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

[rooker1]

Hello Jon,
Congratulations on making it into OSITM this month, also for it being your thrid time.  Welcome to the Elite Club of the 3rd Timers! 

Following one of your curvy roads any day will always make my day, especially if it's in a mosaic.  Great pic, but I wonder why you don't use the RHW through your country side.

Robin 

[Bobbi]

Congratulations on your third time in OSITM, and the rural area looks beautiful!

[emgmod]

JBSimio, you do an amazing job at using wide curves and FAR/FARR. I need to start learning a lot on how to build areas as amazing as this.

[threestooges]

Hmm... aside from the cup posting, I haven't said much here in a while. That must change. Update 49 was well done, and the notes about Fox Point etc remind me of some of the names of places around here, and some of the developments. From the region view the area certainly seems to be growing. The mosaics here are excellent. They show off what Covington has become known for: small towns, FAR/R, and a very clean prresentation. There is only one critique I have. There are no cars anywhere that I can see on the roads (short of the street side mod) which seems a bit odd. Otherwise, very nice images. What's the farm on the top left part of the second mosaic that has the observation tower? Don't recall seeing one of those before. Looking forward to what you have in store for the month Jon.
-Matt

[Battlecat]

This is another beautiful update!  I really like how you handle those small towns, this particular one looks great. 

[Jmouse]

Congratulations, Jon, and welcome to the exclusive Third-Time-Around Club! You're kicking off a much-anticipated month-long SC4Devotion Birthday Extravaganza, and I can hardly wait to see what you have in store for us. In fact, every time you post an update, I look at it in awe and wonder how on earth you could possibly top it. You always do, though, and even make it look easy. Simply amazing!

Later...
Joan

[Tomas Neto]

Fantastic update!!! 

[ecoba]

Wow, Jon.

Your work is really amazing. You seem to be able to make perfect city and country landscapes, while not ever having the ability to lapse on either. (Does that make sense, probably not, right?)

It's good to see you back, my friend!

Ethan

[JBSimio]

Dreamcat:  Thank you!  The first mosaic actually includes the town of Salem, which has been featured in two previous updates already.  Glad you like it!

Earthquake:  Thank you!

Derry:  Thank you so much for all your kind words.  It's always nice when you stop by here and I appreciate your thoughts.  I'm also quite honored to be sharing this section with you... at least for now anyway! 

David:  Thank you so much!  The work you did with FAR/FARR deserves most of the credit here, really.  I shudder to remember what these pictures used to look like!

Robin:  Thank you!  The lack of any RHW here is due mostly to the fact that I laid so much of this out a year and a half ago.  I remember toying with the idea, but there either wasn't enough flexibility at the time or I just hadn't figured out how to properly use what was available.  (I honestly don't remember which one it was anymore)  Either way... I still tinker with RHW in other testing regions and I wouldn't be surprised if they find their way here eventually.

Bobbi:  Thank you!

Emgmod:  Thanks!  If you could see some of my older regions, you would notice that getting to this point was a long and slow process for me, but I'm glad that you like where I've managed to go with it.

Matt:  Thank you!  Fox Point and Celestial Bluff were fun updates for me to do.  I don't think I borrowed any names from your part of the state yet, but I may have done without realizing it.  I honestly just make this stuff up as I go!    The lack of cars you mention has always bothered me a little bit too really.  The simple answer to why is because I have the game paused when I take pictures for mosaics.  If I leave it running, then the cars keep moving and I have trouble piecing the images together.  There's probably a good way around all this, but I don't know what it is so I just settle for empty mosaics.  (Which is also why you won't see very many urban mosaics from me!) 

Battlecat:  Thank you!

Joan:  Thank you so much Joan!  Your never ending support really means a lot to me.

Tomas Neto:  Thanks!

Ethan:  Thank you!  It actually did make sense and I appreciate the compliment.  Good to be back from my little SC4 nap...

Update Time!!!

Covington continues to spread out and this time we'll see what has been happening on the north side of town along Cone Boulevard.

50.01


The big boxes continue to thrive here at the intersection of Summit Avenue and Cone Boulevard near the I-85 exit.  Dave and Busters has become a very popular place to eat and play for nearby families.  Parents of younger children have recently taken a stand against the old video place next door, lodging countless complaints that its proximity to such a family fun spot will have a detrimental impact on today's youth.  In response, the owner of the video store has simply pointed out that the patronage from the fathers of today's youth would in fact be a more direct cause than the mere location of the store.

50.02


Heading further west on Cone Boulevard, we can see more of what is becoming a major commercial corridor.  Big Lots and the grocery store next to it are both packed with shoppers from nearby apartment complexes and subdivisions.  Parents of younger children have also taken a stand against the Hampton Inn on the corner.  The thing is that nobody really understands why this time.  Unlike the hotels in Harmony Hills that we saw in recent updates, the Hampton really does seem out of place here.  It generally welcomes guests who want to be closer to Big Lots for the early bird specials.  Perhaps the parents are just angry that they had to see their kids off to school before driving to go shopping while hotel guests simply walked next door and maybe that's what all the fuss is about.  Who knows?

50.03


You guessed it.  More commercial growth along Cone Boulevard.  (Honestly... what more did you expect at this point?)  The big difference here is that rather than being flanked by apartment complexes, the shops here back up to the North Ridge Industrial Park.  It has been proven that suburban mothers hate to look at truckyards and piles of lumber while shopping, so those nifty walls which have become so popular all over Covington help to hide the warehouses from bargain shoe hunters.  It seems odd that one would need to conceal warehouses from people who are going into a place called "DSW Shoe Warehouse" but suburbia can be a funny place at times.

50.04


Panning back a bit further shows that the North Ridge Industrial Park is actually a fairly big place.  Looking south we can see that it actually rises up the hill above Cone Boulevard and actually stretches nearly to the Redhawk Ridge neighborhood (on the off chance that anyone still remembers where that is!)

50.05


It's not all apartments and shopping havens on the north side of Covington.  Sprawling subdivisions cover the hills here.  The housing is an ecclectic mix but residents are happy with their individuality.  Some get a little carried away with the idea and boast about the diversity of the neighborhoods, completely ignoring the fact that different looking houses aren't necessarily indicative of the people inside said houses.  But far be it from me to rain on anyone's parade or attempt to squash their enthusiastic pride with logic.  I'm happy if they're happy.  Let's just move on...

50.06


A closer look does show that the north side of Covington is definitely an upper middle class area.  I already pointed out the different housing styles, but look at how nice they all are!  Well maintained homes, manicured lawns, pretty fall colors... definitely a good part of town.  And just in case there is still any doubt, please notice the cars parked along the street here.  Only upper middle class suburbanites would dare to drive a bright yellow car!

50.07


Cone Boulevard basically ends at Holden Road near a rather crazy intersection (which I have failed to show any pictures of thus far).  That same crazy intersection is also where Battleground Avenue turns into the expressway known as Josheph Bryan Parkway.  In the middle of all these major roads, a large corporate office park is beginning to develop.  The area is starting off somewhat small, but developers are currently filing proposals, petitions, and other multi-page documents requesting that zoning changes allow for taller office buildings in the future.  We'll have to wait and see how that all works out.

50.08


As Covington continues to grow, the lines between rural and urban are starting to blur.  Back along I-85 the newer subdivisions are encroaching on the farms.  Parents of younger children have yet to take issue with this, but rest assured that they will.  If and when they ever finish protesting video stores and hotels, these parents will eventually need something else to worry about and images like this seem like a pretty good excuse to raise a fuss.

50.09



Thanks for reading!!!
JB

[Tomas Neto]

Very nice again, fantastic update!!! 

[Earth quake]

Awesome Update.
The first, second and third pictures are really nice and realistic.
Beside your industrail aera is really beautiful, It's my favourite picture.
Finally your suburbs is really amazing and the overview of the region is 

[joelyboy911]

The update was very nice, but what blew me away was the region shot!

Uhhh... WOW! It could almost be real.

[threestooges]

In regard to the naming things, I haven't seen too much duplication, but it's interesting how some places are named for things that aren't quite there/aren't there anymore/are nearby (like how the formerly Anaheim Angels are now the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (long story behind that, but, boiled down it was to capitalize on the LA name and market), but also that Riverside is by a now-normally-dryish river (thanks to flood controls, etc), and streets like Oak Glen Rd. have no oaks (or are built over what used to be an oak glen).

As for the mosaics, if you have an image program that can do layers (judging from your maps I'm pretty sure you do) then just make the mosaics, line up the buildings and all, and then erase sections of the layer where there is an overlap (like 1/2 a car) until there aren't any visual glitches left. It can be a bit of work in heavy traffic, but I've used it several times and it's worked wonders.

Now then, as for this update, it sounds like there's a very vocal group of suburbanites around there (been to certain parts of Northern CA lately?). The comment on the diversity of the house gave me a chuckle, and also of the selection of bright yellow cars. Curious though, what happened with the parking lot in 50.07. It has a bit of a steep angle to it. I'd be a bit scared to sit at those tables below it. Once again though, the image that takes the cake of this update is the region shot. Things really seem to be spreading out rapidly these days. It won't be long before things fill up around there. Looking forward to the ride though.
-Matt

[Jmouse]

Another very nice update, Jon! Covington's growth patterns and the way you present them are so very natural. It is the quintessential thriving city which attracts new residents with good jobs, a wide variety of retail outlets and great-looking neighborhoods.

The ever-present trees - even in the industrial environs - are a big part of Covington's charm. 50.02 is an excellent true-to-life example of using them as an effective buffer between residential and commercial development.

The individual screen shots are all attractive - each in its own way - with 50.06 edging out the rest as a favorite in this batch. That's just because I'm so fond of the neighborhoods you create, though!

Later...
Joan

[tooheys]

Hi Jon, congrats on the move to OSITM 

I really enjoy your road layouts and the use of FAR/FARR. Although it was 50.09 that really caught my eye. Very impressive indeed 

Dave

[Battlecat]

It's always hard to believe just how organic and realistic your region shot looks.  Another great update, the industrial area looks pretty cool.

One quick question as well, in you industrial shot, there are a number of tanks with a green circular support structure around them in your shot.  They look like small industrial fillers, but I've never seen them before.  Any idea where you snagged those from? 

[ecoba]

Another great update, Jon!

Commercial growth in Covington is quite interesting, you've got a good variety of buildings grown. Ah, the Video Store Issue, we've got one of those problematic video stores right down the hill from our downtown, right across from where the local cult used to meet. (Not a great neighbourhood, if you hadn't noticed.  )

Ah, suburbs, considering that I live within an hour of a 5.000.000 Metro area, I see 'em a lot.
.........but, yours are much nicer than the suburbs here. Covington's suburbs are actually like the houses in the Historic Districts surrounding DownTown in my town, only, not as many bricked houses, and of course, more trees. 

Another good update, Jon...

Ethan

[JBSimio]

Tomas Neto:  Thanks!

Earthquake:  Thank you!  I was quite happy with how the industrial park turned out so far.  I'm hoping over time that a bit more hi-tech industries will move in... but all in good time, I suppose.

Joelyboy:  Thank you!

Matt:  I know exactly what you mean with the naming of areas and you've described the theory I use when coming up with these names.  Most of the RUSA apartments were named the same way... always conjuring up images of natural beauty that might have been there before it was all bulldozed for apartments!    Don't let my maps fool you... I have some layer capabilities, but not many.  Most of what you see is merely time consuming, tedious, and most of all primative.  I did have a bit of fun writing captions for the last update, yes.  It showed, huh? 

Joan:  Thank you!  I've always used a lot of trees.  If anything, I have a problem leaving completely bare land anywhere.  If I don't "build" something there, then it gets covered in trees... at least that's my motto!

Dave:  Thank you!  It's always an honor to see you here, my friend.

Battlecat:  Thank you so much!  The industry you are referring to is a lot called "Gascooker's Refill" and I got it from the LEX DVD.  I did a quick look on the LEX itself, but didn't see it at first glance.  It may be part of a pack somewhere?  Hopefully someone can step in here and let you know if it is available for download or only on the DVD.

Ethan:  Thanks!  These suburban commercial areas always seem to have a few remnant smaller shops mixed in (like the video store) so I usually have to make up some kind of story to "explain" how something like that could possibly be allowed to survive there.  It's all part of the fun in writing the stories for me though.

Update Time!!!

Well the last time I was here in OSITM, it was December of 2008... so almost exactly a year ago.  Some of you may remember that I made a "year in review" movie as my final update for that month.  If you do remember that little movie, you may also remember that the final minute or so was a bit of time lapse photography showing the growth of the city since I first began this diary.  That segment of the video got a pretty good response so I thought I'd do a little continuation of it tonight.  OK... that's not entirely true.  I saw Derry's little animation over in "Tales at Tea Time" today and really just wanted to copy him.  He's such a trend setter anyway... how could I go wrong?  So those are your options... I'll let you decide for yourself what my real motivation was.  Either way... because of the size, I had to skip some images and make a slightly more condensed version but I hope you enjoy this little look back again.  (May take a moment to load... sorry)

Thanks for watching!!!
JB

[threestooges]

It was a hit before, and I love it again. I'm really amazed by the last bits of it and how things just explode to the south (Fox Pointe and all). Welcome to suburbia, which you still manage to make look good, and even unique. The trees play a good part in that I think. You've made me curious... now I'll have to go check out Derry's video. I'll try to put together my method for mosaics into a tutorial if you'd like sometime in a week or so here.
-Matt

[Tomas Neto]

Your region is fantastic!!! Very cool this gif!!!