Buena Vista, Texas
Buena Vista was once a small fishing town, rebuilt as a "City of Tomorrow" in the 1960's with a strong central civic planning department. The city is built in the shape of a pentagon, with the government offices in the center. Being built on a barrier island in the Matagorda bay, urban planners had a high priority on limiting sprawl, zoning much of the city for higher density residences. Since then, they have also implemented "superblocks" in an effort to limit vehicle traffic and increase the walkability of neighborhoods.
Notable landmarks
Port Atlantis
Located on the edge of the Beach Strip, Port Atlantis is a failed theme park that currently serves as the grounds for the local Goblin Market in the mortal world. Its retro-futuristic style and the Mask help it pass as a gathering spot for science fiction LARPers. Notably, Port Atlantis features a successful artificial reef in its aquarium section that continues to prosper, thanks in part to the market's efforts to maintain it.
The Matagorda Bay Tunnel
The tunnel goes under the Matagorda Bay and serves as a major route for tourists and commuters from the mainland suburbs. Much work has been put into preventing gridlock at the entrance and exit, but bridges are still necessary to supplement car traffic. Rumor has it that if you drive down the tunnel during the quietest hours of the night, something chases you. Many people prefer the nearby bridges out of understandable concern about flooding, though sometimes this also serves as an easy excuse rather than admit to believing the urban legend about the tunnel's monster.
Buena Vista Technical College
BV Tech is a university focused primarily on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. The university has been expanding their liberal arts programs in recent years, including an ambitious theater and cinematography program.
Wizard's Quarter
Located near Buena Vista Tech, this area is at the heart of Autumn's demesne. It is large marketplace known for housing numerous occult stores. Though most shops are of the dabbler variety, or dedicated to selling overpriced trinkets to tourists, genuine occult articles can be found by a shopper who knows what they're looking for.
Demographics
Buena Vista is home to approximately 50,000 residents, roughly 45% white, 15% black, 30% latino, 10% other ethnicities.
Districts
The Beach Strip
The Beach Strip is a line of beachfront land that largely caters to a wealthy clientele and tourism. The Spring Court has claimed most of the strip as their demesne and cater to the expensive tastes of the locals. Condominiums in this region are also highly valued real estate. Autumn maintains its own claim over the Wizard's Quarter and the Strip's shared border with the Tech Sector.
The Docks
Largely considered Summer territory, Buena Vista's docks frequently traffic in computer and industrial parts as well as various comforts destined for the Bay Strip's tourism industry.
The Tech Sector
This district houses numerous financial and technology companies and contributes the most to Buena Vista's skyline. Though Autumn claims some of the district, it is largely considered God Machine territory by the freehold, centered around Byrne Towers.
The Residential District
The Residential District, located between the Docks and the Tech Sector houses most of the city's permanent residents. Property values gradually diminish toward the docks, ending in the Projects, shared territory between Summer and Winter.
Tourism
Architecture
Buena Vista existed as a small port city for most of its history, but most people know it for its skyline featuring modern skyscrapers made possible by its unusually stable bedrock. These uptown buildings generally don't reach the height of those on the mainland, but are noted for innovative shapes, clean white surfaces, and mirrored glass. Detractors often call the style "screamingly white" to describe the perceived sterility.
Geography
Buena Vista is located entirely on a barrier island between the Matagorda Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Unlike the other barrier islands of the region, Buena Vista has an anomalous rocky outcropping that now provides a solid foundation for the city's tall structures. Local geologists debate how this bedrock formed, as do various fringe groups who posit supernatural or otherworldly causes.
Climate
Buena Vista is classified as humid subtropical, with prevailing winds carrying moisture from the Gulf of Mexico. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90°F (32°C), exacerbated by high humidity and the heat island effect in areas with high concrete coverage. Winters are comparatively mild, with lows rarely reaching below 50°F (10°C). The region is subject to hurricane season in summer and fall, with Hurricane Harvey of 2017 being the most damaging in recent years.