Category: properties

Updates

I switched out a few houses and added some skyboxes. This has had the nice effect of clearing up some of the space on the ground on the north coast, which was a little cluttered before.

I added a lot of games and dances to the beach, as well as a really fun little water slide that had been collecting a lot of dust in my inventory. I don’t even remember purchasing it. The games used to be in Antares, before I closed it. I figured it would be nice for someone to use them, instead of them sitting in inventory.

I’ve started some decoration of the sea floor under Cristalle Channel. I have some old fish emitters that weren’t being used, and it is better that they make the island a little more interesting to travel around. I have some more stuff that I recently bought, to spruce up the sea floor.

House of Cristalle got a facelift of sorts. It’s still a work in progress, but now almost all the buildings can be rezzed on the holo platform. That will make it easier to see the size and dimensions of the houses. I have plans to add some inventory, but the design process sometimes is quirky and needs a flash of inspiration and motivation to start shaping prims. It’s coming.

There are still more basic tasks that need to be accomplished first, to make things more efficient. No need to write about those here, but it’s what will be taking up my time, unless I get an obsessive streak about creation.

Consolidation

Cristalle Properties is downsizing and consolidating our rentals onto Cristalle Island. Any developments will be estate-based, as we will no longer have any mainland holdings.

Why?

Partly because my real life doesn’t allow me the luxury right now of managing 168 rentals. It’s just too much churn, too much worry with too much vacancy to make me feel comfortable at this time. The amount of energy needed to maintain it is just not sustainable at this time. Maybe later.

Another part is frustration with the mainland. It seems that the only way to keep sailable water is to own it, as your neighbors cannot be trusted to keep open pathways. Hopefully in the future, Linden Lab will ensure that all the waterways have a protected path cut into them and that no objects (e.g., bridges) will be allowed to encroach upon them.

So with the downsizing comes a bit of redevelopment on the island – a few new skyboxes, a new rental center, new houses, and new apartments! Welcome Cristalle Shore and Cristalle Retreat to the family of affordable apartments.
Cristalle Shore Apartments

Cristalle Retreat Apartments

So we have downsized to 40 units in total, which should allow me to give each tenant the kind of time and energy they deserve when they need help. With Penn’s retirement from management, it’s just me for now and we will see about getting some other help. Even so, this should be far more manageable than the previous situation, in light of my real life circumstances.

Some views of the island:
Cristalle's Grotto

Welcome home!

New Property: Cristalle Court


This spectacular new property is my most daring architectural design yet. Two impressive towers in a chic, modern and unusual design and a pleasant court in the center. Plenty of space, and always affordable!

Both furnished and unfurnished units are available. A peek at the furnishing:

Furnished units are media ready and have 50 extra prims for personalization. Unfurnished units come with a solid 225 prim limit. Style and comfort, that won’t break the bank. :)

New Property: Cristalle Stratus


I have created a new set of skyboxes. Hovering at 1000m high and higher, Cristalle Stratus is a spacious place. A warehouse-style structure with plenty of room, Aspen wood floors and exposed brick. It’s also got a little hot tub outside. Six units, unfurnished (for now). I will probably furnish a few later. 250 prims to start. I will probably release this as a prefab too.

New Property: Cristalle Cove


Cristalle Cove is a set of six modern apartments with a touch of gothic elegance. The interiors are decorated with ornate elegant red and black wallpaper, in contrast to the sleek, high-shine floor tile and the steel windows and doors. The view is amazing, as Cristalle Cove sits at the end of the inlet leading in from Grumio into Keepdown.

High on style, low on price! Cristalle Cove apartments rent for 175 prims, 290L/wk.

Check it out inworld: secondlife://Keepdown/227/52/31/

New Property: Gothique Manor


Another new property, this one in darker purple colors. This elegant manor comes with a luxurious interior: dramatic silver dragon-shaped lanterns with flickering flames and elegant wall sconces. The steps are optional.

Also on its own 4096, for plenty of privacy.

Visit it inworld: secondlife://Keepdown/160/25/35/

New Property: Castilia Cristalle


My first castle, which I will also release as a prefab. A rich, large castle with red and black marble floors and crystal chandeliers inside that give off a soft glow. The roof has a parapet made for entertaining. Or warfare, if you buy it as a prefab. :)

Visit it inworld: secondlife://Keepdown/94/19/33/

New Property: Dark Grace


I know it’s been a while since I posted but I have been busy working on some stuff. I’m redeveloping a portion of Keepdown and am renting/selling the remaining land. The redeveloped portion has some new properties that I’m very excited about. Gothic flair from the medieval to modern!

Dark Grace is the name of a new prefab that I will be releasing soon, but it is first available as a rental property. Modern design, with gothic flair. The interior is richly patterned in red and black with baroque wallpaper and black wainscot. Modern windows give it a sleek edge.

This house sits on its own 4096m lot, so there’s plenty of privacy.

Visit it inworld: secondlife://Keepdown/40/18/38/

Redeveloping

I’m in the process of buying an island. It will be the new home of House of Cristalle and Antares, and my personal home. I’m buying the island from another resident, which is why it’s taking so long to begin with. Some of the rentals will come with me, but I will largely be consolidating my holdings and cutting out some fat.

I haven’t spent as much time on the creative side lately and although I have a few ideas floating around, nothing has compelled me as yet to put textures onto prims. Part of it is the distraction with the new island, and figuring out how I want to handle the consolidation.

Some ideas are closer to the top than others. Stay tuned.

Development: Grumio Inlet


Since acquiring land in Grumio I had been very slow to develop it. But it has come along beautifully and I’m very proud to display the (almost) finished product. Several of the new house designs have gone in here, including some that I haven’t prepared for sale yet (namely, the little cape cod on the lower right side and the large one on the left hand side beach).

I’m working on another new design for a large beachfront lot not pictured in this image, and am pondering design for a smaller, more economical version of Cristalle Skies. The community itself has filled up with some really lovely people. One of our tenants has opened a small jazzy club that will hopefully help bring this community together.

Once Grumio is complete, this should top off my development for a while. It will bring us up to 155 rentals, over 2 and 1/4 sims worth of land. Until I am ready to tier up again, this should do it. It’s a business decision. There are enough vacant properties that I do not need to expand any further and risk the investment not paying for itself. I also need a breather.

I could do an easier model, sure, by renting bare land – but I care too much about community and how it all looks to leave the aesthetic decisions to random people. This is the value that I add. I provide lovely community facilities and a guarantee of no eyesores within the community itself. I cannot help my neighbors, unfortunately, but I do my best to provide a beautiful and serene atmosphere.

I’m very proud of this work, and am very grateful to Chris Norse for his help managing the day-to-day load of helping tenants.

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