook coming off the park path in 10.04. A quick question though, when you say the students get 'hands on' experience from the hospital, are those the ones in the medical program, or are they the ones benefitting from the services after a long night partying (heh heh)? I don't say this about many MDs, but this one is one of my favorites. It's right up there with AVR if you're familiar with it. The detail and care really show. Well, now that law school has finished up for the year, I'll be able to get back to BATting a bit. I hope you don't mind if I have a question or two for you as I go. Take it easy, and I'll be looking forward to the next update.
-Matt

[oldrogue]

Very nice Jon..... am getting sucked into the storylines of each neighborhood as they unfold.... Out of curiosity, what's the population at the present time? 

I'm getting much better now...only twitched for a moment or two when saw the university pictures

Yeah, noticed the same line about the "hands on experience" and had several thoughts about which school the students were from.....medical?  Law? Morticians? 

Anyway, thanks for sharing again.

Duane

[thundercrack83]

Your work always pulls me in, my friend. Every time you have an update, I feel like I'm driving on the streets you're showing. It's absolutely amazing! Great work!

Dustin

[paroch]

Nice update there Jon.

Both Coleman and The Interchange are looking like gritty housing estates - like it!  Are all of the apartment blocks out of the SFBT stable or are any of them from elsewhere?  But wherever they're from you did a great job getting the layout just so (don't forgrt to make historical  ).

And I just love the overview, the way the town is shaped is very good.  Also, the way the development hugs the main roads into town is very realistic.

You're having a great month here!

Paul

p.s. I was tempted to refer to them as blocks of flats - but I guess that far too British

[bat]

That update is excellent as always! Great new overview of your region!

[Jmouse]

Excellent job on the neighborhoods, Jon! You've created a very realistic environment - it cannot have been easy to get such consistent results, but you have done it very effectively.

The "Gateway to Downtown" looks great, although I agree the pine tree has to go. I do like the way you've done the government complex, though. The Market Square is looking good as well, and the overview makes a nice wrap-up.

You certainly are making the best of your month in the spotlight!

Until next time...
Joan

[TopCliff]

Did somebody mention Oak Park? Oak Park also the name for Hell on Earth for the Sacramento area? At least your Oak Park doesn't have drive-by's every ten minutes. Great job on downtown Covington. Keep up the good work dude.

[TheTeaCat]

Hey Jon,

I barely had the chance to catch up on the last update and you slip in another real quick and
an impressive one it is too

I really like the Coleman estate - gritty but not too much. Great choice of plugins you got to grow there

And agreeing with everybody that Pine tree - I can hear the buzz of the chainsaw in the distance.
Hope the wood will be used in an environmentally friendly way - Some new benches for the area?

All in all a great update, nice one mate


TTC

[JBSimio]

Pat:  Thanks!  I remembered to fix city hall while triming out the court house block.  I just bulldozed it, plopped it again and hoped for some normal trees!  (Which I got, by the way)

Dragonshardz:  Thank you!

Matt:  Thanks!  Yes, it is very typical for city sections to go from bad to good in a matter of blocks.  It still always makes me wonder why though.  I've heard the hospital does a lot of both things for the students.   I think it all depends on the individual really...     Congratulations of wrapping up another semester, and feel free to ask away if you need to!

Duane:  Thank you!  The region population is around 160,000 as of this morning.  I'm not sure if the law school practices against the hospital or not.  I would think that might create a few conflicts that the university would prefer to aviod.

Dustin:  Thank you!  Your comment really means a lot and I'm glad to see I must be doing something right!   

Paul:  Thanks!  All of those apartments are indeed SFBT creations... and very fine ones at that.  They were a perfect fit for the look I was aiming for.  There will be others in use when I get a little further into the outlying areas though.  I've been told that I actually act more European than American in a lot of ways, so feel free to call things whatever you like.  (Just be warned that I'll probably poke fun though...  )

Bat:  Thanks!

Joan:  Thank you!  The "gateway" idea is something that I think I stole from Greensboro, but I can't honestly remember for sure.  I know the roads did something very similar, but I don't know if it was "dressed up" or not.  Either way, it seemed appropriate to me... so if anyone in authority from Greensboro is reading, you should copy this idea if it isn't there yet!   

Topcliff:  Thanks!  Oak Park is hell on earth in Sacramento?  I had no idea... they should move to Covington, I guess. 

Derry:  Thank you!  In a rather large (and probably frivolous) undertaking, the pine tree from city hall was actually moved across the city and transplanted at a higher elevation where it was considered more asthetically pleasing.  Given the amounts of diesel fuel used by the trucks, the jury is still out on just how environmentally friendly this whole idea really turned out to be.

Update Time!!!

And it's kind of a long one, too!  The time has come to have a look at what is so far my favorite neighborhood.  Actually, truth be told, this is technically two neighborhoods, although they mostly flow one into the other.  The Benjamin Parkway Historic District is the largest registered and protected historic district in the city.  Just west of this is Washington Heights, which is really part of the same neighborhood, but isn't listed with the state.  Let's have a look at the map and get oriented.

11.01


Benjamin Parkway begins downtown and runs northwest out to Holden Road.  In some areas it is as wide as a normal city block with open green areas dividing the travel lanes.  This area was once home to the wealthiest city leaders.  Railroad barons, industrialists, and politicians all built here and shaped the area.  The historic district is shaded in and extends from the cemetary on the east to Aycock Road on the west.

11.02


Beginning downtown and headed west, this is an overview of the neighborhood...

11.03


... moving a little further west, you can see Aycock Road which is the "official" line between the two neighborhoods...

11.04


The last overview shows the beginnings of Washington Heights.  (I'm not completely finished this far out, so you'll just have to wait for the western end of the parkway.  For now, lets head back to the beginning for the close ups.

11.05


This view probably sums up Benjamin Parkway as well as anything could.  A number of churches dot the neighborhood.  The houses are turn of the century gems that are lovingly maintained along the tree lined streets.

11.06


Unlike many typical urban schools, Parkside Elementary is consistently ranked as one of the best schools in the region.  The original school that sat here was damaged beyond salvation by torrential rains and flooding in the aftermath of a hurricane back around 1946.  The current building opened 7 years later and is the newest structure you'll find anywhere in the historic district.

11.07


Just north of Parkside is Central High School.  Sitting higher on the hill undoubtedly saved this building from a similar fate years ago.  This high school serves most of the downtown area and is packed full of kids during the week.  Expansion would be truly beneficial, but the building itself cannot be changed because of the historic district regulations.

11.08


Moving west on Benjamin Parkway, we can see what would be considered a little stange in most places... residential houses built right on such a major road?  What the?  It's a fairly typical feature here as many of the houses were situated to take advantage of the views and open space inside the parkway.

11.09


While not in the historic district, Peace Lutheran Church and School is also registered on state and national listings for historical structures.  This large church dates back to 1904 and the original school building was added next door around 1912.  Since then, the two separate buildings have seen several additions and grown together into one large structure.  The private elementary school eductation is very well respected, although a bit expensive.

11.10


A little further along Benjamin Parkway is Washington High School.  We are officially in Washington Heights now, and this school is an example of what could have happened if the historic district hadn't been so well protected.  Washington High School was built to relieve the pressure felt by Central High School but came at a steep cost to the neighborhood.  Roughly three blocks of old houses were leveled to make room for this sprawling complex.

11.11


This is just another example of what a nice area this is.  There is currently a grass roots organization that is trying very hard to get Washington Heights listed on the historical register.  The borders of this neighborhood are under developmental pressure.  Friendly Avenue is a major commercial strip to the south and Holden Road to the west is growing into a major traffic route, especially with the I-40 exit so nearby.  Many residents feel that without some kind of government intervention, the injustices of Washington High School will only repeat themselves more and more.  The proposal stands a very good chance of getting passed, if for no other reason than because the city hopes it can make up for the controversy caused by building Washington High.

11.12


And finally a parting region shot... just because it's my thread and I can! 

Thanks for reading!
JB

[paroch]

Hi there Jon,

What a great update.  The street map really impresses me.  I'd also be interested to know how you make it.

I can see wht these neighbourhoods are your favourites, they certainly have a lot of charm.  That little church and its surroundings are very nice indeed.  And the schools are beautifully showcased, a nice little story about each, nice ground and of course they are great bats.....I wonder who made them?

I think 11.08 is my favourite picture, those houses withthe curved frontages just sit so well there. 

And with overviews like that, why not finish with one each time.

Great stuff.

[TopCliff]

That looks awesome dude. And yes, Oak Park is hell on Earth. Compton has nothiing on Oak Park, no joke. Anyways, looks great, the use of those old style homes is great there There is one thing that's lacking from that area that would truly make this an all-American city. I'll tell ya' after you do the next replies.

[threestooges]

Jon,
I couldn't tell you why they do it either. I'm still trying to figure out how a 12-lane highway (well, 6 lanes at least) can turn into a parking lot as a result of someone tapping their brakes. The neighborhood looks nice, but the schools are really interesting. Central High School reminds me of my high school. On the historic registry and no ability to upgrade. It's nice to keep the historical look, but a shame that it can't be upgraded or changed. We have a running track that is under-sized. Since our field is on the historic registry, we can't update it and unfortunately can't host home meets. Granted, being on the registry is good in that it'll keep its look. I'm sure you've seen a few such instances but I digress. The neighborhoods show some great character, and it will be interesting to see if Washington Heights can make it onto the registry or if it will see the effects of further development. At any rate, hope all is well and I'll see you next update.
-Matt

[oldrogue]

Excellent as always Jon.....08 is also my favorite of the pics.....the housing is perfect for that view.

[thundercrack83]

Another fantastic update, Jon! Your neighborhoods are splendid, as always, my friend. I will definitely be looking forward to more!

Dustin

[Jmouse]

Jon, this is great! Those overviews really show off your transport-layout skills - hope you won't mind if I copy you in my test region (my eyes only! )

Love the houses and church in 11.05, especially that house with the rounded porch in the upper left quad. You've done a good job on the schools, and Peace Lutheran Church/School in 11.09 is my favorite. The school buses (cheese wagons as my kids used to call them!) add a nice touch of realism, and you have worked in the other elements very well. I do wonder a bit about the lack of parking at Parkside Elementary (11.06), but your campuses do look good and I like the slightly uneven terrain. Washington H.S. is kind of a blast from the past for me, and you've created a really nice campus there.

Overall, Washington Heights looks great, and I continue to enjoy seeing the different ambiance you create in the various neighborhoods. Each one has its own personality - so typical of RL but not easy to achieve in game.

And I cannot leave without complimenting you on your latest map - didn't take you long to perfect the technique!

Until next time...
Joan