The Colonia Nova Garden of Peace project

[Sudane Erato]

This is about some changes both to buildings and parcels in Colonia Nova. Your comments are welcomed.

The Garden of Peace is a large parcel directly across the river from the CN City Docks, on which many art shows and performance events are held. While it was originally a private parcel, a previous owner converted it to a large Garden of Peace and then was subsequently unable to support it. So it has become by default public land for a number of years.

Some months ago (last year??) Moon Adamant, in an effort to upgrade low-performing land and hopefully get it rented again, developed an exciting new model for its improvement. The model involved two new house parcels overlooking the City, plus a public area between those parcels and the river. The model is currently in place above the existing parcel at 1000 meters elevation.

But there was (is) one twist to this model. It has two versions. Both versions have the two house parcels up on land/platforms at the level of the bridge roadway with the public land down near the river's water level. But one version has these two sections divided by a wall. The other version has the two sections divided, yes, by the same elevation change, but instead of a wall, the water from the river extends UNDER the house parcels into a wonderful underground resevoir, with arched ceilings and an underground fountain. Provision is made for small boats to slip into this area.

Moon demonstrated that RL models for this underground resevoir area exist in RL, so it's not just fantasy. But it's a fascinating detail, and it makes for yet another really interesting new CDS building project. When I recently asked for advice about what should be my next upgrade construction project, this one was suggested to me. Naturally I chose the option with the underground resevoir.

It is my understanding that our CDS law requires a period of public comment and review for any project which involves significant changes, particularly parcel boundary changes. Please feel free to visit the Garden of Peace site, the model at 1000 meters elevation over it, and the beginning work which I am doing in our workshop located at http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/N ... 93/36/1896

I look forward to your thoughts!

Sudane.........................

[Tori Landau]

I love the version with the water underneath!

I do, however, have a query as to how this will work regarding the house parcels. If those land parcels are to be owned then access to the water underneath the houses will, I think, depend on the land owners allowing object entry for everyone in the land settings - not something everyone would be comfortable doing. It would need to be very clear to anyone buying those parcels that the access is needed. The other option would be to rent those parcels instead giving our land group control of the essential permissions

For anyone wishing to visit to view Moon's model above the current Garden of Peace here is the SLurl: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/C ... 31/95/1021

Thank you for all the hard work Moon and Sudane!

[Sudane Erato]

Tori, this is a valid question. I will also add promptly that the lower part of the project, the grotto itself minus the homes on top, is now in place, and I would welcome your visits and comments.

Regarding Object entry. It is entirely possible for a land owner owning one of the new parcels to restrict object entry, thus blocking any small boats from sailing under the new homes. If that was done, you'd have to swim in order to enter that space. But there are a couple of considerations.

In the Blake Sea group of estates, which are all essentially islands in a vast Sea, it has long been the Estate Owners practice to prohibit parcel owners from blocking Object Entry in their parcel settings, just as they prohibit ban lines. This is NOT ONLY to allow free sailing through sea areas which may encompas private parcels, BUT ALSO to allow the free flying of aircraft in these areas where flying is as much a part of the culture as sailing is. As the owner of one of these Blake Sea estates, I am very much an advocate of this policy.

And quite honestly, I have always assumed that this policy applied as well to the CDS. For years now, especially since the encouragement of ballooning, flying and para-gliding in the CDS, it has been my understanding that blocking Object Entry on parcels in the CDS was discouraged, if not prohibited. If this is the case, then entering the new grotto in a small boat is no problem.

People may find that blocking Build and Object Entry on their parcels is the only way to experience peace of mind in their homes. I am very much against both of these, instead being a HUGE ADVOCATE of setting autoreturn as a much better protection. Yes, using autoreturn often requires a bit more planning so that objects not owned by the parcel owner will not get returned, But it's a MUCH more flexible parcel ownership system and MUCH more community friendly system to use.

Sudane......................

[Rosie Gray]

My thought is that offering a house for sale on the water, where the owner would consider the grotto area underneath their house as part of their own space, would be beneficial. I think it could be a selling point for those parcels for someone to have a grotto. If we take this route, I can envision making object entry open to everyone, as we do when setting up parcels for sale, and requiring owners to do so as well. Enforcing it might be another matter, though, as so many people don't read the Covenants as it is. Also, we would need to ask for the Covenants to be updated to make it official.