Re: Santa Barbara County - Update: The End.

[threestooges]

First off, though I'm not familiar with GIMP, you can also do what I do and just make another two lines at the end of the big line to make your arrow. It generally works pretty well. Next, I'm glad to see you're widening the road through the area. CalTrans has been trying to do that for what seems like years now. Not sure how far they've gotten, but I wish it was easy as finding a new puzzle piece, heh heh. As for dragons, perhaps a few steam engines breathing fire up through their stacks would be enough to deter anyone from getting too close to your planned rail yard. I don't think there are too many models out there just now for steam, but the way you wrote it, it just conjured up that image in my mind. Gives me an idea for when I have some free time again though.

Your use of box stores out through Goleta is very true to life. Santa Barbara proper seems to have some sort of zoning ban on the boxes, so everyone just heads out to Goleta if/when they need to make a Costco run. It helps keep that nice small town feel though, as odd as it may seem sometimes. Interesting discussion about the filtered permeability too. I'm curious what your thoughts on it are in real life. Certainly it does promote biking and walking (which are certainly pluses for a residential neighborhood) but what about the loss of efficiency using a car may have brought if the paths were unfiltered? Either way, it's an interesting concept and it looks like you implemented it well.
-Matt

[RickD]

Hi Matt,

I'm curious what your thoughts on it are in real life. Certainly it does promote biking and walking (which are certainly pluses for a residential neighborhood) but what about the loss of efficiency using a car may have brought if the paths were unfiltered? Either way, it's an interesting concept and it looks like you implemented it well.

Actually I am in favor of this filtered permeability approach. It has been done in many european cities. And I  am affected by it on my daily commute home from work. When I lived in Frankfurt a main road through the inner city was closed to create a larger pedestrian area which caused some controversy but worked out well in my opinion.
Now that I live in Mainz I can not take the direct route home from work past the main train station because only busses and light rail is allowed through there. I have to drive a loop through several smaller streets. The advantage for me is that the street I live in is much quieter than it would be with all the through-traffic.
Of course one could argue that closing those roads only distribute traffic from one road to others. This is why careful planning is necessary. There need to be enough thoroughfares to handle the through traffic. But on the other hand there will be less through traffic because it is not attractive to drive into or through the city by car.

But maybe it is just my european socialization that I believe cars should not go into the city center. In Germany the main shopping areas in the city are located in pedestrian-only zones. That is quite opposite to the US (at least judging from what I have seen on my few visits to the US). Within the city usually only minor shops are located directly at main roads. It is just not attractive to go there with all the traffic.
I prefer walking into the city or taking the light rail or the bus. If it wasn't for my commute to work, where no train connection is available, I would sell my car because I would not need it.

[kelis]

Your work is amazing my friend ! I Like the region views 

[io_bg]

Another great update! However, it seems there's something wrong with one of the ramps on pic 11.3

[ecoba]

Another wonderful update, Raphael ! Your industrial areas are simply gorgeous  I really wish I could achieve that effect in my areas.

Can't wait to see some more of Goleta! 

Ethan

[Nanami]

  Pure nice updates!

[Tomas Neto]

Very nice update my friend!!!

[sumwonyuno]

I really like how the area has built out!   

[nedalezz]

I am in LOVE with that region shot! I feel like im in a plane taking an actual photo of a real area!

Your update on the city of Goleta was perfect, as per usual.

[RickD]

Welcome to Goleta! - Part 2

In todays update I show you some close up shots of the area I built in the last update.

12.1

A large strip mall along San Marcos Pass Road. To keep traffic flowing on the Expressway it is accessed via a frontage road.

12.2

Some shady businesses opened up behind the mall.

12.3

Suburban offices and more big box stores along the Expressway. The residents in the neighborhood accross where very happy when the sound wall was built.

12.4

Tenement housing and a run down football field.

12.5

Chalmers Elementary School.

12.6

The fire station protecting the neighborhood.

12.7

San Marcos Senior High

12.8

The high school's football field is located above the rail yards.

12.9

Hollister Avenue crosses the small stream connecting the residential neighborhood to the industrial area.

12.10

The residents like to take their dogs for a walk along the stream.

12.11

It is actually quite nice there since the industry stopped dumping their waste into the river.

12.12


12.13

Hollister Avenue through the industrial area.

12.14

The industrial area is connected to rail via a short spur line. The height differences get lost in the pics. The industry is actually a few meters above the main rail line)

12.15

The near interstate highway and the rail connection make the location attractive for logistic centers.

12.16

The intersection of Hollister Avenue and West Turnpike Road.

12.17

Goleta at night.

12.18

And another night shot just for the fun of it.


That's it. I hope you liked the update and looking forward to your comments.



Replies:

kelis:
Thanks, glad you like it.


io_bg:

However, it seems there's something wrong with one of the ramps on pic 11.3

You got me there. I didn't think people would look that closely at my pics. 
Apparently something went wrong when switching slope mods. But I fixed it already.


ecoba:
Thanks for the compliment.


976:
Thanks!


Tomas Neto:
Thanks, Tomas.


sumwonyuno:
Me, too.


nedalezz:
Yeah, I like looking at it, too. Just need to ignore all those unfinished areas. 

[marsh]

You did a great job as always  Your doing a great job making this city. I especialy like the first picture for some reason. 

,marsh 

[nedalezz]

The tenemant housing shot was my favorite this update, so realistic! I also love the way you did the stream - making the transition from residential to industrial so seamless and realistic. Great update!

[Tomas Neto]

Beautiful city, my friend!!! I liked a lot of the little river and the suburbs!!! 

[canyonjumper]

Very nice Raphael! Excellent night shots!

           -Jordan

[ecoba]

Wonderful work, Raphael ! The night shots in this update were very wonderful. 

I really like the high-wealth neighbourhoods in this update, and the proximity to the tenement blocks is really interesting as well ! Quite an unusual idea, however I like it very much.

Great work here again, my friend. Hope to see some more from you soon !

Ethan

[Battlecat]

Great job on the latest updates!  You do a great job putting urban areas together! 

[sepen77]

Everything looks so awesome, to the tiniest details! The realism is beyond realism! Your suburbs show good aesthetics, did you plop everything?

[RickD]

A visit to the Zoo

Today we will visit the zoo which is located in the suburbs of Goleta next to the area we saw in the last two updates.
In reality it is located in the City of Santa Barbara, near the ocean.

I had this modular zoo set sitting in my plugins for quite a while but never found a suitable place to use it. As I am not familiar with it there sure is room for improvement, especially with the layout of the paths. But I think it is not too bad for the first try. Any suggestions?

13.1

An overview of the zoo. When it was built it was surrounded by open space. Now the suburbs have grown around it. There is no room for expansion. But there is also no money for expansion so it doesn't really matter.


13.2

The entrance area with souvenir shop and parking lot.


13.3

The mayor has built himself a modest statue in the zoo.


13.4

Sea World


13.5

The zoo is located between San Marcos Pass Rd., Hollister Avenue, ...


13.6

... and the railway.


13.7

Many exotic animals can be marveled at.


13.8

Living next to the zoo. Those guys have a good view over the zoo. I guess you become used to hearing the lions roar when sitting on your porch.


13.9

Another zoomed out view.


13.10

It is getting late, the zoo closes. Time to finish this update.

Looking forward to your comments!



marsh, nedalezz, Tomas Neto, canyonjumper, Battlecat:
Thanks guys. I appreciate your comments very much.

ecoba:

I really like the high-wealth neighbourhoods in this update, and the proximity to the tenement blocks is really interesting as well ! Quite an unusual idea, however I like it very much.

Well I didn't really want it to become a high wealth neighborhood. It is the way how it grew. The problem is that my medium wealth demand in this tile is negative. So it is either poor housing or villas.

sepen77:
Thanks for your comment!

Your suburbs show good aesthetics, did you plop everything?

The big commercials are plopped and almost all industry. The small commercial and residential is grown. I follow a functional plopping approach. First I try to grow everything but if it does not turn out the way I want, I start careful (!) plopping. But I make sure that the city stays functional. I do not want just pause mode eyecandy cities.

[CoastRunner]

Thanks for the update, it was really good!  That is wonderful especially for a first try with the modular zoo.  You've done very nice work with the exhibit layouts.  The location is also great being surrounded as it is by the tile edge, suburbs, commerical zones, two avenues, and a rail.  Good use of the NWM.

Nickie/CoastRunner

[Tomas Neto]

Wonderful this tour at the zoo!!! Awesome work my friend!!!