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

[Simpson]

Welcome to page 26

Nice newspaper my friend
Also congratulation for 500 replies in your MD

[rooker1]

Hey Jon,

You did it.   
It was my pleasure to move your fantastic MD to the Classics Section.

Robin 

[payce2tw]

How's that for an early birthday present?

[Battlecat]

Beautiful work!  I like how your urban areas are so green, it's very inviting! 

[paroch]

Hi Jon,

Great to see an update here - and a MASSIVE congrats on reaching the CLASSICS, where Covington belongs IMHO.

Loved the story and glad to see the Sisson family are still doing theirn thang in Covington!

Regards

Paul

[Pikatchoum]

Wonderful campus ! I looked every pic comparing your campus and mine in real life. I just can say you made a trully good job, it's very realistic.  Interesting newspaper too.

[dragonshardz]

I can't wait to see the new minor league stadium and the finished convention center!

[danielcote]

I hope youll update soon because you havn't updated for weeks!

[JBSimio]

Matt:  Thank you!  As you'll see, the eminent domain issue actually did become a factor... 

Arthur:  Thanks!  I'm glad you liked the video.  I'm hoping to do another sometime in the not too distant future.

Bat:  Thank you!

Joan:  Thanks!  Unfortunately it took a lot longer than I ever imagined!

Pat:  Thank you!

Simpson:  Thanks for the final push! 

Robin:  Thank you so much my friend!

Mom:  Wow... was my birthday that long ago already?!? 

Battlecat:  Thank you and welcome to Covington!

Paul:  Thank you!  The Sisson family seems to prosper no matter where they end up!

Pikatchoum:  Thank you!  I'm glad you liked it.

Dragonshardz:  Well, half of your wait is over after this one...

Danielcote:  I think I will update pretty soon... maybe in the next minute or so? 

AACK!!!  It was bound to happen sooner or later, but I really didn't mean to let this languish for so long.  Thing got extremely hectic around here over the last month or so and I just didn't have much time for anything.  Unfortunately, I managed to get myself kicked into the inactive section.     Hopefully, things will get back to normal during the next few weeks.  There are still many things to do and see in Covington, and anyone who wants to participate is more than welcome to come along for the ride.  So while it may be long overdue, it is finally....

Update Time!!!

Despite my failure to keep up with regular updates during the past month, there have been some things happening in Covington.  I haven't managed to accomplish as much as I would have hoped, but you can see that the metro area continues to fill in:

32.01


This is roughly what things looked like when we last saw the city.

32.02


I managed to finish filling in The Barrens along the south eastern side of town.

32.03


The corridor along I-85 and Summit Avenue has filled in nicely as you'll see shortly.

32.04


And finally a little more work on the east side between Lee Street and I-40.

There are three major traffic corridors heading north from downtown Covington all of which run basically parrallel to each other.  Summit Avenue and the rail lines were built years ago and made the north side an interesting (although often messy) mix of various zoning areas.  Industry grew up around the tracks, while residential and commercial developers battled over the busy avenue nearby.  Interstate 85 was added much later and made the mess even... um... messier.  Many industries were bulldozed to make way for the highway, while others were cut off from the rail lines after the interstate was finished.

32.05


Redevelopment of these old industrial areas eventually gave way to any number of different things.  A number of large parcels were built over as larger apartment complexes such as this one here.  Sutter Ridge was squeezed in between I-85 and Summit Avenue.  Although not the nicest apartments in town, they are convenient to both major arteries and shopping for the kid's Christmas is always very easy here.  (Is it just me, or are all of Covington's recent apartment developments designed by the same guy?)

32.06


Just north of Sutter Ridge is another residential development.  Goober Terrace offers townhomes for lease with options to buy.  A small walking and biking trail winds through the complex.  The trail is too short to really provide much in the way of exercise and it doesn't really connect to any other trails, so maybe it was just built to make catching the bus easier.  I'm really not sure to be honest.  I gave up trying to decipher the whims of modern apartment designers long ago.

32.07


Summit Avenue continues to develop as a major commercial corridor.  All the extra people brought in by the aparment complexes have even begun leading to larger big box stores.  This intersection with Cone Boulevard promises to be a very busy area as the development continues to grow outward.

32.08


The population boom also led to the need for larger schools on the north side.  Just west of Summit Avenue is a large school serving elementary and high school grade levels.  Eventually, this building will probably just serve one or the other.  For now the city just needed more space as quickly as possible and opted to start with one building.

32.09


Despite the supposed rush to get the school up and running, the city seemed to have time for a pretty large football field here.  Kind of makes you wonder what the true priorities are when it comes to education around here, doesn't it?

32.10


Speaking of sports, the new stadium for the Piedmont Pirates should be open just in time for the new season!  The final location ended up being completely different from the original plan.  The city seems bound and determined to give Shacktown a makeover, but they're just not having it.  The new park ended up being placed where High Point Road curves into Lee Street just south west of downtown.

32.11


Although it may not have been the original plan, the new location should provide great views of downtown for baseball fans.  Mayor Simio remains hopeful that this new stadium is just step one in preparing Covington for its next big building boom.  Now if they could just finish building that darn convention center... 

Thanks for reading!!!

JB

[art128]

Stunning update Jon, your region shot is always vert impressive my friend and always really realistic. 
Also, the old industrial area redeveloped looks excellent.
Can't wait the next update,
Arthur.

[vester]

Looking great. Very American, but well you are American.


Love those fields of yours.

[bakerton]

Wonderful job. I do hope things work out fine for you in the coming weeks. JKB

[danielcote]

Hey its Dan again remember the lurker who didn't have an account who got an account and was a commenter then a lurker again because this dang loggin didnt let me in so I got an account again and Im back so    ...... hi   

Any ways nice appartments actualy if I was a bachelor with a room mate or a couple I'd love those appartments! also love the use of spa. Keep adding spa have to have spa guuughaa  ...... what the buiscuits are burning oh never mind that was embaraceing. Teehee!  Oh and Urbinize downtown for me will ya! Thanx 

[Pat]

What was this ohh wow OMG its Jon wow!!!! hehehe Sorry bout dat one, anywho there Jon I like how the region view is filling out here in convington and man its stunning!!! I would swear to you I am looking at google earth or something??? OK Am I seeing something there with your new residentails there hmmm??? WOW they look sweet with the redevolpment of the industrial area... I cant wait to see you again!!!

Patrick

[threestooges]

Inactive or not, so long as you don't leave it incomplete. Good things are worth waiting for. I love your apartment communities (something I need to work on, it's tough try to get homogenaity) and it certainly seems like educational (and sports) venues are well cared for in the area. Good to see Covington back in the swing of things.
-Matt

[bat]

Nice views of that part of your city! And the overviews are also really nice! Wonderful work on that city!

[JBSimio]

Arthur:  Thank you!  As you'll see, I'm trying to make the close ups a little more realistic too. 

Vester:  Thanks!  Yes... contrary to popular opinion, I am indeed American (at least on paper, anyway!) 

Jon:  Thank you!

Danielcote:  Thanks!  I've known many people who live in similar apartments myself.  I too have lived in a couple back in my younger days.  Downtown will urbanize as the city grows... keep in mind that Covington itself is probably still under 175,000 people.  (The entire region hasn't even hit 300,000 yet!)

Pat:  Jon?!?  Where?!?     Yes... I'm trying to get back in the swing of things around here.  I think you'll be seeing some of the new residentials yourself quite soon.  Thank you for the kind words, my friend!

Matt:  Thank you!  I don't think I'll be dropping Covington anytime soon... there's still so much to do!  The apartment complexes are mostly an exercise in patience.  Goober Terrace took quite a bit of bulldozing before I finally got all of them to match.  The "make historical" button is key... but with so many buildings competing for the same lot size, it gets tough to wait it out sometimes.

Bat:  Thank you!

Update Time!!!

While trying to get back into playing a little more again, I decided it was about time I downloaded a few things that I had missed during the last month or two.  It goes without saying that the March 2009 NAM was on the list!  Now many people have mentioned that my particular style of transportation networks would look even better if I were to use FAR and FARR instead of just looking at them from afar.  (Did I just confuse anyone other than myself?)  So... I thought I'd give it a go and see what happened.

33.01


Since I know from some of the other NAM gradual curves that slopes are a little tougher to work with, I decided to start with some of the more level areas surrounding Middleton.  I've basically always been happy with the general layout of my roads, so my aim here was to simply improve on what was already there without making any other major changes.  Here's how things have progressed thus far...

33.02


I should also mention that the two tiles I started with were some of the first I created in this region.  My plugins have changed somewhat, so you may notice some farms changing as we go to correct missing lots I've gotten rid of.  (I also still used mostly squared off farms in the earliest tiles.)  Anyway... this is the original layout near the bend in the Cone River south of Middleton.

33.03


And here is the new and (I think) improved look.  I kind of like it.  I'll probably go back and contour the lower two farms to match the new road better, but I think that's about all that needs to change here.

33.04


Another "before" shot of a tiny village along the river bend.  I don't even think I ever named this collection of houses, to be honest.  This was a little tougher because of the bend in the east-west road right at the intersection.

33.05


And, once again, the new roads are in place.  I ran into a couple minor issues here.  The first is that one of the side streets no longer connects to the main road... you can see the dead end now in this picture.  I haven't followed the FAR threads as much as I'd like to, but I'm definitely hoping for some intersection capabilities in future updates.  It would also be nice to have an extended S-curve piece for diagonal roads... I know the railroads have such a piece, but I couldn't find one for the roads.  I'm definitely not complaining though... it's still early in the project's life and I think what we are lucky enough to have so far is wonderful!

33.06


I accidentally deleted the before view of this area, but we're now one tile north of the first few changes (actually in Middleton).  I managed to incorporate the level rail crossing piece here.  Once again, replacing my old methods was fairly easy here.  A few houses needed to be moved, but that was about it.

33.07


And then I discovered all the nifty little rail road pieces!  A few farm field tiles were lost in realigning the rail road bed here, but all in all, I think it looks much better.  The roads worked out pretty well too.  About the only time I had troubles was in trying to lay a curve piece too close to an existing intersection.  Even then, I simply bulldozed the intersection long enough to lay the piece in place and then rebuild in the same place.  All in all, I'd say the angles slightly off "straight" are perfect!  My only wish would be for something that will clean up my diagonals just as nicely.    Either way... FAR will be creeping in anywhere it can as time goes on.   

FARR Mosaic!!!

A parting mosaic of the new rail line through this area.  I managed to get a few of the new corn farms by Jmeyers while replacing old bits... but I'm still waiting for the tobacco farms to pop up.  It seems that North Carolina should have a few of those and I'm definitely hoping to see them soon!

Thanks for reading!!!

JB

[Pat]

hmmm was that a small hint there Jon that I will be seeing the residents soon?? LoL oooh and btw,

use FAR and FARR instead of just looking at them from afar.  (Did I just confuse anyone other than myself?)

Yuppers I am lost on that one  But then again I am easy to get lost lol.... Anywho Jon wonderful update and I loved the FARR Mosiac!!!

[bat]

Fantastic pictures of that superb rural area there!

[vester]

Thanks!  Yes... contrary to popular opinion, I am indeed American (at least on paper, anyway!) 

Was about to say something along the lines. You're very European for an American. (Yes I have meet JB)

Just like the country side you are showing. Very nice. Like how you use dedgren's rails.