|I|11.0 | 8.0 | 7.0 |

A SimCity 4 guide covering utility management (power, water, garbage), strategic city connections, and the benefits of building a farmer's market for demand busting and job creation.

This section of the SimCity 4 guide focuses on managing your city's utilities, establishing beneficial connections with neighboring cities, and leveraging specific buildings like the farmer's market to boost your city's growth and economy. The primary goal is to discourage dirty industries by managing demand through taxes and clean air, allowing manufacturing to fill the gaps.

Utilities (B4.01.2):

1. Power: It's recommended to use a coal power plant for long-term cost-effectiveness, even if initial demand is lower. Temporary power deals can be made but are often short-lived as demand rises.
2. Water: To avoid pollution issues, it's advised not to make water deals and instead build four towers before the pump.
3. Garbage: The waste-to-power option is recommended. If not used, limit trash tiles to 16. Waste-to-power eliminates the need for garbage deals.
4. Fiscal Control: Maintain tight budget controls as previously advised.

Connections (B4.01.3):

• Maximize the benefits of having multiple cities by ensuring connections not only to the 'Slum City' but also to 'Sim Nation' on all sides. This doubles the effectiveness of your connections.
• Consider adding one or two rail connections for added effectiveness; they provide demand cap busting for commercial demand even if not actively used.

Farmer's Market (B4.01.4):

• Building a farmer's market is highly recommended in this stage for two main reasons:
• Middle-Class Demand Buster: It helps attract the middle class by increasing initial capacity, which is limited compared to the poor.
• Industrial Alternative: Since early industries are likely to be dirty, farms can provide jobs and attract residents, compensating for limited industrial zoning.
• Keep farms away from water pumps or towers.

Customized City Layout and Plans (B4.02):

• Standard advice on auto-roads, residential areas, and leaving space for future development still applies.
• Industrial and commercial zones require fewer structures, so layout flexibility is high, but always plan for future expansion like mass transit. A 6x6 zone is favored for commercial areas.

Initial Setup (B4.02.1):

1. Leverage First City: Plan your new city as an extension of your first city, placing residential zones on the edge closest to the neighbor if workplaces are on that city's edge. Avoid starting in the map's center. For example, if industry is on the left of the first city, start residential zones on the right of the second city (which is to the left of the first) to allow Sims to commute.
2. Confine Pollution: Place initial industrial zones, power stations, and polluting facilities on the top-right of the city, with residential zones to the right, creating a buffer.

City Master-plan (B4.02.2):

• Commercial: A central strip of commercial zones, approximately 17 tiles wide, is recommended, allowing for three residential super structures across the map (RCRR layout).
• Industry: Two smaller industrial zones can be created.