How much would it cost to build a town from the ground up?

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Rufus12

Rufus12

Golden Member
Jan 14, 2006
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Today I was watching a movie about jim jones and the People's Temple, and although everything he did was very horribly wrong I was actually amazed that this one man managed to start a "town". What I'm wondering is how much would it cost in real dollars, or in permits to start up a town in the middle of nowhere. By middle of nowhere I mean no other towns within maybe 10 miles. I think planning a city from the ground up would be pretty badass; especially if you had an unlimited budget.
 
Crusty

Crusty

Lifer
Sep 30, 2001
12,684
2
81
Originally posted by: Rufus12
Today I was watching a movie about jim jones and the People's Temple, and although everything he did was very horribly wrong I was actually amazed that this one man managed to start a "town". What I'm wondering is how much would it cost in real dollars, or in permits to start up a town in the middle of nowhere. By middle of nowhere I mean no other towns within maybe 10 miles. I think planning a city from the ground up would be pretty badass; especially if you had an unlimited budget.
Click to expand...

You should play the Sim City series....
 
SSSnail

SSSnail

Lifer
Nov 29, 2006
17,458
83
86
I don't know, but you should ask the Japanese...

:eek:

I know, I know... horrible joke.
 
C

compuwiz1

Admin Emeritus Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
27,111
926
126
First you must dig a few holes. ;)
Wouldn't it be a hoot if you could find a way to do it all on government grants?
 
AreaCode707

AreaCode707

Lifer
Sep 21, 2001
18,447
133
106
Originally posted by: Rufus12
Today I was watching a movie about jim jones and the People's Temple, and although everything he did was very horribly wrong I was actually amazed that this one man managed to start a "town". What I'm wondering is how much would it cost in real dollars, or in permits to start up a town in the middle of nowhere. By middle of nowhere I mean no other towns within maybe 10 miles. I think planning a city from the ground up would be pretty badass; especially if you had an unlimited budget.
Click to expand...

Doing it in another country like he did would likely be significantly cheaper than doing it in the US, that's for sure.

Completely unrelated; Jim Jones' original "church" was in my home area. It's now an Assemblies of God church; I used to babysit there when I was younger. :) Nice to see a building used for such evil now being used for some good.
 
J

JeffreyLebowski

Lifer
Aug 23, 2000
15,509
1
81
Originally posted by: SSSnail
I don't know, but you should ask the Japanese...

:eek:

I know, I know... horrible joke.
Click to expand...

So do it in a foreign country and get he US government to pay for it. Win win.
 
B

bunnyfubbles

Lifer
Sep 3, 2001
12,248
3
0
I've actually thought about this, but on a bigger scale. Today's biggest cities are ones that have evolved from much older ones and are thus a mishmash of old and new with all the new handicapped by the preexisting old. I'm curious what a city would be like if it was completely planned and built using modern technology and materials. Living and working space could be so much more efficient, even roads could be designed to optimize traffic flow with public transportation optimized for speed and efficiency as well.
 
I

imported_Champ

Golden Member
Mar 25, 2008
1,608
0
0
Originally posted by: bunnyfubbles
I've actually thought about this, but on a bigger scale. Today's biggest cities are ones that have evolved from much older ones and are thus a mishmash of old and new with all the new handicapped by the preexisting old. I'm curious what a city would be like if it was completely planned and built using modern technology and materials. Living and working space could be so much more efficient, even roads could be designed to optimize traffic flow with public transportation optimized for speed and efficiency as well.
Click to expand...

finally...I think about this alot...properly designing downtown areas with large roadways and sidewalks...creating proper ringroads around the Downtown and city to eliminate most traffic...its just it can't be done in any cities because you always have to destroy stuff to build it and deal with people complaining and all that crap

I wish someone would do this because it would be a city planners dream
 
SarcasticDwarf

SarcasticDwarf

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2001
9,574
2
76
Originally posted by: Champ
Originally posted by: bunnyfubbles
I've actually thought about this, but on a bigger scale. Today's biggest cities are ones that have evolved from much older ones and are thus a mishmash of old and new with all the new handicapped by the preexisting old. I'm curious what a city would be like if it was completely planned and built using modern technology and materials. Living and working space could be so much more efficient, even roads could be designed to optimize traffic flow with public transportation optimized for speed and efficiency as well.
Click to expand...

finally...I think about this alot...properly designing downtown areas with large roadways and sidewalks...creating proper ringroads around the Downtown and city to eliminate most traffic...its just it can't be done in any cities because you always have to destroy stuff to build it and deal with people complaining and all that crap

I wish someone would do this because it would be a city planners dream
Click to expand...

Phoenix is the best example of this in the United States. All but a few VERY small parts of it were build during the post-1940's automobile era.
 
M

Matthiasa

Diamond Member
May 4, 2009
5,755
23
81
Well that idea was done for Brasília, so if you could find the figure for that and adjust for inflation you might get relativialy good idea of how much it would cost.
 
S

scttgrd

Golden Member
Feb 24, 2004
1,006
0
0
I know in Orlando they built a new town called Celebration, the fist phase was fairly small and was budgeted around 25 billion. This included the roads, schools, hospitals and basic infrastructure to provide power water and sewage. Not cheap at all.
 
xanis

xanis

Lifer
Sep 11, 2005
17,571
8
0
Originally posted by: scttgrd
I know in Orlando they built a new town called Celebration, the fist phase was fairly small and was budgeted around 25 billion. This included the roads, schools, hospitals and basic infrastructure to provide power water and sewage. Not cheap at all.
Click to expand...

Meh, according to the OP money is no object... so I say go all-out. :p
 
lxskllr

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
59,071
9,481
126
I'd do it on a ship, and it would be a sovereign nation. If starting a town, I'm gonna be king.
 
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