Centralized shopping sim?

I know this subject has been raised in the past, but I'd like to raise it again before the new sims come online.

Does anyone else want to centralize the shopping in SL? Right now, shops are scattered all over the SL world and it's hard to know where to go to buy something, especially if you know what you want.

It would be nice to see these shops move to a centralized shopping district somewhere near the Welcome Area. Like the real world, this arrangement benifits the shopper and the shop owner. Could it be managed like Lindenworld?

I know a cluster of shops have sprouted around Avatar Central in Natoma, but wouldn't it be convenient if all of the shops were moved to one central sim?

Thoughts, comments?

I made a feature suggestion that might go well with this idea - make a downtown area out of a grid of four 128 x 128 meter sims. It could be centered around a mall. I think this would be effective. Plus, you could cram a whole bunch of shops into a compact area without the huge amount of lag that seems to sprout up wherever too many stores cluster together.

actually, I thought that was half the point of Tan... it's in the middle of everything, you *have* to fly through it in order to get from north to south or vice versa, and it's expensive to buy land.


I'd say wait about 3 months after the telehubs come out... you'll see shops clustered around those in no time.

Lordfly

Aqua is pretty much a shopping sim. However, barely any land left to open a store!

I'd like to see a 16 sim downtown area, maybe South of the Welcome Area. Shops, apartments, clubs, shows, it'd be fun! Newbies always ask me how to 'get into town' to go shopping. Unfortunatly, there IS no central community. I know the Lindens want us to do it ourselves, but, c'mon, give us a little push in the right direction!

I keep hearing that there isn't any land available in Aqua. It was only 61% owned yesterday (Thursday).

Aqua is the shopping district? Okay, I've only been playing for a month and a half (roughly), and I didn't know that.

Something closer to the Welcome area would be more successful, I think. And tax-rebates for shop owners would help encourage the centralization.

It is close to a welcome area.. just not the one thats used. Is the other one still there?

SHOP AQUA!

it would be convenient to have shopping crammed into one central area, but there are a couple of problems i see that could come about:

1. deciding PG vs. Mature - who makes the decision to locate the shopping sim? If it is in a PG sim, it would eliminate shops that sell Mature themed items. placing the sim in a Mature area would take up valuable Mature land (Lindens: more Mature, please!).

2. reduction of neighborhood shops - if all the shopping was located in one area, it is possible that people would not venture out to explore as much. let's face it, while most of us like to explore, finding that shop is one of the primary motives for visiting other sims. place all of the shopping in one centralized location and those neighborhood shopping areas are gone.. along with some traffic.

personally, i think strategically placed, *accurate* shopping directories (not just a listing, but a true directory) would be better. i think that naturally, shops will be attractted to each other.

besides, i dont want ALL of the shops in a mall! i like the creativity some shop owners have put into thier places, of which you would probably be limited to in a centralized, highly managed environment.

-just my opinions...

I like the idea of the city sims (4 sims each 1/4 the land area of a normal sim together).

* Each quarter or district could have a different theme

* One quarter or so could be Mature

* Could have a central stage or something in the middle

* Land parcels could be smaller (2m*2m instead of 4m *4m but cost the same)

* The height tax could be reduced or removed.

I think it has a lot of potential to add something SL really needs.

I'll be releasing my land to Public in Aqua so I can move to the Boardwalk. The land is in a primo spot. It's t-shaped, and the vertical part of the T is a 24x16 plot right next to Chip Midnight's store and adjacent to Av Central.

The horizontal part of the T runs on one side behind Chip's store and on the other side behind an empty plot that's for sale by someone else (at, I believe, 4 times the public/Linden price).

The horizontal part of the T currently consists of 2 plots that total 40x92. The vertical part next to Chip is 24x16.

It's very peaceful and very pretty there.

If you'd like me to release to you so you can buy before Tuesday, lemme know.

Candie

Haven't been to Aqua much...how is the prim count there? Is the land completely owned? I'll have to check it out.
BTW...What are you planning on doing with your new land? Please start a new thread and let us know Candie... inquiring minds want to know!

Yes it's still there, they've even built the wooden walkways and balloon thingy. Still not used though.

Mauve has one of the large telehubs, and is very close to Aqua, so that might bring traffic in.