Author Topic: Holt District  (Read 4293 times)

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Holt District
« on: August 15, 2012, 01:19:13 pm »
Updates 1 through 4 were copied from SC4D because it too uses SMF. That is why it says MD instead of CA.


Welcome to Holt District!

Holt District is my brand-new MD,and is also my second one. However, it is the first one I have published here at SC4Devotion. In this journal we will follow the Region of Holt District through developments - both good and bad - and the pains on motorists as roads are widened and residents + businesses as utilities are tinkered with the allow for new developments.

We will see developments go from the planning phases, through construction all the way to the end process. Likewise, those of you who know of Windemere & Taschereau also know I like road construction. That, too will be part of this MD as when an area grows, so to do the demands on its road/transit network.

Holt District will vary from Windemere & Taschereau in that instead of me adding "new" cities throughout the course of the MD, the cities I start with are it. Any new cities that come up will be result of new developments, and the bureaucratic mess that goes with it. As mentioned, we will see developments go from a plan to finished product. While this is not true for all developments - that would get boring pretty quick we will see some major developments through the entire process, and on a variety of styles. (Suburban sprawl, urban skyscrapers, business parks, etc.)

Holt District has been in development for several months, since about later March/early April. It has been a long road to this point, and those who have been following my Innocent Posts will (hopefully) be excited to be here, just as I am. Now, before I begin today's update (Yay update 1!) I will go into a bit about the MD website, map and twitter feed.  For information about the region of Holt District itself, check out the MD website!

Additional Media:
Additional media will play a very large roll in Holt District. Holt District (the MD) has a website (holtdistrict.weebly.com - link at the bottom of this post) which has some information about the region and general news that you won't generally get in an update. Sometimes a special post will be made to highlight something on the website, with feedback and discussion more than welcome here in the Holt District topic. Generally development proposals will be posted on the site, with discussion about them taking place here. The process of watching it go from plan to finished product will also take place here. It is only the "application", if you will, that is posted on the website.

Also, Holt District will have a streetmap. To be located at maps.holtdistrict.host22.com, it will be a streetmap (i.e. the elevated rail lines won't be on it.) This may change in the future as my abilities in this area improve. When this feature launches (it is currently only a welcome page) there will also be a regional transportation view available for more detail in other areas of transit - including EL-RAIL.

Lastly, Holt District Has twitter! Twitter will be used to let you know when updates will be coming out, random teasers and general "What I'm working on in the region today is..."

So with that... let's get onto the update. Again, welcome - to Holt District!





INTRODUCTION + RETAIL 'DILEMMA'

1.1 \ Shorecoast Shopping Centre is at the cross-roads of 2 major arterial roads in Manatee. Having grown over time with 2 additions and several renovations, the mall is now home to Hecht's, Sears, JCPenney and a large multiplex movie theatre. The mall is a major draw for residents of not only Manatee, but the entire region as it is the only enclosed shopping centre in the region.






1.2 \ Over time, the owner of the mall, Centurion Properties, Inc., developed portions of the massive parking lot into large office buildings. Several office building and even a department store exist on what was once pavement. When confronted with these proposals (over time) the city's council easily approved the developments, saying "It helps break up the pavement monster which is the Shorecoast parking lot, all while brining jobs to the area." Indeed, this building alone employs over 2 000 people.






1.3 \ Although the mall has a diverse clientele, and wise base where it draws customers from - its biggest return visitors and spenders are those who live right around the mall. This is one of the older sections of Manatee.






1.4 \ The food court benefits from a high school which is about a 10 minute walk away. The food court suring any of the lunches is packed - if you are a non-high school student you need to pick and choose when you go for lunch or a snack.






1.5 \ However, not all retail is booming. This Kmart store, which has been in this location for 35 years - and expanded several times - has been loosing business to the mall since it has opened. The mid-range department stores in the mall have stolen business away from Kmart, while an out-of-town Walmart has put the nail in the coffin. Rumours of its closing have been swirling for years, though no official confirmation from the company.






1.6 \ The only saving grace for this location is it is across the street from this minor league stadium, home to various local sports teams and the soccer and foorball teams from the highschool just down the street. Often, people will purchase snacks from Kmart, and on cool nights sales of blankets soar.






1.7 \ Another source of customers is the casino resort, Holt Casino & Resort. It is inevitable that travellers forget something, and with Kmart in walking distance several tourists enter the store each week. While this is not a steady source of income for the store, it is better than nothing.






1.8 \ However, Kmart's demise may now be more real than ever. Rumours are swirling that Walmart is in the process of purchasing the property from the land owner. The fact Kmart's lease is up in 11 months is doing nothing to help squash the rumour. Walmart previously tried to enter Manatee, 10 years ago, but their plan was rejected. Since this is already a retail site, chances any changes they make to the building would be approved. When their plan was rejected 10 years ago, they located 2 highway exits to the south in another town.






1.9 \ It is becoming increasingly likely that the residents of the luscious suburbs in and around Kmart
could soon be faced with the sound of construction vehicles for months.






That is all for today, the first update of Holt District! I hope for those who have been following its development it is everything you have been looking forward to. I am super excited about the prospects of this new MD, and I hope you will stay for the journey as things develop!




Next Update: We will be looking at some more of suburban Manatee and may just venture into its downtown core...






« Last Edit: August 19, 2012, 10:36:19 pm by simLink »

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Offline simlink ♔

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Re: Holt District
« Reply #1 on: August 15, 2012, 01:19:40 pm »
Have you seen the first development proposal yet?



For the full description of the development, see the application on the Holt District website by clicking here.


What do you think of the development? Should it be passed?
Sound off below - are you for or against? You are the city council for this development!

The results will be revealed during Update 2.





Replies will be done next update.

EDIT 30/07/12 - Thanks for pointing out the broken links, everyone. :) One had a minor typo and another - well the link they (my site host) provided for forums posts obviously didn't work. They should all be working now! :) If not, please let me know.

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Re: Holt District
« Reply #2 on: August 15, 2012, 01:20:17 pm »


Welcome to another update of Holt District!

In today's update we are still in The City of Manatee, this time looking at its downtown core and the surrounding area. Its downtown is a mix of both new and old buildings, and a mix of high-rises, mid-rise and low-rise buildings. The downtown core starts at the edge of the Shorecrest Shopping Centre to the north, working its way down to one of the major throughfares in the city. The are surrounding downtown is a mix of suburban housing, retail, parkland, office space and government buildings.

Before I get to today's update, I would also like to mention that the Holt District street map is up, but only uses the default in-game look at present. It will be upgraded and updated as time goes on. And voting has closed on the "NORECREST" subdivision... details in a few updates. :)
Okay, now we can go on to the second update...



The Downtown Core + Cultural Park



2.1 | Manatee is not just a suburban sprawl nightmare. It does, in fact, have a large and bustling downtown core for a city of 120,000. The downtown core is where the majority of jobs in Manatee are located, though there are other concentrations of offices. In this photo we see the "core" of the core, the 4 largest buildings in the city. The empty strip of land of the top of the picture is rumoured to soon be for sale... for $10 million.






2.2 | Just south is another area downtown - Historic Manatee. As you can see, the area is made up of several mid-rise and low-rise buildings which range from very new to protected architecture-age. The city enacted legislation several years ago that protected this area from large-scale redevelopments. In addition to offices, this area houses several residences and as such the height-limit is lower in this portion of the city. While the legislation itself is solid, redevelopment does still occur. A history housing block was torn down, and 2 new, large-scale condominium buildings are being built in its place. Estimates show that between 4000 and 6000 people with live in the new towers.






2.3 | This is another view of "Historic Manatee." Here you can see more construction which is considered outside the downtown barrier. Since it is outside the downtown "subdivision" according to city planning guides, it is not subject to the same stringent development laws. The closest construction lot is schedules to be a complex of office buildings while the one just visible is more condominiums. The city is currently experiencing a building boom in this area, as there is easy access to everything. You can also see the Manatee Performing Arts Complex, a city-owned stage venue. Various National and local productions are put on here. Rumour has it the city is considering selling the land the parking lot sits on...






2.4 | In this closer look of Historic Manatee, we can see some of the finer details on the older office buildings in this section of Manatee. These buildings house several web-based media companies and other various electronics companies, including games developers Lugnut Gaming. (It occupies the blue, glass building on the bottom right corner of the intersection.)






2.5 | Of course, no downtown would be complete without construction. Here we can see a closer look and Denten Condominiums, developed by Viscal Properties, Ltd. There was strong opposistion to this proposal, since Viscal has been known for creating bland, repetitive developments. The city worked with the developed on the style of building, and eventually approved the project. Reisdents still point to the Viscal development in neighbouring city Sherkston as a reason it should not have been approved. Even with the changes made to the original proposal, some residents still complain it looks un-original and unfitting to the downtown area.






2.6 | One of the reasons the downtown has been growing steadily is easy access - this station (Cultural Park Terminus) provides access to a portion of the northern area of Manatee, and fast access to various parts of Sherkston.






2.7 | These are the three main office buildings in Manatee - Samsung Orchidsen HQ, MNC Tower and Rebran Tower. These towers occupy the site of the former city hall and grounds, which burnt down due to an electrical fire in the 1970's. City hall has since relocated for a second time to its current location, next to the Cultural Square Terminus Station (seen on the bottom right of the above photo.)






2.8 | Moving away from the job and skyscraper side of downtown, we have the recently completed Cultural Square. Consisting of 2 buildings, this building is the Manatee-Centurion Concert Hall. Various orchestras play here, and is also known for hosting more intimate concerts. A group of residents to this day resent that the naming rights were sold and the facility be commercially branded. City hall's response? "If you come up with the million dollars a year they pay the city and the cancellation fee, we'll drop the name." The resident's group folded quickly after this comment.






2.9 | The other portion of this venue is the art gallery. The city has put a strong emphasis on local art in this facility, with artists of all ages getting their artwork in this facility. Touring art exhibits also join the museum. Admission is generally free, but the travelling exhibits usually have a fee for entry, typically $5 to $10.






2.10| And no story attatched to this image.  This is a night view of Downtown Manatee.







That is it for today's update on Downtown Manatee. I hope you enjoyed this update and liked some of the history of the area and resident unhappiness. :P






Next Update: We will be venturing outside of Manatee to one of the coastal municipalities...







1 update, over 1000 views. Thanks everyone!

Offline simlink ♔

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Re: Holt District
« Reply #3 on: August 15, 2012, 01:21:25 pm »


Welcome to another update of Holt District!

Today's update may not be as flashy as the previous 2, but there is a reason for that. Today we are venturing to one of the coastal municipalities in Holt District, Old Port. The town has a long, and at times troublesome, history. The City was one of the first areas settled in what is now Holt District. It is often joked that there is a pyromaniac and their famioly residing in Old Port, as it has burned to the ground not once, not twice, but three times since it was settled in the early 1700s. The latest burning, in 1907, levelled the town completely.

So Old Port was constructed for the fourth time. And this time, it was bustling. It had a booming downtown area and, despite its name, did not have a port. But things went fishy when Old Port was folded into Holt District upon the regions formation in 1970. What was a small, beautiful town became dysfunctional. Development was haphazard, with a mega-sized office buiding being constructed in the middle of a residential area. History downtown buildings were destroyed for the parking lot of a new supermarket. Offices continued to be built, and residents suffered greatly.

One day, election day in the mid-1990s, residents had had enough, and booted the mayor and all 3 councillors out of office. The newly elected mayor promished to clean up politics in Old Port, and has been attempting (key word: attempting) to since then. But things weren't all rosey.

As the rest of Holt District expanded, Old Port contracted. Its population declined from 11 000 to the approximate 7000 it is today. Many vacant neighbourhoods were demolished, and streets torn-up and grassed-over to hide the cities troubled past.

But the new mayors plan to stop all development led to a backlash from developers who has started to eye the area, and infuriated residents. Elected on the promise of better planned development, development was eliminated all-together. Why not vote the mayor out? He has sucessfully has Old Port designated a no development zone in the region. So no mayor would be able to approve developments until the regional plan was re-opened. A consequence of this development freeze was the reconstruction of the town's only school, Port Public & Secondary School.  The mayor had sucesfully killed new development, but also killed the school reconstruction by accident.

Which brings us to today, where Old Port has remained the same for nearly 2 decades. While restrictions have been loosened to allow individual building reconstruction, development is still off limits.




Old Port - Depressed & Stuck in the Past



3.1 | Downtown Old Port has faced its challenges over the years. As mentioned in the introduction, the town has burned to the ground 3 separate times. Even after that, those buildings constructed in the early 1900s faced several attacks from developers in the 70s-80s. One historic building was demolished and replaced with an "ugly", modernized version of what previously stood there (left of the photo.).






3.2 | Several more historic buildings were demolished for the parking lot of this supermarket. This was the first in a long string of mis-steps which caused the previous mayor his job. Outrage was so high over the approval of this grocery store and demolition of historic buildings that the mayor requested body guards to follow him and protect his house. An empty box was left at his office, but was not meant as a threat. It was meant to symbolize the perception that the mayor didn't have a brain for allowing this development. No charges were laid.






3.3 | The final development approved under the mayor's tenure was this office development. Outcry far surpassed the supermarket development, so much the region was said to be days away from ousting the mayor from office. He resigned only hours before the region would have made the announcement. Although this development provides employment for the area, it was criticized for being in the middle of a residential area, the expropriation of land for its development, and the design. Residents critiqued the design saying it looked exactly like the offices found in Manatee or Sherkston.








3.4 | As mentioned in the introduction, the current mayor's (Alber Fonzworth) freezing of all development project lead to the cancellation of a badly-needed school redevelopment. Housing students in kindergarten to Grade 12, this school served the entire municipality. Due to the development laws, only the repairs necessary to keep the school from collapsing have been made. The safety of the building is a constant question of residents.






3.5 | The biggest disappointment facing residents of Old Port is the mayors unwillingness to allow re-landscaping to occur at Port Park. Long a source of pride of the town, the park has declined in recent years as a series of storms and high-winds have downed trees, and droughts have killed off the majority on non-tree vegetation. Despite cries from residents, council has repeatedly declined to remodel the park. To add insult to injury, the council approved a cell phone tower to be placed in the upper corner of the park.





3.6 | Despite all these problems, residential neighbourhoods like this one are still highly sought after. Waterfront property is waterfront property in many buyers eyes.






3.7 | Vegetation remains very strong in this area, along the canals. This area is considered the most beautiful area in Old Port by the majority of residents, evident by the shimmy soccer games on weekends and various picnics.







3.8 | While Old Port can still be considered "depressed" in terms of development, things are beginning to improve. The "absolutely no development" provisions were lifted by the region much to the outcry of Old Port council, and the delight of residents. The first house to be (re)coinstructed in nearly 2 decades is making progress.

There is feeling that in the next municipal election, sweeping changed will be had in Old Port...






Not all coastal cities in Holt District are suffering, however. On the contrary, some are experiencing record building booms, and have been growing steadily for years. This is the latest in a string of condominium developments in a municipality south of Old Port, where we will find ourselves in update 4...






That is it for today's update on Old Port. With development reaching a white-hot pace in Holt District, and demand (and prices) skyrocketing, Old Port like many other municipalities will never be the same...





RickD
Thanks - I hope today's story was to your liking. I thought it might be cool to have a 'problem child' city in the region. :)
Oddly enought, packersfan's tutorial is the one I am using - though I haven't started I like how well explained everything is.





Next Update: We will be venturing outside of Manatee to one of the coastal municipalities...







1 update, over 1000 views. Thanks everyone!

Offline simlink ♔

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Re: Holt District
« Reply #4 on: August 15, 2012, 01:21:59 pm »
I present the first issue of "HOLT NEWS" for your enjoyment.






Hope this tides you over until the next update. :)





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Re: Holt District
« Reply #5 on: August 15, 2012, 01:22:32 pm »


Welcome to another update of Holt District!

In today's update we have moved south from Old Port to the town of Shorecoast. Unlike Old Port, Shorecoast is thriving and lively. Home to 70000 people, the housing market and condominium market is booming, so much so that development is not keeping up with the pace of demand. It is estimated that there are an excess of 5000 people looking to get into the property market in Shorecoast - in addition to those who have registered for new units.

And with all this development, a small CBD (the smallest of the 3 in Holt District - but by no means tiny), and a lot of awesome scenery, there is a lot to see. So much so that I have split our introduction to Shorecoast into 2 updates. In this update, we focus on the southern suburbs and southern "condominium area"  - as well as the immidiate area surrounding a new condo development for good measure. So with that, let's go have a look into Shorecoast...




Shorecoast - Booming Development Along the Coast
Part 1 of 2






4.1 | We begin today's update, here in the southern portion of Shorecoast. Houses in this area aren't cheap. Houses which require a lot of repairs and modernization go for mid-$400 000's to low $500 000's. Houses that have already been modernized and added onto  range anywhere the mid $600 000's all the way up to $2 million - depending on the house and location. Why are house prices so high? Perhaps it is the excellent school and convenience of the library. Perhaps it is the easy commute to Downtown Sherkston, Downtown Manatee and Downtown Shorecoast, or maybe it is the fact the majority of this neighbouhood is on the water.

Or it could be the fact there is an Ikea. Yes, it is definitely because there is an Ikea. :P






4.2 | As mentioned, a large portion of this area is surrounded by water. This little point has some very exclusive - and expensive - homes. The cheapest house to recently sell in this area sold for around $875 000.

Even the wind turbine dampens the value of the homes in this area - they are cropping up through the entire region and feature the latest in noise dampening technology.







4.3 | Due to the nature of the land in Shorecoast - the entire city is a combination of keys and islands - bridges like this are common. And thanks to the hot property market, construction scenes like this are very common as well. Houses on the water in this development have been set at a starting price of $1 000 000.








4.4 | When the housing property began to take off, developers quickly purchased land bordering the ocean. They developed condominiums in a pace never seen before (until recently) in the region. This development is one of my personal favourites - it is in a non-grid layout and has trees surrounding it. It is popular amongst buyers because of the smaller buildings.






4.5 | Just above this development lies 2 identical condominium towers and a small complex of smaller buildings - the smaller complex being the first condos in the city.






4.6 | Before we move to another area - here is the area we are currently looking at night. I thought it looked really cool thanks to the placement of the buildings.






4.7 | Okay, now we can move on.  Here we pick up where the last update left off - the newest condominium development to pop-up. Consisting of 2 buildings, the buildings sold out within a week of becoming available. The developer is already looking to construct another development...






4.8 | The new development is being constructed in an area already filled with a variety of condominiums, most of which have been completed within the past 4 years. While many buildings look alike, residents or town councilors have yet to complain, noting that while the town can try to get building diversity - it would be a long and expensive endeavor 






4.9 | This is the same area, viewed from further out. Traffic may be a concern in the future as traffic levels continue to rise. You can also see another wind turbine amongst the high-rises.






4.10 | Of course, not all of the 'islands' or keys have been developed. Some, like these, are preserved as parkland and are frequently used as recreational area by residents and tourists, despite the wind turbines.





That's all for today - I hope you enjoyed the update! This is one of our first updates to this town, with part 2 of our introduction coming up as the next update. This is one of my favourite cities, so I hope you enjoyed it as well. :)




RickD
Glad you liked Old Port - we will definitely be back to see the state of affairs in the town at a later date - for the best or the worst.

nbvc
Thanks a bunch! :)

noahclem
Thanks - I'm glad you liked the Old Port update especially. I figured that it may be interesting to have at least one "black swan" if you will in a thriving region. Not everything is perfect, afterall. :P





Next Update: We will continue our exploration of Shorecoast.








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Re: Holt District
« Reply #6 on: August 15, 2012, 01:23:01 pm »


Welcome to a Bonus Update!

You can consider today's update "Update 4.5" - if you will. It is not a complete update, however it will be one everyone is interested in for sure. Today I am going to show you various Regional views of Holt District! Woo - hope you're excited! And I sincerely hope these don't disappoint you and meet or exceed your expectations.  Let's get on with the show!


Regional View 1 - General Region View
This shot shows you the un-altered view of Holt District in its entirety. It is build on the map of Ft. Lauderdale, FL by blade2k5.


Click for full resolution!



The next regional view we're going to have a look at is the above regional view - with municipality names added. This way, you always know where we are when I say
"Today, we're in City/Town/Township XYZ"


Click for full resolution!




Oh no, we aren't done yet! In this second last regional view for today we see an "satallite" view of Holt District - we are looking directly down at Holt District.



Click for full resolution!



And for out last regional view, a night-time regional view of the populated area of Holt District. This one I am particularly fond of.






And now... a teaser of our next update. :)







That's all for today, folks! I sincerely hope the regional views didn't disappoint - and that you are looking forward to our next update.
As always, don't forget to follow me on twitter, visit the HD streetmap and website.




Replies will be done at the next update.





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Re: Holt District
« Reply #7 on: August 19, 2012, 11:05:25 pm »


Welcome to another update of Holt District!

In today's update we are once again in the Town of Southlands. Today we focus on the northern suburban area and some of the northern condominium buildings. We also delve into the CBD/Downtown, which of the 3 on Holt District it is the smallest. The northern suburban area of the city is a very ritzy area, house prices average $900 000. Yes, that's the average. Some, many, go for much more. The reason in it is a series of peninsulas, granting waterfront property to many, or water access close by if you aren't waterfront.The condominium buildings offer some cheaper (but smaller) living space as well,
and really boost the Shorecoast skyline.

You will also notice the photo size has increased! Photos are now 1020px wide, instead of being ~750. And today's update may be the one for me to beat - it is awesome IMO.  It features my largest ever mosaic, spanning more than 3500 pixels in length. See that at the bottom. With the wider photos come a few retouches to the general appearance, as well. Nothing major.
Let's go on to today's update!

Also, before the update starts. Be sure to check out HDHIP - it will play a HUGE part in the future of this CJ.




Shorecoast - Booming Development Along the Coast
Part 2 of 2




*Be sure to click on each photo for the fullsize.

5.1 |  Empty land. Yep, empty. Well... for now anyways. Rumour has it a developer is interested in acquiring the land and building a massive condominium complex. Whether that gets approved remains to be seen, as just months ago the Town was rumoured to be aiming to protect this land, and keep it open grassland. Talks have been slow, and with the rumoured interest, may not happen at all.

One of the most desirable developments is in the bottom right of this photo... but more on it further down.






5.2 \  Here in Northern Shorecoast, houses are expansive. Like really expensive. The ones on these specific inlets list for no less than $1.5 million. Have no fear... I hear the bank is nearby.
Whether you get approved for a mortgage on one of these properties... that's a different story completely.  And whether that's what you pay, same deal. To further complicate manners, houses here don't come up for sale often. The residents here stay for long periods of time. There is usually only one listing every 2 years. This often leads to bidding-wars...






5.3 \ Slightly further south than the above neighbourhood we arrive here, known as Islegfawn, another popular area for famlies and retirees. There are many fixer-uppers in this area, bringing the average house price down to around $675,000. Once fixed up, they can go for around $1 million, depending on the scope of work done to them.







5.4 \ If you thought the above area were expensive, you haven't seen anything yet. These houses go for an average of $3 000 000 - yes $3 Million The houses on the centre island are the most expensive, average around $4 million. Prices are really that ridiculous, and change by that large amount between areas of the Town.






5.5 \ Those looking for a Shorecoast address who can't afford the lofty prices often look to condominiums. Unfortunately, they're hit with the same type of pricing. A 2 bedroom, 1.5 bathroom, 1500 sq.ft. condo will set you back about $550 000. If you're on an upper floor and have a great view, you'd be pushing $800 000. However, these 4 buildings are typically 20% because of their exclusive nature, and the fact they are surrounded by water on 3 sides. These are some of the most desirable condos in the entire region, not just Shorecoast.






5.6 \   Now, if you need a break from sky high real-estate costs, let's go to something non-residential, the Town's CBD. Despire its size, it is the smallest of the 3 CBD's in Holt District. It employs many of the cities residents. Construction and reconstruction are very common here, as is evident by the number of new buildings.






5.7 \ Here's another view of the downtown core, with the view it overlooks. Nice, huh?  While seawalls have been investigated, and the structural integrity of the land is constantly monitored, there has been no need for the expensive walls... yet.







5.8 \ This green building is a historic landmark in Shorecost, as it is the oldest skyscraper in the Town. It cannot be torn down and redeveloped, and renovations must adhere to strict standards.
This building is a major tourist draw, with many going to its observation deck to have a look at the surrounding view, and it is a regular stop on the building tours.







5.9 \ And for fun, a night view of the Downtown Core at night, with some of the surrounding condominium buildings.







5.10 \ And for fun, a night view of the Downtown Core at night, with some of the surrounding condominium buildings.












That's all for today - If you reached the bottom of this part of the post, congratulations! Next update we will continue our exploration of the region.
Yes, there is still LOTS more to see. ;)




Next Update: We will continue to explore the existing Holt District settlements.
Be sure to checkout the completely redesigned Holt District maps website: Now featuring more than just the regional streetmap!







« Last Edit: August 19, 2012, 11:20:18 pm by simLink »

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Re: Holt District
« Reply #8 on: August 20, 2012, 02:13:36 pm »
That really looks nice!


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Re: Holt District
« Reply #9 on: August 21, 2012, 04:37:06 pm »
It looks really, really nice! :D

Offline Darth Apple

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Re: Holt District
« Reply #10 on: August 25, 2012, 07:30:25 pm »
The detail is nothing short of impressive! I really love the work.

Offline simlink ♔

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Re: Holt District
« Reply #11 on: August 26, 2012, 11:59:35 am »


Welcome to another update of Holt District!

In today's update we're in the small town of Dofino, population 15000. The town by first glance is not all that exciting.
Get off the highway and there isn't much. But if there is something many people have learnt in their travels, don't judge a place by its cover. With a vibrant downtown area and strong BIA - the small-town charm this town emits attracts people from accross the region to its merchants.

Although it doesn't have the stunning views Shorecoast does - it doesn't have the sky-high realestate prices, either.
We will take a look at the town - which could soon be the scene of a building boom. Let's go have a look!


As a reminder, be sure to check out HDHIP - it will play a HUGE part in the future of this CJ.




Looks Can Be Deceiving - Welcome to Dofino!




6.1| When one pulls off Highway 40 in Dofino, they aren't greeted by much. A service centre and a giant wind turbine welcome them to town.






6.2| But drive a bit further, and you reach the centre of its charming downtown core. With small shops, offices and a small Piggly Wiggly grocery store, the charming core is a draw for those looking for a quiet get-away.







6.3| The shops draw people from across the region during the holiday seasons thanks to aggressive marketing by the Dofino BIA.







6.4| Adding to the bustle of this small downtown area is the town's library - a popular spot for residents to go on a rainy, grey day thanks to the large reading area and fireplace inside. It is also a meeting space for residents, where resident associations have their weekly meetings.






6.5| This is the former HQ of the former Wreshaw County - and also served as the County Courthouse. Wrenshaw merged with The Regional Municipality of Saltfield to form Holt District.






6.6| Not everything is rosey, however. Previously lax planning laws led to the construction of these 2 stores, a Verizon Wireless outlet and Goody's outlet. The Town is working with the land owners for a possible reconstruction of the 2 properties, but nothing has come to fruition.






6.7| The town is home to several lush suburban houses, with large properties. It is a popular area for families, as prices for houses are lower than many other cities. Due to the distance north, the average housing prices are $350 000 in this town.







6.8| Recently the Region expanded one of the elevated rail lines north to Dofino, providing even easier access to Downtown Sherkston.







6.9| The newly extended line has lead to several new housing developments in the area...







6.10| ...and all these new houses have led to an increase in services available...








6.11| ...and the increase has made Dofino more attractive to house-buyers, spurring development. See a pattern emerging? :P






hat's all for today - I hoped you enjoyed Dofino! It may not look like much from the highway, but go further away from the highway and you will discover what we did today. :)




cheesey
Thanks, glad you think so!

Frex_Ceafus
Thank You! :)

blakesterville
Thanks - I've been paying attention to detail more in this region. Though things do still escape my notice once in a while. :P





Next Update: We will continue to explore the existing Holt District settlements.
Be sure to checkout the completely redesigned Holt District maps website: Now featuring more than just the regional streetmap!








Offline brian50

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Re: Holt District
« Reply #12 on: September 02, 2012, 07:12:40 am »
This is really an outstanding variety of pics you have provided for us here.
When can we expect the next update ?

Brian

Offline simlink ♔

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Re: Holt District
« Reply #13 on: September 02, 2012, 09:24:53 pm »
This is really an outstanding variety of pics you have provided for us here.
When can we expect the next update ?

Brian

The next update is likely around Tuesday/Wednesday, though Monday is a possibility. But the former are more likely. If I don't have an update ready/time to post it, a teaser for sure will be posted. :)

Offline Ceafus 88

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Re: Holt District
« Reply #14 on: September 03, 2012, 03:59:42 pm »
Loving the updates, keep it up!!!!!!