Building The City

[afleitch]

Well, as far as that kind of thing goes I like the idea of mixing docks with other heavy industry. But what should the language of this city be?

English

I like the idea of Le Havre geography wise (as I'm used to Atlantic port cities ) but I'd like a city...'British' in character I suppose; something split by class and area.

[afleitch]

FTR, I have no problem with integrating parts of various cities into this city... or its suburbs. Either in terms of housing, industry etc. Le Havre is just a basic idea for geography, and maybe income structure and polarization (which would make things fun).

I agree. I'm already working on two parts of Glasgow I'd like to integrate into the model.

[afleitch]

So Le Havre for the basic outline of the city, mixed heavy industrial base (the docks, yes, but also other industries often found near the coast - steelworks, say. Maybe chemical factories. And I think we can work in some incorporated mining villages on the fringes of the city (btw, presuming industrial surrounds for the city makes it easy to concentrate the bourgeois parts of the city - which seems to be one of the attracts of Le Havre). This gives us a pretty diverse city in some respects. I think we could also give it an older centre, perhaps with a cathedral. It should also have a university - late 19th century probably). Anyway. I'll post a couple of test maps this afternoon.

I have a (oh no not again) Glasgow based solution to where to site the middle class; hills. The west end of Glasgow boomed post 1850 when it became easier to construct sweeping terraces on hilly ground (Glasgow is peppered with 'drumlins'). Places like Hyndland are seperated from working class areas by a 40 degree gradient approach. High living meant you lived above the smog. It's also an interesting class metaphor

[afleitch]

So Le Havre for the basic outline of the city, mixed heavy industrial base (the docks, yes, but also other industries often found near the coast - steelworks, say. Maybe chemical factories. And I think we can work in some incorporated mining villages on the fringes of the city (btw, presuming industrial surrounds for the city makes it easy to concentrate the bourgeois parts of the city - which seems to be one of the attracts of Le Havre). This gives us a pretty diverse city in some respects. I think we could also give it an older centre, perhaps with a cathedral. It should also have a university - late 19th century probably). Anyway. I'll post a couple of test maps this afternoon.

I have a (oh no not again) Glasgow based solution to where to site the middle class; hills. The west end of Glasgow boomed post 1850 when it became easier to construct sweeping terraces on hilly ground (Glasgow is peppered with 'drumlins'). Places like Hyndland are seperated from working class areas by a 40 degree gradient approach. High living meant you lived above the smog. It's also an interesting class metaphor

Lends itself nicely, again, to Le Havre

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=49.500465,0.140247&spn=0.065776,0.181789&t=p&z=13

Yes I noticed that from Street View

Though I'll post a Glasgow example to show what I mean

[afleitch]

Am about to try a fairly basic landuse map - commercial, residential, industrial, parks-woods-etc. Though it's worth pointing out that, if we assume this is an English speaking city (as seems to have been agreed), then people will be living in some of the industrial areas (which I don't think is the case with Le Havre) and to a lesser extent in the commericial core.

True; and to a greater extent if this is set in the 50's. It would also be the areas most likely to simply be cleared of housing all together if the city council was being brutal with redevelopment.

[afleitch]

Perhaps something with 'port' or 'mouth' at the end of it. Or maybe just a simple 'borough' (or burgh )

What about Alunsborough?

[afleitch]

Southport VII it is for me then

[afleitch]

I'd like XIII on the condition that it's also wealthy. If not, then I.

Just stay away from any area that has green space around it. Then the town planners will drop in a few concrete tower blocks and voila; 5000 'socialist' voters on your patch They can even build the damn things in time for an election...

[afleitch]

We'll as we're being local This area is based on places like Ayr and Helensburgh

VII - Culzeansands (pronounced 'Cuh-ley-an Sands')

This area was once a former fishing village nestled in sand dunes. It was swallowed up by the mid-19th century expansion of the urban area and with it came the construction of grand Georgian and Victorian sandstone terraces and smaller townhouses. While the area, through choice, did not become a 'kiss me quick' summer resort, it still maintains a healthy seasonable tourist trade. It's houses are well kept and expensive. It's inhabitants are outward looking, at least to those on middle class 'jollies' from the city and elsewhere. It remained an independent burgh until local authority re-organisation in 1927

Culzeansands is home to a summer arts and cultural fair 'The Flibbertygibbert' on The Sands and is home to the regionally famous Princes Theatre and the Maritime Museum. A coastal tram operates in the area connecting with transport services further south. The sand dunes are very popular with ramblers and bird spotters.

Politics; Centre-right/ European liberal

Local areas; St Andrew's, Muckle Ferry, Zelburgh, Kirklachlan, Trondwick

[afleitch]

Glasgow City Chamber ftw on that one I was there at the weekend; i'll need to upload pictures.

[afleitch]

(IC)

For planning purposes there is certainly much to be gained from the use of 'city regions' to co-ordinate planning, development and possible new towns within in the Greater Stovesby area. The latest models or employment, transport use and retail catchment areas point to British cities having a greater influence than their urban area. It's called 'Thinking Outside The Boroughs.'

[afleitch]

Cllr. Finlay-Hamilton: Mr Fredericks, I have a slight bone of contension with your position on this matter. Some conservatives, such as myself take a far more rational approach to such issues. It is clear that the good people of Culzeansands understand their close relationship with the city of Stovesby, one made more pronounced in the last wave of reform which swallowed up the burgh. However unitary authorities such as Stovesby do not reflect the character of their compenent communities. It is entirely feasable for a 'Greater Stovesby' to be a two-tier authority, with borough governance at a local level. Such a system can ensure that Culzeansands regains a significant degree of her autonomy from the city while remaining a key partner in Greater Stovesby for planning purposes.

[afleitch]

Councillor Findlay-Hamilton nodes in agreement. Not too much though...He shuffles his papers careful not to let anyone get a further glimpse of what looks like a map he has been hiding at the bottom

Cllr. Findlay-Hamilton: I thank Mr Robson for his contribution. We are not talking about ''S.S.R's'' here, simply a tiered system of government that reflects traditional ties but also represents the future. People in my neck of the woods want to have some co-ordination too; there is a need to ensure they, as ratepayers have access to the very heart of the city and we need co-ordinated efforts to ensure we improve transport links within and around the city for one thing. We cannot have this with a collection of jabbering urban boroughs around the city. It is better to face a beast, if Stovesby must, with one head not many to ensure our needs as a metropolis are met.